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The Ultimate Andean Adventure — with AllPackers Expeditions
This journey is for travelers who want more than a simple hike. It’s for those who want to feel the Andes, conquer a 4,630 m mountain pass, sleep under unfiltered starlight, and finish standing face-to-face with the legendary Machu Picchu.
With AllPackers Expeditions, you walk with expert guides, enjoy impeccable logistics, and support a 100% local Peruvian company that treats you like family from day one.
The 5-Day Salkantay Trek is one of the most scenic and diverse routes to Machu Picchu. It combines high-mountain landscapes, emerald lakes, snow-capped peaks, jungle warmth, and rich Andean culture.
This alternative route is perfect for adventurous travelers who want a challenging and rewarding hike away from the crowds.
Hike to the turquoise Humantay Lake
Conquer the legendary Salkantay Pass (4,630 m / 15,190 ft)
Sleep under crystal-clear Andean skies in our unique camps
Walk through cloud forests, coffee farms, and tropical valleys
Relax in the Santa Teresa hot springs (optional)
Enjoy Aguas Calientes before your Machu Picchu visit
Explore Machu Picchu with your professional guide
Travel with AllPackers Expeditions, a 100% local company
Duration: 5 days / 4 nights
Type: Trekking + culture + adventure
Group Size: Small groups (for safety and better experience)
Difficulty: Challenging
Highest Altitude: 4,630 m / 15,190 ft
Accommodation: Campsites (3 nights) + hotel in Aguas Calientes (1 night)
Cusco
The tour starts at 4:30 a.m. with pickup from your hotel. Get ready for an unforgettable experience as we head to the starting point of the Salkantay . The magic of Machu Picchu awaits! 
The Salkantay Trek is challenging, raw, and absolutely unforgettable.
Expect long hiking days, changing climates, high altitudes, and moments that remind you why you chose this adventure in the first place.
You’ll cross snow-capped mountains, turquoise lakes, glacial passes, cloud forests, and lush jungle valleys.
No day looks like the last — it’s a full Andean immersion.
The highest point is 4,630 m / 15,190 ft.
We build the route to help with gradual acclimatization, and your guide monitors you closely throughout the trek.
Your mountain chef cooks real food — soups, pastas, vegetables, quinoa dishes, omelets, pancakes, even warm desserts.
No dehydrated meals. No empty stomachs.
You’ll sleep in high-quality tents under a sky packed with stars.
Our horsemen, cooks, and guides — all local — handle everything so you can enjoy the experience without stress.
You’re not just booking a trek; you’re supporting a 100% local Peruvian company.
Every guide, chef, porter, and horseman is from the Andean communities you’re hiking through.
After days in the mountains, you’ll reach Aguas Calientes — hot showers, restaurants, and a comfortable hotel before your big day.
On the last morning, you’ll enter Machu Picchu with your guide, explore its most iconic viewpoints, and learn the stories behind the citadel.
It’s the perfect ending — a powerful reward after conquering the Andes.
This trek isn’t “easy,” but it’s absolutely worth it.
You’ll finish stronger, inspired, and proud of what you achieved.
Distance: 8 km / 5 miles
Hiking Time: 3–4 hours
Starting Elevation: 3,350 m / 10,990 ft
Camp Elevation (Soraypampa): 3,900 m / 12,795 ft
Your adventure with AllPackers Expeditions begins with an early hotel pickup (between 4:00–4:30 AM). You’ll enjoy a scenic drive through the Andes, passing picturesque valleys, traditional villages, and agricultural terraces. Breakfast is served in Mollepata before continuing to Soraypampa, the first campsite and the entrance to the glacier base.
After meeting the horsemen and team, we begin an acclimatization hike to the breathtaking Humantay Lake, one of the most photogenic turquoise lakes in Peru. The short but steep trail rewards you with dramatic glacier views reflected perfectly in the water.
You return to Soraypampa for dinner and your first night in the mountains. The sky here shows more stars than you’ve probably seen in your life.
Distance: 22 km / 13.7 miles
Hiking Time: 8–9 hours
Highest Elevation (Salkantay Pass): 4,630 m / 15,190 ft
Camp Elevation (Chaullay): 2,900 m / 9,514 ft
This is the biggest and most challenging day, but also the most epic.
We start early with a hot coca tea wake-up and a strong breakfast. The trail begins with a steady ascent toward the imposing Salkantay Mountain — one of the sacred “Apus” of the Andes. As you climb, the temperature drops, the landscape turns rocky and dramatic, and the snowcapped peak grows closer with every step.
Reaching the Salkantay Pass (4,630 m) is a moment you’ll never forget: razor-sharp glaciers, powerful winds, and panoramic mountain views all around you. Your guide explains the Andean spiritual significance of Apu Salkantay.
After celebrating the achievement, we descend into a completely different world — from high alpine landscapes to the warm, lush cloud forest. The air becomes humid, the plants turn tropical, and waterfalls line the trail.
We finish the day in Chaullay, where the team welcomes you with a hot meal and a well-earned rest.
Distance: 16 km / 9.9 miles
Hiking Time: 5–6 hours
Starting Elevation: 2,900 m / 9,514 ft
Ending Elevation (Santa Teresa): 1,550 m / 5,085 ft
Today, the environment shifts dramatically. You hike through lush vegetation, passing coffee farms, banana trees, passion fruit orchards, and waterfalls. This stretch feels more like a jungle expedition — warm, green, and full of life.
We stop for lunch in La Playa, a small rural settlement surrounded by tropical scenery.
In the afternoon, a vehicle takes us to Santa Teresa, a warm valley known for its relaxed atmosphere.
Here you can optionally visit the famous Cocalmayo Hot Springs — a traveler favorite. The crystal-clear pools are a perfect reward for your hard work.
Dinner and overnight in Santa Teresa.
Distance: 18 km / 11.1 miles
Hiking Time: 6–7 hours
Starting Elevation: 1,550 m / 5,085 ft
Ending Elevation (Aguas Calientes): 2,040 m / 6,690 ft
After breakfast, we drive to Hidroeléctrica, where the last stretch of the Salkantay route begins.
This day is gentle compared to the earlier challenges — a scenic walk along the railway tracks that run through dense jungle and follow the roaring Urubamba River.
The trail features butterflies, orchids, waterfalls, and the first glimpses of Machu Picchu from below.
You arrive in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town) by mid-afternoon. Here you check into your 3-star hotel, enjoy a hot shower, and relax before the big day. Your guide will give you a detailed briefing for the Machu Picchu tour.
Dinner is served in a local restaurant, and you spend the night in comfort.
Distance Walked: ~4 km (optional; bus included)
Machu Picchu Elevation: 2,430 m / 7,972 ft
The highlight of your journey.
You wake up early and take the bus up to Machu Picchu, skipping the long lines. As the sun rises over the mountains, you enter the citadel and begin your guided tour.
Your AllPackers Expeditions guide takes you through the temples, terraces, and hidden corners of this world wonder, explaining its history, architecture, and spiritual significance.
After your guided visit, you can explore more on your own, or take additional hikes like Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (if pre-booked).
You then return to Aguas Calientes, board your scenic train to Ollantaytambo, and finally take your private transport back to Cusco — arriving in the evening.
Your Salkantay adventure ends, but the memories stay forever.
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