The Ultimate Challenge to the Sacred Mountain of Machu Picchu

The Salkantay Trek Challenge

3 Days & 2 Nights
Starting from US$520 per person
Accommodation Icon
Private Camps & Hotel Accommodation
Group Size Icon
From 12 People Group Size
Max. Altitude Icon
4,630 m / 15,190 ft Max. Altitude
Difficulty Icon
Challenging Difficulty

The Ultimate Challenge to the Sacred Mountain

Soraypampa - Salkantay Pass - Collpapampa - Mountain Sky View - Machu Picchu
Accommodation Icon
Private Camps & Hotel Accommodation
Group Size Icon
From 12 People Group Size
Max. Altitude Icon
4,630 m / 15,190 ft Max. Altitude
Difficulty Icon
Challenging Difficulty

The Salkantay Trek is the ultimate alternative route to Machu Picchu, but not everyone has the time to dedicate 5 days hiking to the World Wonder. Short on time but still want to enjoy a hike and see the incredible Salkantay mountain? We have the perfect option for you: the 3-day Salkantay Challenge! Our trek will push you to hike 49 km / 30.45 miles over rugged mountain terrain and through lush, thick jungle to Aguas Calientes in just two days.

Although this route is shorter, you’ll still be able to enjoy incredible scenery. You’ll pass by rustic bridges, snow-capped mountains, vibrant valleys, waterfalls, wildlife, unique plants, and the fascinating cloud forest. Your challenge will be complete when you reach the amazing citadel of Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. What better reward could you ask for!

The Salkantay Trek Challenge Map 3 Days Map Day by Day The Salkantay Trek Challenge Map
  • Overview
  • Itinerary
  • Inclusions
  • Before You Go
  • Packing List
  • Accommodation
  • Pricing
  • Enquire Now
  Overview

The Salkantay Trek is sometimes known as the Savage Mountain Trek and is the best alternative trek to the Inca Trail. This adventure is specifically designed for those who want to hike to Machu Picchu but are short on time. Witness the amazing biodiversity of the ecosystem in the region and observe how small communities live off-the-beaten-path.

When you start your trip, you’ll feel the thrill of knowing you’re going to be seeing so much within such a short time frame. On your first day, you’ll head up to imposing Salkantay Pass and see the sacred Salkantay Mountain right in front of you. You’ll witness some of the most incredible landscapes on this route, and one of the best is looking out over the white glaciers.

Once you’ve conquered the hike up to the pass, you’ll head down through the misty cloud forest to the edge of the jungle region, where the climate starts to warm up. As you get closer and closer to the Inca citadel, you’ll feel it getting warmer and your heart beating faster with excitement.

Spend the last night in Aguas Calientes and rest well before the ultimate day. Day 3 is your visit to Machu Picchu, and you’ll find it difficult to contain your emotions when you first enter the archaeological site and look over the incredible fortress. You’ll enjoy an informative tour of approximately two hours. In the afternoon, you’ll head back to Cusco for some well-deserved rest and relaxation.

Itinerary at a Glance

  • Day 01

    Cusco | Soraypampa - Salkantay Pass - Wayracmachay - Chaullay - Collpapampa (Mountain Sky View)

    Defeat the hike up to the Salkantay Pass to witness the incredible landscape and snowy peaks before you head down through the cloud forest to spend the night surrounded by nature.

  • Day 02

    Collpapampa | La Playa - Santa Teresa - Hidroelectrica - Aguas Calientes

    Head deeper into the jungle and hike along the train tracks to get to Agua Calientes, located at the base of Machu Picchu. Spend the night in a comfortable hotel and enjoy dinner in a local restaurant.

  • Day 03

    Aguas Calientes | Machu Picchu - Ollantaytambo - Cusco

    It’s the big day! Explore the glorious Machu Picchu and learn all about it from your knowledgeable guide before heading back to Cusco.

