From the glaciers of Salkantay, one of the highest peaks near Cusco, down through cloud forest to Machu Picchu. Compare our 4-day and 5-day routes and find the pace that suits you.
The Salkantay route
Salkantay is the great ice-covered peak west of Cusco, one of the sacred mountains, or apus, of the region. The trek named after it crosses a pass at the foot of its glaciers and then drops, in a single long afternoon, into a completely different world of cloud forest, waterfalls and warm valleys, before finishing at Machu Picchu.
That change of scenery is the heart of the route. So is its flexibility: the Salkantay Trek doesn’t use Inca Trail permits, so it’s often available when those are sold out, and it stays open in February, when the Inca Trail closes. In return, you see fewer Inca sites along the way and reach Machu Picchu by bus from Aguas Calientes rather than through the Sun Gate.
We plan two versions. Both share the same high section; the difference is how you spend the days after the pass.
Our Salkantay treks
Both visit Humantay Lake on the first day and cross the pass on the second. They differ in what happens after that.
Salkantay to Machu Picchu
The classic alternative to the Inca Trail: over the Salkantay Pass at about 4,600 m, down into cloud forest and on to Machu Picchu in four days.
Salkantay and Llactapata to Machu Picchu
The full-paced Salkantay route: the same high pass, then two shorter days through coffee country and over Llactapata, with a first view of Machu Picchu.
4 days or 5 days
| Tour | Duration | Difficulty | Highest point | Distance | After the pass | May suit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salkantay Trek 4 Days | 4 Days / 3 Nights | Challenging | 4,600 m / 15,092 ft | About 55 km (34 mi) | Down through the valleys and on to Aguas Calientes in one more day | Fit hikers short on time who are happy with one very long day |
| Salkantay Trek 5 Days | 5 Days / 4 Nights | Challenging | 4,600 m / 15,092 ft | About 70 km (43 mi) | Two shorter days through coffee country and over the Llactapata ridge | Hikers who want more time in the valleys, photographers, anyone whose knees dislike long descents |
The high part of the trek is identical: the first day climbs to Humantay Lake, and the second crosses the Salkantay Pass at about 4,600 m (15,100 ft) before a descent of more than 1,500 m into the forest. On the 4-day route, the third day continues down the valleys to Aguas Calientes, so you arrive with plenty of distance in your legs and visit Machu Picchu the next morning.
The 5-day route slows the second half down. After the pass, you spend a night in the coffee-growing valleys and then climb to Llactapata, a small Inca site on a ridge facing Machu Picchu, where on a clear day you see the citadel from across the valley. You reach Aguas Calientes rested, at a pace that suits people who like to take in the scenery rather than just cover ground.
Neither version makes the top any easier; what the fifth day buys is recovery time and a quieter finish.
Tell us about your hiking experience and your dates. We’ll help you choose and plan your acclimatization in Cusco.
Terrain
Altitude
The pass is higher than anything on the Classic Inca Trail, and the first part of the trek is spent around 3,900 m and above. Arrive in Cusco at least two or three nights before you start, keep the first day easy and drink plenty of water. Nights in the Sacred Valley, which is lower than Cusco, are a comfortable way to adjust.
On the trail, your guide sets the pace and watches for signs of altitude sickness. Symptoms that get worse are a reason to slow down or descend, not to push on. Both routes visit Humantay Lake on day one; if you’d like to see it without trekking, there’s also a Humantay Lake day tour.
Difficulty
We rate both routes as challenging. Expect six to nine hours of walking on most days, and ten or more on the pass day, which combines the climb with a long, knee-testing descent. You don’t need technical skills, but you should be a regular hiker, comfortable on uneven ground for several days in a row.
Training helps more than anything else: long hikes with real elevation gain in the months before you travel, and some leg-strength work for the descents. Bring trekking poles if you have them.
Machu Picchu
Both routes spend the last night in Aguas Calientes, the town below the site, and finish with a guided visit of Machu Picchu on the final morning before the journey back to Cusco. We confirm how you travel the last stretch into Aguas Calientes, your campsites and your meals with your quote.
If walking the original Inca road and entering through the Sun Gate matter most to you, look at our Inca Trail tours first. If permits are gone, or you’d like higher mountains and fewer rules, Salkantay is the natural alternative. For other multi-day routes, see our treks from Cusco.
Seasons
April to October is the dry season and the most reliable time, with clear views of the peaks, cold nights up high and busy trails from June to August. The route stays open from November to March too, including February, but expect rain, mud and clouds that come and go, especially around the pass.
Families
Salkantay can be a memorable trip for active teenagers who already enjoy long hikes and cope well with cold nights and altitude. It’s a demanding route for younger children. Talk with our local team about your family’s hiking experience and we’ll help you decide whether it fits, or suggest a gentler alternative.
Questions
In most ways, yes. Its pass is higher, at about 4,600 m against 4,215 m on the Classic Inca Trail, and the pass day is longer. The Inca Trail has more stone staircases. Both are challenging; the difference is mostly altitude and day length.
No Inca Trail permit is needed, which is why Salkantay is often available when the Inca Trail is sold out. You still need a timed ticket for Machu Picchu, and we plan the trek around it.
Yes. The route stays open all year. February is one of the wettest months, so expect rain and mud and pack good waterproofs.
The high section is the same on both. Five days make the second half gentler, with shorter days and more time to recover after the pass, so most people finish less tired.
Nights on the first part of the trek are spent camping, and the last night is in Aguas Calientes before your Machu Picchu visit. We confirm the campsites and what’s provided with your quote.
Because no trail permit is involved, Salkantay can often be arranged closer to your dates than the Inca Trail. For June to August, a few months ahead is still sensible, since Machu Picchu tickets and trains fill up.
Keep exploring
Trekking
A side-by-side look at the two most popular treks to Machu Picchu: scenery and history, difficulty and altitude, permits, camps, crowds and who each one suits.
Trekking
Salkantay, Lares, the Inca Jungle, Choquequirao and Ausangate compared: days, altitude, difficulty, which ones end at Machu Picchu and how to choose.
Inca Trail
A practical packing list for the Inca Trail: layers for cold nights and hot days, boots, rain gear, what to rent in Cusco, documents, and what isn’t allowed on the trail.
Cusco
How high Cusco is, what the altitude feels like, a calm plan for your first 48 hours, why starting in the Sacred Valley helps and how many days to allow before a trek.
Send us your dates and a little about your hiking experience. We’ll help you choose between four and five days and plan your acclimatization in Cusco.
