The seven day Inca Trail Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu begins at a high altitude. It takes you down to the cloud forests through some renowned Inca Sites. The experience culminates at Machu Picchu citadel.
Salkantay Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu is the best combination of two of the iconic trails to Machu Picchu. Both Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and Salkantay Trek are recognised by National Geographic Travel Magazine as popular treks in South America.
Inca Trail Salkantay Trek
The seven day Inca Trail Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu begins at a high altitude. It takes you down to the cloud forests through some renowned Inca Sites. The experience culminates at Machu Picchu citadel.
Salkantay Inca Trail Trek offers a diverse view of the Andean landscapes, archaeological sites and remote villages. It takes you around the base of the mighty Salkantay Mountain that rises to 6271 metres above sea level. It is the second tallest mountain in the region.
Inca Trail Salkantay Trek takes you through mountains high above the Sacred Valley. You will be following the course of the Urubamba river through the old Inca roadway that leads to Machu Picchu. The experience offers a blend of landscapes of high mountain ranges and dense subtropical regions.
The 90 kilometres trek is one of the best lifetime experiences to most. It is also one of the popular ways to reach Machu Picchu from Cusco. You will get to see some distinct flora and fauna.
Inca Trail Salkantay Trek gives you the opportunity to see the stunning Andean gem – Humantay Lake.
You will be conquering the highest points of both Salkantay Trek and Inca Trail. Salkantay Pass is at 5100 metres above sea level. The infamous Dead Woman’s Pass of the Inca Trail is at 4200 metres above sea level.
As Inca Trail permits get sold out months in advance, we highly recommend you to book this trek at least seven months before.
Why Machu Picchu Tours?
Machu Picchu Tours is a fully locally owned tour operating company based in Cusco. We are a licensed Inca Trail operator.
Our guides are passionate about the history, Inca sites and culture of Peru. They have years of experience hiking to Machu Picchu.
We offer Salkantay Inca Trail Trek both in private and as a small group tour.
Salkantay is a part of the Andean mountain range. It is subject to two seasons: the dry season and the rainy season. During monsoon, the trek gets slippery. The best time to do the Inca Trail Salkantay Trek is during the dry season – April to December.
It is important that you spend a few days acclimating to Cusco before the experience to avoid altitude sickness. Here are some tips on how to train for Salkantay Trek.
Do take a moment to check our reviews on Trip Advisor.
Here’s the difference between Salkantay Trek and Lares Trek.
At 0430 in the morning, we will be picking you up from your hotel in Cusco. Then in our private transport, we will be embarking on a two and a half hours drive to Marccoccasa. It is an Andean village at 3300 metres (10826 feet). This is the starting point of this seven days Salkantay Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu.
Our team will serve you a nutritious breakfast. The guide will be introducing you to the rest of the team – porters, chef and helpers.
Al set, we will begin the hike for some three and a half hours amidst the fertile green valley snuggled between the snow capped Andean peaks. We will be reaching our lunch camp where the crew will be serving you a delicious Andean meal.
After lunch, we will be hiking through less inclined terrain. You will be getting a closer view of the Mighty Humantay Peak. Melting snow from the glacier feeds the renowned Andean turquoise lake, Lake Humantay.
Mountains or Apus are sacred entities to the Andean community. You will witness a drop in temperature. This is where you will need to unwrap your jackets from your rucksack.
We will then hike for a few minutes to our exclusive campsite in Soraypampa. It is at 3800 metres (12467 feet). Our crew will extend a warm welcome with a warm cup of tea. This will be followed by an exquisite dinner.
Our crew will be waking you up to a freshly brewed cup of Peruvian coffee of infusion. We will then serve a nutritious traditional breakfast. Our guide will be briefing you on what to expect on the route.
We will be hiking for two hours from our campsite to the shores of the picturesque Humantay Lake. Our guide will be explaining its significance to the Andean community and will demonstrate how the locals perform the ceremony of Apacheta here.
Apacheta is more of piling stones each on top of the other to express the gratitude to the Lake which is also a Sacred Andean entity.