What's it like

Highlights

  • Hike along the best alternative route to the Inca Trail, one of the world’s 25 best treks according to National Geographic.
  • Observe the impressive Apu Salkantay glacier and snow-capped mountain peaks in one of the most beautiful landscapes you’ll ever see.
  • Enjoy descending through the fascinating and mystical cloud forest.
  • Meet fellow trekkers from across the globe and share new experiences.
  • Stay at our exclusive private campsites with small groups to enjoy peace and privacy.
  • End your trek at the magnificent Machu Picchu and learn its ancient secrets.

Why Travel with us

  Itinerary
Day 01

Cusco | Soraypampa - Salkantay Pass - Wayracmachay - Chaullay - Collpapampa (Mountain Sky View)

Highlight of the day: Arrive at Salkantay Pass and contemplate the most magnificent landscape.

Overcome the Challenge to the Salkantay Pass

Meals Icon
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Meals
Accommodation Icon
Mountain Sky View Accommodation
Difficulty Icon
Challenging Difficulty
Walking Distance Icon
22 km / 13.7 miles Walking Distance
Walking Time Icon
10 hours Walking Time
Starting Elevation Icon
3,900 m / 12,795 ft Starting Elevation
Min. Elevation Icon
2,900 m / 9,514 ft Min. Elevation
Highest Elevation Icon
4,630 m / 15,190 ft Highest Elevation
Campsite Elevation Icon
2,950 m / 9,678 ft Campsite Elevation

Begin your adventure in the early morning hours as we pick you up and take you to the starting point of the trek in Soraypampa. This morning, you’ll be taking on the biggest challenge of the trek, the hike up to the Salkantay Pass. Once you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with fantastic views of the snowy mountain peaks. You'll head downhill for lunch and continue as you enter the Amazon jungle. Observe the scenery change dramatically around you with the contrast of the Andes to the jungle. Enjoy lush greenery and tropical wildlife along the way. You’ll spend the night in the village of Chaullay, surrounded by nature’s sounds.

On the first day, your adventure begins very early, exactly at 2:30 a.m. We’ll pick you up from your accommodation to travel for about three and a half hours through Anta, Mollepata, and Challacancha before arriving at our starting point in Soraypampa (3,900 m / 12,795 ft). Along the way, you will be able to observe the snow-capped peaks of Salkantay and Humantay, two colossal Inca gods or Apus, as they are known in the Andes. We recommend you keep an eye out for rolling hills, low valleys, and impressive wildlife in all directions.

Once we arrive in Soraypampa, we’ll enjoy a filling breakfast and meet our trekking team while they organize all our equipment and cargo mules for the trek. From here, we’ll start hiking the toughest part of the route to the highest point of the trek, the Salkantay Pass, at (4,630 m / 15,190 ft). Although the distance is only 7 km / 4.35 miles, it is a difficult ascent of more than 4 hours. It climbs slowly through the "Path of the 7 Serpents", so-called because of its winding shape. Once at the top, you will be able to appreciate the extraordinary views of the Salkantay glacier (6,271 m / 20,574 ft) and the surrounding valley with other spectacular peaks: Humantay, Tucarhuay, and Pumasillo. Salkantay is the second highest mountain in the entire Cusco region.

After completing the big challenge of the day, there’s a (7 km / 4.35 mi) down to our lunch spot, Wayracmachay, where you can enjoy the delicious food our chefs prepared. On the way down this snake-shaped trail, you will find a magnificent viewpoint to contemplate the impressive valley.

After lunch, you can rest before continuing your hike. In the afternoon, you’ll enter the upper Amazon rainforest and cloud forest. You will hike a distance of 8 km / 4.97 miles for about 3 hours as the jungle thickens around you and you feel the weather getting warmer. Throughout this stretch, you’ll notice how drastically the environment changes from the cold Andes to the humid jungle.

The scenery along this hike is truly beautiful, and you get to see so much in one day, including colorful hills, unique wildlife, and native plants. At the end of the day, you’ll reach your camp in the small village of Chaullay at (2,900 m / 9,514 ft), where you will enjoy a well-deserved rest and dinner. When you lay your head on your pillow, you can relax and listen to the sounds of nature, which will help you fall asleep faster.

