Self-Launched Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu (5 Days)
5 days · Peru
Ultimate Trekking charges £615
No-markup version: ~£313 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of the classic 5-day Salkantay route from Cusco to Machu Picchu — crossing the 4,600m Salkantay Pass, descending through cloud forest, visiting organic coffee farms and the Llactapata ruins, then entering Machu Picchu at sunrise. You do it with independent transport (shared colectivos, the Hidroeléctrica trail, and the Expedition train back from Aguas Calientes) and self-booked lodging — budget guesthouses in Mollepata/Soraypampa area, family hostels and a hostel in Aguas Calientes. Costs assume you either hire a local arriero or go fully self-supported; figures below assume self-supported hiking with hostel stays where available. IMPORTANT: Machu Picchu entry tickets and Inca Trail permits sell out months ahead — book on the official Ministerio de Cultura site (tuboleto.cultura.pe) as soon as your dates are fixed.
Day-by-day
Cusco to Soraypampa & Humantay Lake
Cusco / Soraypampa
Take an early shared colectivo or minivan from Cusco's Arcopata/Gráfico terminal to Mollepata (~2.5 hrs, S/20–30 / ~£5–7), then a local truck or shared taxi up the dirt road to Soraypampa (~1.5 hrs, S/30–50 / ~£7–11). Drop your pack at a basic family guesthouse or camp in Soraypampa and hike up to Humantay Lake (2 hrs uphill, ~4,200m) for the afternoon. Acclimatise gently — drink coca tea, walk slowly. Overnight Soraypampa guesthouse/basic refugio or your tent.
🚌Shared colectivo Cusco–Mollepata ~£6, local truck/shared taxi Mollepata–Soraypampa ~£9
🛏Family guesthouse or campsite in Soraypampa (~£8–12)
- →Shared colectivo to Mollepata
- →Hike to Humantay Lake (self-guided, ~2 hrs)
- →Wildlife spotting: Andean geese, vizcachas
- →Sunset views of Humantay and Salkantay
Over Salkantay Pass to Chaullay (Cloud Forest)
Salkantay Pass / Chaullay
Start before dawn for the big climb to Salkantay Pass at 4,600m (3–4 hrs up) — the highest point of the trek, with glacier views. Descend steeply on the far side toward Wayracmachay and then Chaullay in the cloud forest (another 3–4 hrs). Stay in a simple family hospedaje in Chaullay, where hot meals and beds are readily available for trekkers. Bring cash — no ATMs beyond Mollepata.
🚌On foot — no transport today
🛏Family hospedaje in Chaullay (~£8–12)
- →Sunrise climb to Salkantay Pass (4,600m)
- →Cloud forest descent with orchids and hummingbirds
- →Waterfall viewpoints along trail
- →Village stay in Chaullay
Coffee Farm, Pachamanca & Llactapata
Chaullay / Lucmabamba / Llactapata
Walk 3–4 hrs downhill to Lucmabamba, where several community coffee farms welcome independent hikers for a short tour and tasting (S/20–30 / ~£5–7, just ask at the village or arrange via your hospedaje the night before). Many families will prepare a Pachamanca earth-oven lunch on request (~£6–8). Then hike up the original Inca Trail section to Llactapata ruins (2 hrs) for the classic first view of Machu Picchu at sunset. Sleep at a basic campsite/refugio near Llactapata or descend to the Santa Teresa side if you prefer a hostel.
🚌On foot; optional shared taxi from Santa Teresa road head if you detour
🛏Basic refugio/campsite at Llactapata (~£8–10) or hostel in Santa Teresa (~£10–14)
- →Community coffee farm tour and tasting
- →Pachamanca lunch preparation (arranged locally)
- →Inca Trail section hike to Llactapata ruins
- →Sunset view over Machu Picchu from Llactapata
Llactapata to Hidroeléctrica to Aguas Calientes
Aguas Calientes
Catch sunrise over Machu Picchu from Llactapata, then descend ~2 hrs through tropical forest to the Hidroeléctrica power station — listen for cock-of-the-rock and watch for toucans and orchids. Have lunch at one of the simple comedores by the station, then walk the flat 3-hr riverside trail (or take the train for ~US$12–18 if you're tired) into Aguas Calientes. Check into a budget hostel, buy your Machu Picchu bus ticket for tomorrow if not already done, and have a relaxed dinner in town.
🚌On foot Llactapata–Hidroeléctrica–Aguas Calientes (~5 hrs); optional train Hidroeléctrica–Aguas Calientes ~£10–14
🛏Budget hostel in Aguas Calientes (~£15–22)
- →Sunrise view of Machu Picchu from Llactapata
- →Tropical forest hike with birdwatching
- →Riverside walk along the Hiram Bingham path
- →Optional hot springs in Aguas Calientes (~£4)
Machu Picchu at Sunrise & Return to Cusco
Machu Picchu / Cusco
Take the first Consettur bus up to Machu Picchu (~US$12 each way, ~£10) for opening at 6am — book your entry slot in advance on tuboleto.cultura.pe (Circuit 2 or 1B if Circuit 2 is sold out). Explore independently or join a licensed guide inside the gate (~S/150–200 / £33–45 for a 2–3 hr private tour, or ~£12–15 per person in a shared group if you join up with others at the entrance). Optional: Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain climb (must be pre-booked, extra fee). Bus back down, then take the Expedition/PeruRail or Inca Rail train Aguas Calientes–Ollantaytambo (~£45–65 booked ahead), followed by a shared van from Ollantaytambo to Cusco (~£6–9). Arrive Cusco early evening.
🚌Consettur bus up/down ~£19, train Aguas Calientes–Ollantaytambo ~£45–65, shared van Ollantaytambo–Cusco ~£8
🛏Own arrangement in Cusco
- →Sunrise entry to Machu Picchu
- →Optional licensed guide at the citadel
- →Free exploration of the ruins
- →Optional Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain climb
Self-launched vs. Ultimate Trekking
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Ultimate Trekking | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£313 | £615 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £302 per person (49%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Ultimate Trekking-style trips? Check them out here.~£313
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 to Machu Picchu (5 Days) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £313 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 Ultimate Trekking?+
Yes — Ultimate Trekking charges around £615 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £313 — a saving of roughly £302 (49%) 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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