After years of dreaming about it, I just wrapped up the 8-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu with Valencia Travel, and it honestly couldn’t have been a better experience. This hiking adventure has everything you could dream of – high altitude passes, snow-capped mountains, lakes that look AI-generated, and of course, one of the Seven Wonders of the World!
Unlike the Inca Trail, you can do Salkantay without a guide, but I highly recommend taking one. The elevation gain is truly no joke, even if you have prior trekking experience. With all things considered, you really just don’t want to be this deep in the Andes without local support.
Valencia gave me all of that and more: Everything was super well-structured, and I didn’t have to worry about a thing. From start to finish, I felt like I could fully soak in the beauty of Peru’s mountains without any stress.
With three nights spent in tents and a max elevation of 15,190 feet/ 4630 meters reached, this was truly the adventure of a lifetime that really accentuates the Machu Picchu experience like no other. It’s so much less crowded than the main trail, and the views are truly second to none.
So without further ado, here it is: a day-by-day breakdown of my full experience along the Salkantay Trek, which is one of the greatest adventures of my life so far!
Photo: Elly Scala
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Why You Should Trek with Valencia Travel Cusco
I set off on my Andes adventure with a local company based in Cusco: Valencia Travel Cusco. This Peruvian-owned tour operator knows this land better than anyone, and I saw that within minutes of meeting my exceptional guide, who really shaped our trip with his expert knowledge and encouragement.
With many companies sadly exploiting local communities, they’re committed to uplifting them with fair wages, ongoing training workshops, and various campaigns focused on everything from health and animal protection to climate change.
Having been in business since 2009, Valencia’s reviews from other travelers backpacking Peru were solid, and everything really worked like a well-oiled machine. I truly didn’t have to worry about anything for these 8 nature and magic-filled days.
What’s included?
Valencia delivers serious value for a low price. I spent three nights camping and four in comfortable, cozy hotels. Here are some of the other things you get with your trip:
- 3 nights in a Cusco hotel
- Tents and other camping equipment
- 1 night in an Aguas Caliente hotel
- Most meals
- All transport
- Arrival and departure from Cusco
- Professional English-speaking guide
- 7kg duffle bag to be carried by mules
- Entry fees for Salkantay and Machu Picchu
- First aid kit
- 24/7 support and emergency line
- Airport transfers
Overall, I found this all to be more than enough; they even made sure our meals deep in the mountains were amazing above 4000 meters!
Photo: Elly Scala
Salkantay Trek Difficulty Level
While the trek is pretty challenging due to its altitude, this isn’t a two-week commitment like what you find in the Himalayas. You spend 3 nights on trail and then another day is spent trekking to Machu Picchu, similar to the Inca Trail.
I’d never been at such a high altitude before, but still managed it with a good level of fitness. Just be aware of these three things:
- Highest elevation: 15,190 ft (4630 meters) at the Salkantay Pass
- Lowest elevation: 6,693 ft (2040 meters) at Aguas Calientes
- Total distance: 46 miles (74 km) over 5 days
Photo: Elly Scala
Best Time to Do the Salkantay Trek
You’re definitely going to want to plan your hike for the dry season, which runs roughly from April to September.
I did Valencia’s Salkantay Trek at the end of July, and we had amazing weather with mostly clear skies and dry days.
November-March is pretty wet in the Andes, so I definitely don’t recommend going during this period. It may be quieter and cheaper, but you NEED to see these mountains and Machu Picchu views on a clear day for the full experience! Plus, the Salkantay Pass can be closed, which kind of ruins the entire adventure.
Photo: Elly Scala
Salkantay Trek and Machu Picchu Itinerary: Day by Day Breakdown
To give you a better idea of what to expect when trekking to Salkantay, here’s a bit of a diary of each day spent trekking with Valencia Travel looked like:
Day 1: Arrival and Getting to Know Cusco
After I landed in Cusco, I got settled into the hotel and met my guide Aldo, who ended up being one of the highlights of the whole trip. His expertise and kindness were unparalleled. Today was all about exploring the city on my own and adjusting to the altitude, which can knock you out at 11,152 ft (3399 m). Cusco is a city full of life, with cobblestone streets, local markets, and tons of history packed into every block.
If you have more time, I highly recommend arriving a few days earlier to rest and acclimate to the elevation. There’s no way to know how you’ll react to high altitude, so it’s better to settle in before heading into the mountains.
