4-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu
Traveler rating
4.7/5
Based on 36 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is 4-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu worth booking?
4-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu is a 96-hour experience in Cusco, Peru, from $810 per person. It scores 59 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4.7/5 rating across 36 reviews. This booking is non-refundable, so pick your date carefully. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 59 / 100
- Rating
- 4.7/5 (36)
- Duration
- 96 hours
- From
- $810 per person
Forget the Inca Trail and hike to Machu Picchu along the higher and more beautiful Salkantay Trail! Embark on a challenging 4-day trek along the alternative Salkantay route, crossing over a 4,650 meters high pass where y
What you get
- Pre-departure briefing
- Round Trip Tourist Bus Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu
- Bus Ollantaytambo to Cuzco
- Lunch
- Horseman and mules to carry cooking and camping equipment plus a total of 7 kilos for each trekker. (This includes 3 kilos for your sleeping bag & mattress plus 4 kilos of personal items.
- Car Transfer La Playa to Santa Teresa to Hydroelectric Station
About this experience
Forget the Inca Trail and hike to Machu Picchu along the higher and more beautiful Salkantay Trail! Embark on a challenging 4-day trek along the alternative Salkantay route, crossing over a 4,650 meters high pass where you can marvel at the Salkantay and Humantay peaks standing over 6,000 meters high. Hike along this unspoiled trail, passing through the villages of Soraypampa and Santa Teresa, to discover indigenous mountain communities. See the 'Lost City of the Incas' in the early morning light after having spent time in the town of Aguas Calientes. Highlights: -Hike among 6,000m Andean peaks -Cross snowy high passes with incredible views -Reach the comfort of Aguas Calientes town -See the Machu Picchu site as it opens with a guide
What's included
Included
- Pre-departure briefing
- Round Trip Tourist Bus Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu
- Bus Ollantaytambo to Cuzco
- Lunch
- Horseman and mules to carry cooking and camping equipment plus a total of 7 kilos for each trekker. (This includes 3 kilos for your sleeping bag & mattress plus 4 kilos of personal items.
- Car Transfer La Playa to Santa Teresa to Hydroelectric Station
- Dinner
- Breakfast
- Van Cuzco to Mollepata to Challacancha (starting point of trek)
- Meals: 3B/3L/3D/2 snacks with typical menus
- 1-night 3* Hotel Accommodation at Aguas Calientes
- Professional Bilingual Guide on trek & Machu Picchu tour
- Camping Accommodation during trek (including Basic Sleeping Pad & tent for 2 people)
- Small group experience; Max 16, Avg 4
- First Aid kit
- Emergency oxygen bottle
- Cuzco Accommodation Pick-Up
- Foam Sleeping Mat
- Tourist Train Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
Not included
- Day 1 Breakfast, Day 4 Lunch and Dinner, Bottled Water
- Guide for bus and train transfers (these portions are on your own)
- Optional Services
- Accommodation in Cuzco
- Tips (Please remember that tipping is 100% optional and depends entirely on the service you received. It is customary to give tips in Latin America, however it is NOT mandatory. If you do wish to give a tip, these are our recommended guidelines.
- Guide: 40-60 soles per trekker
- Assistant Guide: 30-40 soles per trekker
- Horsemen: 60-80 soles for each horseman from the whole group
- Cook: 150-200 soles for the cook from the whole group
- Prices for optional activities are subject to change at any time without prior notice. Please confirm these prices before departing on the trek.
- Trekking Permit Salkantay Trail
- Machu Picchu
- Train transfer from hydroelectric station to Aguas Calientes
- Entrance fees
- Entrance fees
- Optional Sleeping bag rental
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 15 minutes before departure.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
- Languages
- en, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Tue, Sat
- Group size
- Up to 16 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Bamba Travel
Know before you go
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
- Minimum age is 7 years
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- Accommodation Options: Single travelers will share a tent/room with another traveler and couples will have a tent/room to themselves.
- Physical Requirements: This hike is demanding, it is important to be in good physical condition. There are important temperature changes associated with altitude changes (from 4000 meters to 2000 meters).
