Salkantay Trekking ToursSalkantay Trek 5 Days to Machu Picchu with Exploor Trip
This Salkantay trek 5 days to Machu Picchu is run by Exploor Trip E.R.L and sold on GetYourGuide for $650 per person. It packs a lot into the price: Machu Picchu tickets, the Humantay Lake entry, the Santa Teresa hot springs, a sleeping bag, trekking sticks and the return train to Ollantaytambo with a transfer to Cusco. You sleep two nights in a Mountain Sky Hut, one night in tents and one night in a hostel in Aguas Calientes. The listing is new and has no ratings yet, so this page sticks to what the operator states. For context on every departure, see Salkantay trek tours. Compare it with the other Salkantay trek tour.
About This Trek
Exploor Trip E.R.L runs this five-day, four-night Salkantay trek from Cusco over the Salkantay Pass at 4,700 m, as the listing states. The route covers 72 km over four hiking days of 10, 22, 16 and 24 km and finishes with a guided visit to Machu Picchu. The listed itinerary matches the one sold by Salkantay 5-Day Hiking Trek at $500, where the hot springs are a USD 15 extra.
The price includes the sleeping bag, trekking sticks, hot springs and the train home. Only travel insurance is excluded. The listing asks you to book at least 3 months ahead and contact the supplier immediately.
$650 per person, reserve now and pay later
5 days, 4 nights, four hiking days totalling 72 km
Mountain Sky Hut for 2 nights, tents for 1 night, hostel in Aguas Calientes for 1 night
Included with the guided tour, but book at least 3 months ahead and contact the supplier immediately
Return train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, then a transfer to Cusco
Small group limited to 15, free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure
Check Dates and Availability
The listing does not state fixed departure times. Check availability to see the starting times, and book at least 3 months in advance, as the listing asks.
Quick answer The short answer
This Salkantay trek 5 days to Machu Picchu costs $650 per person and covers 72 km over four hiking days, crossing the Salkantay Pass at 4,700 m. Machu Picchu tickets, the Humantay entry, the Santa Teresa hot springs, a sleeping bag, trekking sticks and the return train are all included. Only travel insurance is excluded. Free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before departure.
Key takeaways
- Groups are limited to 15 people. See the comparison table.
- The two hard days are Day 2 over the pass, 9 to 10 hours, and Day 4, 8 to 9 hours. Read how hard is the Salkantay trek.
- The listing has no ratings yet, so compare it with the classic 5-day Salkantay trek with over 5,000 reviews.
- Cusco sits at about 3,400 m, so read altitude and fitness before booking.
What the Price Actually Covers
The $650 price is broad. Here is what the GetYourGuide listing states as included, what it excludes, and what you may still pay.
Included
A sleeping bag and trekking sticks are both in the price. The Alpaca Expeditions listing, for one, lists them as rentals. Canvas bag service for 7 kilos is provided, with horses and muleteers carrying the gear.
Meals and snacks, bottled drinking water, kitchen equipment and utensils, a pre-hike briefing, emergency provisions, showers and bathrooms along the trail, and internet connection are also listed as included.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Machu Picchu ticket and guided tour | Yes | Book at least 3 months ahead, contact the supplier immediately |
| Humantay Lagoon entry | Yes | Stated in the inclusions |
| Santa Teresa hot springs | Yes | Stated in the inclusions |
| Sleeping bag and trekking sticks | Yes | Rentals on some other listings |
| Return train to Ollantaytambo and transfer to Cusco | Yes | One return ticket after Machu Picchu |
| Accommodation | Yes | Mountain Sky Hut 2 nights, tents 1 night, hostel in Aguas Calientes |
| Travel insurance | No | The only stated exclusion, arrange it yourself |
Not Stated and Worth Asking
The listing states no pickup window or return time, so ask the supplier for the meeting arrangements when you book. The meeting point is Plaza Regocijo, Cusco 08002. Tips for the guide, cook and muleteers are not mentioned in the inclusions, so bring cash.
The entry to Machu Picchu is included, and the listing asks you to book 3 months ahead. If you skip the hot springs stop or want a different train class, that is not offered as an option in the listing.
The Cocalmayo hot springs near Santa Teresa. Photo: TMbux, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Trek Day by Day
Distances, hours, altitudes and camps below come from the operator listing. The pass figure of 4,700 m is the listing's own, and other sources put the Salkantay Pass between 4,580 m and 4,660 m.