Day 2: Cusco Free Day
After breakfast, I had a full free day to explore some more cool things to do in Cusco and acclimate. I just wandered, ate, and rested. I was definitely a little nervous about the altitude and the long hiking days ahead, but having this extra day to chill made all the difference.
At 7 PM, Valencia organized a pre-departure session with Aldo, which went over ALL the details and questions I had about the trek. This really made me feel mentally ready to take on the challenge – I was definitely stoked for what was to come.
Day 3: Starting the Salkantay Trek!
This is where the adventure really kicked off. We hiked to Humantay Lake and set up camp at Salkantaypampa. The views were already unreal. That deep blue lake with snow-capped peaks surrounding it was a scene straight out of a dream.
The hike was long – about 5 miles – but it was a great day to start getting to know the group. We shared snacks, swapped travel stories, and just took it all in together. Our local chef really showed out for all of today’s meals. I’ve had my fair share of dodging meals backpacking South America, and this is definitely NOT an instant noodles experience!
Photo: Elly Scala
Day 4: Crossing the Salkantay Pass
Day 4 was the big one. We climbed to the Salkantay Pass at over 15,000 feet. It was hands down one of the hardest hikes I’ve ever done, but by far one of the best. It took about 4 hours, and the altitude hit hard, but when we finally reached the top, it was silent, snowy, and absolutely stunning. I had my jaw on the ground the entire time.
After making it to the highest point of not just the trek but my life, we dropped into the cloud forest and spent the afternoon trekking through misty green jungle vibes. The shift in scenery was absolutely wild. Just like the previous night, our homemade dinner was incredible, and that much more satisfying after crossing my very first mountain pass!
Photo: Elly Scala
Day 5: The Cloud Forest
Today was all about getting deeper into the jungle. The trail was long, but the conversations made it fly by. We passed waterfalls, picked fruit from trees, and stopped often just to look around and take it in. It was a big change from the snowcapped Andean peaks of the previous days, which speaks to the mind-blowing diversity of Peru.
The weather became much warmer as we dropped in altitude: the alpine was promptly replaced by something that almost resembled the tropics. That night, we camped near La Playa and even got to soak in some hot springs, which felt incredible after so much hiking.
Photo: Elly Scala
Day 6: Llactapaca to Aguas Calientes
The day began with a hike up to Llactapata, an Incan ruin with a clear view of Machu Picchu from afar. It was truly surreal. After that, we made our way to Aguas Calientes on foot, where I finally got a hot shower and a real bed.
This cute town sits right below Machu Picchu and was the perfect place to re-enter the modern world with all of its comforts.
Photo: Elly Scala
Day 7: Machu Picchu
We woke up early and finally visited Machu Picchu. I’ll never forget walking around the ruins, as we listened to Aldo explain what everything meant. He’s so passionate and full of knowledge, and you could tell how much he cares about the land and the history.
After one of the most memorable days of my life in the Sacred Valley, we took the train back to Poroy/Ollantaytambo, where Valencia Travel then brought us back to our Cusco hotel. I cannot emphasize how nice it is not to have to worry about logistics after such a tough trek!
Photo: Nic Hilditch-Short
Day 8: Leaving Cusco
Last day blues hit hard today with the transfer back to the airport. I left feeling grateful, a little sore, and honestly kind of emotional. Aldo was the best guide ever, the horsemen and chefs made the whole thing smooth and special, and somehow our chefs were cooking up gourmet-level food in the middle of the mountains. I’ll be thinking about those soups and hot teas for a long time!
Photo: Elly Scala
Getting Insured BEFORE Heading to Peru
Travel insurance is essential for all trips, but even more so when your adventure involves high-altitude hiking! Sort yourself some decent travel insurance once your trip is booked so you can forget about it.
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Final Thoughts on Peru’s Salkantay Trek
This high-altitude journey through the Peruvian Andes was peaceful, challenging, and beautiful in every way. Valencia Travel made the entire experience truly perfect. Like, not a single thing went wrong, but I felt 100% sure that they would have handled anything that did. From our incredible guide Aldo to the comfort provided at camps and hotel accommodation, the journey would have been so much harder and less meaningful alone.
I highly recommend the Salkantay to anyone who wants to push themselves and experience Peru in a way that goes way beyond just visiting Machu Picchu. It’s undoubtedly the best way to get there!
Photo: Elly Scala