We will then follow the main trail to Salkantay Pampa. We will be reaching our lunch camp at around 0100 PM. You will be closer to the mighty Salkantay Peak.
After lunch, we will be descending for two hours to our campsite in Ichupata. It is at 4200 metres (13779 feet). Be prepared to experience extreme cold weather here because of the altitude.
Our crew will be welcoming you with a hot cup of tea followed by dinner. We will be camping at our exclusive campsite overlooking the mighty Salkantay Peak.
After breakfast, we will begin the third day of the seven day Salkantay Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu. We will be hiking to Inca Chiriasca Pass which is at 5200 metres (16404 feet). The hike is somewhat challenging due to altitude, it is imperative that you are well acclimated.
From the top of the pass, you will get pristine views of the Andean valley. Our crew will be serving a cup of freshly brewed coca tea. After relishing this enchanting view, you will have an option of hiking up for thirty minutes to get a closer view of the glacier.
Once you have had your fill of these views, we will descend to our lunch camp where our crew will be serving a protein rich Andean meal.
After lunch, we will continue descending to our campsite amidst the Andean valley in a community of 10 families.
The fourth day of Inca Trail Salkantay Trek is designed to offer you an insight into the life and culture of Andean communities.
We will be hiking through some traditional Andean farms where the villagers have maintained their age-old traditions respecting the Andean entities like the Apus (Mountain), Lakes and Pachamama (Mother Earth).
We will then visit the Inca archaeological sites along the way. You will notice the change in weather as we will be getting closer to the Amazon Rainforest.
We will then enter the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. After a short hike, we will be reaching our lunch camp.
Be prepared to be immersed in the awe-inspiring views of the Snow capped peaks and Waterfalls as you will be entering the Cloud forest.
We will then continue hiking to our exclusive campsite in Ayapata.
The fifth day of the Salkantay Inca Trail trek is the most challenging yet a rewarding experience. We will be hiking to the infamous Dead Woman’s Pass which is the highest point of the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
After breakfast, we will be hiking for two hours up the hill. You will once again witness a drastic change in views. The lush tropical vegetation will gradually start to diminish as the sight of Andean straws (Ichu) will begin to appear.
Dead Woman’s Pass
We will be reaching the Dead Woman’s pass at 4200 metres (13779 feet). You will have some time to relax and soak in the view.
From here, we will be hiking down the hill along the cobblestone path to our lunch camp. You will be hiking through impressive Orchid plantations. We request you to respect these flowers as they are in the danger of extinction.
After relishing an Andean meal for lunch, we will begin with a gradual uphill hike to another mountain pass. From here, the impressive Inca complex of Runcuraccay is just minutes away.
This notable archaeological complex served as a place from where the Incas monitored the valley below. Our local expert will be sharing a detailed insight to the Inca ruins.
After a short rest, we will descend further for an hour to Yanacocha. The Incas performed rituals to honour the spirit of Water. You will then witness the trail covered in dense mist as we will be entering the cloud forest and hike to Sayacmarca Archaeological Complex.
Our local expert will be giving you a detailed tour of the complex here.
After the tour, we will continue the hike for some thirty minutes to our campsite in Chaquicocha. The campsite is nestled amidst the Andean peaks and is home to some distinct flora and fauna.
This is one of the most rewarding days of this seven day Salkantay Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu. Overall, you will be hiking for just five hours and will also get to see three different Inca sites along the way.
We will visit the archaeological site of Phuyupatamarca. As all Inca sites, this too was a prominent farming place. Our guide will be explaining the different farming methods the Incas implemented to enhance the growth of different crops.
To Inca nobles, this site served as a place to communicate with stars and do research on astronomy.
After touring the complex, we will be hiking further to Wiñay Wayna. It is at 2600 metres (8530 feet). In Quechua the name signifies “Forever Young”. We will be stopping by our campsite where you can leave your belongings.
From the campsite, it is just a five minute hike to the impressive archaeological complex. Our guide will be giving you a detailed tour of the complex. You will be impressed with the architecture of the temples and aqueducts here.
After relishing a delicious lunch, you will have the rest of the evening free to yourself. You can also take a hot shower here.
