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.
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 $4,790 per person
Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu
7 days starting from $3,690 per person
Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Trek
7 days starting from $3,690 per person
“Great company makes possible great custom trips. We did 15 days in Costa Rica and it was wonderful.”
— john boyle
06 Mar, 2025
“It is impossible to describe this fabulous experience! From the very beginning, Aseem and his Team were friendly, informative and attentive. We were able to reach them at all hours from all locations and time zones. We spent time in Quito, The...”
— Lisa Butler
04 Mar, 2025
“Isabel Falls planned a 2 week trip for 6 of us to Argentina.From beginning to end, each detail was carefully planned by her! Meet and greet at each airport, thoughtful, knowledgeable guides that spoke english very well, well structured itinerary...”
— Namie Ahuja
26 Feb, 2025
“SA Expeditions planned the trip of a life time to Anartica for us. Everything they planned for us went off like clockwork. It was a first class experience and we won't hesitate to use them again in the future!”
— Sandy Yeigh
24 Feb, 2025
“SA Expeditions did a splendid job planning my trip to Rio de Janeiro. I felt very safe, taken care of and they were sure to stay within my budget. My representative Megan did a great job and was great with her communication. I highly recommend SA...”
— Abby Akin
21 Feb, 2025
“Mikey Blount, an SA Expeditions representative, helped my husband and I plan a trip to Thailand in January. Everything he suggested and booked for us was excellent--the accommodations, the tours, the locations we visited within the country. ...”
— Judy Morgan
21 Feb, 2025
“This organization is fantastic. Aseem, from SA Expeditions worked with us every step of the way to ensure our trip to Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands and Peru would be one in a lifetime. He organized our hotels--and we were never without a great...”
— Brigitte Blessing-Blunt
19 Feb, 2025
“My husband and I recently went to Peru, (Cusco and Machu Picchu), Iguazu Falls in Brazil and Argentina, El Calafate, in Patagonia, and Buenos Aires. Hayley Ward was the person at SA Expeditions who I worked with for several months to get the trip...”
— Cynthia Lackner
19 Feb, 2025
“Flawless trip and support. Highly recommend!!”
— Dave Dondero
19 Feb, 2025
“Jackie arranged a fantastic 2 week trip to Patagonia for 3 of us. We spent half the time in Chile at Torres Del Paine and half in Argentina at El Calafate and El Chalten. Every aspect of the trip was great: the transportation arrangements, the...”
— Steve Lavine
19 Feb, 2025