Number 1 off-the-beaten-tracks alternative to Machu Picchu - A scenic and less crowded alternative to the Inca Trail, ideal for adventurous travelers looking for epic landscapes.
Hike through Peru’s most breathtaking ecosystem - From glaciers and snowcapped mountains to jungle valleys, waterfalls, and turquoise lakes, this trek has it all.
Camp under a sky full of stars - Spend your nights in Andean campsites with peaceful natural surroundings.
This is the perfect adventure for those outdoors lovers who want a challenging hike and amazing views before the Lost City of the Incas. Our Salkantay trek offers a diversity of Peruvian ecosystems like jungles, snow-capped mountain passes, glaciers, and stunning turquoise lagoons; and, the most amazing views of the night sky overflowing with thousands of stars.
4 to 10 people
Challenging
15,367 ft / 4,684 m
Cusco / Cusco
Whatsapp us here to get in touch with our specialized team for help on planning your perfect adventure!
Guaranteed departures– Your trip is 100% confirmed once booked. Unlike others, we never cancel last minute due to low numbers.
All-Inclusive & hassle-free– Tickets, trains, buses, guides – everything is covered. No hidden fees, no stress.
Expert local guides– Our passionate guides bring Machu Picchu to life with incredible stories, insights, and top-notch support.
24/7 customer support– We’re available via WhatsApp & email before, during, and after your trip.
Locally owned, globally experienced– Yapa is led by a young Peruvian woman with a vast amount of international tourism expertise, dedicated to providing authentic, sustainable travel that supports the local communities.
IMPORTANT: LAST-MINUTE BOOKINGS (Less than 8 Weeks Before Tour Date)
Booking a last-minute tour with Yapa Explorers? We guarantee your Machu Picchu entrance ticket or a full refund!
However, all reservations made within 8 weeks or less of the tour date may require changes to the standard itinerary in order to secure entrance availability. This typically means an earlier start time, and possibly some other adjustments.
Our local team will adapt the itinerary as needed and share any updates with you promptly.
Don't risk your once-in-a-lifetime Machu Picchu experience—book with Yapa!
Cusco - Soraypampa - Humantay Lake - Salkantaypampa
This 5-day tour starts with you getting picked up from your hotel/hostel in Cusco and transferred to the small town of Mollepata, arriving at approximately 7:30am. We’ll have a quick stop to stretch our legs, use the restroom and stock up on last minute supplies. Then we continue our journey to our starting point for the trek, Soraypampa, where we’ll meet with our team, who will load the equipment on horses and mules.
Around 10:00am, we will begin our hike toward the Humantay Lake. This beautiful blue lagoon is hidden between two mountains and is one of the most spectacular destinations of the trek. During the hike we will have panoramic views of the majestic Salkantay Mountain, Humantay Mountain, other mountains covered with snow, and the Valley of Apurimac River. Around 1:00pm, we’ll have lunch, rest and finish the day with 2-hour hike to our first campsite at Salkantaypampa.
Soraypampa - Salkantay Pass - Colpapampa
The longest and hardest day of the trek, but also the most beautiful. The scenery and terrains will change drastically from dry climate to snowy peaks to tropical areas.
We start off the day with a nutritious breakfast to get energy for the day that lies ahead. The hike toward Soyrococha begins at 7:00am which takes roughly 3 hours to get to. The walk upwards can be difficult, but the breath-taking views of Salkantay on the route are definitely worth it. Once we reach Soyrococha, we have one last hike up towards Salkantay Pass, the highest point of the whole trek. The feeling of satisfaction mixed with the views of massive snow-capped mountains, Salkantay, Humantay, Huayanay and the view of white rivers, and picturesque lakes is like no other.
Around 1:00pm. we will have our lunch, in the area called Huayracmachay. After a trek of approximately 3 hours, we will arrive to our campsite in Colpapampa (2,920 m). Around 7:00p.m. we will rest, recharge energies from the trek and eat dinner.
Colpapampa - Playa Sahuayco - Santa Teresa Hot Springs
At 07:00am we start a 6-hour trek towards Playa Sahuayaco passing by small communities, waterfalls, fruit-bearing trees, varied flora, and birds. On arrival to ‘La Playa’, we will have lunch. At 2:00pm a local bus will take us to the Santa Teresa Hot Springs, where you will enjoy and relax at the hot pools. Here we’ll have dinner and also spend the night.
Santa Teresa - Hidroelectrica - Aguas Calientes
We start our day at 7:00am again, this time making our way to Hidroelectrica. We’ll hike through the valley and the Vilcanota river for about 3 hours until we reach the station.
