Salkantay trail
Our Salkantay Trek is a great alternative to the much more traveled Inca Trail Trek. You will hike alongside wild alpacas and llamas and visit the holy city of Machu Picchu, exploring the various historical sites and even roasting and brewing your own cup of authentic Peruvian coffee! You will hike to the breathtaking Salkantay Mountain, stopping at the clear, azure waters of Humantay Lagoon along the way, and sleep in glass-roofed cabanas and “Hobbit Houses.” Each day, you’ll be treated to amazing meals prepared by culinary school-trained chefs. With every step, you will be cared for by our intrepid Peruvian partners and the country’s No. 1 outfitter — Alpaca Expeditions — with a level of service you may never experience again. The combination of Hobnail’s personalized stateside experience and Alpaca’s Peruvian expertise makes our Salkantay Trek a natural choice.
In the video below, Alpaca manager Diego Miranda extends a personal invitation to Hobnail trekkers to visit Peru!
At a glance...
Country: Peru
Duration: 11 days/ 10 nights
Activity: Trekking, sightseeing
Travel style: Guided
Difficulty grade: Intermediate/Challenging (See details below)
Comfort: Various (tents, hotels)
Gallery
Salkantay Trek
Click on the preferred date to register:
(Please note: This trek requires a $1,100 deposit.)
Registration deadline is 60 days prior to the start of the trek.
Salkantay Trek details
CITIES OF CUSCO AND LIMA
The food, culture, and fun of these cities is unparalleled.
HUMANTAY LAGOON
Located at the base of Salcantay Mountain, the lagoon is known for its incredible teal waters.
GLASS CABANAS AND HOBBIT HOUSES
Sleep under the stars in the glass cabanas and channel your inner Bilbo Baggins for a night in our unique Hobbit houses!
COFFEE FARM
Pick, grind, and dry roast your own steaming cup of real Peruvian java!
MACCU PICCHU
The Lost City of the Incas lives up to its billing as one of the must-see bucket-list items for any world traveler.
LIMA BICYCLE TOUR
It’s the best way to experience this vibrant, historical city!
- Hobnail Trekking Co. long-sleeve trekking shirt and ball cap
- Custom Hobnail mobile app
- Lots of freebies
- Opportunities to get to know your fellow trekkers include an invitation to a WhatsApp group for your trek, group training hikes if trekkers live in proximity to each other, and other local social gatherings
- Domestic flights from Lima to Cusco and from Cusco back to Lima
- All airport transfers
- 10 nights accommodations (including 6 nights in a hotel, two nights in tents, and one night each in a glass cabana and Hobbit House (double occupancy unless single occupancy is selected at time of registration)
- Daily breakfasts throughout your trek
- 6 lunches (including boxed lunch and picnic lunches)
- 5 dinners (including amazing homemade family-style, three-course meals cooked by culinary school-trained chefs while on the trail)
- Welcome dinner in Cusco
- Pre-trek briefing to go over final details
- All permits and entrance tickets while on trek, including for the extra hike up Huaynapicchu Mountain
- Local, English-speaking trek leaders and guides (male and female) who are eager to share their history with our trekkers; guides have all received first aid training from a physician and receive annual ongoing training
- Plenty of clean drinking water
- Porter service (porters are provided with livable wages, proper uniforms, warm jackets and hats, good hiking boots, a house to sleep in before and after treks with a medical doctor stationed there to attend to any needs, and social projects conducted at their villages that help them and their families (including with dental and educational needs))
- Duffel bag, 3-inch air mattress, foam mattress, sleeping bag, pillow, hiking poles, and rain poncho to borrow at no cost while on trek
- Hobnail daypack cover to keep
- Horsemen with horses so that trekkers that need it can have a short rest
- Group first aid kit for basic emergencies, and oxygen
- Vistadome train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (and included private transportation for return trip)
- Bicycle tour of Lima
- Farewell celebration
- T-shirt
- Satellite phone for emergencies big and small
- The company of new friends and the experience of a lifetime
- Travel insurance (See the Travel Insurance section on this page for details)
- International flights
- Peru entry visa
- Entry fees for attractions and exhibits not included in the tour
- Alcohol and specialty drinks
- Tips for leaders, guides, and porters (we’ll give you guidance on this)
- Tips for tour guides (we’ll give you guidance on this, too)
- Lunches and dinners not included in trek detail
- Spending money, including for souvenirs
- Personal trekking equipment like hiking boots, clothing, etc.
OK, here’s where we get serious. Hobnail requires that all trekkers purchase travel/medical insurance that covers them properly for all trekking activities.