Day 02

Collpapampa | La Playa - Santa Teresa - Hidroelectrica - Aguas Calientes

Highlight of the day: Explore the jungle region of Cusco and observe all the beautiful flora and fauna native to the area.

Enter Cusco’s Tropical Paradise

Meals Icon
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Meals
Accommodation Icon
Hotel Accommodation
Difficulty Icon
Challenging Difficulty
Walking Distance Icon
27 km / 16.78 mi Walking Distance
Walking Time Icon
9 hours approx. Walking Time
Min. Elevation Icon
1,800 m / 5,906 ft Min. Elevation
Starting Elevation Icon
2,950 m / 9,678 ft Starting Elevation
Highest Elevation Icon
2,950 m / 9,678 ft Highest Elevation
Accommodation Elevation Icon
2,040 m / 6,693 ft Accommodation Elevation

In the morning, we’ll continue our hike through the jungle as the rainforest becomes denser. You’ll be able to spot wild orchids and many bird species on your way to the lunch spot at La Playa. Here, you’ll also enjoy a coffee demonstration before our transport picks you up and takes you to Hidroelectrica. From there, you’ll walk alongside the train tracks to Aguas Calientes or opt to take the train for an additional US$37.

The Urubamba River accompanies you all the way. Once in the town, you’ll enjoy dinner in a local restaurant before going to bed early, ready for the big day tomorrow.

Today you can sleep in a little later as we leave after 6:00 a.m. In the morning, we will hike through the Santa Teresa Valley and the small village of La Playa. During the first 5 hours of the hike, we will observe the lush landscape, river, wild orchids, and plantations where coffee, bananas, and avocados are grown. Also, on the route, you will have the opportunity to taste the delicious granadilla.

We’ll pass through a village called Collpapampa before continuing to the bottom of the mountains, where we cross to the other side of the valley. We’ll be accompanied by waterfalls, birds, fruit trees, and tropical plants along the way.

Once we arrive at La Playa, we’ll enjoy the last energizing lunch with our team before attending the coffee demonstration. You’ll learn all about the drink and how it sustains so many families in the region. After some more relaxing, our transport will pick us up and take us to the Hidroelectrica train station. From there, we can enjoy an easier hike along the railroad and the Urubamba River to Aguas Calientes. If you’re exhausted up to this point, you can opt to take a train the rest of the way for US$37.

As we wander the tropical paradise, we can see avocados, bananas, coffee plants, and many bird species. You might even spot the cock of the rocks, the national bird of Peru. You’ll be walking along the same trail that the American professor Hiram Bingham used when he ‘rediscovered’ Machu Picchu after it was lost for centuries.

We’ll get to Aguas Calientes after about 3 hours, where we’ll head to our hotel for you to rest in your room. You can enjoy a private bathroom, a hot shower, WiFi, breakfast in the morning, and luggage storage while you visit Machu Picchu. This afternoon, you can rest a while or explore the small town before we head to a restaurant for dinner. There are no cars in Aguas Calientes, so it’s nice and peaceful.

We’ll enjoy dinner at 7:00 p.m., and the guide will brief us on what we will do tomorrow. You’ll need to head to bed early as you’ll be up before dawn again to head to the Inca citadel.

Day 03

Aguas Calientes | Machu Picchu - Ollantaytambo - Cusco

Highlight of the day: Walk through the ancient streets of the Inca citadel and learn about its history.

Explore the Magical and Mystical Machu Picchu

Meals Icon
Breakfast Meals
Difficulty Icon
Easy Difficulty
Optional Activities (Difficulty - Duration) Icon
2-3 hours exploring Machu Picchu Optional Activities (Difficulty - Duration)
Machu Picchu Site Elevation Icon
2,430 m / 7,972 ft Machu Picchu Site Elevation
Optional Mountains Icon
Moderate to Challenging Optional Mountains
Machu Picchu Mountain Elevation Icon
3,000 m / 9,843 ft (3 - 4 hours) Machu Picchu Mountain Elevation
Huayna Picchu Mountain Elevation Icon
2,720 m / 8,924 ft (2 hours) Huayna Picchu Mountain Elevation
Huchuy Picchu Mountain Elevation Icon
2,497 m / 8,192 ft (1.5 hours) Huchuy Picchu Mountain Elevation

Get up early to enjoy the magnificent day you have been waiting for. You’ll have to arrive very early at Machu Picchu, allowing you to avoid the big crowds and contemplate the best views with few people. We’ll take the bus to the entrance. Once inside, immerse yourself in the magic of the place and enjoy a guided tour of approximately two hours by the important parts. Then, you’ll have time to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain if you have booked tickets in advance.

