Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu — Self-Launched 4-Day Version
4 days · Peru (Cusco, Salkantay, Machu Picchu)
Bamba Travel charges £642
No-markup version: ~£391 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Bamba Travel's 4-day Salkantay Trek. Instead of a guided camping tour, you book everything yourself: shared collectivo transport from Cusco to Mollepata/Challacancha, trek the classic Salkantay route independently with a rented tent or basic mountain lodges, use shared taxis and the local Santa Teresa–Hidroeléctrica connection, then take the PeruRail/Inca Rail train out of Aguas Calientes. All prices are rough backpacker estimates in GBP — booking Machu Picchu entry (and a guide, now compulsory for the citadel) in advance is the single most important step.
Day-by-day
Cusco to Challacancha – trek to Soraypampa & Laguna Humantay
Cusco / Soraypampa
Get an early collectivo (shared minivan) from Cusco's Arcopata/Grifería bus area toward Mollepata (~2h, S/15–20 ≈ £4). From Mollepata take a shared taxi or another collectivo up to Challacancha trailhead (~1h, S/20–30 ≈ £5). Walk the gentle 3-hour trail to Soraypampa (~3,850m) where independent trekkers pitch tents or stay in the basic family-run refugios. Drop your pack and do the side hike up to Laguna Humantay (1.5h each way) in the afternoon — go slowly, the altitude bites. Buy food supplies in Cusco the day before (bread, tuna, fruit, nuts) as there is little available on the trail. Acclimatise in Cusco for at least 2–3 days before starting.
🚌Shared collectivo Cusco–Mollepata (£4) + shared taxi Mollepata–Challacancha (£5)
🛏Own tent / rented tent at Soraypampa (~£6) or basic family refugio (~£14)
- →Trek Challacancha to Soraypampa (3h)
- →Sunset hike to Laguna Humantay
- →Camp set-up at high altitude
Salkantay Pass (4,650m) to Challhuay
Salkantay Pass / Challhuay
Start before dawn for the climb to Salkantay Pass at 4,650m — roughly 4 hours of steady ascent from Soraypampa. If you're carrying a lot, you can hire a mule and arriero at Soraypampa for around S/100–160 (£23–37) to carry your pack; negotiate the morning before. From the pass, descend steeply on switchbacks into the high jungle towards Huayracpampa for lunch, then continue ~3 hours to Challhuay or Colcapampa (~2,400m) where there are simple family hospedajes with dinner and breakfast. Temperatures swing wildly between pass and jungle — pack layers and a rain shell.
🚌On foot (optional mule hire for luggage ~£15 if shared)
🛏Family hospedaje in Challhuay/Colcapampa with dinner & breakfast (~£16)
- →Ascent to Salkantay Pass (4,650m)
- →Descent into high jungle
- →Optional arriero/mule hire
Jungle trail to La Playa, Santa Teresa & on to Aguas Calientes
Challhuay / La Playa / Aguas Calientes
Walk out through the upper Amazon basin past river crossings, waterfalls and coffee and fruit plantations, arriving at La Playa (~2,200m) in about 4–5 hours. From La Playa take a shared collectivo to Santa Teresa (~30 min, S/10 ≈ £2). From Santa Teresa, shared minivans run to the Hidroeléctrica (~45 min, S/10–15 ≈ £3). From there walk the railway tracks beside the Urubamba for ~3 hours to Aguas Calientes, or take the short local train for around US$28 if you'd rather save your legs. Check into a cheap guesthouse in Aguas Calientes and buy tomorrow's Machu Picchu bus ticket (S/24 each way ≈ £5.5 each way) at the Consettur office.
🚌Shared collectivo La Playa–Santa Teresa (£2) + minivan to Hidroeléctrica (£3) + rail-track walk (or ~£22 upgrade train)
🛏Budget guesthouse in Aguas Calientes (~£22)
- →Jungle trek through river crossings and plantations
- →Railway-track hike into Aguas Calientes
- →Buy Consettur bus tickets & confirm MP entry
Machu Picchu at dawn & train back to Cusco
Machu Picchu / Ollantaytambo / Cusco
Queued bus from Aguas Calientes at ~5:00am for sunrise entry to Machu Picchu. Important: since 2024 the citadel can only be visited with a licensed guide — hire one at the gate or pre-book a small-group 2-hour tour via GetYourGuide (~£25–35). Entry itself must be pre-booked online through the official Machu Picchu tickets site (S/152 ≈ £34, higher in high season) and sold out weeks ahead in peak months. Add Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (S/48 ≈ £11 extra, booked well in advance) if you want the extra climb. Afterwards, take the PeruRail or Inca Rail vistadome/expedition service from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (~1.5h, £35–55 if booked early), then a shared minivan from Ollantaytambo back to Cusco (~1.5h, S/20–30 ≈ £5), or the cheaper local bus (S/5–10).
🚌Consettur bus up/down (£11) + PeruRail/Inca Rail train to Ollantaytambo (£45) + shared minivan to Cusco (£5)
🛏Back to your own hostel in Cusco (~£12)
- →Sunrise at Machu Picchu
- →Licensed 2-hour guided tour of the citadel
- →Optional Huayna Picchu / MP Mountain climb
- →Scenic train through the Sacred Valley
Self-launched vs. Bamba Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Bamba Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£391 | £642 |
| Duration | 4 days | 4 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £251 per person (39%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Bamba Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£391
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu — Self-Launched 4-Day Version cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £391 per person for 4 days in Peru (Cusco, Salkantay, Machu Picchu). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Bamba Travel?+
Yes — Bamba Travel charges around £642 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £391 — a saving of roughly £251 (39%) per person.
How long is the Peru (Cusco, Salkantay, Machu Picchu) trip?+
This itinerary runs 4 days, covering 4 day-by-day stops through Peru (Cusco, Salkantay, Machu Picchu).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, culture trip through Peru (Cusco, Salkantay, Machu Picchu), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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