incatrail.tours
EN
Check dates
Salkantay

4-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu Panoramic Train

Machu Picchu by bus, day 4/5

The Salkantay route over the 4 600 m pass past Humantay Lake, with a night in a glamping tent at Salkantay Camp, a night in an Andean hut at Collpapampa, a 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes, a guided Machu Picchu and the Vistadome or 360° train back. No permit is needed. One adult paid $564, down from $600.

4 days · 3 nightsup to 16glamping · huts · hotelVistadome or 360°no permitsells to one traveller
$564one adult, checkout 29 Sep 20264.729 reviews
Check dates · 23 Oct 2026
sells to one traveller · non-refundable
Frame 1 of 5 from the listing
Classic 4-day18 treks · from $750Short 2-day27 treks · from $500One-day trail3 treks · from $498Alternatives27 treks · from $343
4 days · 3 nightsduration
Cuscostart · 4:30 AM pickup
up to 16in a group
glamping · hutsthen a 3-star hotel
Vistadome or 360°panoramic train back
7 kgduffel carried for you
guided tourof Machu Picchu
English · Spanishguide languages
Over the pass, down to the jungle

Salkantay Trek 4 Days, Night by Night

Where you sleep, from the listing:

  1. Night 1: glamping tent at Salkantay Camp, below Humantay Lake.
  2. Salkantay Pass, about 4 600 m, the high point of the trek.
  3. Night 2: Andean hut at Collpapampa; Pachamanca barbecue, cooking class and coffee experience on the way.
  4. Night 3: 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes with breakfast.
  5. Machu Picchu with the guide, lunch in Aguas Calientes and the Vistadome or 360° train back.

RentalsSleeping bag, air mattress and trekking poles are for rent; pillow, sleeping pad, rain poncho and towels are provided.

On 23 Oct 2026

Options and Prices

This trek sells one option

4:30 AM pickup · English or Spanish guide · glamping, hut and hotel · duffel carried for you up to 7 kg · Vistadome or 360° back. One adult paid $564 against a strike price of $600.

$564ppBook this trek
sells to one traveller · non-refundable

Checked at checkout on GetYourGuide, 29 Sep 2026. The partner's calendar is the price on the day you book.

Read before comparing prices

What Is Included

  • Safety briefing the day before
  • Salkantay and Machu Picchu entry with a guide
  • All transport, hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Vistadome or 360° train back
  • 1 night glamping, 1 night in an Andean hut
  • 1 night in a 3-star hotel with breakfast
  • 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners, water and snacks
  • Pachamanca, cooking class and coffee experience
  • Duffel carried for you, up to 7 kg
  • Pillow, sleeping pad, poncho, towels
  • Satellite phone, first aid, oxygen
  • Lunch on the last day
  • Huayna Picchu, book ahead
  • Machu Picchu Mountain, book ahead
  • Sleeping bag, air mattress, poles (for rent)
Check dates · $564Options and prices
0 km of the Inca Trail — another route to the same citadelno Inca Trail permit
Km 82
2 720 mWarmiwañusca
4 215 mKm 104
2 100 mSun Gate
2 730 m
Our verdict

The Salkantay Trek We Would Book First

For mountains rather than ruins, this is the Salkantay listing with the strongest mix: glamping, a hut and a 3-star hotel, a duffel carried for you and the panoramic train back, for $564 — less than any classic Inca Trail trek. You trade the Sun Gate for a higher pass.

Book it if
The Inca Trail is sold out, or you want the high mountains and a lake.
Skip it if
Walking into Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate is the point.
“do not underestimate the trek.”Momin · 5 Jul 2026 · review of the Salkantay trek
Check dates · SalkantayInca Trail vs Salkantay
From the listing

What the Reviews Mention

  1. Guides and chefs by name, and plenty of good food.
  2. Luggage transfer handled well on the way back.
  3. A challenging trek with a brisk pace: train before you go.
  4. Views every day.

In numbersTwenty-nine reviews at 4.8.

Check dates · $564sells to one traveller · non-refundable
Before you book an alternative

No Permit, No Sun Gate: What That Means

This route does not walk the Inca Trail, so it needs no Inca Trail permit. That is why its dates stay open weeks ahead when the classic trail is sold out for months, and why it costs less. The trade-off is the arrival: you reach Machu Picchu by bus or on foot from Aguas Calientes, not through the Sun Gate.