After dinner, we will be bidding goodbye to our supportive porters without whom this high altitude hike would have been impossible.
The day you have been waiting for! We will be waking you up early in the morning. After breakfast, we will begin to hike in the dark for two hours. Please carry your flashlight.
We will be reaching the Sun gate (Intipunku) before sunrise so you will have some time to get the magical view of the citadel at dawn. Witnessing the sunrise from the Sungate is exclusive to those on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
After getting the most of this mystical view, we will be hiking for 45 minutes down the hill. This marks the last stretch of the Inca Trail Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu.
On reaching the citadel of Machu Picchu, We will give you a detailed two hours guided tour. During the tour, we will take you to the most important temples and enclosures.
After the tour, you will have free time for exploring Machu Picchu on your own.
If you have booked to hike Huayna Picchu, we will direct you to the trailhead of Huayna Picchu mountain.
After the full day trip of Machu Picchu, you will be taking a bus back to Aguas Calientes. Here you will board the train to Ollantaytambo train station. Here, our representative will be meeting you and will be driving you back to Cusco. We will arrive at Cusco City at around 7:00 p.m.
Departure & Return Location
Cusco Hotel Transfer
Departure Time
4:30 a.m.
Price Includes
Price Excludes
Packing list
Useful Info
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Do you have any questions? Contact us at +51 974 378 488
Find out what those who have trusted us to explore unique destinations and live extraordinary adventures have to say.
John CJanuary 10, 2025Verified Excellent, perfectly planned trip. The trip was perfectly planned from start to finish, the transport, the hike, the hotel, the food and the entrance to Machu Picchu. The lovely guide Edwin was incredibly knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the site, the hike, and it's history. It truly is an incredible and captivating place that is a must see if you have the opportunity. Gabriel CNovember 12, 2024Verified Rainbow Mountain Tour guide We had a great tour of Rainbow Mountain. Jose was extremely knowledgeable and was a lot of help. The tour included good breakfast and lunch. I highly recommended this tour Joshua SNovember 10, 2024Verified "Unforgettable Machu Picchu Journey with an Exceptional Guide!" John was the perfect guide for our journey from Cusco to Machu Picchu! From the start, he made everything smooth and enjoyable, picking us up from our hotel and ensuring we were comfortable and ready for the adventure ahead. Thanks to his planning, we arrived at Machu Picchu early, avoiding the crowds and enjoying the stunning morning views. The weather was fantastic, and John's deep knowledge of the history and culture made every moment even more memorable. His explanations brought the ancient Incan sites to life, and he guided us thoughtfully through the walk at Machu Picchu, pointing out details we would have missed on our own. Throughout the entire day, John was attentive, patient, and incredibly helpful. He truly went above and beyond to make our experience unforgettable. Highly recommend! Gabriel CNovember 10, 2024Verified Great tour Me and my brother went on a tour with John. He was very helpful. He was very knowledgeable and helpful. Not only did he give a great tour but he was able to give us good recommendations and was very accommodating Kim AOctober 24, 2024Verified An amazing experience! We are an American family from Evansville, Indiana. After doing much research we chose Machu Picchu Tours to make our dream come true of seeing Machu Picchu via the 4-day Inca Trail Trek.Planning this kind of trip is no small feat, but John Taqquere Villaneuva was there for us every step of the way! He always responded quickly to my MANY texts and provided excellent information to prepare us for the trek. Our amazing guide, Edwin, the Porters and Chef went way above and beyond to make sure we felt safe and that we were getting the best experience that was promised. I cannot emphasize how important hygiene and safe food is on a trip like this. We feel our Porters did an excellent job keeping the dining area clean and providing excellent, healthy and safe food. While it is common for foreigners to get sick when traveling to a new country, the crew kept us healthy, hydrated, and safe the entire trip. Our porters took care of every single detail from setting up our camp, refilling our water bottles, and feeding us delicious hot meals 3 times a day. The porters were always there to take care of us. Our bags were transported and waiting for us in our tents upon