The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

Salkantay, the Savage Mountain

Salkantay, also spelled Salcantay, is the highest peak in the Vilcabamba mountain range of the Peruvian Andes. It sits in the Cusco Region, about 60 km west-northwest of Cusco, and its summit reaches 6,271 to 6,279 m. The name comes from the Quechua word sallqa, meaning wild or savage, recorded as early as 1583, and is often translated as Savage Mountain.

Machu Picchu sits directly north of Salkantay, at the end of a ridge that extends down from the peak. That proximity, combined with the fact that the classic Inca Trail sells out its permits, is why the walking routes around the mountain are collectively known as the Salkantay trek. You walk in the shadow of the peak and finish at the ruins.

Compare it with the Inca Trail and the other Machu Picchu treks if you are still deciding.

Mollepata and the Start

The booked 5-day tour with Inkas Destination includes hotel pickup and transportation from Cusco to Mollepata, the trailhead town for the route. The Salkantay is not a walk done independently, since a licensed operator and guide are required, and all three tours here bundle the transport, crew and camping equipment. From Mollepata the trail climbs into high country over the following days, working toward the pass below the peak itself.

Humantay Lake

Humantay Lake is the turquoise glacial lake that most Salkantay operators visit near the pass, and both TreXperience tours build it into their route. The lake sits along the way as the trail gains altitude, fed by glacier water from the surrounding peaks. Its exact altitude and size are not stated in the sources here, so treat any figure seen elsewhere with care.

Expect a cold, steep side visit before or around the main climb. Acclimatise in Cusco first, since this is a multi-day high-altitude trek, and read Aguas Calientes altitude for the valley end of the route.

The Salkantay Pass

The high point of the trek is the Salkantay Pass, crossed by both the 4-day and 5-day TreXperience itineraries. The 5-day version covers the same pass at a gentler pace, while the 4-day version compresses the whole route into fewer days. The pass is the physical crux of the walk and the reason operators advise a moderate level of fitness and time to acclimatise.

The Inkas Destination tour states travellers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness for this multi-day high-altitude trek.

Llactapata and the Descent

On the TreXperience 5-day itinerary the final campsite is at Llactapata, which overlooks Machu Picchu, one of the more memorable camps on any route to the ruins, since you fall asleep with the citadel in view across the valley. The same tour adds a Pachamanca feast and a coffee tasting along the way. The 4-day version swaps one night of camping for an Andean-hut stay and a 3-star hotel night before the end.

Hidroeléctrica and the Walk Into Town

The trek finishes toward Machu Picchu via Hidroeléctrica, the km 122 access point on the rail line. SERNANP keeps this access point open from 07:30 to 16:30, April to October, so operators time the final walking day within that window. From Hidroeléctrica the route follows the rail-side track into Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of the ruins.

The Inkas Destination tour includes one night of accommodation in Aguas Calientes before the return train, where that final leg lands. See Hidroeléctrica for more on this access point, and things to do in Aguas Calientes for how to spend the evening once you arrive.

No SERNANP Trail Fee on This Route

SERNANP's fee table for the Historic Sanctuary of Machupicchu lists five numbered Inca Trail routes only. The Salkantay trek is not among them. It runs mainly outside the SERNANP-managed Inca Trail network before rejoining the sanctuary near Machu Picchu, so no SERNANP trekking permit fee is published for it.

What applies instead is the operator's tour price and the standard Machu Picchu entrance ticket. That is a real difference from the Inca Trail, where SERNANP charges adults US$86.00 (S/292.00) on the main routes and permits sell out. For ticket details on the ruins themselves, see Machu Picchu tickets.

The Entrance Ticket and the Bus Are Separate

Two costs sit outside the trail itself. First, every trekker needs the Llaqta de Machupicchu entrance ticket to enter the ruins, sold by timed slot. Second, the shuttle bus from Aguas Calientes up to the entrance.

The Inkas Destination 5-day tour states this plainly: the bus up and down to Machu Picchu is not included and costs roughly $19 per person extra, while the train from Machu Picchu to Ollantaytambo is included. The TreXperience tours' entry inclusions are not stated on their cards, so ask the operator before booking. Plan the entry slot too, since entry is sold by hourly slot with no re-entry, and check Machu Picchu rules before you go.

Choosing Between the Three Cards

The decision comes down to pace, price and what is bundled. The 5-day TreXperience trek takes the same pass at a gentler pace, with glamping and a campsite overlooking Machu Picchu at Llactapata. The 4-day version compresses it, swapping some camping for an Andean hut and a 3-star hotel night, and costs US$85.00 less.

The Inkas Destination 5-day tour is the cheapest card and includes the Machu Picchu entrance and the return train to Ollantaytambo, but budget for the excluded bus, about $19 per person, and note its group is capped at 10 rather than 16. All three are non-refundable once booked, so fix your dates first. Once you arrive in town, line up the rest with Aguas Calientes tours, the Machu Picchu bus and where to stay.