Machu Picchu ticket
Still timed and still sold by name; the operator books it with your passport details.
Book ahead
Weeks rather than months, except around Christmas and in July.
February
Unlike the Inca Trail, these routes run in February.
Altitude
Salkantay goes higher than the Inca Trail; the jungle route starts high by road and drops fast.
Check dates on this trekInca Trail vs Salkantay All alternatives
Compare before you book

More Treks We Reviewed

Machu Picchu: 4-Day Inca Trail Hike & Panoramic Train
Read the review — our pick: sells to one at the listing price, 7 kg porter, toilet tent, Vistadome back.
Cusco: Machu Picchu 2-Day Inca Trail with Vistadome Train
Read the review — our two-day pick: 332 reviews, 3-star hotel, guided citadel, Vistadome back.
Cusco: 4-Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu with Accommodation
Read the review — the Inca Jungle, not the Inca Trail: 862 reviews, bike and hot springs, from $470.
From Cusco: 4-Day Inca Jungle Adventure to Machu Picchu
Read the review — bike, raft and zipline in groups of ten; $560 each for two, $1,040 alone.
Check dates · $564All 15 reviews
Pick your date on GetYourGuide

Availability

GetYourGuide · Cusco: 4-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, Panoramic Train
Night oneBelow the Salkantay PassGlamping tents instead of a permit
Three ways to walk four days

Compared with the Classic Inca Trail and the Inca Jungle

CriterionCusco: 4-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, Panoramic TrainMachu Picchu: 4-Day Inca Trail Hike & Panoramic TrainCusco: 4-Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu with Accommodation
Price per person$564$798$470
Inca Trail walked0 km42–46 kma sector
Permitnone neededclassic, 500 a daynone needed
Highest point4 600 m4 215 mnot stated
Nightsglamping · Andean huts · 3-star hoteltents, shared by twohostels, Santa María · Santa Teresa · Aguas Calientes
Through the Sun Gateno · by busyesno · by bus
Reviews29594862
Rating4.74.94.8
Book aheadweeks5–6 monthsweeks
BookBookBook
Twelve details from the listing

Good to Know

01Not the Inca Trail — no permit, no Sun Gate
02Pickup at 4:30 AM
03Salkantay Pass at about 4 600 m
04Humantay Lake on the way
05Glamping tent on night one
06Andean hut on night two
073-star hotel on night three
08Duffel carried for you, up to 7 kg
09Sleeping bag and mattress are rentals
10Vistadome or 360° train back
11Non-refundable
12Bring a student card if you have one
Check dates · $564Options and prices
Five frames from the listing

On the Trail

Listing frame 1 of 5
Listing frame 2 of 5
Listing frame 3 of 5
Listing frame 4 of 5
Listing frame 5 of 5
★ 4.7 · 29 reviews

What They Wrote

B
Bríd
Sep 10, 2026 · GetYourGuide
★★★★★

It was great Nilton and Roberto were fantastic guides. Very patient, kind and funny with great stories to share over dinner. Bito our chef and his team worked really hard for us to. cook amazing lunches and dinners. everything was organised so well.

F
Federico
Sep 2, 2026 · GetYourGuide
★★★★★

A wonderful experience. Everything was very well organized, from the pick-up to the luggage transfer on the return. Our guides Tony, Fernando, and Welmer (I hope I spelled it right) were always attentive and precise. And Tony – so much energy! Lunches and dinners were always…

B
Bogdan
Jul 7, 2026 · GetYourGuide
★★★★★

This is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life. An amazing trip, stunning nature, views straight out of a movie, and personal challenges. Our guides, Danny and Jay, were incredible and super helpful. I highly recommend them and thank you so much!

S
Seraina
Jul 7, 2026 · GetYourGuide
★★★★★

We had an amazing 4-day Salkantay Trek! It was definitely challenging, but everything was perfectly organized from start to finish. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking, with incredible landscapes every single day. A special thanks to our guides, Julio and Wilbert. They were…

M
Momin
Jul 5, 2026 · GetYourGuide
★★★★★

Activity was great. It was an experience of a lifetime. The organization and the itenary is very well thought of. The food was very good. One word of caution is , do not underestimate the trek. The terrain is challenging and the pace is brisk. So before you go train your self…

J
Jaël
May 20, 2026 · GetYourGuide
★★★★★

A great experience. The scenery is beautiful. It's very well organised by the agency. David and Daniel are really nice. It's my best souvenir of Peru. Although it was still very difficult! The people I met and the scenery were worth it.

About this trek

Questions

It goes higher: the Salkantay Pass is about 4 600 m, against 4 215 m on the classic trail. One reviewer in July 2026 warns the terrain is challenging and the pace brisk.

No. Salkantay has no permit quota, so dates stay open when the Inca Trail is sold out.

A glamping tent at Salkantay Camp, an Andean hut at Collpapampa and a 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes.

Yes. One adult paid $564 for 23 Oct 2026 at checkout on 29 September.

The Vistadome or the 360° panoramic train, according to the listing.

A pillow, a sleeping pad, a rain poncho and hand towels are provided; a sleeping bag, an air mattress and trekking poles are available to rent.

Book this trek · $564All alternatives
Ready when you are

Cusco: 4-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, Panoramic Train

Book this trek · $564
sells to one traveller · non-refundable
Live availability

Updated 29 Sep 2026 · listing prices as of 28 Sep 2026, checkout prices checked on GetYourGuide 26–29 Sep 2026.

Cusco: 4-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, Panoramic Train$564pp, from
Check dates