The Salkantay & Inca Trail Combo (7 Days)

Three days circling the snow-capped Salkantay massif at 6,271 meters, followed by four days on the Classic Inca Trail. The most complete walking experience of the Cusco mountains — and the only route that lets you see two of the Andes' great sacred peaks on foot.

Key takeaways

  • 72 km / 45 mi over 7 days and 6 nights of camping.
  • Two high passes: Salkantay Pass (4,630 m) and Dead Woman's Pass (4,215 m).
  • Salkantay (6,271 m / 20,574 ft) is one of the highest sacred peaks (Apus) in the Cusco region.
  • The first 3 days require no Inca Trail permit. The final 4 days do — book 6 months ahead.
  • Total elevation gain across the trek: approximately 4,000 vertical meters.
  • Recommended for experienced trekkers in strong cardiovascular shape.
  • Standard price: US$1,400–1,900 per person, all-inclusive.

The Salkantay-Inca Trail combination is the most complete walking experience available in the Cusco region — and the trek that experienced Andean hikers tend to recommend over the Classic Inca Trail alone. It pairs three days of high-altitude valley walking around the immense southern face of Nevado Salkantay (6,271 m) with the four classical days into Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. The result is a journey that climbs higher, walks further, and visits both major sacred mountain ecosystems of the Vilcabamba range.

About 4–5% of Inca Trail bookings include the Salkantay extension. It costs roughly twice as much as the standalone 4-day Classic, demands genuinely strong fitness and good acclimatization, and adds 6 nights of camping to your trip — but for the right traveler, it is the most rewarding way to walk to Machu Picchu.

Why combine Salkantay with the Inca Trail?

The two routes are fundamentally different in character. The Classic Inca Trail is a cultural pilgrimage — stone-paved, dense with archaeological sites, ending at Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. The Salkantay route is a pure mountain trek — wild, alpine, dominated by glacier views, with almost no archaeological component. Walking the Salkantay first and then connecting to the Classic Inca Trail gives you both experiences: alpine wilderness, then ceremonial road, then citadel.

Most operators run this combo as a 7-day continuous trek. The first three days follow the standard Salkantay route from Mollepata up the Soraypampa valley, over the Salkantay Pass, and down into the Santa Teresa cloud forest. On Day 4, you join the official Inca Trail corridor at Km 82 (the same trailhead as the Classic) and follow the standard 4-day itinerary into Machu Picchu.

7-day schedule overview

Day 1

Cusco → Mollepata → Soraypampa

Distance
13 km
Hiking time
4–5 hours
Max altitude
3,900 m

Early bus from Cusco to the village of Mollepata for breakfast, then a two-hour drive to the trailhead at Challacancha. The trail climbs gradually through alpine grassland to the Soraypampa campsite, with the immense south face of Salkantay rising directly above. Optional afternoon side trip to Humantay Lake — a turquoise glacial lake at 4,200 m, one of the most photographed places in the Cusco region.

Day 2

Soraypampa → Salkantay Pass → Huayracmachay

Distance
22 km
Hiking time
9–10 hours
Max altitude
4,630 m

The hardest day. A long, steady climb to the Salkantay Pass (Apacheta) at 4,630 meters — higher than any point on the Classic Inca Trail. Glaciers hang directly above the trail and avalanches rumble across the south face during the descent. After the pass, the trail drops nearly 1,500 meters into the cloud forest of Huayracmachay. The temperature change is dramatic: from freezing at the pass to genuinely warm by the campsite.

Day 3

Huayracmachay → Lucmabamba → bus to Km 82

Distance
12 km
Hiking time
5 hours
Max altitude
3,000 m

A descent through coffee plantations and tropical fruit farms to the village of Lucmabamba. Lunch at a local family farm (most operators have established relationships here). Afternoon transfer by bus around to Km 82 of the Inca Trail, where you camp for the night near the official trailhead and prepare to join the Classic Inca Trail the next morning.

Days 4–7

Classic Inca Trail (Km 82 → Machu Picchu)

From Day 4 onward, the trek follows the standard Classic 4-Day Inca Trail itinerary: Km 82 to Wayllabamba (Day 4), over Dead Woman's Pass to Pacaymayo (Day 5), through the cloud forest to Wiñay Wayna (Day 6), and finally through the Sun Gate to Machu Picchu (Day 7). For a detailed description of these four days, see our full Classic Inca Trail itinerary.

Who should choose the Salkantay combo?

  • Experienced trekkers who have completed multi-day high-altitude treks before.
  • Travelers who want the most complete possible Inca Trail experience, including the alpine and glacier components.
  • Photographers — Salkantay's south face is genuinely one of the most photogenic mountain views in the Andes.
  • Travelers with 10+ days available in the Cusco region (you need acclimatization time before, recovery time after).

This is not the right choice if it would be your first multi-day high-altitude trek, if you have any history of altitude sickness, or if you have less than two weeks total in Peru. For a first Inca Trail experience, stick with the Classic 4-day or the Short Trail.

Cost in 2026

Standard group bookings range from US$1,400 to US$1,900 per person for the 7-day combo, including all permits, all meals, all camping equipment, train and bus transport, and Machu Picchu entry. Premium small-group versions (max 6 hikers, with extra porters and upgraded equipment) run US$2,200–2,600 per person. The combo always costs more than 4-day Classic + 3-day Salkantay booked separately because of the logistical complexity.

Common questions

Is altitude sickness more of a risk on the Salkantay combo?

Yes. The Salkantay Pass at 4,630 m is the highest point on any standard Cusco-region trek. Acclimatization is critical — most operators require a minimum of 3 days in Cusco (3,400 m) before starting, and many recommend 4–5 days. Read our altitude sickness guide.

Do I need to be a serious mountaineer for this trek?

No. The Salkantay route is a hiking trail, not a climbing route. You don't need ropes, crampons or technical skills. But you do need genuine cardiovascular fitness — most strong recreational hikers complete it; sedentary travelers should not attempt it.

Is the Salkantay trek closed in February like the Classic?

Yes, because the combo includes the Inca Trail corridor, which closes every February for maintenance. A standalone 4–5 day Salkantay (without the Inca Trail extension) is open year-round, but ends at Machu Picchu via the train rather than the Sun Gate.