- Important: You must provide the following information upon booking: Full name (exactly as it appears on the passport), date of birth, nationality, passport number, date of passport expiration.
- As of June 11, 2022, all travelers over 18 years old must have three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. That means two regular doses plus a booster. Passengers from 12 to 17 years old must prove they are vaccinated with two doses. If they do not have a complete scheme, they must present the negative result of an RT-PCR test taken no more than 48 hours before boarding in their country of origin.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 36 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
9 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
5 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Photo opportunities
4 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Food and drink
4 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Physical effort
3 mentionsExpect real walking or climbing: reviewers mention the effort involved.
Traveler reviews
36 verified traveler reviews for 4-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Great trek to Machu Picchu
The guide was really nice, spoke english well and knew a bunch of grest spots no other guides did. The food was also good, and its only local dishes which is nice. Just a great trek all in all:))
via Tripadvisor
Amazing trip with an amazing guide
We did the trip just my friend and I, along with our guide, chef and guy to carry the bags with horses. The guide, Cesar, especially was amazing, taking us to the best spots to see the great views on the tour. The chef also made great Peruvian food during the tour. All in all, just a great experience with great people.
via Tripadvisor
Lovely trip, thank to Junior and Ruth.
This Bamba Travel’s Salkantay Trek was beyond beautiful! I was helped by Guides Junior and Ruth always during the steep clime besides their morale and guidance, it was a wonderful trip. The wavy geography and the nice synchronization of the activities and processes in part made this a dream tour.
via Tripadvisor
Just amazing
It was amazing from the first minute until the last. The food was really good, the guidance as well and we had good beds. Physically, you will be alright if you prepared a bit. The views were crazy, and so was the visit to Machu Picchu. Would 100% recommend!
Response from the operator: Thank you for your fantastic review! We're delighted to hear that your experience was amazing from start to finish. It's great to know that you enjoyed the food, guidance, and comfortable beds. Preparing physically always helps, and we're glad you found the trek manageable. The views and the visit to Machu Picchu truly are extraordinary. We appreciate your recommendation and look forward to welcoming you on another adventure soon!
via Tripadvisor
Amazing experience!
We did the Salkantay Trek through Bamba Experience, and what a time we had! First of all we were taken good care of by the employees at Bamba Experience before the trek. Our Guide, Percy, was more than you would expect, he was welcoming, funny, caring and he could answer every question we may have had, not just on our trek towards Machu Picchu but also on the geological site of Machu Picchu he could give us good and detailed answers on our questions. We got to see both the amazing Andees aswell as the fascinating and interesting Machu Picchu. If you are up for a physical challenge and wants to see nature, Peruvian culture and history you should pack your bags and get in touch with Bamba! Amazing experience thanks to Bamba Experience and Percy!
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 96 hours
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Minimum age to book
- 7+
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Tue, Sat
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 13
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by Bamba Travel, who run 25 experiences we rank across 11 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 49.4.
See everything Bamba Travel runsWhy this scores 59
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
4-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Cusco.
How much does 4-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu cost?
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Prices start at $810 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Cusco usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does 4-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu take?
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Plan for about 96 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Cusco is not rushed.
Is 4-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 59 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.7/5 across 36 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in Cusco, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule 4-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu?
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No. This experience is sold on a non-refundable basis, so only book a date you are confident about. Similar experiences in the city do offer free cancellation if flexibility matters more than price.
Is 4-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu suitable for kids and families?
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The operator sets a minimum age of 7. Older children generally do well here, and families should factor in the 96-hour running time when deciding.
How far in advance should I book 4-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu?
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Around 13 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Cusco can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Cusco and add a light layer if any part of the 96-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does 4-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Cusco within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Cusco?
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On Outty we rank every Cusco experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Sacred Valley Full Day Tour, Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market Tour in Cusco, Cusco: Rainbow Mountain & Red Valley Premium Day Trip with Meals. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Cusco?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Cusco?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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