From Cusco: Salkantay trek 5 days/4 nights meals included

The real appeal here is the radical change in climate. In five days, you go from cold, thin air beside Humantay Lake and the 4,650-meter Salkantay Pass to warm valleys, jungle vegetation, hot springs, and the train tracks leading into Aguas Calientes. It is a hard walk, but the scenery keeps changing before your legs have time to complain.

I especially like two things: the meals are taken seriously, with a professional chef preparing breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the route reaches Machu Picchu by a less routine approach than a standard day trip. The small group size, capped at 18, also makes a long trek easier to manage.

The catch is simple: this is not a gentle country walk. Several days involve seven to eight hours of walking, steep climbs, high altitude, and early starts. A recent booking rated the trip four out of five, praising the food but noting that the guide was ill for part of the trek and that explanations were thinner during those sections. Plan for a demanding hike, not just a sightseeing package.

Key points at a glance

• Humantay Lake on day one: A steep two-hour climb brings you to one of the trek’s most memorable mountain views.
• Salkantay Pass at 4,650 meters: The highest point demands steady pacing, warm layers, and a good response to altitude.
• A sharp climate change: The route moves from cold high country into warmer valleys and the Amazon edge.
• Comfort in the middle of the trek: Camping is paired with kitchen support, thick mattresses, and Mountain Sky cabins during the first two nights.
• Llactapata viewpoint: From the Inca ruins, you can see Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu Mountain before walking onward to Hidroeléctrica.
• Machu Picchu at the finish: The tour includes entry and a guided visit, with return travel from Aguas Calientes by train or by walking and car.

What the five-day Salkantay route is really like

This trek works because it gives you more than a single mountain view. You see the Andes change from bare, high-altitude slopes to green valleys and warmer forest, then finish at Machu Picchu. That variety is the main reason to choose Salkantay over a shorter route.

You should also understand the rhythm. Mornings start early, walks are long, and some sections are uphill for hours. Your daypack needs to stay light, since a duffel weighing up to seven kilos is carried by horses during the first three days. You still need to carry personal items, water, and anything you want during the day.

The tour costs $460 per person. That price covers a great deal: hotel pickup in Cusco, private transport to the trail, a guide in English or Spanish, a chef and kitchen team, four meals each day except the final day, three nights of camping, one hotel night, Machu Picchu entry, the guided citadel visit, and return travel from Aguas Calientes by one of two options.

The extras matter. You pay 20 soles for the Humantay Lake entrance, up to $10 to rent a sleeping bag, $24 for the buses between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu if you choose them, and $10 for the Santa Teresa hot springs entrance and transport. Travel insurance and personal spending are also outside the price.

For a five-day guided trek with meals and Machu Picchu admission included, the package offers solid value. It is less attractive if you want a simple walk with few added costs, since the required extras can add up. Ask yourself what matters most: convenience and a supported route, or a lower headline price with fewer included services.

Day one: Cusco to Soraypampa and Humantay Lake

Pickup is scheduled around 5:45 in the morning. The drive takes about two hours to Mollepata, where you stop for breakfast. From there, it is roughly another hour to Soraypampa, the starting point for the first hike.

The climb to Humantay Lake takes about two hours. It is a short distance on paper, but the altitude makes it feel serious. You reach the lake at about 4,200 meters above sea level, where the cold air and mountain walls create the day’s major visual reward.

Take this first ascent slowly. You are not just warming up for the trek. You are testing how your body handles altitude, steep ground, and a long day. Sunglasses, sunscreen, a warm jacket, and sturdy shoes are not optional luxuries here.

After time at the lake, you walk downhill for around two hours to Quiswarniyoc, where lunch is served. The afternoon is more relaxed, with time to explore the area before your first night outdoors.

The camping setup is more comfortable than the word camping may suggest. The first two nights are described as Mountain Sky cabins, with thick mattresses, glass doors, and night and panoramic lighting. You also receive a personal double-foam pad, 2.5 inches thick. Confirm the exact sleeping arrangement at the briefing, since the program also describes these nights as camping.

