Salkantay Trek Hiking Guide

Questions

How many days is the Salkantay Trek?

I did it in 4 days in May 2022: Challacancha to Soraypampa and Humantay Lake, over the Salkantay Pass to Chaullay, Lucmabamba over Llactapata to Aguas Calientes, and Machu Picchu on the last morning. That's 42 miles on foot on my GPS, with a car ride on the road from Chaullay to Lucmabamba. Many companies also sell 5 days. Add two days in Cusco first to acclimatize.

How high is the Salkantay Pass?

My GPS read 4,636 m (15,211 ft) at the pass. Humantay Lake is about 4,266 m on my GPS, my first night at Soraypampa was at 3,860 m (12,660 ft), and Cusco is about 3,400 m (11,150 ft).

Do you need a guide for the Salkantay Trek?

In September 2026 no permit is needed for the route over the Salkantay Pass, which isn't an Inca Trail route. But the park service's page for the Machu Picchu sanctuary says visitors must use an authorized operator, and the Ministry of Culture checks visitors at Lucmabamba on the Llactapata path and has said it will step up checks on people without guides. I went with a company for lodges, meals and transfers and walked alone.

How do you get Machu Picchu tickets for the Salkantay Trek?

In 2026 you buy a timed ticket for a day, hour and route on the Ministry of Culture's site, tuboleto.cultura.pe, and pay at once; it carries your passport number and can't be changed or refunded. A foreign adult pays S/152 for most routes and S/200 with Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, plus a S/11 conservation fee from May 2026.

Do you have to walk the road on the Salkantay Trek?

No. From Chaullay I took a car for an hour to the coffee farm at Lucmabamba. People walk that section, but it's a road with cars, and I don't recommend it.

When is the best time to hike the Salkantay Trek?

The dry season: the Machu Picchu sanctuary recommends April to October, and November to March is the rainy season, when landslides close parts of the route. I went May 5 to 8, 2022.