Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5D/4N

The day before the trek starts, your guide will meet you at your chosen hotel in Cusco at 5:30 pm for a pre-trek talk. We recommend you book a hotel in the downtown area of Cusco.

The trek is rated as moderate to challenging and covers approximately 57 km (35.4 miles) on uneven, rocky terrain with steep uphill and downhill sections. Day 1 is the most challenging for most people because of the elevation, while the rest of the trail is moderate.

This trek does not require booking an advance permit, but it includes Machu Picchu. Therefore, we recommend booking at least a couple of months in advance, which gives us enough time to put everything together for you to enjoy with no worries.

Weather in the region is extremely variable, and you should pack for a variety of conditions. In addition, our trek passes through ten bio-zones ranging from high-altitude alpine conditions to high jungle. During a sunny day, you can expect temperatures of about 18–25°C (65–77°F). However, on the second day, the weather is very unpredictable, and temperatures can drop to 6°C (42°F) during the day at the pass (but you won’t spend a lot of time up there).

The Machu Picchu area has a humid climate and tends to be warmer since it is located at a lower altitude and near the Amazon Jungle. The average temperatures at Machu Picchu are between 23°C and 25°C (73°F and 77°F), with the minimum temperature around 18°C (64°F). The Cusco area has only two well-defined seasons: the wet season and the dry season. The wet season starts in November and ends in March. During this period, it rains almost every day for three or four hours, but there are also several sunny days. The dry season begins around March and lasts until October. June and July are the coldest months. Paradoxically, at noon, the temperatures can reach 23°C (73°F), the annual highest temperature.

Horses carry the rest of your extra clothing such as night clothes, long warm underwear, warm fleece, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and others. You will be allowed to put up to 8 kilos (17 pounds), which may include a sleeping bag (1.5 kilos / 3.3 pounds) and a sleeping pad (1 kilo / 2 pounds).

In cases of emergencies or medical problems, we follow a detailed medical protocol. All our guides have a “Wilderness First Aid Certification,” and we have a first aid kit at all times, including portable oxygen and radios. In case of special medical attention or sickness, we will provide necessary assistance.

You won’t have access to electricity on days 1 and 2, but from the second night on, you will have it because you will be camping at someone’s courtyard. So, consider bringing chargers for your items such as phone.

Our meals are based on organic food, and we pack fresh vegetables from the beginning.

Your lunch will be based on quinoa, pasta, vegetable soup, and the main course usually consists of a small buffet including rice, potatoes, white or red meat, and salad such as avocado.

Dinner is usually similar but comes with dessert.

Breakfast is based on eggs, omelets, pancakes, bread, cereals, oatmeal, and drinks. You will be very well fed and may just want to pack very few snacks with you because we will even give you snacks such as fruit and a cookie for the way.

Note: We have options for vegetarians or vegans too. At the time of your booking, advise us so we know what to make for you on the trek.

The main cause of altitude sickness is going too high too quickly. Given enough time, your body will adapt to the decrease in oxygen. This process is known as acclimatization and generally takes one to three days at any given altitude. Cusco is at an elevation of 3,400 meters (11,154 feet), so spending at least two days before any trek will help you a lot. You may also consider taking altitude pills. We often recommend DIAMOX or Acetazolamide to our clients, which are used to prevent and reduce the symptoms of altitude sickness. This medication can decrease headaches, tiredness, nausea, dizziness, and shortness of breath that can occur when you climb quickly to high altitudes (generally above 10,000 feet/3,048 meters). It is particularly useful in situations when you cannot make a slow ascent. The best ways to prevent altitude sickness are climbing slowly, stopping for 24 hours during the climb to allow the body to adjust to the new height, and taking it easy the first 1 to 2 days. (Regarding any specific medications, please check about side effects, precautions, interactions, or overdose, or ask for advice from your doctor).

You should consider bringing money, as you may want to buy bottled water, snacks, Gatorade, beer, etc., from locals that live along the way, especially on day one, as well as if you are thinking of giving appreciations or tips for the porters and guides too.

The last lunch at Aguas Calientes is not included, so you will need money for that as well. We recommend you bring soles rather than dollars; there are banks and exchange offices in Cusco where you can change any type of currency.

