Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 6D/5N

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 6D/5N

6 Days Starting and ending in Cusco

Visiting: Cusco, SORAYPAMPA, Colcapampa, Santa Teresa, Aguas Calientes

Tour operator:

Bamba Travel

Tour code:

58349

Specialist Group:

18-30 Somethings

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

1 - 16

Physical rating:

Easy

Age range:

18-90

Tour operated in:

English
From: $830

NB: Prices correct on 19-Sep-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

This challenging and scenic trail is a unique journey among the Salkantay snowy peaks. Hike through mountains, jungles, valleys and villages on your way to Machu Picchu. Discover the diverse landscapes of the Andes mountain range and get to know the Inca history and local culture. This alternative route to Machu Picchu is the perfect combination of a classic and adventurous visit to Peru.

Highlights

  • A challenging yet worthwhile trek to Machu Picchu.

  • Cross through snowy high passes

  • Enjoy incredible views of the Andean peaks

  • Reach the comfort of Aguas Calientes town

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Cuzco, Peru

Location: Cusco

Arrival Day

Today you´re free to arrive at the time that fits you the best. Upon arrival, reach your accommodation, check in and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure!

Day 2: Cuzco - Soraypampa Camp, Peru

Location: SORAYPAMPA

Cuzco to Mollepata to Challacancha, Trek to Soraypampa Camp (3,920m) (L/D)
Today we pick you up between 5:00 - 5:15 am and travel by tourist-class bus to Mollepata (2,900m) where you can stretch your legs and buy snacks. Continue by car to Challacancha where we will make final preparations and double check our equipment. Embark on a 3-hour walk that will take us to Soraypampa (3,920m) where we will have lunch with panoramic views of beautiful snow-capped mountains. Hike up to Laguna de Humantay (approx. 1.5 hours each way) for more incredible views of the Andes mountains and then return to camp for the night. Our first campsite is located at 3,920m and is the highest and coldest campsite of the trip. Take some time to rest up, and enjoy your first night immersed in nature. Have dinner and go to sleep early.

Day 3: Colcapampa Camp, Peru

Location: Colcapampa

Trek to Challhuay or Colcapampa Camp via High Pass (4,650m) (B/L/D)
We will have breakfast at around 6:00 am and begin our 4-hour walk to the highest pass on this trek (4,650m) located halfway between 2 huge mountains; Salkantay (6,267m) and Humantay (5,900m). (Optional horse rental available to reach high pass for approx. 100 - 120 soles). From the pass, the views of the 2 snow-capped mountains are incredible with a possibility of snow here. After a 2-hour downhill hike, a well-deserved lunch will be served at Huayracpampa, followed by another 3-hour trek to our campsite at Challhuay or Colcapampa as we near the beginning of the high jungle region at 2,900 meters.

Day 4: Santa Teresa Town, Peru

Location: Santa Teresa

Trek to La Playa & Transfer to Santa Teresa Town (1,700m) (B/L/D)
After breakfast at 6:30 am, we start trekking for the day through the upper jungle crossing the Santa Teresa River and a variety of little brooks. Today we will pass through valleys and have wonderful views of waterfalls, tropical fruits and plants. We will have lunch at La Playa (2,200m) and continue by car to Santa Teresa town (1,700 meters), our camp for the night, with a warmer climate. After a rest, we have the option to visit the hot springs in Santa Teresa town (extra cost) and enjoy the well-deserved soothing water, a real treat after 3 hard days of trekking!

Day 5: Aguas Calientes, Peru

Location: Aguas Calientes

Trek to Hydroelectric Station & Aguas Calientes (B/L/D)
After having breakfast at 8:00 am, our last day on the trail will take us from Santa Teresa (1,700m) along a relaxing path for 3 hours to reach the hydroelectric station (1,880m) where a box lunch will be served. From here Aguas Calientes (2,010m) is another 3 hour slight uphill walk where we will finally have time to relax, recharge our batteries and get ready for our visit to Machu Picchu. Dinner at a local traditional restaurant.
*Optional bus transfer from Santa Teresa to the Hydroelectric Station is available for an extra cost.
*Optional train transfer from Hydroelectric Station to Aguas Calientes is available for extra cost.

