---
title: Salkantay Trek To Machu Picchu 5 Days And 4 Nights
lang: en
type: tour
city: Cusco
country: Peru
price: 629
currency: EUR
price_unit: per_person
availability: bookable
rating: 5
reviews: 53
duration_minutes: 7200
languages: [en, es]
free_cancellation: "true"
rank_in_category: 13 of 33 (Salkantay Treks)
schedule_checked: 2026-11-08
data_updated: 2026-11-08
canonical: https://guidekin.com/peru/cusco/tours/salkantay-trek-to-machu-picchu-5-days-and-4-nights/
---

# Salkantay Trek To Machu Picchu 5 Days And 4 Nights

**Guidekin's take:** Trek beneath Salkantay mountain towards Machu Picchu, sleeping two to a tent designed for four. Meals, a guide and dining and toilet tents are included; sleeping bags, poles and the Machu Picchu bus are extra. 5 from 53 reviews at €629 per person for 5 days.

In our comparison: #13 of 33 in Salkantay Treks, by rating weighted by review volume (table below).

## Overview

This trek runs beneath the magnificent Salkantay mountain (20,569ft), one of the highest and most stunning in the Andes. The Salkantay Trek was recently named on the National Geographic Ultimate Adventure bucket list – defined as “The 20 most extreme, hair-raising, legendary adventures on the planet.” It is a trek open to everybody, and the most popular alternative to the Inca Trail trek.

This offers 4 days of trekking through various landscapes including highlands, cloud forest, rain forest and dry mountain. Throughout the trek you have amazing views of Apu Salkantay, Pumasillo Mountain and Humantay Mountain, three of the most stunning peaks of the Vilcabamba Mountain range. 

Our trek includes the services of lodging in a very nice hotel on the fourth night of the trek, a very unique coffee plantation tour in the afternoon of day 3, and dinner at great local restaurant in Aguas Calientes.

## Before you book

- Hotel pickup: no car needed
- Min. 4 to book: not for solo travellers
- Starts 04:30: one departure a day
- Food included: Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast

**Pickup:** Hotel pickup included

## Key facts

- Price: from €629 per person
- Duration: 5 days
- Rating: 5.0/5 from 53 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor)
- Free cancellation (see policy below)
- Operator: Action Peru Treks
- Minimum booking: 4 travellers at this price
- Group: Shared tour
- Guide languages: English, Spanish
- Start times: 04:30
- Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket
- Price checked on Viator: 2026-11-08

## Reviews

5.0 from 53 ratings on Guidekin & Tripadvisor.
100% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 53 of 53.

- 5 stars: 53 (100%)
- 4 stars: 0 (0%)
- 3 stars: 0 (0%)
- 2 stars: 0 (0%)
- 1 star: 0 (0%)

### What reviewers say

Reviewers praise the guides, camp meals and organisation, but altitude makes the opening climbs demanding.

**Praised:**
- Guides explain Inca history, local plants and wildlife
- Plentiful camp meals with allergies and dietary needs accommodated
- Well organised logistics and responsive communication before departure
- Comfortable tents and good quality sleeping equipment
- Varied scenery from high mountains to rainforest valleys

**Complaints:**
- High altitude makes the opening climbs strenuous
- Poor weather can make the hiking more difficult

Written by Guidekin from the 50 most recent English reviews on Tripadvisor (2018-11-30 to 2026-09-04); last checked 2026-11-08.

## What's included

- Dining tent with tables and chairs
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Four-person tent for each two persons
- Breakfast
- Toilet tent with portable toilet
- Bilingual English speaking tour guide
- Expedition train from Aguas Calientes to either Ollantaytambo or to Poroy
- Mattress and pillow
- Hot water for washing.

## Not included

- Sleeping bag
- Day 5 lunch in Aguas Calientes
- Tips for the crew (muleteers, chef and guide)
- Hiking poles
- Round trip bus ticket to Machu Picchu

## Schedule

- Runs: daily
- Departures: 04:30
- Schedule last checked: 2026-11-08
- These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout.

## Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

## Good to know

- Service animals allowed
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- What to bring:
- Original passport (if you have acquired a new one after you made your booking, bring both)
- Down or synthetic feather sleeping bag (can be rented from us)
- Clothes (trekking boots, warm fleece jacket, a few t-shirts, socks, sun hat, warm underwear, light long pants, gloves, rain jacket)
- Toiletries (toilet paper, wet wipes, personal towel)
- Sunscreen SPF 35+ recommended
- Head lamp
- Sunglasses
- Camera with spare batteries (batteries run down faster at high altitudes)
- Binoculars
- Book to read (you will have some spare time at every camp to read your favorite book)
- Trekking poles (recommended especially for the steep descents, can be rented from us)
- Insect repellent

## Compared with other Salkantay Treks

| Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **This tour · #13 of 33** | €629 | 5 days | 5.0 (53) | shared |
| [Salkantay Trek 5D/4N with Glass Cabins, Sky Domes & Hobbit House](/peru/cusco/tours/salkantay-trek-5d-4n-with-glass-cabins-sky-domes-hobbit-house/?format=md) | €633 | 5 days | 4.99 (2916) | shared |
| [Classic 5-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu: Small Group Hike](/peru/cusco/tours/classic-5-day-salkantay-trek-to-machu-picchu-small-group-hike/?format=md) | €692 | 5 days | 4.98 (5396) | shared |
| [Salkantay Premium Trek 5 Days: Glamping Adventure to Machu Picchu](/peru/cusco/tours/salkantay-premium-trek-5-days-glamping-adventure-to-machu-picchu/?format=md) | €1157 | 5 days | 4.98 (1491) | shared |

Ranked #13 of 33 in Salkantay Treks by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €246 to €1749, median €633; typical length 5 days. 2 of 33 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market.

Full list: https://guidekin.com/peru/cusco/salkantay-trek/?format=md

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