There are a lot more details you need to know about travel insurance than we want to put in this limited space — including stuff about trip cancellations and what company we recommend — so when you’re ready, pop over to our Travel Insurance page.
We rate this trek as “intermediate to challenging” in difficulty.
For a trek classified as “intermediate”, you should expect 3-7 hours of hiking
We consider our treks to be adventures, not vacations. We’re not Hobnail Vacation Company, after all! Don’t get us wrong; we like vacations as much as the next person, but with our treks, you need to be physically and mentally ready. Here’s what we ask of you:
- You thoroughly read all the information we send you prior to departure.
- You get yourself an accountability partner and train properly. This doesn’t mean doing a few squats two weeks before departure.
- You familiarize yourself with your gear prior to leaving. Practice adjusting your backpack, filtering water if necessary, etc.
- If you purchase new boots, they are broken in well in advance of departure.
- When on trek, you FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS OF YOUR GUIDE. His or her only concern is helping you achieve your goal safely and in good health, but this won’t happen unless you follow their advice. This includes – but is not limited to – food recommendations, speed of pace, when to sleep and when not to, when to walk and when to rest, when to turn around due to illness, etc.
- When on trek, you treat your guide and the locals you encounter with the utmost respect. We are guests in their country and very grateful to be there.
All of these things may seem like common sense — and they are — but we feel that we must mention them. Hobnail’s goal is to provide you with the best experience possible, and you have an important role in achieving that goal.
A few days after registering for a trek (with a deposit of at least $900), we’ll give you a quick call to say hello and answer any initial questions you may have. If you use WhatsApp, we’ll add you to a group with your fellow trekkers so that you may interact with them, and possibly your guide, before departure. You’ll be able to post questions in the group anytime you’d like, talk about the cool gear you’re planning to take with you, organize group hikes if you live near each other, and generally just get to know those who will be sharing this incredible experience with you.
Within the first weeks after your trek is confirmed, you will receive a Welcome Kit from us. It contains stuff that you can use during training as well as on the trek itself, and some other just fun things to get you (even more) excited about your trip.
You’ll also receive a login to our Hobnail app, which is full of great information including a day-by-day schedule, nearby points of interest, beautiful photography, and yet another way to contact us – through its messaging service. As your trip gets closer, we will load your flights and other more specific information into the app so you’ll feel even more secure in knowing where you’ll be staying and even how to get around the airports you’ll travel through.
The closer you get to your trek, the more you’ll hear from us — but of course, you can reach out any time you have a question.
What happens if my trek is not confirmed?
If the minimum number for the trek you booked is not reached before the 60-day booking deadline, you will be eligible for either a refund or to transfer your deposit to another trek. See details HERE.
Our Mobile App
When you book, we send you the login credentials to your own, customized app. By departure, your app will contain your flight info, passport, travel insurance docs, and COVID info, as well as your full itinerary, points of interest, and other amazing stuff.
TREK ITINERARY
DAY 1: Welcome to Peru!
Once you exit the airport in Lima, look for the HOBNAIL sign. You’ll be escorted across the street, within the airport complex, to your hotel, where you will be welcomed with a pisco sour, the traditional cocktail of Peru.
Spend the night relaxing and recovering from the long flights.
Meals Included: None
Accommodations: Wyndham Costa del Sol Airport Hotel
DAY 2: Cusco city tour
Flights to Cusco will be in the morning. Trekkers will make their own way to the airport and check in for their flight. As soon as they arrive in Cusco, a Hobnail/Alpaca staff member will be waiting for them directly outside to drive them to their hotel.
At 1 pm, we will meet back in the hotel lobby and begin a tour of the city center and outside Inca ruins. We will leave the lobby and head to Cusco’s Plaza de Armas to visit our most famous cathedral. We will continue by foot to Q’oricancha, the Temple of the Sun, to continue the Inca education. Once done, we will head by bus to the city limits, about 25 minutes, to visit the four main Inca sites: Sacsayhuaman, Q’enqo, Puca Pucara, and our final stop, Tambomachay. We’ll then drive back down to Cusco and drop off trekkers at their hotel around 6 pm.
Everyone will have about 30 minutes to head back to their room and wash up before we meet again in the lobby at 6:30 to do our trek briefing.
Meals Included: Breakfast at Hotel
Accommodation: Rumi Punku Hotel
DAY 3: Sacred Valley tour
Time to get out of the city and hit the trail! Pickup will be at 8 am heading straight out to The Sacred Valley, one of the main areas settled by the Incas. There is an unusual abundance of fertile plains in this high area of the Andes. You will also see vast contour terracing and irrigation channels left behind by the Incas.
