This five-day Salkantay trek moves from high glacial passes and Humantay’s turquoise lake down through coffee-tinged valleys to Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu. Expect long ascents, cold nights, and rich cultural encounters.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
Dawn arrives over the Andes and the Salkantay massif looms like a glacier-forged rampart, its ridges drawing a cold line across the sky. From the pre-dawn pickup in Cusco you climb highway switchbacks into puna grasslands, step into Soraypampa’s thin air, and follow a trail that alternates between jagged moraine views and green cloud-forest descents. The first day's side-trip to Laguna Humantay introduces the trek: an aqua bowl cupped beneath a hanging glacier; the lake reflects the mountain and dares you to breathe deeper.
Difficulty
challenging
Duration
5 days
Fitness Level
Good cardiovascular fitness and experience with multi-day altitude trekking; able to walk 6–8 hours uphill and downhill on consecutive days.
Wildlife
History
Salkantay was venerated as an Apu (mountain spirit) by Andean communities and formed part of pilgrimage and trade corridors linked to the Inca heartland.
Conservation
Stick to established trails, pack out waste, and avoid single-use plastics; local guides work with communities to limit camp impacts and protect fragile páramo and cloud-forest zones.
Reserve your spot on the Salkantay Trekking 5-Day Full Adventure today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Acclimatize in Cusco first
Spend 1–2 days in Cusco or the Sacred Valley to reduce acute mountain sickness risk before the 4,620 m pass.
Pace the Salkantay pass
Plan for slow, steady ascents on Day 2; short breaks and small sips of water help with breathing and energy management.
Protect electronics and packs
Weather shifts from sun to sleet—use waterproof liners and a dry bag for sleeping gear and electronics.
Reserve Machu Picchu access in advance
Buy Machu Picchu and Huayna/Machu mountain tickets early and confirm bus times from Aguas Calientes the night before.
Sturdy hiking boots
Support and traction for rocky passes and wet descents.
Insulated down jacket
Warmth for nights near or below freezing at high camp.
Trekking poles
Assist balance on steep descents and reduce knee stress.
Water purification or filter
Reliable water treatment for refilling along lower elevations.