Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu
9 DAYS Starting from $4,290 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.
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
9 days starting from $4,490 per person
Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu
7 days starting from $3,390 per person
Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Trek
7 days starting from $3,390 per person
“SA Expeditions organized a seamless trip for me to patagonia and the W trek. It went off without a hitch. My coordinator, Mikey, was very knowledgeable and so patient with all my questions and concerns about traveling. I would highly recommend...”
— Stoneman
5 days ago
“Loved working with Jackie and the outstanding crew at SA plus all the great guided on the ground in India. Yes, we saw Riddhi the tigress also!”
— Randy Lewis
7 days ago
“A fantastic adventure from beginning to end! The beauty and spectacle of the trail and ruins was only matched by the coordination and execution of the trip. Hats off to our guide Evert Quispe who was as accommodating as he was knowledgeable. Our...”
— Charles Pugh
09 Oct, 2024
“Words cannot express the deep gratitude we have towards SA Expeditions. From the moment we started working with Chelsey—adjusting and rearranging our plans—they made sure everything was tailored to give us the perfect trip. Thank you for always...”
— Sara Hobson
08 Oct, 2024
“Our Peruvian adventure far exceeded our expectations in every dimension. The trip was planned by Adam Laughter of SA Expeditions. Every detail of the trip was coordinated flawlessly. The logistics of getting to Machu Pichu are complicated. However...”
— Donald Samuels
06 Oct, 2024
“SA Expeditions did an amazing job of giving us a full experience in both the Galapagos and Macchu Picchu. The guides were informative, kind, and willing to accommodate all our requests. The hotels were top notch, and the team was very responsive...”
— Janet Calabro
04 Oct, 2024
“We had the most amazing experience with this company. Our trip coordinator, Chelsea, was very knowledgeable and responsive to questions, and ensured every detail was taken care of, while adjusting things to accommodate all of our requests...”
— Katie Harris
01 Oct, 2024
“Aseem did an absolutely wonderful job planning our two week trip to Peru - from our Inca trial hike and Machu Picchu to the Amazon to Lima - we had the best guides and places to stay!”
— Sara Walker
01 Oct, 2024
“We booked our trip to Galapagos and Machu Picchu with Jackie at SA Expeditions. Our group was my husband, me, my daughter, and my son-in-law. The trip was AMAZING! We booked our own flights to Ecuador and home from Lima but everything else was...”
— Deb Easton
28 Sep, 2024
“SA Expeditions (specifically Adam Laughter) organized an outstanding trip for our party of six to various locations in Brazil including the Pantanal, Amazon rainforest, and Iquacu Falls. The trip was complicated due to the multiple locations we...”
— Joseph Caracci
26 Sep, 2024