Salkantay and Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 5 Days from the Glacier to the Sun Gate
Cross the Inca Chiriaska pass (5,100 m) below Salkantay, follow Inca paths to Llactapata and walk the Short Inca Trail through the Sun Gate — from $850.
This 5-day route combines the wild high mountains of Salkantay with the most famous arrival in Peru. Day one visits the turquoise Humantay Lake and camps at Salkantay Pampa, at the foot of the glacier. Day two crosses the Inca Chiriaska pass (5,100 m) — “where it gets cold” in Quechua — and descends to camp at Canal Inca. On day three you follow original Inca paths past Paucarcancha to the terraces of Llactapata and continue to a hotel night in Ollantaytambo.
Day four is the Short Inca Trail: from Km 104 up to Wiñay Wayna and the Sun Gate, with your first view of Machu Picchu, and a hotel night in Aguas Calientes. Day five is the guided visit of the citadel. Horses carry the gear, a chef cooks every meal on the trek, and the Machu Picchu entrance is included for US $850. The Inca Trail section needs a permit in your name. Read our Salkantay and Inca Trail guide.
The high point of the trek at 5,100 m, with close views of the Salkantay glaciers.
Humantay Lake
The turquoise glacier lake on the first day.
Llactapata
An Inca village of terraces and canals reached on foot on day three.
The Short Inca Trail
Wiñay Wayna and the Sun Gate on day four.
Mix of camps and hotels
Two nights camping, then hotels in Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes.
Machu Picchu guided
A full guided visit of the citadel on the last morning.
Horses and a chef
Horses carry up to 7 kg of your gear and a chef prepares all trek meals.
For strong hikers
A demanding route at very high altitude for well-acclimatized trekkers.
Day-by-day itinerary
Your complete day-by-day itinerary for the Salkantay and Inca Trail 5 Days, with distances, altitudes, meals and what to expect each day.
DAY 1
Cusco to Soraypampa, Humantay Lake and Salkantay Pampa
A dawn start brings you to a beautiful sunrise over the Salkantay Glacier. After a hearty breakfast you climb about 1.5 hours to the turquoise Humantay Lake (4,200 m), with time to take in its glacial waters and the peaks around it before returning to Soraypampa for a hot lunch.
In the afternoon you hike roughly two more hours to your camp at Salkantay Pampa (3,900 m), setting up beside the glacier with spectacular mountain views.
Distance
10 km / 6.2 mi
Duration
4.5–5 hours
Max altitude
4,200 m (Humantay)
Campsite
3,900 m / 12,795 ft
Meals
Lunch and dinner
Difficulty
Moderate
DAY 2
Salkantay Pampa, Inca Chiriaska Pass and Canal Inca
After an early breakfast you begin the three-hour climb to Inca Chiriaska Pass (5,100 m), whose Quechua name means to get cold. The reward is breathtaking views of the Salkantay glacier peaks before a warm drink and the long descent.
You descend about 3.5 hours to Sisaypata (4,400 m) for lunch beneath the Paltayoc peaks, then continue down to camp at Canal Inca (3,700 m).
Distance
16 km / 9.9 mi
Duration
9.5–10 hours
Max altitude
5,100 m
Campsite
3,700 m / 12,139 ft
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Difficulty
Hard
DAY 3
Canal Inca, Llactapata and Ollantaytambo
You hike a section of the original Inca Trail past Paucarcancha to Llactapata (2,720 m), an Inca village of houses, water channels and terraces with distant views toward Machu Picchu.
From Llactapata you walk to your lunch spot and on to Km 82, where a private vehicle takes you to Ollantaytambo for a good dinner and a comfortable hotel night.
Distance
14 km / 8.7 mi
Duration
5–6 hours
Altitude
Ollantaytambo 2,792 m
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation
Hotel in Ollantaytambo
Difficulty
Moderate
DAY 4
Km 104, Wiñay Wayna, Sun Gate and Machu Picchu
A 7:00 AM transfer takes you to the train to Km 104 (2,200 m). After the checkpoint you walk through semi-tropical forest to Chachabamba and Choquesuysuy, then climb stone steps past waterfalls and orchids to Wiñay Wayna (2,650 m), Forever Young, with its Temple of the Rainbow.
Two more hours along the Andes bring you to Inti Punku (Sun Gate) and your first full view of Machu Picchu, then a short descent and bus to Aguas Calientes for a hotel night and dinner.
Distance
12 km / 7.5 mi
Duration
6–7 hours
Altitude
Aguas Calientes 2,160 m
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation
Hotel in Aguas Calientes
Difficulty
Moderate
Good to know: Your original passport is required to enter Machu Picchu and must match your ticket, so we collect each traveler's passport details when you book.