Day two: The long climb to Salkantay Pass

Day two is the physical center of the trip. After breakfast, you walk for about four hours to Salkantay Pass, at 4,650 meters. This is the highest point of the entire route.

At this height, the view is only part of the challenge. The air is thin, and the trail can feel slow even if you are fit. Keep a steady pace rather than trying to match the fastest person in the group. Your guide can help with the group rhythm, but you should still listen to your body and report serious symptoms.

The pass marks a dramatic change. The high, open mountain world gives way to a long descent toward Wairacmachay and Chaullay. That downhill section takes about four hours, so your knees and toes may complain more than your lungs by the end.

At Chaullay, the tour provides camping equipment, hot tea, and dinner. The hot drink is a small but welcome detail after a cold morning and a long descent. This is also one of the nights when the work done by the chef matters. You are using a lot of energy, so a proper meal is far more useful than a basic snack.

The food received the strongest praise in the available feedback. Meals were described as excellent, with careful preparation and even a cake at the end of the trek. Vegetarian and vegan meals are available at no extra charge if requested in advance.

Day three: From the Salkantay Valley to Santa Teresa

The third day shifts the mood. You spend about five hours walking through the Santa Teresa Valley, following the Salkantay River. Compared with the high pass, the lower elevation feels warmer and the surroundings become more plant-filled as you approach the Amazon edge.

You finish the walking section at Playa Sahuayaco. From there, tourist transport takes you to the Santa Teresa camp. Lunch is served at camp before the optional visit to the Colcamayo hot springs.

Colcamayo is about 15 minutes from the campsite by car. Entrance and transport cost an additional $10. Bring swimwear if you want to use the pools, and pack a dry layer for the ride back.

The hot springs are a useful extra after three demanding days, but they are not part of the base price. If your budget is tight, you can skip them and rest at camp. If your legs are tired and you want a warm soak, this is likely the most welcome optional activity on the route.

Day three is also a good reminder that the tour is not all remote trail. Some sections use tourist transport to connect the walking stages. That saves time and avoids unnecessary road walking, but it also means the experience is a mix of hiking, camp life, and scheduled transfers.

Day four: Llactapata, Hidroeléctrica, and the train tracks

Breakfast comes around 5:30 in the morning. You then ride for about 45 minutes to Lucmabamba, where the day’s hike begins.

The climb from Lucmabamba to Llactapata takes about three hours. This is another uphill section, though the lower elevation changes the physical feel from the pass. The reward is a view toward Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu Mountain from the Inca ruins.

Llactapata gives you a useful sense of how the final approach is unfolding. You are not yet inside Machu Picchu, but you can see the famous citadel area from across the valley. It is one of the most distinctive moments of the trek because the destination comes into view before the finish.

From Llactapata, you walk downhill for about two hours to Hidroeléctrica. Lunch is provided there. Afterward, you follow the railway for approximately three hours to Aguas Calientes.

The rail-track walk is not as scenic or quiet as the mountain sections, and it can feel long after the morning climb. Still, it gives the day a clear sense of progress. You are following the same valley corridor used by trains serving Machu Picchu, with the final town getting closer step by step.

Dinner is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., and you sleep in a hotel in Aguas Calientes. This is a welcome change after three nights outside. Do not expect a leisurely evening, though. The next morning begins around 4:00 a.m.

Day five: Entering Machu Picchu before the crowds build

You receive a packed breakfast before setting off. The walk from Aguas Calientes to the Puente Ruinas checkpoint takes about 30 minutes. At the checkpoint, you must show your passport, Machu Picchu ticket, and student ID if you are using one.

After the checkpoint, you climb stairs for about an hour to the main entrance. The goal is to arrive around 6:00 a.m. This is a demanding start after four days of hiking, but it avoids relying on the bus and gives the final morning a strong sense of achievement.

The guided visit lasts about two and a half hours. The route covers the main square, the urban sector, the circular tower, the solar clock, the Inca cemetery, and other major points inside the citadel.

The tour includes the Machu Picchu entrance ticket and the guided visit, which removes two major planning tasks. Still, the ticket-checking process can be confusing. Instructions about where to queue and which documents to show may not always feel clear, so keep your passport and ticket easy to reach and pay close attention to your guide.

