Salkantay Inca Trail Trek offers a unique experience that only a few experience. Inca Trail Salkantay Trek combines the best of both iconic treks to Machu Picchu.
On this six day trail to Machu Picchu, you will begin hiking through the highland Peruvian region. You will be closer to the Sacred Apu Salkantay Mountain. Then you will descend through the cloud forests and merge on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
You will be experiencing the highest pass of both treks. Salkantay Pass at 4630 metres above sea level (15090 feet) and the infamous Dead Woman’s Pass of Inca Trail at (4236m/13894ft).
You will revel in the constantly changing scenery and some lesser known inca sites in route to the lost city of Incas, Machu Picchu. Stroll through the complex known to the local people but hidden from the world until it was rediscovered in the early 20th century.
Horses are used for the Salkantay trek portion and human porters for the Inca Trail. Please note that this is a high altitude experience. Consider spending 3-4 days in Cusco before the trek to acclimate and avoid altitude sickness.
Please, consider purchasing the Inca Trail permits at least 6 months in advance because they sell out quickly by the official system.
The Salkantay Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu is one of our signature treks. We maintain high safety standards. Our main aim is to offer you a pleasant and a safe experience on any of our tours.
Inca trail is closed for maintenance every February, during the rainy season. Do take a moment to check out our reviews on TripAdvisor.
We will be picking you up from your hotel in Cusco at 0500 AM. Then in our private transport, we will be driving you to the northwest of Cusco City to Mollepata. It is a serene Andean village at (2850m/9348ft).
After having breakfast, we will continue to Soraypampa. This is where the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu begins.
We will begin the trek with a gentle uphill hike. The first section of the trek is a beautiful introduction to the Vilcabamba Mountain Range. We will be hiking to Humantay Lake. It is a beautiful turquoise lake .
After enjoying the views here, we will hike to our campsite at Salkantaypampa (4100m/13451ft).
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast, we will begin with a hike to the highest pass of the trek – Incachiriasca Pass (5200m/17060ft),
We will be hiking through the mountains of Humantay, Salkantay, Tucarhuay etc. Then we will be descending to our campsite in Sisaypampa (3750 metres/12303 feet).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
We will begin the day quite early in the morning. After breakfast, we will go through the Inca canal to reach Huayllabamba (3000 metres/9842 feet). From here, we will be entering the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
Here, we will meet our porters to start the Inca trail the next day. On route we will visit the Pampacahua and Paucarcancha ruins.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast, we will be trekking to Llulluchapampa. This is the highlight of the Inca Trail. You will get to immerse in the spectacular scenery that would compensate for all the effort of this uphill hike.
Vegetation thins and the day warms on the approach to the highest point of the trail – Warmiwañusqa Pass (Dead Woman’s Pass) (4236m/13894ft).
We will camp at the Pacaymayo Valley (3526m/11566ft).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast, we will begin with a hike to the second highest pass at 3850 metres | 12631 feet above sea level. On our way up, we will be visiting the Runcuracay archaeological site.
Our guide will be giving you a guided tour of the complex. We will also be touring the Sayacmarca complex and Phuyupatamarca ruins.
After lunch, we will be hiking to our campsite near the ruins of Wiñay Wayna. While our chef will be preparing dinner, we will be touring the ruins.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Note: If the campsite Wiñay Wayna is not available, which is a 2 hour hike to Machu Picchu, the official system will assign the campsite of Phuyu patamarca which is 5 hours to Machu Picchu.
After an early breakfast, we will hike the final part of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. We will be reaching the Sun gate at sunrise so you will be able to get an enchanting view of the sun rising over the walls of the iconic Incan citadel.
We will then hike down to the Machu Picchu citadel. Here we will be presenting our entrance ticket. Our local expert will then give you a two hours detailed tour of the citadel.
After the tour, you will have some free time to explore the citadel on our own. If you have booked to hike Huayna Picchu mountain or Machu Picchu mountain, our guide will be directing you to the respective entrance.
At an advised time, we will be taking a bus down to Aguas Calientes. Here you will have some free time to saunter on the arrow cobble stoned streets rimmed with local shops.
We will then take a train back to Ollantaytambo in Sacred Valley. Here our representative will be meeting and will be transferring you back to your respective hotel in Cusco.
Breakfast included
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Add an extra day so you can trek at ease and overnight in Aguas Calientes so you can be relaxed for your next day´s visit to Machu Picchu.
The Salkantay Inca Trail Trek organized by South American Exclusive Tours Peru was an unforgettable adventure that exceeded all my expectations. From start to finish, every detail was meticulously planned, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience.
The trek itself offered breathtaking scenery and a variety of landscapes, from serene Andean villages to towering mountain passes. The highlight for me was reaching the highest point of the trek at Incachiriasca Pass, where the panoramic views of the surrounding mountains were simply awe-inspiring.