Our first major stop will be at the ruins of Pisac, where the group will see amazing works of stone art and impressive agricultural terraces. After exploring for a bit, we will head to the bustling handicraft market of Pisac. This market is the real deal and easy to get lost in while discovering lots of treasures. Once finished, the group will meet and head to their picnic lunch.
After lunch, we will drive along the Urubamba River towards the town of Ollantaytambo to visit the ruins, an important area of construction that was built during the Inca’s most prolific era. Enjoy the incredible rock formations representing the Inca god, Wiracocha.
The group will head back to Cusco city after the tour and have a trek briefing with their guide.
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel, Picnic Lunch
Accommodation: Rumi Punku
DAY 4: Free day before heading to Trailhead
Sleep in this morning, because it will be the last morning to do so for a while. You will have a free day to enjoy the city, explore, and shop for souvenirs. At 3 pm, the group will meet in the hotel lobby before heading out to our glass cabanas and the trailhead of the Salkantay Trek. Woo hoo!
Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by our reception team and brought to your cabana. The team will unpack and bring you your things as you take a look around and enjoy the views. These unique glass houses are completely eco-friendly. The glass in the roof absorbs the heat of the sun during the day, maintaining it for up to 6 hours with a comfortable room temperature of 63 ̊F. This will give you plenty of time to start acclimating to the altitude of 12,467 feet. Enjoy this cozy night under the amazing Andean skies!
Meals Included: Breakfast at Hotel, Dinner
Accommodation: Glass Cabanas
DAY 5: Our first leg of the Salkantay Trek!
You will be awakened this morning at 5:00 am to a hot cup of coca tea served to you in your bed. The sun rises early this close to the equator, and we want to be the first to arrive at Humantay Lake in all its turquoise splendor. The color is attributed to the pure minerals from the mountain and the natural thaw of the snow.
We will leave the glass cabanas at 5:30 am to make the 1.5-hour hike up to Humantay Lake. We will be there for around 2 hours, exploring, taking photos, and just trying to take it all in. Then, we will make the descent back down Humantay Mountain and hike for about 3 hours before stopping for lunch.
After lunch, you will have time to rest before continuing the hike towards the mountain pass, the highest point of the trek. This will take about an hour. We will spend only 30 minutes at the pass to avoid any altitude-related headaches before descending for 2 hours to our campsite, where we will spend the night.
After arriving at our Wayracmachay campsite, you will be given an insulated hot water pillow to place on your body, wherever you like, to take the chill off. We will sleep at an altitude of about 12,467 feet.
Accommodation: Tents at Wayracmachay
Campsite Walking Distance: 11.2 miles
Elevation Gained: 2,789 meters
Elevation Descended: 2,789 meters
Weather: Cold, windy, possible rain
Day 6: Wayracmachay to the Hobbit Houses at Loreta Campsite
After your morning tent-delivery of hot coca tea, you’ll enjoy a freshly cooked breakfast and start the day’s trek around 6 am.
We will start with around two hours of downhill hiking to Rayampata, where we will cross the bridge over to the Unuyuc side of the mountain.
It will then be about an hour of uphill hiking to Unuyuc, where we will have amazing views of the Santa Teresa valley. Your guide will give you an explanation of everything you are seeing and why it’s so important.
You will then continue for 2.5 hours on a steep downhill to Wiñaypocco for lunch. Afterwards, it’s only 1.5 hours before arriving at our Hobbit Houses along the road. Time to channel your inner Bilbo Baggins!
Accommodation: Hobbit Houses at Loreta Campsite
Campsite Walking Distance: 11.2 miles
Night Elevation: 7,874 feet
Elevation Descended: 4,593 meters
Weather: Much warmer than yesterday
DAY 7: Loreta to Llactapata
After a hot breakfast, you will get started on this shorter day through lush tropical rainforests and a couple of remote coffee farms and avocado plantations. At one of the coffee farms, you’ll spend the morning learning to harvest, dry roast, and grind your own amazing cup of java – right from the field to your steaming hot mug!
Continuing on to the Llactapata Inca site, you will hike for about three hours with the incredible views of the Santa Teresa Valley as a constant companion. At Llactapata, you will get the first glance of Machu Picchu in the distance.
Tonight will be your last night of camping and enjoying the incredible dishes created by your trekking chef. It will also be special due to the location of this campsite and its most amazing views — including, of course, Machu Picchu — in the distance. It will truly be an experience that you won’t soon forget. (It’s also a great time to tip your chefs and other trekking staff – we provide some guidance on this, don’t worry.)