After the visit, you return to Aguas Calientes. The package offers a choice of returning to Cusco by train or walking and car, according to your selection. Check the exact timing and transport arrangement before departure, since the final return is an important part of an already long day.

Camping, food, and what you carry

The support team is one of the tour’s strongest features. A professional chef and kitchen team prepare four breakfasts, four lunches, and four dinners. That is a meaningful inclusion on a strenuous route.

The food is more than fuel here. A carefully prepared meal can make a cold camp evening much easier, and the reported cake is a nice touch after several days of effort. Request vegetarian or vegan meals before departure.

Your duffel can hold up to seven kilos and is carried by horses during the first three days. Pack only the essentials. You still need comfortable hiking clothes, long pants, a jacket, sunscreen, insect repellent, sunglasses, a camera, and a sleeping bag.

A sleeping bag is not included, but one can be rented for $10. If you already own a suitable bag, bring it. The temperature change from the high mountains to Santa Teresa means you should prepare for both cold nights and warmer, insect-prone areas.

Guide quality and group size

The group is limited to 18 people, which is a sensible size for a route with mixed fitness levels and several long days. The guide speaks English and Spanish and is responsible for trail support, cultural explanations, timing, and the Machu Picchu visit.

The cultural side includes learning about the mountain gods and taking part in a small Andean ritual. This gives the trek more meaning than a sequence of viewpoints, though the depth of interpretation can depend on the individual guide and the conditions of the day.

One important caution: the guide became ill during part of a recent trip and did not walk with the group for some sections. The result was fewer explanations than other groups received early on, although the guiding improved from day three onward. That is not a reason to reject the tour, but it is a reminder that guide quality can affect the experience.

Who should book this trek?

I would choose this trip if you want a full route to Machu Picchu, enjoy changing scenery, and prefer having meals, transport, camping equipment, and entry tickets arranged together. It suits people who can walk for up to eight hours a day and handle steep climbs and descents.

I would not choose it if you want a relaxed holiday, have mobility limits, are pregnant, or dislike early mornings and basic camp conditions. The route includes high altitude, uneven trails, long descents, and a one-hour stair climb to Machu Picchu after several days on foot.

Good footwear is essential. The strongest practical advice from the available feedback is to bring proper hiking shoes and build your fitness before arriving. The trek is far more enjoyable when your feet, knees, and lungs are ready for it.

Should you book the Salkantay trek?

Book it if the variety appeals to you: Humantay Lake, a 4,650-meter pass, warm valleys, hot springs, Llactapata, and Machu Picchu in one connected route. The $460 price is reasonable for the amount included, especially with meals, a chef, camping support, Machu Picchu entry, a hotel night, and return transport.

Think twice if you want polished service at every moment or need a highly predictable guiding experience. The food and route are major strengths, but the long hikes, extra charges, early starts, and possible guide disruption require flexibility.

For a fit hiker who wants to reach Machu Picchu by walking through several distinct climates, this is a strong choice. Bring good shoes, pack light, request any special meals early, and keep enough cash for the required extras.

FAQ

How long is the Salkantay trek?

The trek lasts five days and four nights, beginning with pickup in Cusco and ending with return travel from Aguas Calientes to Cusco.

How high is Salkantay Pass?

Salkantay Pass reaches 4,650 meters above sea level. It is reached on day two after about four hours of walking.

Are meals included?

Yes. The tour includes four breakfasts, four lunches, and four dinners. Vegetarian and vegan meals are available at no extra charge if requested in advance.

Is accommodation included?

Yes. The package includes three nights of camping and one hotel night in Aguas Calientes. Mountain Sky cabins with thick mattresses, glass doors, and lighting are listed for the first two nights.

Is the Machu Picchu entrance ticket included?

Yes. The entrance ticket and a guided visit lasting about two and a half hours are included.

What costs extra?

The Humantay Lake entrance costs 20 soles. A sleeping bag can be rented for $10, buses between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu cost $24, and the Santa Teresa hot springs entrance and transport cost $10. Travel insurance and personal expenses are not included.