Salkantay Trekking ToursSalkantay Trek 4 Days: Sky Camp, Humantay Lake and Machu Picchu
This Salkantay trek 4 days option from Salkantay Trekking packs the classic route into four days: Humantay Lake, the Salkantay Pass, a night in the Sky Camp igloos at Soraypampa and a hotel night in Aguas Calientes before Machu Picchu. The Machu Picchu ticket, the one-way bus up to the site and the tourist class train back to Ollantaytambo are all in the $720 price. Groups are capped at 12 and the listing carries a 5.0 rating from 3,891 Viator reviews. This page sets out what the price covers, the day-by-day plan and who should look at a different Salkantay trek tour instead. Compare it with the other Salkantay trek tour.
About This Trek
Salkantay Trekking runs this as a short version of its five-day classic route. You still climb Humantay Lake and the Salkantay Pass, still sleep two nights at the operator's own camps and still finish with a two-hour guided visit at Machu Picchu. The listing rates 5.0 from 3,891 verified reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor.
The format is a small group of no more than 12 with an experienced mountain guide, cooks and porters, and 5 kg (11 lb) of porterage for your personal gear. You ride a tourist class train, the Expedition or The Voyager, from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, then a private transfer back to Cusco.
$720 per person, non-refundable
4 days, 3 nights
1 night at the Sky Camp, 1 night at Mountain Sky View and 1 night at a hotel in Aguas Calientes
Included. Circuit 2, with Circuit 3 then Circuit 1 at no extra cost if Circuit 2 is unavailable, subject to availability
Tourist class train Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, then private transport to Cusco
Maximum 12. All sales are final, no refund for cancellations
Check Dates and Availability
Enter your dates to see departures for this 4-day Sky Camp trek on Viator. Machu Picchu spots sell out quickly, so the listing asks you to book ahead.
You'll confirm the exact date and time on the secure booking page.
Quick answer Salkantay trek 4 days in brief
The 4-day Salkantay trek with Salkantay Trekking costs $720 per person, runs 4 days and 3 nights and takes a group of up to 12 over the Salkantay Pass to Machu Picchu.
Key takeaways
- The Machu Picchu ticket, Humantay Lake entry, the one-way bus up to the site and the train to Ollantaytambo are in the price. See what the price covers.
- The booking is non-refundable, all sales are final. Weigh that against the comparison table before you pay.
- Want more days on the trail? The Classic 5-Day Salkantay Trek from the same operator adds a valley stage. Want a shorter taste? Try the Humantay Lake 2-Day Trek.
- The pass sits at 4,630 m and the listing calls the trek challenging. Read up on altitude and fitness before committing.
What the Price Actually Covers
The listing covers a lot: the Machu Picchu ticket, the bus up to the site and the train back are all included. The gaps are the bus back down, meals on the final day and anything optional.
What Is in the $720
Salkantay Trekking includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Cusco, all private transport and transfers, the pre-departure briefing, an experienced mountain guide, cooks and porters, 5 kg (11 lb) of porterage for your personal gear including a duffle bag, all meals except lunch and dinner on Day 4, plus water, tea time and daily snacks on the trail. Entry fees cover the Salkantay route, Humantay Lake, the one-way bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu and the Machu Picchu entry itself, Circuit 2 with a fallback to Circuit 3 then Circuit 1 at no extra cost. You also get a coffee farm visit at La Playa and the tourist class train to Ollantaytambo.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Machu Picchu ticket | Yes | Circuit 2, or Circuit 3 then Circuit 1 at no extra cost, subject to availability |
| One-way bus Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu | Yes | Return bus Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes is not included |
| Train Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo | Yes | Tourist class, Expedition or The Voyager |
| Meals | Yes | All except lunch and dinner on Day 4 |
| Accommodation | Yes | Sky Camp, Mountain Sky View, 1 hotel night |
| Sleeping bag | Not stated | The listing does not state a rental option |
| Optional horseback rides | No | Soraypampa to Humantay Lake on Day 1 and to Abra Salkantay on Day 2 |
| Travel insurance | No | Recommended by the listing |
| Gratuities | No | Optional, for the staff |
What You Pay on Top
The return bus from Machu Picchu down to Aguas Calientes is not included, so budget for that ride. Lunch and dinner on Day 4 are on you. Optional extras are the horseback rides on Day 1 and Day 2, and the train from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes on Day 3, which the listing marks as optional.
If you want to climb Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu Mountain or Huchuy Picchu, you book one of those ticket options at an extra cost at checkout. Vegetarian and vegan meals are available if you say so at booking. For the wider picture of costs on this route, see the guide to Salkantay trek cost.
