Embark on a 7-day guided Salkantay trek adventure, taking you to Machu Picchu. Your journey begins in historic Cusco, and includes a walking tour and a cultural exchange in Chinchero. Trek through breathtaking Andean landscapes, including the iconic Humantay Lagoon and the 15,090-foot Salkantay Pass—all culminating in Machu Picchu. Enjoy comfortable stays in hotels and camping tents, with a dedicated local guide leading the way. Immerse yourself in the natural and historical wonders of Peru on this unforgettable adventure.
Your journey begins with your arrival in Cusco, where we’ll transfer you to your hotel. Later, join your guide and fellow hikers for an introductory meeting before a historical tour of Cusco City. In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner featuring some of Peru’s best local cuisine.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Cusco
Cusco elevation: 3,399 m (11,152 ft)
After breakfast, head to an Andean culture interpretation center in Chinchero (3,750 m / 12,300 ft), where artifacts and local insights bring Andean traditions to life. Spot grazing camelids nearby and see how crops like potatoes and tarwi are cultivated.
Enjoy a warm welcome with traditional dances, then join a hands-on potato and tuber workshop followed by a seasonal activity like cooking, harvesting, or bull plowing. Taste traditional community dishes for lunch and watch a weaving demonstration before touring the local production workshop. Return to Cusco in the afternoon to prepare for tomorrow’s trek.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Cusco
We start with an early 5am pickup for the drive to Mollepata for breakfast (not included), then continue to Challacancha, our hike’s starting point, where we’ll meet the chef and muleteers and load the horses. From there, we ascend along an original Inca trail beside an ancient canal, with views of Salkantay Mountain. After 3.5 hours, we reach camp for a well-earned lunch.
In the afternoon, hike two hours up to Humantay Lake, whose turquoise waters sit below the snow-capped Humantay Mountain. It’s cold, but well worth it. We’ll head back to camp in about an hour for dinner, and our guide will brief you on the next day’s moderate to challenging trek.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Domes at the Soraypampa campsite
Hiking: 10 km (6 mi), 4-5 hours
Minimum/maximum elevation: 3,800 m (12,467 ft) / 4,200 m (13, 780 ft)
Basecamp elevation: 3,900 m (12,975 ft)
After breakfast, begin the ascent to Salkantay Pass, passing through Salkantay Pampa on the winding trail to the summit. Take breaks along the way for mountain views, photos, and your guide’s insights. At the pass, 4,630 m (15,228 ft), you’re rewarded with stunning views of snow-capped Salkantay Mountain.
From the pass, descend to Wayracmachay, where the landscape shifts and the Andean wilderness reveals a new side. Lunch will be waiting on arrival, then continue descending to our campsite at 2,900 m (9,514 ft)—much milder than the first base camp. Rest up before dinner, when our guide briefs you on the next day.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Cabins at the Chaullay campsite
Hiking distance: 24 km (13.7 mi), 11-12 hours
Minimum/maximum elevation: 2,900 m (9,515 ft) / 4,600 m (15,190 ft)
Basecamp elevation: 3,000 m (9,842 ft)
After an early breakfast, enjoy a more relaxing hike through dense vegetation, vibrant orchids, and waterfalls up to 80 meters tall as you descend through the Santa Teresa Valley to Lucmabamba for lunch. From there, transfer to Hidroelectrica and continue on foot for about two hours (12 km / 7.5 mi) to Aguas Calientes, where we spend the night in a hotel. Over dinner, your guide will brief you on tomorrow’s highlight: Machu Picchu.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Aguas Calientes
Hiking distance: 27 km (16.8 mi), 8-9 hours
Minimum/maximum elevation: 2,000 m (6,560 ft) / 3,000 m (9.845 ft)
Aguas Calientes elevation: 2,040 m (6,693 ft)
Today’s the day. Depending on your entry time to Machu Picchu, either hike up (about 90 minutes) or take the first bus at 5:30am from Aguas Calientes. Your guide leads a two-hour tour of the archaeological site, then you’re free until lunch (not included) back in Aguas Calientes. In the afternoon, take the train to Ollantaytambo, where a company representative meets you and arranges transportation back to your hotel in Cusco.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Cusco
Hiking: 7 km (3.1 mi), 2 hours
Minimum/maximum elevation: 2,040 m (6,690 ft) / 2,430 m (7,970 ft)
As your 7-day adventure draws to a close, enjoy a final breakfast, check out of the hotel, and take the departure transfer to the airport. Bid farewell to Cusco with memories of a journey full of natural wonders and cultural discoveries.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Included:
Add-ons (pricing shown at checkout):
Not included:
This all-women Machu Picchu adventure via the Salkantay Trail requires excellent fitness. The Salkantay Trail is renowned for its challenging terrain, featuring steep inclines and declines, varying altitudes, and unpredictable weather conditions. With an approximate distance of 46 miles (74 km), participants can expect several days of challenging trekking and long days.
