Self-Launched Salkantay Trek & Machu Picchu
5 days · Peru
G Adventures charges £470
No-markup version: ~£325 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 5-day Salkantay Trek & Machu Picchu: acclimatise in Cusco, hike to Humantay Lake, cross the 4,600m Salkantay Pass, camp in the cloud forest, see Machu Picchu from Llactapata, then ride the train down to Aguas Calientes for a sunrise visit to the citadel. You can either join a local trekking outfit (the realistic, safe and near-cost-equivalent way — permits, mules, cooks and campsites are best handled by Cusco operators) or self-organise the whole route independently with hired transport and your own kit. Either way you skip the group tour markup and travel on your own schedule. Costs are approximate backpacker estimates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Cusco & acclimatise
Cusco
Land at Alejandro Velasco Astete airport and take a cheap colectivo or taxi (~S/20-30, £5-7) into the historic centre. Stay in a hostel in San Blas or the centro (dorms ~£8-12, private ~£18-25). Spend the day going slow at 3,400m: coca tea, a gentle wander around Plaza de Armas and Qorikancha, and an early night. In the afternoon attend your trek briefing — either with the local Cusco trekking outfit you've booked (many run the Salkantay route for around US$300-400 including permits, transport, meals, mules and guide) or with your self-organised plan. Buy your Machu Picchu circuit ticket and bus/train tickets online in advance (machupicchu.gob.pe) — Circuit 2 is the most complete. Rent a sleeping bag and walking poles locally (~S/45 and S/30) if needed. Optional: Inka Museum (~S/10) or a Cusco city tour (~S/45).
🚌Airport taxi or shared colectivo into town
🛏Hostel in Cusco centre (dorm or budget private room)
- →Plaza de Armas & Qorikancha wander
- →Trek briefing
- →Buy Machu Picchu circuit ticket online
- →Rent sleeping bag & poles
Cusco to Soraypampa & Humantay Lake
Soraypampa / Humantay Lake
Early departure by van/colectivo along the Cusco–Mollepata road to Soraypampa (approx 3 hours, ~S/40-60 shared; trekking outfits include this). Drop bags at camp and walk up to Laguna Humantay (4,200m) — a steep 1.5-2 hour climb with crystal-blue glacial water below the Humantay glacier. Take your time, drink water, and carry layers: afternoons cloud over fast. Return to camp for dinner and a cold but starlit night under the Vilcabamba peaks. If you're self-organising, pre-arrange a mule and arriero locally in Mollepata or Soraypampa (~S/80-120 per day) and bring cash in soles.
🚌Shared van/colectivo Cusco to Soraypampa (~3 hrs); hiking
🛏Camp (tent) at Soraypampa — gear usually provided by local trek operator
- →Trek to Laguna Humantay
- →Camp at Soraypampa under the glacier
Salkantay Pass (4,600m) to Collpabamba
Salkantay Pass / Collpabamba
The big day: a steady climb from Soraypampa up to the Salkantay Pass at 4,600m (15,092 ft), the highest point of the trek, with the snow-capped Salkantay and the Vilcabamba range filling the horizon. Windy and cold at the top — hat, gloves and shell layer essential. Descend into the green valleys on the far side, away from the wind, and continue down through Andean meadows to Collpabamba (around 3,900m) for the second camp in increasingly lush cloud-forest terrain. This is a demanding 8-10 hour day (Physical Grading 4): pace yourself, snack often, and watch for altitude symptoms.
🚌Hiking with mules carrying gear
🛏Camp (tent) at Collpabamba
- →Cross the Salkantay Pass
- →Descend through Vilcabamba valleys
- →Camp in cloud forest at Collpabamba
Llactapata to Aguas Calientes
Llactapata / Aguas Calientes
Break camp and descend through coffee farms and cloud forest toward the Inca site of Llactapata — the viewpoint where Machu Picchu first appears across the valley. Have a long look, then continue down to the hydroelectric area or Santa Teresa roadhead. From here it's a straightforward option: catch the afternoon PeruRail/Inca Rail train from Hidroeléctrica or Santa Teresa station to Aguas Calientes (~£25-35 booked in advance; ~1 hour), or walk the 2-3 hour riverside trail to save money. Check into a guesthouse in Aguas Calientes (~£15-22 private, cheaper dorms), buy tomorrow's Machu Picchu bus ticket (Consettur, ~S/24 return), and eat a big dinner on the main street.
🚌Hiking; PeruRail/Inca Rail train to Aguas Calientes (~£25-35) or riverside walk
🛏Guesthouse/hostel in Aguas Calientes
- →Llactapata Inca site & first Machu Picchu views
- →Coffee-farm cloud forest descent
- →Train ride to Aguas Calientes
Machu Picchu sunrise & return to Cusco
Machu Picchu / Cusco
Take the first Consettur bus up (from ~5:30am) or hike the stairs if you're keen, and enter Machu Picchu on your pre-booked circuit (Circuit 2 recommended) once the gates open at dawn. Hire a licensed local guide at the gate or join a small GetYourGuide/Klook group inside for the story of the citadel (~£15-25), then explore at your own pace. Optionally add the Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu climb if you secured the extra permit. Descend to Aguas Calientes by bus, then take the afternoon PeruRail train to Ollantaytambo (~£35-50) and a shared van/colectivo back to Cusco (~S/15-25, ~1.5 hrs), arriving in the city by early evening — leave a buffer if you have a same-day flight, as G Adventures requires departures after 22:00.
🚌Consettur bus up/down (S/24 return); PeruRail train Aguas Calientes–Ollantaytambo; shared van to Cusco
🛏Hotel/hostel in Cusco (own arrangement) or onward travel
- →Sunrise at Machu Picchu on chosen circuit
- →Licensed local guide inside the site
- →Optional Huayna Picchu / Machu Picchu Mountain permit
- →Return train to Ollantaytambo and van to Cusco
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£325 | £470 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £145 per person (31%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£325
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 Self-Launched Salkantay Trek & Machu Picchu cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £325 per person for 5 days in Peru. 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 G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £470 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £325 — a saving of roughly £145 (31%) per person.
How long is the Peru trip?+
This itinerary runs 5 days, covering 5 day-by-day stops through Peru.
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, 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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