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Tours & experiences

Salkantay Trek To Machu Picchu 5 Days And 4 Nights

SALKANTAY TREK TO MACHU PICCHUMACHU PICCHUSALKANTAY TREKKINGMACHU PICCHU VIEWMACHU PICCHU CITY

About this experience

This trek runs beneath the magnificent Salkantay mountain (20,569ft), one of the highest and most stunning in the Andes. The Salkantay Trek was recently named on the National Geographic Ultimate Adventure bucket list – defined as “The 20 most extreme, hair-raising, legendary adventures on the planet.” It is a trek open to everybody, and the most popular alternative to the Inca Trail trek.

This offers 4 days of trekking through various landscapes including highlands, cloud forest, rain forest and dry mountain. Throughout the trek you have amazing views of Apu Salkantay, Pumasillo Mountain and Humantay Mountain, three of the most stunning peaks of the Vilcabamba Mountain range. 

Our trek includes the services of lodging in a very nice hotel on the fourth night of the trek, a very unique coffee plantation tour in the afternoon of day 3, and dinner at great local restaurant in Aguas Calientes.

At a glance

  • Duration: 120 hr

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Salkantay Trek To Machu Picchu 5 Days And 4 Nights
Pickup included

Plan your experience

Time on the tour120 hr
Getting therePickup offeredSee pickup details
Guide languagesEnglish (live guide), Spanish (live guide)

Set aside 120 hr for the experience itself, with additional time to reach your meeting or pickup point.

Before you go

  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • What to bring:
  • Original passport (if you have acquired a new one after you made your booking, bring both)

Local guides to help you plan

Machu Picchu Day Trip From Cusco

A Machu Picchu day trip from Cusco is possible, but it requires advance entry tickets, carefully matched transport, and a very early start. Use this practical guide to choose a circuit, build a realistic schedule, compar

Machu Picchu Tickets and Circuits Guide

Choose the right Machu Picchu circuit, understand the 2026 ticket system, and avoid common booking mistakes with this practical guide to routes, identification, seasonal access, and last-minute entry.

What is included

  • Dining tent with tables and chairs
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Four-person tent for each two persons
  • Breakfast
  • Toilet tent with portable toilet
  • Bilingual English speaking tour guide
  • Expedition train from Aguas Calientes to either Ollantaytambo or to Poroy
  • Mattress and pillow
  • Hot water for washing.
  • Pick up from your hotel and transportation to Soraypampa on day 1
  • Pre-Departure Briefing at your hotel 1 or 2 days before your trek.
  • Emergency oxygen bottle and medical kit.
  • Wranglers and horses to carry all the equipment (food, tents, chairs, table, etc)
  • Private transport from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
  • Daily morning boiled and cold water to fill the water bottles.
  • Emergency horse in case we need it
  • Coffee plantation tour in the afternoon of day 3
  • Kitchen tent
  • Horse to carry 8 kg of your personal belongings
  • Expert chef and assistant chef
  • Duffle bag to pack your personal belongings
  • Lodging in Aguas Calientes on night 4 of the trek (double occupancy)

Not included

  • Sleeping bag
  • Day 5 lunch in Aguas Calientes
  • Tips for the crew (muleteers, chef and guide)
  • Hiking poles
  • Round trip bus ticket to Machu Picchu

Itinerary and highlights

See the overview, available options and booking details for the experience schedule.

Meeting and pickup information

  • We can pick up travelers from airbnbs, but they must be located in the city of Cusco.

Languages and tickets

  • English — Guide
  • Spanish — Guide
  • Mobile Only

Tour operator

  • Action Peru Treks

Meeting points and locations

Accessibility and practical details

  • Service animals allowed
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • What to bring:
  • Original passport (if you have acquired a new one after you made your booking, bring both)
  • Down or synthetic feather sleeping bag (can be rented from us)
  • Clothes (trekking boots, warm fleece jacket, a few t-shirts, socks, sun hat, warm underwear, light long pants, gloves, rain jacket)
  • Toiletries (toilet paper, wet wipes, personal towel)
  • Sunscreen SPF 35+ recommended
  • Head lamp
  • Sunglasses
  • Camera with spare batteries (batteries run down faster at high altitudes)
  • Binoculars
  • Book to read (you will have some spare time at every camp to read your favorite book)
  • Trekking poles (recommended especially for the steep descents, can be rented from us)
  • Insect repellent

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Questions about this experience

How long is this experience?
The supplier lists a duration of 120 hr.
What are the pickup arrangements?
We can pick up travelers from airbnbs, but they must be located in the city of Cusco.
Which guide languages are listed?
English (live guide), Spanish (live guide).
What ticket format is listed?
Mobile ticket.
What ticket age bands are listed?
Adult tickets: age 6+. Check the practical details for participation requirements.
What accessibility information is provided?
Service animals allowed
What is the cancellation policy?
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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