Salkantay Trek & Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu | 5D/4N

Hotel Pickup & Drive to Mollepata

Your Rainbow Mountain Vip guide picks you up from your hotel in Cusco for a scenic three-hour drive past the Salkantay and Humantay mountains, farmland, and fields of potatoes, quinoa and lima beans. A hearty breakfast is served in a rustic Peruvian home in Mollepata before continuing to Soraypampa (3,800 m / 12,467 ft), where horses take over carrying the camping gear.

~3 hours

Hike to Humantay Lake

The trek kicks off with a hike up to the striking turquoise waters of Humantay Lake, with time to take in the views and photos before returning to Soraypampa to begin the main trek.

~2–3 hours round trip

Trek to Ichupata Campsite

Continue on to Salkantay Pampa, stopping for a nutritious trail lunch, then push on to the Ichupata campsite (4,300 m / 14,104 ft), where dinner and rest await ahead of the trek’s toughest day.

~5–6 hours

Ascend Incachiriasca Pass

After breakfast, tackle the steep climb to the trek’s highest point, Incachiriasca Pass (4,850 m / 15,908 ft). It’s demanding, but frequent rest stops offer sweeping views of Apu Salkantay and its glacier moraines.

~4 hours

Lunch with Valley Views

Descend to a flatter area for lunch, taking in views over the Salkantay valleys — and keep an eye out for the Andean condor.

~1 hour

Descend to Pampacahuana

Continue downhill into the Pampacahuana community (3,700 m / 12,136 ft), an authentic slice of Andean rural life, where the group camps for the night.

~3–4 hours

Join the Classic Inca Trail

Descend from Pampacahuana to Paucarcancha (3,133 m / 10,276 ft), an Inca archaeological site, where the route joins the Classic Inca Trail.

~2 hours

Llactapata Ruins & Descent to KM 82

Pass the Inca ruins of Llactapata roughly halfway to the eco-lodge, then continue downhill to the Eco Lodge at KM 82.

~5 hours

Rest at the Eco Lodge

Trade the tent for a real bed: tonight’s stay is in an eco-lodge with proper bathrooms and a sauna to soothe tired legs. Settle in with tea and cookies before a dinner served with sweeping views of the surrounding landscape.

Overnight

Train to KM 104

After breakfast at the lodge, a short 10-minute walk brings you to the Ollantaytambo train station for a scenic ride to KM 104, where the train makes a special stop for the start of the Short Inca Trail.

~2 hours

Chachabamba & the Short Inca Trail

After the checkpoint, visit the Chachabamba ruins — once a religious and administrative center and rest stop for Inca travelers — then climb through changing ecosystems, with your guide pointing out local flora and fauna along the way.

~3 hours

Wiñay Wayna & Trail Lunch

Stop at Wiñay Wayna (“Forever Young”), known for its impressive agricultural terraces, then break for a box lunch amid the scenery.

~1 hour

Arrival at Machu Picchu

Complete the final stretch of trail to Machu Picchu, then take the bus down to Aguas Calientes for a well-earned dinner and overnight rest.

~2 hours

Sunrise Bus to Machu Picchu

After an early breakfast, ride the bus up to Machu Picchu in time to catch one of the most memorable sunrises over the Lost City of the Incas — have your camera ready.

~30 minutes

Guided Tour of Machu Picchu

Your expert local guide walks you through the citadel’s history and significance, with plenty of stops for photos of the main plaza, stone temples and terraces. Travelers who booked a Huayna Picchu ticket in advance begin their climb at 10:00 AM (tickets sold separately and must be reserved well ahead of time).

~2 hours

Return to Cusco

After exploring at your own pace — including the Sun Gate viewpoint if time allows — head back to Aguas Calientes to board the train to Poroy or Ollantaytambo, followed by a private van transfer to your hotel in Cusco. Arrival is typically between 8–9 PM depending on your train schedule.

~5–6 hours