Day 1: Cusco to Quiswarniyoc Via Humantay
The meeting point is Plaza Regocijo in Cusco, and the day includes the Humantay Lake visit before camp. The listing rates it moderate, with 10 km of walking over 5 to 6 hours and a camp at Quiswarniyoc at 4,000 m. Nights are cold and windy in the dry season from May to August, and temperatures can drop to -5 degrees Celsius.
The Mountain Sky Hut is home for the first two nights, and breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Day 2: Over the Salkantay Pass to Chawllay
This is the hardest day. The listing gives 22 km over 9 to 10 hours, rated challenging, with the maximum altitude of 4,700 m at the Salkantay Pass. Independent sources report the pass between 4,580 m and 4,660 m, so treat 4,700 m as the operator's figure.
You then descend to the Chawllay camp at 2,900 m, back in the Mountain Sky Hut for a second night. Expect warm and hot conditions at the lower elevations.
Day 3: Santa Teresa Valley and the Hot Springs
An easy day of 16 km over 5 to 6 hours through the Santa Teresa Valley, ending in tents at the Lucmabamba camp at 2,000 m. The Santa Teresa thermal baths are included, a welcome soak after the pass. The weather is hot and humid by day and cold at night.
All three meals are included.
Day 4: Llactapata Ruins to Aguas Calientes
The longest day on paper at 24 km over 8 to 9 hours, rated challenging. You hike the Inca trail section to the Llactapata ruins and the Machu Picchu viewpoint, with a maximum altitude of 2,700 m at Llactapata, then descend through rainforest to Aguas Calientes at 2,000 m. Tonight is a hostel bed rather than a tent, and the listing notes a relaxing afternoon in town.
Day 5: Machu Picchu and Back to Cusco
Wake around 4 am for breakfast at the hotel and set off on foot around 4:30 am. The walk from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu takes about 1.5 hours, mixing a 30-minute flat trail with an hour of stone steps to the main entrance. Your ticket and guided tour are included.
Afterwards you return to Aguas Calientes, take the train to Ollantaytambo and ride a transfer to Cusco.
Who This Trek Rules Out
The listing states no minimum age and says nothing on wheelchair access, so the real filters are fitness, timing and money. Here is where this departure does not fit.
You Need Proof of a Good Booking Window
The operator asks for a reservation at least 3 months in advance. If your trip is sooner, ask the supplier before booking or compare Salkantay Sky Camp 4-Day, which also includes the ticket. One ticket guide states that entry requires a passport matching the ticket purchase, so book with the name on your passport.
You Want Every Night Reviewed by Other Trekkers
This listing is new and has no ratings yet. If reviews matter to you, the classic 5-day Salkantay trek carries more than 5,000 reviews on Viator, though it is non-refundable and costs $760.
You Want to Pay Less or Cancel Later
At $650 with free cancellation up to 24 hours, the same itinerary sells for $500 as Salkantay 5-Day Hiking Trek, listed at 10 people, with the hot springs a USD 15 extra. If you want a smaller group and can skip the springs, that one wins.
You Need a Gentler Schedule
Days 2 and 4 are rated challenging, at 9 to 10 and 8 to 9 hours, and the pass day climbs to 4,700 m. If that sounds too much, the 2-day Humantay Lake 2-Day Trek samples the route without the full commitment.
The Hidroeléctrica station, where the trek meets the railway to Aguas Calientes. Photo: McKay Savage from London, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Before the Pickup and After Machu Picchu
Two practical windows around the trek itself: the days in Cusco before the briefing, and the journey home after the citadel.
Acclimatise in Cusco First
Cusco sits at about 3,400 m, and altitude sickness usually occurs above 2,500 m. The NHS advises avoiding a jump from below 1,200 m to above 3,500 m in one day, and Wikivoyage recommends at least 2 to 3 days in Cusco or a similar altitude before the trek. Symptoms often start 6 to 10 hours after arrival and pass within 1 to 3 days.
Day 1 of this trek already sleeps at 4,000 m, so arriving early matters. More on this at altitude and fitness.
What to Pack
The sleeping bag and trekking sticks are included, and horses carry a 7-kilo canvas bag, so pack light for the day sack. You still need layers for nights down to -5 degrees Celsius at the high camps in the dry season and light clothing for the hot, humid valley of Days 3 and 4. Bring rain protection, sun protection, cash for tips, and travel insurance, the only stated exclusion.
A full kit list is in the Salkantay trek packing list.
