The Route

Unlike the Inca Trail, which follows a single continuous stone path, the Salkantay Trek moves through dramatically different terrain each day — high alpine passes, glacier views, cloud forest, and finally the subtropical approach to Machu Picchu. Here's how the five days typically break down.

Day 1

Cusco → Soraypampa

Drive from Cusco to the trailhead, then hike to Humantay Lake — a turquoise glacial lake at 4,200m — before overnighting at Soraypampa.

Day 2

Salkantay Pass

The trek's high point: crossing the 4,630m Salkantay Pass beneath the glaciated peak, then descending into the start of the cloud forest.

Day 3

Cloud Forest Descent

A long descent through changing ecosystems — from alpine terrain into humid cloud forest, passing coffee and fruit farms.

Day 4

Hydroelectric → Aguas Calientes

A relatively flat trek along the rail line to Aguas Calientes, the town beneath Machu Picchu, with your first glimpses of the ruins above.

Day 5

Machu Picchu

An early entry to Machu Picchu with your guide, exploring the citadel before the train back toward Cusco.

Optional

Extra Acclimatization Day

Groups sensitive to altitude can add a rest day at Soraypampa before crossing the pass — available as an add-on.

Best Time to Trek Salkantay

The dry season, April through October, is the most reliable window — clear skies, cold nights, and stable trail conditions. May and June tend to have the best combination of dry weather and manageable crowds, since July and August (Peru's peak tourist months) get busier at Machu Picchu itself, even though the Salkantay trail remains far quieter than the Inca Trail year-round.

The wet season (November–March) brings a real risk of rain and slippery sections at altitude, but also thins out the trail considerably and turns the cloud forest a deeper green. It's a trade-off worth discussing with your guide based on your priorities.

"Salkantay gives you almost everything the Inca Trail does — the pass, the ruins, the cloud forest — but you'll pass a fraction of the people doing it." — Backpack Peru Guide

What Makes It Special

The Inca Trail is rightly famous, but its daily permit cap means booking months ahead and sharing the trail with hundreds of other trekkers. Salkantay has no permit limit, no fixed group merging, and covers terrain the Inca Trail doesn't — including a genuine high-altitude glacier pass and a much longer stretch of cloud forest.

It's also considered one of the more physically rewarding treks in the region: you experience three distinct ecosystems in five days, watch the landscape change from snow-capped peaks to dense jungle, and still arrive at Machu Picchu on foot rather than by train alone.

The Salkantay Pass sits at 4,630m — the trek's highest and most demanding point, usually crossed on day two.

Getting There & Logistics

The trek begins with a road transfer from Cusco to Mollepata or Soraypampa (about 3 hours), arranged as part of your trip. From there, everything moves on foot, aside from optional horses available to carry gear on the toughest day. The trek ends at Aguas Calientes, from where a scenic train returns you to Ollantaytambo or Cusco.

No special permits are required for Salkantay (unlike the Inca Trail), which means it can typically be booked with a few weeks' notice rather than months in advance — though Machu Picchu entry tickets should still be secured early during peak season.

Quick Facts — Salkantay Trek
Location
Cusco Region, Peru
Distance
74 km / 46 mi
Duration
5 days, 4 nights
Max altitude
4,630 m / 15,190 ft
Difficulty
Moderate–Hard
Best season
April–October
Permits required
None (Machu Picchu entry only)
Includes
Guide, porters, chef, camping gear
Salkantay Machu Picchu Andes Trekking Moderate–Hard Peru