It can get pretty darn chilly at night, but you’ll be cozy in your warm sleeping bag.
Elevation Gained: 1,312 ft.
Weather: Hot and humid during the day, chilly at night
Hiking Distance: 7.5 miles
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner at camp
Accommodations: Tents at Llactapata campsite (8,858 ft), overlooking Machu Picchu
DAY 8: Llactapata to Aguas Calientes
With a little luck, the skies will be clear when you awake and you can enjoy those beautiful views one more time. After the last breakfast prepared by the trekking chef, you will head out for a two-hour descent all the way to the river, then another hour before finally reaching the hydroelectric station where you will enjoy lunch.
After your tummy is full, you will continue along the railroad route with fantastic views of the tropical forest and banana plantations where locals farm fruits and vegetables. Around three hours later, you will enter Aguas Calientes (“hot water” in English), the little town below Machu Picchu at 6,562 ft. Head directly to your hotel and enjoy a hot shower in your room if you want. Or take a dip in the public hot springs. (Heads up: these springs cost about 10 soles to enter and can be crowded.) Or, if you’d prefer, just spend the afternoon relaxing after a job well done on the first (and most difficult) part of the trek.
Dinner will be in a restaurant in town. Don’t eat and drink too much; there is another adventure waiting.
Weather: Hot
Hiking Distance: 8.75 miles
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodations: La Cabana Hotel
DAY 9: Machu Picchu day!
Today, you’ll finally get a detailed look at the Lost City of Maccu Picchu! We’ll wake up early to catch one of the first buses. (We want to be at the site early so that we can catch the sunrise.) Upon arriving at the ruins, your Hobnail guide will show you through the citadel for around two hours, explaining the highlights and history of the site. At around 10AM, your guide will lead you to the entrance to Huaynapiccu. This hike heads up the mountain — about 45 minutes to the top — and offers an amazing, birds-eye view of the ruins.
Our tour complete, we will take a train from the ruins back to Aguas Calientes where team members will meet their trekking guide for the last time at lunch.
We will book the 3:30 Vistadome train for everyone to either Ollantaytambo or Poroy. From there, Hobnail staff will transport everyone back to their hotel by Alpaca bus, another 30 minute trip. Time to collapse in bed — after a much-needed shower, of course — and get a good night’s sleep!
Accommodation: Rumi Punku or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast and lunch
DAY 10: Back to Lima
After a great breakfast and lazy morning, we will transfer the team back to the airport, and the Cusco team will say goodbye. A Hobnail/Alpaca representative will meet you at the Lima airport and transfer you to the Miraflores area of the city. This area is right on the Pacific Ocean and has beautiful places to visit and walk, as well as amazing restaurants to check out. Enjoy a free evening to explore the culinary wonders of Lima!
Accommodation: Casa Andina Premium Miraflores
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel
DAY 11: Bicycle tour of Lima, farewell
What a great way to top off this adventure! A bicycle tour is one of the coolest ways to experience the most touristic districts of Lima! Enjoy the beautiful landscapes throughout Lima’s bay, including an outstanding view of the Peruvian Sea and islands. The colorful districts of Miraflores and Barranco are worth the price of admission! (There is none, but you know what we mean.) By the end of the day you won’t believe that you biked 10 miles. (For non-bikers, this can be done as a walking tour as well).
The tour will end around 12:30 pm after which everyone can enjoy lunch on their own. Around four hours before your international flight, we will begin the process of transferring you to the airport and saying our goodbyes. Have a great trip home!
Meals Included: Breakfast at Hotel
GENERAL INFORMATION
About Peru
About the lodging
Once on trek, your lodging will be a combination of tent camping, one night each in Alpaca Expedition’s glass cabanas and Hobbit houses (pictured here), and comfortable hotels. Tents are built for four people, but will only house a maximum of two, so there is plenty of room. Per our arrangement with Alpaca, Hobnail trekkers will be provided with a 3″ air mattress, along with a small pillow. Each campsite also has a clean, portable toilet tent that is removed after each group leaves to lessen the footprint on the landscape.
About the food
There is nothing comparable to what the Alpaca Expeditions chefs do on the mountainside. They will prepare amazing meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner, often starting with a nutritious soup and mostly serving family style. There will always be a protein, salad, assorted sides, and even mouth-watering desserts. They will cater to all food restrictions and make sure everyone has enough to make it up the mountain. Please make sure to let us know about any food restrictions when you book your trek.
Salkantay Trail
Click on the preferred date to register:
(Please note: This trek requires a $1,100 deposit.)
Registration deadline is 60 days prior to the start of the trek.