DAY 5
Machu Picchu guided tour and return to Cusco
An early bus takes you up for a two-hour guided tour of Machu Picchu (2,430 m) — the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana and the Sacred Plaza — with free time afterward to hike to the Sun Gate or Inca Bridge, or climb Huayna Picchu (optional, $70).
You descend to Aguas Calientes for lunch, take the afternoon train to Ollantaytambo and a private transfer back to Cusco.
Distance
4–5 km / 2.5–3 mi
Duration
3–4 hours
Altitude
Machu Picchu 2,430 m
Meals
Breakfast
Return
Train and private car to Cusco
Difficulty
Easy
Inclusions & exclusions
Exactly what is covered in your Salkantay and Inca Trail 5 Days tour — and what to budget separately.
What's Included
Hotel pickup in Cusco
Private transport to the trailhead
Bilingual professional guide (English and Spanish)
Salkantay route and Humantay Lake entrance
Machu Picchu entrance and guided tour
Horses and muleteers to carry gear (up to 7 kg per person)
Chef-prepared breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks
Coca tea each morning and boiled water
Oxygen and first aid kit
Accommodation as detailed (camps, lodges, hotel)
Return train and private transfer to Cusco
Not Included
Final day lunch
Sleeping bag (rent in Cusco)
Trekking poles (rent in Cusco)
Huayna Picchu climb (optional, $70)
Tips and gratuities
Before you go
A few essentials we recommend to make your Salkantay and Inca Trail 5 Days day the most rewarding possible.
Acclimatize in Cusco first
Spend a day or two in Cusco (3,400 m) before this high-altitude trek. Hydrate well, eat light, drink coca tea and avoid alcohol. Our guides carry oxygen and a first aid kit throughout.
Physical fitness
Challenging. Long trekking days at high altitude, with the highest point at the Inca Chiriaska pass (5,100 m). The last trekking day follows the Short Inca Trail on stone steps to the Sun Gate. For fit, well-acclimatized hikers.
Best time to go
Dry season: April to October, with clear skies and firm trails; nights at camp are cold, especially from June to August. From December to March rain, mud and cloud are frequent, and snow is possible on the high passes.
Sun & weather
The Andean sun is intense at 5,100 m. Bring sunscreen SPF 50+, a wide-brim hat, sunglasses and lip balm with SPF. Nights at camp can drop below freezing, so pack a warm jacket, hat and gloves.
Cancellations & weather
You can cancel up to 24 hours before the tour if a verifiable emergency keeps you from joining — an illness, an accident or a cancelled flight, for example, with a document that shows it. If weather or road conditions make the trip unsafe, we will offer you a new date or a full refund. Machu Picchu tickets, train tickets and Inca Trail permits are personal and cannot be refunded once purchased. See our refund policy.
What to pack
Travel light but smart. Here's exactly what we recommend bringing for a comfortable, safe day at altitude.
Essentials
Passport — required for the entrance ticket.
Hiking boots (broken in) — terrain is rocky & uneven.
Transparent pricing — no hidden fees. The more travelers in your group, the lower the price per person.
Group Type
Group Size
Price / Person
What's Different
Shared Group Most popular
2 – 14 travelers
US $850 / pp
Mixed international group · set departure
Family Package
4+ adults & kids
US $808 / pp
5% discount for adolescents & children
Group of 8+
8 or more travelers
From US $765 / pp
Automatic group discount at checkout
Group discounts apply automatically. Book 4+ travelers and we'll send a custom quote within 2 hours. Larger groups (10+) qualify for additional savings — message us on WhatsApp.
Payment & refund highlights
Secure online payment
Pay with Visa, MasterCard, American Express. All transactions SSL-encrypted via Izipay.
Cancellation policy
We accept cancellations up to 24 hours before the tour when a verifiable emergency prevents you from attending. Machu Picchu tickets, train tickets and Inca Trail permits are personal and cannot be refunded once purchased. Refunds go back to your original payment method and are processed by your bank, not by us: any bank fees are applied by the bank, and the money can take up to 30 business days to reach your account. Thank you for your patience. Read the full policy.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions we hear most often. More? See the full FAQ page or reach us on WhatsApp.
Challenging: long days at high altitude, with the 5,100 m Inca Chiriaska pass on day two. Spend at least three days acclimatizing in Cusco.
Yes, for the Short Inca Trail section on day four. We request it in your passport name when you book; the trail closes every February.
Two nights camping (Salkantay Pampa and Canal Inca), one in a hotel in Ollantaytambo and one in Aguas Calientes.
Lunch on the last day, sleeping bag and poles (rent in Cusco), the optional Huayna Picchu climb and tips.
This trek needs TWO bookings: the government Inca Trail permit (capped at 500 per day and sold out months ahead) and the Machu Picchu entrance ticket. Check both calendars before you book.