The most you’ll hike within a day is 27 km (16.8 mi) for 8-9 hours. Day-by-day distances and hiking times can be found in the itinerary.
Generally, you should be a person that hikes regularly, especially in hilly terrain, since you’ll be walking for extended periods at very high altitudes. If you’re not an avid hiker already, we recommend that you start hiking regularly in months leading to the trip. Engaging in regular cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and endurance activities is advisable to adequately prepare for the physical demands of the trek.
Acclimatization to the high altitude is crucial, so the tour includes two days of acclimatization in Cusco advance—enhancing the overall experience. We also advise taking medication that can help you with altitude sickness. In summary, a moderate to high level of fitness is essential for a successful and enjoyable completion of the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu.
Yes, the permit is included, and your guide takes care of the paperwork.
Here’s how it works:
We’ll reach out for these details as soon as you book your preferred departure.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Bring comfortable and weather-appropriate clothing that can be worn in layers. You’ll be able to discuss your packing list prior to the adventure—changes can be made depending on the season and expected weather conditions.
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This all-women’s Salkantay Trek guided adventure was designed to empower women through the strength of other women, which means that your guides make every effort to outfit the trip with women guides and porters.
In most cases, guides for these all-women’s trips are women, while porters will often be a mix of men and women. Why? It is exceptionally hard for women in many developing countries to break away from traditional roles; therefore, fewer women guides and porters are available to outfit these trips. Collectively, we have more work to do to continue to elevate the presence of women in the outdoor industry.
Indeed you can! We totally get that you don’t want to miss out on the spectacular Rainbow Mountain, which is why you can add the Rainbow mountain tour (plus the accommodation) at checkout and add it to your trip!
If you haven’t heard of it yet, the name tells you all about it—it’s this incredible multi-colored mountain that leaves everyone speechless with its rainbow-like appearance. These colors are created by the sediment of minerals, giving the mountain turquoise, lavender, gold, and other hues. Up until several years ago, it was a hidden gem completely covered in snow! Today you’ll find it in National Geographic’s “Top 100 Places To Visit Before You Die”.
So, your guides have prepared a choice between two one-day treks to the Rainbow Mountain as an extension to your trip. You can add it to your booking at checkout (there will also be an option to choose 1 extra night of accommodation after the Rainbow Mountain tour), but here’s what you can expect.
You can choose between the Vinicunca and the Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain tour.
What’s included in these tours?
What’s not included?
This tour typically takes place on the final day of your adventure or the day after. At checkout, you’ll be able to choose the day-long Rainbow Mountain tour of your choice, or opt for the Rainbow Mountain tour + 1 night of accommodation in Cusco.
Group sizes and prices:
Hiking to Machu Picchu via the Salkantay Trek can be arranged for private groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
The price for this women-only Salkantay Trek is based on twin-share rooms and twin-share tents. If you’re joining alone, you’ll be paired with another solo traveller. Single supplement is only available for the hotel stays and it can be added at checkout.
To get to Cusco, which is the beginning point of your trip, most people fly into Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport. Upon your arrival, you’ll meet your guide at the airport and get transferred to your hotel.
Please keep in mind that you’re expected to arrive before noon on Day 1. If arriving the day before or later on Day 1, you’ll likely have to arrange a transfer to the hotel on your own.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.
Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.