415-549-8049 REQUEST A QUOTE

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

9 DAYS Starting from $4,590 per person

Trek to Machu Picchu by going “off the beaten Inca Trail” on the exotic Salkantay Trek. Described by National Geographic as “the cool way” to get to the ancient Incan citadel, this challenging hike takes you through Andean peaks, cloud forests, Incan ruins and small villages where people still live as they have for hundreds of years. You’ll camp in style, beat the crowds to Machu Picchu, and visit cosmopolitan Lima and charming Cusco, the erstwhile capital of the Incas.

REQUEST QUOTE

Trip at a Glance

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Start with a free day to acclimatize to the altitude and explore Cusco at your leisure.
  • Take a fascinating tour of Cusco, comparing the differences between Native American and European Architecture.
  • Camp in ultimate comfort and warmth, with quality sleeping bags and Therm-a-Rest sleeping mats in your spacious two-man tent. Porters will carry your kit, and you'll even have the use of a private tented bathroom in the campsite.
  • Visit Andean villages and ancient Incan sites including Killarumiyoc and Mollepata.
  • Make camp on Salkantaypampa, the highest peak in the Vilcabamba mountain range, 13,100 feet above sea level.
  • Witness the majestic Soyrococha glacier lake and take in views of the peaks of Salkantay and Humantay from a high mountain pass of 15,100 feet.
  • Hike through gorgeous scenery from tropical cloud forests to bamboo groves, tiny Andean villages, valleys of rich vegetation and waterfalls.
  • Trek along the challenging trail to the terraced Incan site of Llactapata.
  • Stay overnight in comfort in Aguas Calientes, to beat the crowds to Machu Picchu the next morning.
  • Enjoy a guided tour of Machu Picchu, with free time to explore the citadel for yourself.
  • Time allowing, take in a fascinating tour of Lima, with stops at the Larco Archaeological Museum, the San Francisco Monastery and the waterfront district of Miraflores.

Related Tours

Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Tackle the legendary Inca Trail for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to approach Machu Picchu through breathtaking mountain scenery, as the Incas...

VIEW ITINERARY

Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

9 days starting from $4,790 per person

Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu

Delve into the wonders of the Sacred Valley, before exploring the ancient Incan citadel of Machu Picchu and then returning to Cusco, the capital of...

VIEW ITINERARY

Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu

7 days starting from $3,690 per person

Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Trek

Trek the final portion of the Inca Trail in style, just as the Incas did hundreds of years ago, while overnighting in comfortable hotels along the...

VIEW ITINERARY

Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Trek

7 days starting from $3,690 per person

“We worked with Hayley to plan a 5 night trip guided hike in Nepal near Pokhara or the Anapurna region as part of our honeymoon. She was absolutely fantastic and we couldn't recommend SA and the local guides enough. We had great and comfortable...”
— Jay

26 Jun, 2025

“Isabel and the team were great to work with and the experience was 5-stars. Highly recommend SA to plan your Inca Trail trek.”
— Olivia Rabinowitch

22 Jun, 2025

“We have just returned from an amazing trip to the Galápagos and Machu Picchu booked by our wonderful coordinator, Matt. You’d think a trip of this magnitude (big trip for us from Canada) could expect to have a few hiccups along the way, but...”
— Terri Lord

15 Jun, 2025

“We just returned from a wonderful trip to the Galapagos Islands, the Amazon, & Machu Picchu planned by Adam at SA Expeditions. All of the guides, drivers, and accommodations exceeded our expectations, and at each location we went, our SA guide was...”
— Don Morrison

12 Jun, 2025

“SA Expeditions prepared an amazing Peru trip for my wife and me. We experienced Cuzco, trekked the Salkantay, saw Machu Picchu. Our guide, Mario, was next level incredible. SA was amazing to work with; they took our trip goals, and presented us...”
— Samuel Elkins

12 Jun, 2025

“We had another great custom trip by SA Expeditions (SAE). We had gone to Peru with SAE last year and had such a great experience there that we decided to ask them to create a trip to Spain for us. Adam organized a custom trip where we could go and...”
— Peggy Takahashi

07 Jun, 2025

“Amazing vacation to Peru. Our contact person was Mikey Blount. Entire vacation, hotels, guides, transportation was seamless and beyond expectations. Would highly recommend SA vacations”
— Amit Jhaveri

02 Jun, 2025

“I just returned from a wonderful vacation to the Galapagos, Cuzco/Machu Picchu and the Amazon. I haven't used travel agencies in the past but SA expeditions surpassed expectations. Our travel planer, Hayley, organized the itinerary, the guides...”
— Bebe S

26 May, 2025

“Phenomenal trip to Peru! Best travel experience ever. Our travel agent, Caleb Dorfman, organized the most spectacular vacation the three of us have ever had - and we are well-traveled.”
— Stephanie Foster

25 May, 2025

“Matt Greenberg and SA Expeditions planned an extraordinary trip for us to Santiago and Easter Island in 2023. This year, May 2025, we reached out to Matt again for another adventure--this time to Peru (Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu!). Once again...”
— Jackob Hofmann

20 May, 2025

VIEW ALL REVIEWS
TRIP PLANNING MADE EASY. TALK TO A DESTINATION EXPERT TODAY. INQUIRE NOW