Humantay Lake under the Humantay glacier, the first-day detour from Soraypampa. Photo: Steve FUNG, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Trek Day by Day
The listing gives its own times, altitudes and camps for each of the four days. The pass figure below is the one the listing prints, which sits inside the 4,580 to 4,660 m range other sources give.
Day 1: Cusco to Soraypampa and Humantay Lake
A 5:00 a.m. pickup from your Cusco hotel starts a roughly 2.5 hour drive to Mollepata, where breakfast is served. From Challacancha you hike about three hours along an ancient Inca canal to Soraypampa at 3,900 m (12,795 ft), home to the operator's Sky Camp, where lunch waits. In the afternoon you ascend to Humantay Lake, whose turquoise waters sit below the glacier, before returning to camp for dinner and a night under the stars.
A horseback ride from Soraypampa to the lake is optional and costs extra.
Day 2: Sky Camp to the Salkantay Pass and Collpapampa
You wake to coca tea and breakfast, then climb to Abra Salkantay, which the listing gives as 4,630 m (15,190 ft), the highest point of the trek. Other guides put the pass between 4,580 and 4,660 m, so treat the exact figure as approximate. After the summit views of Salkantay, Humantay and Pumasillo, you descend to Huayracmachay for lunch, then continue through the cloud forest to Collpapampa.
The night is at the operator's Mountain Sky View Camp. A horse to the pass is available as a paid option.
Day 3: Collpapampa to Aguas Calientes
A 6:00 a.m. start and a five-hour hike through the Santa Teresa Valley, past rivers, waterfalls, orchids and coffee, banana and avocado plantations. At Granadilla a private vehicle takes you to La Playa for the included organic coffee farm visit, from harvesting to export-ready beans, then lunch and a ride to the train station at Hidroelectrica. From there you walk roughly three hours to Aguas Calientes, check into your hotel and have the evening free for the hot springs and dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 4: Machu Picchu and Back to Cusco
A very early light breakfast, then the first buses up to Machu Picchu to catch sunrise over the ruins before the crowds. A two-hour guided tour covers the temples, terraces and sacred enclosures, with the option of an additional hike to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain if reserved well in advance. You return to Aguas Calientes for lunch, then board the tourist class train to Ollantaytambo, where private transport takes you on to Cusco.
Lunch and dinner this day are not included.
Who This Trek Rules Out
This listing has clear limits, stated in its own terms. Check them before paying, because the booking cannot be refunded.
Age, Fitness and Health Limits
The listing is for adults 18 to 70, and children aged 12 and over may join with a responsible adult. It is called a challenging trek needing a high level of physical fitness, and it is not recommended for travellers with spinal injuries, pregnant travellers or anyone with poor cardiovascular health. If that rules you out of the four-day pace, the Classic 5-Day Salkantay Trek from the same operator spreads the same route over five days, and its guide to how hard the Salkantay trek is breaks the effort down.
The Non-refundable Booking
All sales are final, with no refund for cancellations, though the listing does allow cancellation for bad weather. If you want flexibility, compare Salkantay Sky Lodge Domes Trek and the Humantay Lake 2-Day Trek, where the Sky Lodge Domes Trek offers a full refund up to 24 hours before and the 2-day trek up to 6 days before. See how the terms stack up on the homepage comparison table.
Passport and Availability Rules
Passport name, number, expiry and country are required at booking, and your passport must be valid and ready on the travel day because its details are given at booking. The Circuit 2 ticket is subject to availability and spots sell out quickly, so book early. Solo travellers should note the price is per person in a shared small group, and anyone wanting their own group can look at the Private Salkantay 4-Day Trek instead.
A PeruRail train in the Sacred Valley on the line to Ollantaytambo. Photo: Kabelleger / David Gubler, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Before the Pickup and After Machu Picchu
The pickup comes early on Day 1, so plan your Cusco time and your packing with that in mind.
Acclimatising in Cusco
Cusco sits at about 3,400 m (11,200 ft), well above the 2,500 m line where the NHS says altitude sickness usually begins. The listing recommends arriving in Cusco at least 2 days before the trek to adjust, and Wikivoyage suggests at least 2 to 3 days at Cusco or a similar altitude. The NHS advises avoiding a jump from below 1,200 m to above 3,500 m in one day.
The Day 2 pass at 4,630 m makes that preparation count. Read more on the homepage section on altitude and fitness.
What to Pack
You get 5 kg (11 lb) of porterage for a duffle bag, so pack light and carry a daypack. The route runs from cold high-altitude nights at Sky Camp to the humid cloud forest, so you need both warm layers and light clothing, plus rain gear. Water, tea time and daily snacks are provided on the trail.
The full kit list lives in the Salkantay trek packing list, and the homepage explains more about what the listing price covers.