The Way Back to Cusco
After the guided visit you walk back down to Aguas Calientes, take the return train to Ollantaytambo and finish with a transfer to Cusco. The listing does not state a return time or train class, so confirm the schedule with the supplier. If you want a panoramic carriage instead, Salkantay Trek with Vistadome Train includes a Vistadome or 360 degree train for $698.
Itinerary at a Glance
Five days, plus the pre-hike briefing the listing includes.
-
Before Day 1
Pre-hike briefing in Cusco
The listing includes a pre-hike briefing and transport, with the meeting point at Plaza Regocijo, Cusco 08002. Book at least 3 months ahead and contact the supplier immediately.
-
Day 1
Humantay Lake and Mountain Sky Hut
10 km, 5 to 6 hours, moderate. Camp at Quiswarniyoc at 4,000 m in the Mountain Sky Hut, with nights that can reach -5 degrees Celsius in the dry season.
-
Day 2
Salkantay Pass and descent to Chawllay
22 km, 9 to 10 hours, challenging. The pass is listed at 4,700 m, then a long descent to camp at 2,900 m in the Mountain Sky Hut.
-
Day 3
Santa Teresa Valley and hot springs
16 km, 5 to 6 hours, easy. The included Santa Teresa thermal baths come before a tent night at the Lucmabamba camp at 2,000 m.
-
Day 4
Llactapata ruins to Aguas Calientes
24 km, 8 to 9 hours, challenging, up to 2,700 m at Llactapata. End with a hostel night in Aguas Calientes at 2,000 m.
-
Day 5
Machu Picchu and the train home
Leave around 4:30 am for the 1.5-hour walk to Machu Picchu, take the included guided tour, then ride the return train to Ollantaytambo and a transfer to Cusco.
Pros and Cons
An honest read of what this listing does well and where it falls short.
What we genuinely like
- The $650 price covers the Machu Picchu ticket, Humantay entry, hot springs, sleeping bag, trekking sticks and the return train
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund
- Reserve now and pay later keeps the booking flexible
- Horses and muleteers carry a 7-kilo canvas bag, and showers and bathrooms are stated along the trail
- Groups limited to 15 with guides in English and Spanish
The honest downsides
- The listing is new with no ratings yet, so there is no track record to check
- Day 2 runs 9 to 10 hours and Day 4 runs 8 to 9 hours, a demanding pair
- The operator requires booking at least 3 months ahead and immediate contact after booking
- No pickup window, return time or train class is stated, so you rely on the supplier for details
- Travel insurance is the only stated exclusion, and one trekking operator notes that many insurers exclude altitudes above 4,000 m, which the pass exceeds
Who it's NOT for: Not for travellers who need a reviewed departure with a stated pickup window and train class on the ticket before they commit.
Questions About This Trek
How much does the Salkantay trek 5 days to Machu Picchu with Exploor Trip cost?
$650 per person, with the reserve now and pay later option and free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. The same itinerary sells for $500 as Salkantay 5-Day Hiking Trek, without the hot springs in the price.
Is the Machu Picchu ticket included?
Yes, the ticket and the guided tour are both included, but the listing asks you to book at least 3 months in advance and contact the supplier immediately, as the listing states. See what the listing price covers.
Do I need to bring a sleeping bag or trekking poles?
No. Both the sleeping bag and trekking sticks are listed as included, along with a canvas bag service for 7 kilos carried by horses and muleteers. For the rest of your kit, see the Salkantay trek packing list.
How hard is this trek?
The listing rates Day 1 moderate and Days 2 and 4 challenging, with 72 km over four hiking days and 9 to 10 hours on the pass day at 4,700 m. Read the details in how hard is the Salkantay trek.
How do I get back to Cusco on the last day?
You walk down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes, take the included return train to Ollantaytambo and finish with a transfer to Cusco. The listing states no return time, so confirm the schedule when you book. Compare train classes on the homepage section for Salkantay trek tours.
How many people are in the group?
The listing limits the group to 15 participants, with a live tour guide in English or Spanish. If you want a cap of 10, Salkantay 5-Day Hiking Trek lists the same route with a cap of 10, though its fine print mentions a maximum of 15.
What is the accommodation like?
Two nights in a Mountain Sky Hut, one night in tents and one night in a hostel in Aguas Calientes, with breakfast, lunch and dinner on the trekking days. See the day-by-day breakdown at the route day by day.
Prices, availability and terms are set by the operator and confirmed at checkout.
We may earn a commission if you book through one of our links, at no extra cost to you. Full affiliate disclosure