Day 6: Machu Picchu - Cuzco, Peru

Location: Cusco

Explore Machu Picchu & Return to Cuzco(B)
We will catch one of the first buses (05:30 am) to Machu Picchu (25-minute ride) in order to appreciate the magnificent city in the early morning light as the mist dissipates. A walking tour (approximately 2 hours) is given by your guide and after this you can explore the mysterious city on your own. If you still have energy you can also climb the optional Huayna Picchu Peak inside the archaeological site (to be booked in advance at an extra cost). Take a bus back down to Aguas Calientes. Return by train to Ollantaytambo and take a bus to Cuzco. You will be dropped off late in the day at the Plaza San Francisco. Upon arrival you will need to make your own way to your accommodation.

What's Included

  • Accommodation

    4 nights Accommodation
    1N in Hostel/3-star hotel or 4-star hotel in Cuzoc, Camping and 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes

  • Transport

    Bus and train transfers
    Cuzco Accommodation Pick-Up
    All transfers as per itinerary
    Bus Ollantaytambo to Cuzco

  • Meals

    4B / 4L / 4D / 3 snacks with typical menus

  • Activities

    Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

  • Guides

    Professional bilingual guide on trek Machu Picchu tour

  • Extras

    Machu Picchu Entrance Fee
    Foam Sleeping Mat
    Emergency oxygen bottle
    Small group experience; Max 15, Avg 4
    Pre-departure briefing
    Horseman and mules to carry cooking and camping equipment plus a total of 5 kilos for each trekker. (This includes 2.5 kilos for your sleeping bag & mattress plus 2.5 kilos of personal items.)

What's Not Included

  • Airport Pick-Up/Drop-Off (please make your own way)

  • Sleeping bag

  • Other meals / drinks

  • Bottled Water

  • Guide for bus and train transfers (these portions are on your own

  • Tips

Check out our Q&As

  • Is there an age limit?

    No! Most of our bamba travellers fall between the ages of 18 - 35, but everyone is young at heart and welcome to come experience the world with us! If you are between the ages of 18 and 118, we invite you to travel with bamba and have the time of your life! Minors must be accompanied by an adult.

  • Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

    Most of our trips cater to the adventurous independent traveller. In fact, many of our travellers arrive on their own and quickly find that they easily meet like-minded people along the way at their hostels, on transportation, or during activities.

  • Do I need travel insurance?

    We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance for your trip, especially when travelling in developing countries. Bamba does not include travel insurance of any type.Your current medical insurance may cover part of your trip, so it is important for you to become familiar with your current coverage. We recommend purchasing additional travel insurance that provides coverage for medical emergencies, emergency evacuation and repatriation, lost or stolen items and unforeseen cancellations. If you plan to participate in activities such as white-water rafting, trekking, sand-buggy rides, etc please make sure they are included in your policy.

Reviews of this operator

Jonas Nesset(Norway)  

The company is exceptional. When...

Dec 10 2019

The company is exceptional. When I had questions, I always got prompt and professional answers. The excursions that Bamba organized were fantastic! Thank you once again for everything!

Shane Alce(United Kingdom)  

For true explorers....

Aug 12 2019

For true explorers.

Marian Reder(Germany)  

To this day, this is...

Oct 2 2019

To this day, this is the best tour we've ever done together as a couple! The fun activities, great hotels and nice guides worth the money! We were always taken care of and they made sure that we had a good time. This tour is definitely worth taking.

Tanja Ottosen(Denmark)  

The Bamba Team really made...

Jan 9 2020

The Bamba Team really made my journey one of the most memorable experiences of my life! Still so nice and supportive! They handled everything and responded to each question within a few minutes. I wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone. Especially if you want to do a lot of activities and travel to a lot of different places without feeling rushed. They've also helped me with specific issues that weren't covered by the tour, as well as answering general questions. Thank you so much for making my journey so enjoyable!

Braiden Rowe(United States)  

The tour was fantastic; I...

Feb 12 2020

The tour was fantastic; I was able to visit some of Japan's most beautiful locations, and the accommodations were excellent, with convenient access to the city's best attractions. Also, our tour guide was fantastic. I will pick bamba again and recommend the tour to anyone who wants to see Japan while having a good time!!

Aaron Davies(Australia)  

I only have good words...