The Way Back to Cusco
After the guided visit you return to Aguas Calientes for lunch, then board the tourist class train, the Expedition or The Voyager, to Ollantaytambo. The listing does not state the train departure time or the arrival time in Cusco, so treat the last day as a full day of travel. From Ollantaytambo a private transfer completes the trip to Cusco.
Remember that the bus back down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes is not included.
The Trip at a Glance
Five steps from the briefing to the train home, using the listing's own schedule.
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Day 0
Briefing in Cusco
A briefing at the operator's Cusco office at 5:00 pm the night before the trek, lasting about 30 to 45 minutes. Hotel pickup is arranged for the morning.
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Day 1
Cusco to Soraypampa and Humantay Lake
A 5:00 a.m. pickup and a 2.5 hour drive to Mollepata, breakfast, then about three hours of hiking to Soraypampa at 3,900 m. Afternoon ascent to Humantay Lake, then dinner and a night at Sky Camp.
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Day 2
Over the Salkantay Pass
Coca tea at dawn, then the climb to Abra Salkantay at 4,630 m, the highest point. Descend to Huayracmachay for lunch and continue through the cloud forest to the Mountain Sky View Camp at Collpapampa.
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Day 3
Santa Teresa Valley to Aguas Calientes
A 6:00 a.m. start and a five-hour valley hike to Granadilla, a vehicle to La Playa for the coffee farm visit and lunch, then a ride to Hidroelectrica and a roughly three-hour walk to Aguas Calientes for the hotel night.
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Day 4
Machu Picchu and home
The first buses up to Machu Picchu for sunrise, a two-hour guided tour with an optional mountain hike if reserved ahead, lunch in Aguas Calientes, then the tourist class train to Ollantaytambo and a private transfer to Cusco.
Pros and Cons
An honest read of this listing against what travellers actually pay for.
What we genuinely like
- The Machu Picchu ticket, the bus up to the site and the train to Ollantaytambo are all included, so few surprises on arrival
- The Sky Camp igloos at Soraypampa give a stargazing night instead of a tent, with Mountain Sky View as the second camp
- Small group capped at 12 with a 5.0 rating from 3,891 reviews
- 5 kg of porterage, a coffee farm visit and all meals except lunch and dinner on the last day are in the $720
- A tourist class train back to Ollantaytambo and a private transfer on to Cusco
The honest downsides
- All sales are final, no refund for cancellations, so a change of plans costs the full price
- The return bus from Machu Picchu down to Aguas Calientes is not included, an extra the listing flags
- Circuit 2 is subject to availability and can be swapped for Circuit 3 then Circuit 1
- Only four days means the pass at 4,630 m comes with less margin for acclimatisation than a five-day route
- Optional horseback rides on Day 1 and Day 2 and the optional Hidroelectrica train cost extra
Who it's NOT for: Anyone who needs a refundable booking, wants a private group or cannot handle a challenging trek at 4,630 m should look at another listing.
Questions About This Trek
How much does the 4-day Salkantay trek cost?
This listing is $720 per person for 4 days and 3 nights, including the Machu Picchu ticket, the one-way bus up to the site and the tourist class train to Ollantaytambo. The return bus down is not included. Compare figures on the homepage comparison table.
Is the Machu Picchu ticket included?
Yes, Circuit 2 is included, and if it is unavailable on your date the operator provides Circuit 3 then Circuit 1 at no extra cost, subject to availability. The listing notes Machu Picchu spots sell out quickly, so book early. See more in what the price covers.
How hard is this Salkantay trek 4 days itinerary?
The listing calls it a challenging trek needing a high level of fitness, and Day 2 climbs to Abra Salkantay at 4,630 m, the highest point of the route. It is not recommended for travellers with spinal injuries, pregnancy or poor cardiovascular health. More detail in the guide to how hard the Salkantay trek is.
Where do I sleep each night?
Night 1 is at the Sky Camp igloos at Soraypampa, night 2 at the Mountain Sky View Camp in Collpapampa and night 3 in a hotel in Aguas Calientes, all included in the price. The 5-day Classic Salkantay Trek from the same operator adds a third camp night.
What is not included in the $720?
The return bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes, lunch and dinner on Day 4, optional horseback rides, the optional Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes train, travel insurance and gratuities. Mountain tickets such as Huayna Picchu cost extra. The homepage section on what the listing price covers explains the pattern.
Can children or solo travellers join?
Adults 18 to 70 can book, and children aged 12 and over may join with a responsible adult at all times. The price is per person in a group of up to 12, and the listing states no single supplement. Travellers wanting their own group can look at the Private Salkantay 4-Day Trek.
Can I cancel if my plans change?
No. All sales are final and no refund is available for cancellations, so book only when your dates are fixed. If you want flexibility, the Humantay Lake 2-Day Trek from the same operator offers a full refund up to 6 days before departure.
Prices, availability and terms are set by the operator and confirmed at checkout.
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