The Salkantay trek is for purists, for those who know there’s more to the Inca Trail than just the classic Inca Trail or the short Inca Trail. If you’re interested in the Salkantay Trek in Peru, then you know that the Incas created other beautiful trails and that there are more.
Cusco Hotel
Moderate
The 3-day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu is a fast-paced, adventure-packed route designed for experienced trekkers with limited time. This alternative to the classic Inca Trail takes you through high mountain passes, lush cloud forests, and scenic valleys—culminating in a rewarding visit to the legendary Machu Picchu.
Over the course of three days, you’ll hike past the towering Salkantay Mountain (6,271 m / 20,574 ft), marvel at the turquoise waters of Humantay Lake, and descend into warmer jungle regions filled with exotic flora and fauna. This express trek is physically demanding but offers stunning views, cultural encounters, and unforgettable memories.
Ideal for fit travelers seeking a more remote and less crowded route to Machu Picchu, the Salkantay Trek blends nature, history, and challenge into one epic Andean adventure.
We’ll pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 4:00 AM and drive approximately 3.5 hours to Soraypampa, where we’ll have breakfast and begin our trek. The first stretch includes a steady uphill hike of about 3 hours to Soyrococha, where we’ll stop for lunch with panoramic views of the Humantay (4,120 m) and Salkantay (6,271 m) mountains. After lunch, we continue uphill to the highest point of the trek — the Salkantay Pass at 4,600 meters. After a rest and photos at the top, we begin a 3-hour descent to our campsite in Huayracmachay (3,800 m), the highest and coldest night of the trek.
After breakfast, we continue descending about 2 hours to Chaullay, where we begin to enter the high jungle. This area is rich with flora and fauna, as well as coca, coffee, and fruit plantations. After another few hours of trekking, we reach La Playa (Sahuayaco), where we enjoy a fresh lunch prepared by our cook.
In the afternoon, we take a private transport to Hidroeléctrica (approx. 1 hour), from where we walk about 2.5 more hours along the railway, with scenic views of Machu Picchu’s terraces and structures, until we reach Aguas Calientes. Dinner and overnight in a comfortable hotel.
After an early breakfast (around 5:00 AM), we hike for approximately 1 hour to the Machu Picchu citadel. We’ll be among the first to enter and enjoy the sunrise. Then, we begin a 2-hour guided tour through the most important temples and sectors of this Incan masterpiece. You’ll then have free time to explore on your own or hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (optional, $25 USD).
Later, we descend to Aguas Calientes for lunch and board the train back to Ollantaytambo, followed by a vehicle transfer to Cusco, arriving around 8:00 PM.
Even though it was a shorter version, we still got to experience incredible views of the Salkantay mountain and the changing landscapes along the way. It’s a fast-paced trek, so be ready for a challenge — but it’s totally worth it. Our guide kept us motivated and made sure everything ran smoothly. Reaching Machu Picchu at the end felt like a huge accomplishment. Perfect for adventurers with limited time!