While here, make the most of the mystical Inca citadel before returning to Aguas Calientes for lunch and the train to Ollantaytambo. From there, our transportation will take you back to your hotel in Cusco at 8:00 p.m.

The big day has finally arrived! You’ve been waiting for it for a long, and it’s finally time to visit Machu Picchu. You’ll need to be up around 4:00 a.m. for a quick bite before we set off to beat the other tour groups. The earlier you get to Machu Picchu, the better. The site opens at 6:00 a.m., so we like to be one of the first groups there for you to enjoy the place with fewer tourists. We’ll head to the small bus stop in Aguas Calientes then enjoy the walk to the entrance.

When you enter Machu Picchu, you’ll feel a deeper and more intense emotion than usual. It’s a truly magnificent sight, and you’ll immediately feel the magic and mystery. Your guide will offer you a tour of approximately two hours to all the important places of this metropolis. If you have booked tickets for Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain, it's time to go hiking.

Later, you’ll need to return to Aguas Calientes for a quick spot of lunch before boarding your train to Ollantaytambo. From there, our private transportation will collect you and take you back to your accommodation in Cusco.

It’s time to stop walking and rest. We assure you that your heart will continue to hallucinate in the Andean mountains for a long time to come!

  Inclusions

At Salkantay Trekking, we specify the included and non-included services under all the tour itineraries listed on our website. We take care of all the logistics, but please pay attention to the details to avoid missing anything. Some items may be different for specific programs, so please read carefully before booking with us.

What Is Included?

Permits & Entrance Tickets

  • Entrance Ticket to Salkantay Trek
  • Entrance Ticket to Machu Picchu Archaeological Site

High Quality Service & Safety

  • Pre-departure briefing

    You will meet your trekking guide and group in our office for an orientation before your trek. At this time, we will provide you with the duffle bags, which our horses will carry. The meeting will be at 5:00 pm the evening before the trip begins.

  • Experienced Guide

    All our guides are graduates of the professional career of Tourism of the National University San Antonio Abad of Cusco. We choose them for their professionalism, experience, responsibility, seriousness, unbridled passion for exploring, and sincere desire to proudly share in our culture and history. He or she will keep you safe, sound, and comfortable on your trek so that you can enjoy your time worry-free!

  • Private Camping Equipment

    We have dining rooms and a kitchen on each campsite. In addition, all our equipment, like tables, chairs, cooking equipment, etc., will be carried by our horses.

  • One Duffle Bag

    There, you can carry your personal belongings up to a maximum weight of 7 kg / 15 lbs (this weight includes your sleeping bag).

  • Trekking Poles with rubber tips
  • Medical Kit or First Aid Kit

    All Salkantay Trekking guides have received specialized training in first aid. We hold mandatory training sessions with our guides every February. Your guide will always carry a first aid kit to face basic emergencies (altitude sickness, travelers' diarrhea, cuts, scrapes, etc.) as well as oxygen. If necessary, we’ll evacuate you from the path as quickly as possible and ensure that you arrive at a clinic for treatment.

  • Extras included in our service

    We believe that attention to small details is what sets us apart from other local companies. You’ll receive a cover to protect your backpack on the road and a rain poncho.

  • 24/7 Customer Service

    We have telephone service available 24 hours a day for ease of communication and preparation with the agency leading up to your trek.

  • Satellite phones

    Our main priority will always be the tranquillity of our clients. All of our guides are prepared for emergencies in the mountains; however, being a phone call away from any doctor, hospital, or friend helps you feel more secure. For this reason, each Salkantay Trekking guide has a satellite phone that can be used anywhere on the mountain to call anywhere in the world.

