Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu in 4 Days

Cusco, Peru

4 days
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Embark on a multi-day hike to Machu Picchu from Cusco along the Salkantay Trek, a less crowded though-just-as-spectacular alternative to the Inca Trail. With horses to carry your gear you'll begin your 4-day journey at the Soyrapampa trail head, crossing the highest point in your hike—the 15,060-foot-high (4,590-meter) Apacheta path—on your initial ascent. From there you'll spend days meandering through lush jungle and past gushing waterfalls, alongside village coffee plantations and across high-altitude meadows and camping overnight beneath the stars before arriving at the famed Inca citadel.

Hotel pickup included
All entrance fees included
All necessary equipment included
Vegetarian meal option available

What's Included

Pre-trek briefing (Our guide will visit your hotel a day before the trek for your briefing)
Early morning transfer by private bus to Soraypampa
Accommodation: Campsites (2 nights) and a Hotel in Machu Picchu (1 night)
Meals: 3x breakfast, 3x lunch, 3x dinner and 3x afternoon hot beverages (please advise us in advance if you are a vegetarian; this option is for NO extra additional cost)
Professional bilingual Tour Guide
Professional Cook
Horseman
Horses to carry food, camping and cooking equipment and 7 kg of each passenger's stuff
An emergency horse which can be ridden if you are feeling ill or if are a little slower
Water
Camping equipment: Personal double tents (4 person tent which allows for greater comfort, and also storage of backpacks)
Inflatable mattress
A sleeping bag
A blanket per person
A pillow
Day Pack Rain Covers
Tables and chairs, a cooking tent with cooking equipment, dining and toilet tents and bottled gas
Rain Ponchos
Duffel bag (for your personal belongings)
A T-shirt of the Salkantay Trek Map
Tourist train from Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) to Ollantaytambo
Tourist bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco

Breakfast on the day 1 and lunch on the last day
International and domestic flights nor airport departure taxes
Travel insurance
Entrance fee to Huayna Picchu (USD $25)
A shuttle bus between Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes Town (USD $12- one way, USD $24 - a round trip)
Tips to local staff (please note: it is a custom to give tips in Peru; however, it is not obligatory)
Other extras not mentioned

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

05:00 AM

Pickup details

Cusco hotels

What To Expect

Day 1

Cusco - Soraypampa - Wayracmachay - Los Andenes

1 Stop

Salkantay Trail

Admission Ticket Free

Accommodation: Not included

Meals: Not included

Day 2

Los Andenes - Luscamayo - La Playa

1 Stop

Salkantay Trail

10 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Accommodation: Not included

Meals: Not included

Day 3

La Playa - Llactapata - Hidrolectrica - Aguas Calientes

1 Stop

Hot Springs (Aguas Calientes)

Admission Ticket Free

Accommodation: Not included

Meals: Not included

Day 4

Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cusco

1 Stop

Santuario Historico de Machu Picchu

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Accommodation: Not included

Meals: Not included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 3 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible

Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants
May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 6 days in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 6 full days before the experience’s start time.
Any changes made less than 6 full days before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
For a 50% refund, you must cancel 2–6 full days before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 2 full days before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 2 full days before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.0

22 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-5 of 22 reviews

Earlier this month, my husband and I...

LylyGP, Sep 2018

Earlier this month, my husband and I did the short Salkantay Trek in four days. Tierra Vivas provided a fully-supported, professional experience. I cannot recommend them more! What I loved: - Adner is very knowledgable guide, and he was patient with my pace when the altitude would slow me down. - Silverio cooked hearty, delicious meals - you will be well fed! Roberto did a great job getting the mules and horses to each destination. - Each campsite was clean the camping equipment in great condition. - Yolanda did our briefing in Aguas Calientes. We happened to leave our Machu Picchu passes behind at the briefing and she saved them for us! We got lucky they weren't lost. For anyone on the fence about this trek: - It was be extremely hard and rewarding. Do it even if you're scared! The views are impossibly beautiful. - Accept help and rest when you can. I ended up renting the emergency horse, and taking the train to Aguas Calientes. - The altitude will make every step feel like you're running a marathon. Bring electrolytes and ibuprofen. - Exercise a lot in advance if you can, if not, there is enough support to get you to Machu Picchu!

Very nice and advanturous trip to the...

Iryna V, Oct 2017

Very nice and advanturous trip to the mountains in 6 people group. Very qualified guide. :-

My Wife and I went for a just over a...

Emma_C, Jul 2016

My Wife and I went for a just over a week to Cusco and booked this tour to take us to Machu Pichu. Entrance to Machu Pichu was included, along with food and accommodation for 3 days. This trip is definitely not for the faint hearted. I wouldn't consider my wife and I to be unfit by any stretch - in fact I am a serving police officer in the UK so have to maintain a certain fitness level to do my job. However we both found this trek challenging. Expect around 8 hours walking every day, both up and down hill, at quite steep gradients and altitudes of 3000-5000m. The approach to Machu Pichu Town a tourist town at the base of Machu Pichu mountain is along the railway track and runs alongside a river, so be prepared for mosquitos and bring insect repellent. Despite the harsh terrain both my wife and I enjoyed it and Machu Pichu itself was superb. The food each day was a little bland for our tastes, but was traditional and had that homecooked feel. Our guide, Ali-beth, was knowledgeable and friendly. Although she said the tour can have as many as 12 people on it at times, when we were on it was just the two of use, Ali, the porter and the cook. Ali was able to react to our wishes when we asked to visit a local hot spring for some RR along the way although there were additional costs for the hot spring itself and my only quibble would be over the way she motivated us by continually telling us that the destination was just around the next bend or only a few more minutes away. Ali gave us a guided tour around Machu Pichu which was detailed and informative, and her English was better than many people born in England! I could immediately tell the difference when I overheard other guides in Machu Pichu and saw them struggling with the language, or in one case, reading from a guidebook. Ali clearly knew her facts and history and was engaging and funny in her presentation

This was a beautiful trek with a...

Carlie S, Jun 2016

This was a beautiful trek with a wonderful guide and service. However, booking in Cusco is 200-300 dollars cheaper than booking online with Viator.

Beautiful tour. We had purchased a...

Jehan R, Nov 2015

Beautiful tour. We had purchased a tour for 4 days and 3 nights and were placed with a group doing 5 days and 4 nights. This left some complications and some independent travel for our final days but was managed by the team.