Overview

The Salkantay Trek from Cusco to Machu Picchu is built for travelers who want genuine contact with Andean nature, away from the crowds of the classic Inca Trail. The route departs Cusco and crosses remote villages rarely visited by tourists, climbing through high mountain landscapes before descending into cloud forest on its way to the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu.
After leaving Cusco, the trail passes through Mollepata and Soraypampa, where the turquoise waters of Humantay Lake sit beneath the glaciers of Salkantay Mountain, one of the most sacred Apus in Inca cosmology. From there, the path climbs to the Salkantay Pass at 4,650 meters, the highest point of the journey, with views over Humantay, Tucarhuay and Pumasillo.
The descent on the far side of the pass leads into a completely different environment: the cloud forest above Chaullay, followed by the Santa Teresa valley, where waterfalls, coffee plantations and orchids replace the high-altitude scenery of the first two days. From here, the route continues toward Hidroeléctrica and on to Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu.
The final stage of the Salkantay Trek from Cusco to Machu Picchu brings travelers into the citadel itself, with a guided tour through its temples, terraces and agricultural sectors, followed by free time to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain before returning by train and bus to Cusco. Along the way, the trek also passes close to Taquile-style highland communities and Inca stonework that rivals the more famous sites on the Inca Trail.

What to Bring on the Salkantay Trek from Cusco to Machu Picchu

Warm layers and a down jacket (for Salkantay Pass)
Rain jacket
Breathable clothing (for the cloud forest sections)
Broken-in hiking boots
Sleeping bag (rated for cold temperatures)
Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses
Insect repellent
Reusable water bottle or hydration system
Trekking poles
Headlamp with extra batteries
Cash in Peruvian soles (for snacks, hot springs, tips)
Original passport (required for Machu Picchu entrance)

Itinerary

Day 1: Mollepata, Challacancha & Soraypampa

The Salkantay Trek from Cusco to Machu Picchu begins with a 5:00 am pick-up from your hotel, followed by a four-hour drive to Mollepata, passing views of the snow-capped Salkantay and Humantay peaks along the way. A short stop in Mollepata offers toilets, souvenirs and an optional breakfast before continuing to Challacancha, the trailhead.
At Challacancha, the group meets the support staff and organizes equipment, horses and mules before starting the hike around 9:30 am. The first stretch follows a paved rock trail past an ancient water channel still in use today, covering 9 kilometers in about three hours to reach Soraypampa (3,900 m), where lunch and a short rest take place.
In the afternoon, a side trek leads to Humantay Lake (4,200 m), a 5-kilometer round trip of roughly three hours beneath the glacier, with some of the most striking views of the entire trek. The night is spent in Soraypampa, surrounded by glacial peaks under clear mountain skies.

Includes: hotel pick-up, transport to Mollepata, support staff and pack animals, breakfast, lunch, dinner, camping equipment.

Excludes: optional breakfast in Mollepata, tips, personal expenses.

Day 2: Salkantay Pass, Huayracmachay & Chaullay

Day two starts at 5:30 am with breakfast and packing, followed by the climb to the highest point of the trek: Salkantay Pass at 4,650 meters, reached after 7 kilometers and roughly three hours of ascent along a rocky valley beneath Salkantay Mountain itself.
From the pass, the trail descends for about two hours along a winding gravel path to Huayracmachay for lunch. The afternoon brings a dramatic shift in scenery, with 9 kilometers of trail through cloud forest, rich in wildlife and native plants, before reaching Chaullay village (2,900 m) for the night.

Includes: breakfast, lunch, dinner, camping equipment, support staff and pack animals.

Excludes: tips, alcoholic beverages, personal expenses.

Day 3: Santa Teresa, Hidroeléctrica & Aguas Calientes

The third day begins at 6:00 am with a roughly six-hour trek through the Santa Teresa valley, passing waterfalls, orchids and plantations of coffee, banana and avocado. Travelers can sample fresh passion fruit along the way, and with luck, spot the colorful Cock of the Rock near Colpapampa, where hot springs and varied birdlife are also common.
After lunch at La Playa, local transport carries the group to the Hidroeléctrica train station. From here, travelers can either take the train directly to Aguas Calientes or walk roughly three hours along the train tracks to reach the town.
Once in Aguas Calientes, the group checks into included accommodation, with dinner at a local restaurant around 7:00 pm to close out the day.

Includes: breakfast, lunch, dinner, local transport to Hidroeléctrica, accommodation in Aguas Calientes.

Excludes: train ticket from Hidroeléctrica to Aguas Calientes (optional), hot springs entrance, tips.

Day 4: Machu Picchu & Return to Cusco

An early start from Aguas Calientes leads to the entrance of Machu Picchu, open from 6:00 am, reached either by bus or on foot. Arriving early means exploring the citadel with fewer visitors, beginning with a two-hour guided tour through its temples, palaces, priest's house, sundial and agricultural sectors.
Afterward, free time allows for an optional climb up Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, both requiring advance booking and roughly three hours round trip, or a trek to the Sun Gate at the original entrance of the Inca Trail. In total, travelers can enjoy more than seven hours within the sanctuary.
By late afternoon, the train departs Aguas Calientes around 6:30 pm for Ollantaytambo, followed by a bus transfer back to Cusco, arriving around 8:00 pm at your elected hotel.

Includes: entrance to Machu Picchu, guided tour, train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, bus transfer to Cusco.

Excludes: Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain tickets (optional), last lunch and dinner, tips.