Accommodation

  • Personal Accommodation in Private Campsites

    Like our ancestors, we’re very considerate of the Pachamama (Mother Earth). For this reason, our campsites and lodges are adapted to the environment to avoid generating negative impacts.

  • Hotel in Aguas Calientes

    The last night of this trek is spent in a hotel in Aguas Calientes with a double or triple room, private bathroom, hot shower, wifi, breakfast, and luggage storage while you visit Machu Picchu.

Meals

  • 3 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, and 2 Dinners

    Our chef prepares the most amazing dishes in the middle of the mountain. Our passengers love our food! We respect all diets (vegetarian, vegan, or special menus are available at no extra cost), so let us know if you have any particular allergies or restrictions on your reservation form and remind your guide during the briefing. You’ll enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner, in addition to hot drinks and snacks.

  • Water

    We will provide you boiled, filtered, and cooled water from your breakfast in Soraypampa to your lunch in La Playa. For it, you need to bring a camel bag or an empty bottle (we recommend a capacity of 2 liters).

  • Wake up tea

    Every morning at the campsite, you’ll be woken up with a cup of coca tea. Our staff will bring the tea to your bed so that you’re warmed from the inside out before you start your day.

  • Tea Time or Happy Hour

    The first day (Day 1) afternoon before dinner, the cooks will provide you popcorn, biscuits/cookies, coffee, hot chocolate, teas, hot water, etc. After a long day of hiking, you won't have to wait until dinner to relax, warm-up, and enjoy a bite to eat!

  • Snacks on the trail daily

    Every morning we’ll give you snacks so you can enjoy them during the walk. Your tour leader will provide you a cloth bag with local fruits, biscuits, chocolate, caramels, etc., at the beginning of each day.

  • One cloth snack bag per person

    To avoid the usage of plastic bags that contaminate our environment, we will give you a cloth bag for your snacks.

  • Products for hygiene

    You’ll be provided with a small towel and soap before each meal to clean your hands.

Transportation

  • Transport
    • Day 1: You'll be picked up from your hotel in the morning and travel by private transportation to Soraypampa, the trek’s starting point.
    • Day 2: Private transport from La Playa to Hidroelectrica.
    • Day 3: One Way Consettur Bus Ticket from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu.
    • Day 3: Private transport from Ollantaytambo train station to your hotel in Cusco.
  • Train Ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (Day 3)
  • Personal Belongings Transportation

    On day 1, cargo mules will carry all the camping equipment and your baggage allowance (7 kg / 15.4 lb). Muleteers will be responsible for your duffle bag and personal items.

    On day 2, your duffle bag will be transported by car, then by train.

What Is Not Included?

  • Huayna Picchu Mountain

    You can climb the famous mountain always seen in the photos behind the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. It’s 45 minutes uphill. Going down can be scary if you fear heights. You can take this excursion once your guided tour to Machu Picchu ends. The permit must be issued at least one month in advance due to high demand. Consider that there could be changes to protect your integrity, this, mainly due to weather conditions.

    • The ticket for Huayna Picchu Mountain costs US$ 60.00 per person.
  • Machu Picchu Mountain

    Machu Picchu Mountain is another of the mountains that surround the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. It offers less steep, wider, and visually less frightening roads than Huayna Picchu, and it takes 1.5 hours to reach the top. This walk requires an entrance ticket which we can assure you if we have time in advance.

    • The ticket for Machu Picchu Mountain costs US$ 60.00 per person.
  • Lunch in Aguas Calientes and Dinner in Cusco (Day 3)
  • Train from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes (Day 2)

    In case you feel exhausted or in bad condition after the trek from Chaullay to La Playa, you can opt to take the train from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes.

    • US$ 37.00 per person
  • Personal Clothing and Gear
  • Travel Insurance
  • Tips for our staff

    Tipping is usual on any excursion to Machu Picchu. Although we pay good salaries to our entire team, something extra is always welcome, especially considering their hard work. Typically, group participants collect their tips to hand out to the horsemen and chefs together.