Your guide will have a first aid kit at all times while you are on the trek, which includes some painkillers, bandages, small bandages to prevent blisters, an oxygen tank, pills for diarrhea, and similar items. At any time during the trek, please feel free to ask for anything you may need. However, if you need any special medication or have a special medical condition, please contact your doctor to get the best advice before the trek.

We rent sleeping bags that are specially designed for cold temperatures in the treks and offer sleeping bags for up to 5 ºF (-15°C). These can be requested a few days in advance before your trek and will cost you USD $20 for the entire trek.

If you have one, make sure they are down and suitable for temperatures up to 5 ºF (-15°C), or even better, made for colder temperatures than that – you don’t want to be cold.

We are specialized in both small and big groups, but we prefer small groups because that way our clients get personalized service, especially when you encounter many things on treks, such as Incan sites, flowers, fauna, and flora. Your guide spends lots of time with you so you can learn more about our culture and history.

We limit the size of our groups on treks to a maximum of 8 people.

Of course, if any situation requires more than 8 people in a group, that is not a problem for us at all. For example, a group of friends or family that is more than 8, we are happy to have them in a single group.

You will be provided with boiled drinking water from day 1 to the end of your trek. However, make sure you get enough water for the first day (you can also purchase it on the way to the beginning of your trek). People usually drink about one and a half liters of water per day, some even more, so you need to bring water bottles for the first day to refill them. We recommend you bring Nalgene water bottles or camelback bags so that way we can make less garbage. You will encounter locals selling bottled water along the way, but not everyone is responsible; many people litter, and that is sad. We need to take care of our home and nature – that is why we recommend you refill your bottles when you can, and thank you for being part of our green home.

In the Inca Trail, there is no minimum age or limit. Any person who is prepared for trekking can do it. The Inca Trail is a challenging trek, so there is a requirement of being fit. That is why everybody who is thinking of trekking the Inca Trail should have a certain level of fitness – you don’t want to give up in the middle of the trek, as the Inca Trail is not like walking in the park but is also not impossible.

You will be back in Cusco around 5 pm after the trek. If for any reason you have to be back in Cusco earlier than that, please advise us at the time of your booking or at least one month before your trek begins, as we have to buy you the train ticket for exactly the specified trains.

The Wayna Picchu Mountain has a limit of permits up to 400 per day, which is divided into two groups: the first group from 7 am to 8 am and the second one from 10 am to 11 am. We recommend you book it in advance, especially for the dry season or high season that runs from April to August. Consider booking it two or three months in advance and email us for the availabilities.

We will provide you with a portable private toilet tent, especially for day one since there are no public toilets. Afterwards, you will be able to use proper toilets. In the case of toilet paper, you will need to bring your own with you. We recommend one roll for every two people, but in case you need extra, your cook will have extra rolls for you. Please don’t hesitate to ask for it as they are always prepared for any emergency.

Walking poles are recommended for everybody; they will help you a lot both downhill and uphill. Our expert guides say that they can take up to 30% of your body weight off your shoulders, and a pair of them is recommended per person.

A thirty-liter backpack will be big enough to carry your belongings such as water, rain gear, and extra clothes.

Our tents are four-season tents, and each one is designed for three people, but we use them for two (2.30 m length / 0.90 m width). Please email us if you are a solo traveler, whether you want to share a tent or have a private tent to sleep in.

This does not offer showers, but on nights 2 and 3, you will have a chance to take hot showers at the campsites we will be staying at, as they belong to local families.

There is a signal on day one until noon and on day four from lunch onwards.

We take the balance of the payment in cash, so you won’t need to pay extra fees. Of course, you can use PayPal or credit card, but you will need to pay the fees that are usually over 4.5%.

On the day of your briefing when your guide meets you, one of the representatives will also meet you to collect the rest of the balance for your trek.

The Peruvian sol is the currency of Peru and usually fluctuates between 3.3 to 3.8 sol to 1 US dollar.

Spanish is the national language of Peru. Also, 20% of Peruvians speak Quechua (Inca language). Our guides are fluent in Spanish and English.