arrival. Hot drinks were ready for us upon arrival at each campsite, and hot soapy water and towels were provided to clean up after a long day’s hike. Their work ethic and attention to detail was impressive. The 4 day trek is strenuous. Our guide, Edwin, coached us along the way, helping us to set a pace that worked for us so that we would not burn out. He also handled all of our paperwork and entry tickets. There are checkpoints and everything must be in order and spelled correctly. Without these documents, there is no trek and there is no entry into Machu Picchu. Our guide always kept us informed of the daily itinerary and was always supportive and eager to help. His knowledge of the history of the Inca and the ruins was exceptional. We walked away feeling an immense appreciation and understanding of the Inca because of Edwin. If your dream of seeing Machu Picchu is through the Inca Trail, or want to arrange guided tours, then don’t let fear stand in your way. And if you are looking for an agency, we highly recommend John Taqquere Villaneuva with Machu Picchu Tours. These are good, honest, trustworthy and hard-working people that will help make your dream come true. We are so thankful to Machu Picchu Tours, our Guide, Edwin, and the amazing Porters and Chef for their hard work and efforts to help make our dream come true. HikeJunkieCarlosOctober 21, 2024Verified Very organized crew knowledgeable friendly and just plain awesome to have around every step of the way. Couldn’t have asked for a better crew chef porters tents and food for this 4 day Inca trail tripWas the best experience for all 8 of us in our friends group to enjoy every moment and have amazing time all the way through the trip in town and on the Inca trailVery organized crew knowledgeable friendly and just plain awesome to have around every step of the way. Highly recommend this company to solo and groups that plan to visit Peru SkyMiles KOctober 19, 2024Verified 1 of 2 top Bucket List items, Hike the INCA Trail to Machu Picchu Completed the INCA trail with our Hike Junkies family. The Machu Picchu tours were INCREDIBLE!!! A great big shout out to John Taqquere Villanueva & his team for providing us with their expertise & care before, during & after the 4-day backpacking hike. The porters had camp setup for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner during our hiking adventure. Our chef, Carmelito "5-STARS," prepared meals that you should only find in a fine dining restaurant. We even had some Peruvian history lessons along the way. A few surprise discovery viewpoints along the trail. After completing 4-day Inca trail, we hiked the Humanatay Lake on 5th day & Rainbow Mtn on 6th day. We THANK YOU, John, Alberto, Berle, Aiwyn & drivers, porters for making this the adventure of the century!...so far Rebecca ROctober 19, 2024Verified 4 day Inca Trail with Hike Junkies We just completed the 4 day Inca Trail with Machu Picchu Tours. John Taqquere Villanueva went above and beyond to provide us with an amazing experience, with fun, knowledgeable guides to qn amazing chef and porters. Our tents were comfortable and kept us warm and dry from the elements. We were served four course meals, desert and happy hour on each day. Happy hour consisted of fresh hot popcorn, hot cocoa, coffee, cookies and bread. In addition to the 4 day Inca Trail we scored permits to hike Huayna Picchu ( Stairs of Death) which we conquered just having completed the last day of the Inca trail. Yes, our group is crazy! One member of our group was unable to hike the four day Inca trail due to severe health issues, John Taqquere and went above and beyond to give him an amazing Machu Picchu experience. Our trip consisted of City Walking Tour of Cusco, Alpaca Farm, Humantay Lake, Rainbow Mountain and other ruins. This was a humbling experience that will last a lifetime. Chalmers BOctober 9, 2024Verified Great experience! Our guide Edwin was excellent. The first day is very challenging but equally rewarding, and we were really glad that MPT arranged a pre-meeting the day before to go over logistics and make sure we were properly equipped -- renting poles is highly recommended, well worth the $10. Reaching the Sun Gate and getting the full vista of Machu Picchu felt like a life accomplishment. The second day is much less challenging, walking through the actual ruins of Machu Picchu, and we felt much less pressure because we'd gotten such great views and photos the day before.
Huchuy Qosqo was used as a royal estate by Viracocha. During the last days of his rule, he faced a revolt from Cancha People. Huchuy Qosqo Hike is an off-the-beaten-track experience that takes you to the lesser-known yet prominent Inca site, Huchuy Qosqo Peru.
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