  • Additional costs or delays beyond our control

    Landslides, bad weather conditions, itinerary modifications due to a safety concern, illness, pandemia, government policy changes, political instability, strikes, act of God, etc.

  Before You Go

We want to make your trip to Peru as memorable and as carefree as possible. In this section, you’ll find the answers to all the questions you have about traveling with Salkantay Trekking in one place. Please read the following information carefully – it will help you with any questions about our services.

Is it for me?

The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu is an excellent alternative for the Inca Trail trek and better suited for more adventurous trekkers who can handle higher altitudes and longer distances. Ascending to reach the famous Salkantay Pass (4,630 m / 15,190 ft) is not too strenuous nor very steep since it is at the beginning of the trek. Still, it does require stamina and a little time in Cusco to acclimatize to the altitude before beginning the trek.

How many days do I need to acclimate in Cusco before the Trek?

It’s very important to be well acclimated to the altitude before exerting yourself on a trek. We recommend that you arrive in Cusco at least 2 or 3 days before the trek starts to help you adjust and avoid possible problems with altitude sickness while on the trek.

You might have already been in another area of Peru at a high altitude before arriving in Cusco. In that case, we still recommend you have a whole day in Cusco to rest, recover from your travel, and enjoy the sights and sounds of Cusco before departing for the trek.

Here some suggestions for activities to do in the Cusco vicinity before starting your adventure trek:

Briefing or Informative Meeting

All information meetings and briefings are held in our main office in Cusco (or your hotel) at 5:00 pm, one night before the tour begins. These meetings last approximately 30 to 45 minutes. If you’re unable to attend, you must coordinate another time by email, by phone or at the Salkantay Trekking office.

Trek Balance Payment (in Cusco)

If you still have a pending balance, you must pay it 2 days before your hike/tour. Otherwise, your trip reservation will not be confirmed.

If possible, it would be greatly appreciated if you could settle the remaining balance for the trek/tour in cash, either in US dollars or the local currency, at our office in Cusco. You can withdraw funds from various ATMs located along Avenida Sol, offering both US dollars and Peruvian Soles. Alternatively, you have the option to pay using a credit/debit card or PAYPAL, either online or in person, but please note that a 5% service charge will be applied by our payment gateway (Niubiz) and PAYPAL. We regret to inform you that we are unable to accept bank checks or traveler's checks as forms of payment for the balance.

Duffle Bag or Travel Bag

The evening before the trek, we'll provide you with a duffle bag to pack your clothes and personal gear needed for the trip. Our horsemen will carry it on the route and hand it to you once you get to each camp. Please note that you will not have access to your items in the bag until the end of each day.

The maximum weight allowed is 7 kg / 15.4 lb, including the weight of your sleeping bag, clothes, and other personal items. They measure 60 x 24 x 22 cm (23.6 x 9.4 x 8.7 in).

Can I store my luggage at your office?

Of course! During the trip, your main luggage can be stored at our office (you can organize it with us on the briefing day or by email) or at your hotel, both free of charge.

Any equipment that you won’t need on the trek can be stored safely in your hotel. Nearly every hotel will provide this service. Don’t leave items of value with your bags; put them in the hotel safe and obtain an itemized receipt (in the unlikely case of theft, many insurance companies require that you have a copy of the receipt itemizing everything). It’s best to put items such as credit cards inside a sealed, signed envelope for extra peace of mind.

Pick up of guests

Please note:

  • All pickups are within Cusco City, but we recommend booking a hotel in the historic center for its convenient location.
  • Our guide or staff will confirm the pickup time the day before the tour.
  • Due to traffic conditions, the pickup time may vary between 30 and 45 minutes.
  • Cusco is an old city and has many narrow cobbled streets. Some hotels and Airbnbs are located on streets without car access or on long, steep slopes, making it difficult to transport luggage. For such reasons, we strongly advise you to book accommodation with good access.

Return to Cusco

Returning from Machu Picchu requires quite a bit of logistics, but don’t worry. Everything is included in your tour!