Once there, it’s a 10 km walk to Aguas Calientes. We walk along the train tracks close to the bank of Urubamba river where we’ll appreciate the holy mountains of Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain, and finally arrive to Aguas calientes, for an overnight stay at a hotel and dinner at one of it’s restaurant.
Zip lining is availabile on this day before heading to Aguas Calientes. Speak to your guide if you’re interested (optional).
Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cusco
After 4 days of hiking, we finally visit one of the 7 Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu!
We wake up early, have breakfast and take the first bus up to Machu Picchu to enter the site as it opens. Once we arrive our 2-hour guided tour of the Inca citadel begins. You learn all about the Incas while you visit all the important areas of the ruins.
After your tour, you’ll have free time to explore the site by yourself and to climb either Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain if you had requested previously. In the afternoon, you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo from where we’ll take you back to Plaza San Francisco in Cusco on our private van.
The trek is amazing, the accommodation was amazing, the guide (Teddy) was amazing, the food was amazing! I can only recommend doing the trek to anyone with a decent level of fitness and I can only recommend doing it with Yapa!
I did the 5-day Salkantay trek and honestly, it was amazing. The food was so good—huge portions and always hot tea. Our guide, Alex, was awesome—super chill, answered all our questions, took great pics, and even made the best lomo saltado. The hike was challenging but well-paced, and the views were just insane. Totally worth it.
Contact our Machu Picchu experts on Whatsapp HERE or email info@yapaexplorers.com for help planning your adventure!
When you book with Yapa, everything is taken care of – no stress, no surprises, just an incredible Salkantay Trek experience led by expert local guides.
Pre-tour briefing the night before departure (Yapa will contact you in the morning to arrange)
Machu Picchu Entry Ticket for the grand finale of your journey
Bringing the right gear ensures a comfortable and stress-free trek. Here’s what we highly recommend:
Backpack 40 to 50L max
Original passport (the same you used to book) The same you used to book
Hiking boots Sturdy, well-broken-in, and waterproof for rough terrain
Comfortable clothes Moisture-wicking layers for changing conditions the 5 days
Sunscreen High-altitude sun can be intense, even on cloudy days
Aluminum/reusable water bottle Helps you stay hydrated, keeps your water cool, and cuts down on plastic waste.
Sleeping bag A good quality, warm sleeping bag is crucial for cold nights
CAN RENT FROM US
Sleeping/Air Mattress For extra comfort while camping
CAN RENT FROM US
Trekking Poles Helpful for stability on steep sections
CAN RENT FROM US
Personal medication Including altitude sickness prevention if needed
Altitude sickness can catch many travelers a little bit off guard. It’s impossible to know who will get affected by it. Some don’t even feel it at all! For most, it’s nothing more than a headache and a dizzy sensation that goes away over a short period of time.
If you want to limit your chances of getting sick, there are a few things you can do. The most important thing to do is acclimatize in Cusco. Take it easy on the first day or two, eat small meals, get plenty of rest and drink water. Other alternatives are Soroche (Diamox) pills and coca leaves.
It’s also important to speak to your physician to make sure you don’t have any underlying conditions.
The Salkantay Trek requires a good level of physical fitness. All should be well acclimatized before starting the hike. Be ready to trek through steep, rugged, and cold terrain and reach a maximum altitude of 4,600 meters (15,090 feet).
Our tour departs with a minimum of 2 people and a maximum of 8 people.
If looking to book a private group tour or solo tour, contact us and we’ll organize one for you.
There’s nothing like that feeling of discovering a new place all by yourself and we can help you with that. Whether looking to travel alone part of a journey or the whole trip, simply contact us and we’ll create the perfect plan.
We take the stress out of booking a group trip of 4 or more people to Machu Picchu, plus the added bonus of including great benefits! Contact our team through our email: info@yapaexplorers.com or by sending a Whatsapp to our number: +51 932 244 986 (09:00am to 6:00pm – Peruvian time) for more information.
An experienced cook accompanies every group on the trail. The cook provides us with delicious food made of local ingredients that will have you asking for more! Vegeterian, vegan and other special dietary requests can be accommodated as well with sufficient notice.
Yapa Explorers provides essential trekking equipment to Machu Picchu, including:
There is no limit on the amount of people the can hike through Salkantay so availability doesn’t tend to be a problem. We still suggest to book a few months in advance to start getting everything ready. 2 to 3 months is suggested.
Yapa Explorers is locally owned and female-led, ensuring an authentic, personalized, and seamless experience.
We are more than just a tour operator—we are a group dedicated to exceptional service, expert guiding, and responsible tourism.
Every trek with us supports the local community, ensuring that both our travelers and the people behind the journey benefit from every step.
We promise you can trust that every detail is taken care of – all you need to do is enjoy the adventure!