Salkantay Trek

Information

Distance

76.0 km

Duration

5–7 days

Max elevation

4,630 m

Country

Peru (PE)

Difficulty

Strenuous — crosses the Salkantay Pass at 4,630 m beneath a glacier, with an extreme elevation range from 2,050 m (Aguas Calientes) to the top of the pass

Best Season

April–October (Peru's dry season; April–May quieter, June–August busiest)

Permits & Fees

No special permit required except for the segment that joins the Inca Trail; an entry fee at the start of the trek ~20 soles; Machu Picchu entry tickets must be bought well in advance

Description

The Salkantay Trek is a 5–7 day, 76 km route from Mollepata to Aguas Calientes in the Cusco region of Peru, recognized by National Geographic as one of the world's top 25 treks. The trail crosses the Salkantay Pass at 4,630 m beneath the sacred peak of Apu Salcantay (6,271 m) — revered by local Quechua communities as the 'savage mountain' — before descending dramatically through cloud forest and jungle to reach Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu. Unlike the Inca Trail, no special permit is required, making it popular with independent trekkers. Key highlights include the turquoise Humantay Lake at 4,200 m, the Santa Teresa hot springs, and the Llactapata Inca ruins offering a distant first view of Machu Picchu.

Trail Highlights

Turquoise-blue Humantay Lake (4,200 m), Salkantay Pass (4,630 m) beneath the sacred peak Apu Salcantay (6,271 m), a dramatic descent into cloud forest and tropical jungle, the Lucmabamba coffee plantations, the Llactapata Inca ruins with distant views of Machu Picchu, and the natural hot springs of Santa Teresa