  • In Machu Picchu, you’ll board a bus that’ll take you for 25 minutes to the small city of Aguas Calientes. The buses are boarded according to arrival.
  • In Aguas Calientes, you’ll board a train to Ollantaytambo. Your guide will give you the train tickets where the boarding time will be shown. Make sure you’re on the platform 30 minutes early. The train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo takes 1:45 hours.
  • Once you arrive at the station, our representative, identified with the Salkantay Trekking clothing, will be waiting to transfer you to Cusco or directly to your hotel. The trip from Ollantaytambo to Cusco takes 1:30 hours.
  • In Cusco, depending on your hotel’s location, we’ll take you to a smaller car from our company (Hyundai H1) to transfer you faster to your hotel.

Note: Your tour includes a One-Way Consettur Bus Ticket Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu, so you can choose to use it from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu or from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes. If you want a round-trip bus ticket, you’ll need to pay an extra of US$ 12.00.

Group Tours

Group tours are made up of different types of people, then physical conditions and ages can vary. By agreeing to be part of a group tour, you also accept that some people may be faster or slower than you. Therefore, each person can go at their own pace on the route.

It may be the case that a group wishes to modify the tour; however, the guide will be the one who decides, after consulting with all the participants, if such modifications are possible.

Strikes and demonstrations

Strikes and demonstrations are common in Peru, and this may interrupt some of our tours. Roads can be blocked, and train tracks can be taken over. However, we will try to keep your trip as originally planned, even if it means leaving the night before the scheduled date.

Under these circumstances, tours may also be canceled. In case of changes or cancellations, everything will be coordinated with you by our operations department. Your safety is our highest priority, and our decisions will be made to protect it.

Lost objects

Please pay attention to where you leave your things and remember to take everything once you leave our transport, tents or restaurants. You’re the only one responsible for your objects during the tour.

  Packing List

WHAT SHOULD YOU BRING?

ESSENTIAL

Valid Passport
Valid Passport
Extra money (recommended soles)
Extra money (recommended soles)
Personal medication
Personal medication
Water bottle or CamelBak
Water bottle or CamelBak
Sunblock: factor 70 or more
Sunblock: factor 70 or more
Insect repellent
Insect repellent
Personal Care Products
Personal Care Products

CLOTHING

Hiking boots or shoes (preferably waterproof)
Hiking boots or shoes (preferably waterproof)
Light footwear or sandals
Light footwear or sandals
Trekking pants (*)
Trekking pants (*)
Trekking socks
Trekking socks
Pair of thermal pants
Pair of thermal pants
Shorts
Shorts
Long sleeve t-shirts
Long sleeve t-shirts
Warm jacket
Warm jacket
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof jacket
Raincoat or rain poncho
Raincoat or rain poncho
Waterproof or wool gloves
Waterproof or wool gloves
Sun hat to protect neck and face
Sun hat to protect neck and face
Wool hat for the cold
Wool hat for the cold
Neck gaiter or buff
Neck gaiter or buff
Sunglasses with UV protection
Sunglasses with UV protection

EQUIPMENT

Sleeping bag (-15°C)
Sleeping bag (-15°C)
Trekking poles
Trekking poles
Medium trekking backpack (15 - 25 liter)
Medium trekking backpack (15 - 25 liter)

RECOMMENDED

Camera and charger
Camera and charger
Power bank
Power bank
Snacks: Energy bars, chocolate, candies, dried fruits, etc.
Snacks: Energy bars, chocolate, candies, dried fruits, etc.
Bathing suit
Bathing suit
Towel
Towel
Flashlight
Flashlight
  Accommodation

Private & Exclusive Campsites

Mountain Sky View

Our campsite Mountain Sky View is a warm mountain accommodation and our novelty this year, and it’s with great pleasure that we prepared this place for all those looking for a glamping experience surrounded by nature. Each one of its individual Andean Sky Huts counts with a private bath besides spectacular tropical mountain views. You’ll find peace under the shining stars listening to the voices of wildlife and the whispers of the river in the valley.