Oct 23 2019

I only have good words about our trip to Kenya. The entire experience was totally magical and I struggle to say how fantastic it was. We were fortunate enough to have a brilliant vehicle for ourselves, but we had great luck with David for our guide too. He was very knowledgeable, courteous and nice. Thank you for helping to create this fantastic safari experience. I Highly recommend this company.

Matteo Hoffmeister(Germany)  

Bamba Experience has been the...

Jun 5 2019

Bamba Experience has been the best tour guide I've ever had. Every tour has been a thrilling experience. There are so many things to choose from. Bamba has been extremely helpful in providing us with all of the necessary information for our departures and activities! Bamba has made this a simple and enjoyable experience. I'll certainly tell my friends and family about it! Thank you very much, Bamba!!

Melanie Liu Chang(Australia)  

We organized a trip through...

Feb 20 2020

We organized a trip through Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia on the hop-on, hop-off bus. It made the trip so much simpler for us as first-time travelers because we just had to send an email to arrange the bus, which avoided the hassle of looking for the best price and so on! We also had a number of tours included, they were all amazing and saved us the trouble of trying to find the best offers on our own; it also meant we got to see a lot of stuff we wouldn't have seen otherwise. Overall, it was a fantastic experience that I will strongly suggest and use again!

Marius Halvorson(Norway)  

Our Bamba tour of Vietnam...

Jun 25 2019

Our Bamba tour of Vietnam was fantastic. We had a lot of new experiences and all of the help we needed to make this a stress-free vacation. The well-organized accomodation and transportation were excellent. We will certainly use Bamba in the future.

Alexis Helman(Australia)  

I had booked our Uyuni...

Jun 25 2019

I had booked our Uyuni Salt Flats & Desert Adventure 3D/2N (Uyuni to Atacama) tour via an Australian travel agency, but they had made an error and refused to assist us or take responsibility. This was very difficult for us because we wanted to have a stress-free honeymoon. I contacted Bamba and I asked if we could talk on the phone so they made the improvements to our tour reservation that our travel agent declined to make. The quality of service was exceptional and they generously offered to us a complimentary gift because it was our honeymoon. I can't say enough good things about Bamba.

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Monday - Saturday

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Friday - Wednesday

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Monday - Saturday

Jun 23, 2025 - Jun 28, 2025
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Friday - Wednesday

Jun 27, 2025 - Jul 02, 2025
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Monday - Saturday

Jun 30, 2025 - Jul 05, 2025
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Friday - Wednesday

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Monday - Saturday

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Friday - Wednesday

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Monday - Saturday

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Friday - Wednesday

Jul 18, 2025 - Jul 23, 2025
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Monday - Saturday

Jul 21, 2025 - Jul 26, 2025
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Friday - Wednesday

Jul 25, 2025 - Jul 30, 2025
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Monday - Saturday

Jul 28, 2025 - Aug 02, 2025
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Friday - Wednesday

Aug 01, 2025 - Aug 06, 2025
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Monday - Saturday

Aug 04, 2025 - Aug 09, 2025
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Friday - Wednesday

Aug 08, 2025 - Aug 13, 2025
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Monday - Saturday

Aug 11, 2025 - Aug 16, 2025
$830

Friday - Wednesday

Aug 15, 2025 - Aug 20, 2025
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Monday - Saturday

Aug 18, 2025 - Aug 23, 2025
$830

Friday - Wednesday

Aug 22, 2025 - Aug 27, 2025
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Monday - Saturday

Aug 25, 2025 - Aug 30, 2025
$830

Friday - Wednesday

Aug 29, 2025 - Sep 03, 2025
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Monday - Saturday

Sep 01, 2025 - Sep 06, 2025
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Friday - Wednesday

Sep 05, 2025 - Sep 10, 2025
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Monday - Saturday

Sep 08, 2025 - Sep 13, 2025
$830

Friday - Wednesday

Sep 12, 2025 - Sep 17, 2025
$830

Monday - Saturday

Sep 15, 2025 - Sep 20, 2025
$830

Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    Bamba Travel allows you to make 2 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 60 days before the start of the tour.

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Bamba Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform bamba travel, 60 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Bamba Travel requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 30 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of bamba travel charges.

    Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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