  • Location: Collpapampa
  • Altitude: 2,950 m / 9,678 ft
  • Cabins: 10
  • Capacity: 2 people per Sky Hut
  • Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation in Aguas Calientes

Selected Hotels

We offer a set of well located hotels with very comfortable and tasteful decorated rooms. You will find them impecable, clean rooms and beds, adequate toilets and showers. A perfect place to rest before the great day!

  • Location: Aguas Calientes
  • Altitude: 2,040 m / 6,693 ft
  • Type: Double, Matrimonial, and Triple
  • Meals: Breakfast
  Pricing

"The Salkantay Trek Challenge" can leave any day of the week, from March through January. We don’t operate this itinerary in February because of the rainy season & maintenance of the route.

2024 Land Cost

Group Price: US$ 520.00 per person

Required Pre-payment: US$ 200.00 per person

Balance (Cusco): US$ 320.00 (Typically paid in Cusco two days before the start of your expedition)

This small-group journey is guaranteed to operate with just two guests.

Please note that PayPal and our credit/debit card payment gateway, Niubiz, charge a 5% processing fee for online deposits. We kindly request that our clients cover this fee, as it is necessary to use their secure service. Please be aware that this fee only applies to online deposits. If you choose to pay the full amount or remaining balance in cash, there will be no additional charges.

Hotel

All the related treks to Machu Picchu end in or before Aguas Calientes, so you’ll spend the last night in a hotel in the village rather than camping (shared room included in the trek cost). If you’d like to upgrade your hotel or prefer a single room, please consider that there will be an additional cost.

Extras & Upgrades

There are complementary services and upgrades you can include in this trip.

  • Huayna Picchu:  US$ 60.00
  • Machu Picchu Mountain:  US$ 60.00
  • Huchuy Picchu Mountain:  US$ 45.00
  • Single Supplement (Hotel at Aguas Calientes):  US$ 30.00
  • Extra Night at Aguas Calientes:  US$ 50.00
  • Vistadome Train (Aguas Calientes - Ollantaytambo):  US$ 70.00

Extensions & Offers

There are several extensions you can include to your fascinating Peru Adventure:

  • City Tour:  US$ 50.00 US$ 40.00
  • Sacred Valley of the Incas:  US$ 100.00 US$ 80.00
  • Andean Textiles, Moray & Maras Salt Mines:  US$ 100.00 US$ 80.00
  • Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain:  US$ 100.00 US$ 80.00
  • Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain:  US$ 100.00 US$ 80.00
  • Pallay Punchu Rainbow Mountain:  US$ 100.00 US$ 80.00
  • Waqrapukara Tour:  US$ 100.00 US$ 80.00
  • Ausangate Seven Lakes:  US$ 100.00 US$ 80.00
  • Qeswachaka Inca Bridge:  US$ 100.00 US$ 80.00

Price Guarantee

Once your booking has been confirmed we guarantee the price will not increase, whatever the circumstances. Before booking please ensure you have read our important tour pricing information

Student Discount

US$20.00 off

Student discounts apply to anyone 17-years-old or younger, and we need a copy of their passport at booking time. Please send all to info@salkantaytrekking.com.

  Enquire Now

Thank you for your interest in having an adventure travel experience in Peru curated by Salkantay Trekking. Please take a moment to complete our short form, so one our friendly Adventure Consultants could provide you all the information for your trip of a lifetime in Peru.

Our Pledge |  Your privacy is respected and protected. The Salkantay Trekking Company will never share, sell, or make public any of your personal contact information to third parties.

Personal Details

Trip Details

Salkantay Trek Challenge 3D
14 years and above
Below 14 years
7 + 3 =

Remember |  One of our Travel Experts will contact you soon to confirm the availability of the trip you chose, give you more information, and/or provide you alternative options. Once availability is established, we will ask for a deposit and a completed online registration to confirm your spot on the trek. Please call us at (+51) 958 191 179 with any questions or to confirm availability over the phone.

Note |  Due to the rainy season and trail maintenance, we don't offer this trek during the whole month of february. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you, we are working to provide you a better service!

Feel free to reach us via email at info@salkantaytrekking.com or by calling us directly at (+51) 958 191 179

Every Day: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm

Triunfo Street 346 - Main Square of Cusco, Peru

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