Salkantay Trek Star Domes: The Hola Cusco 5-Day Route

Included in the $462

The listing includes hotel pickup in Cusco's historic center, transport from Cusco to Mollepata, mules and a muleteer, a duffel bag for up to 5 kg of personal gear, a bilingual guide in English and Spanish, a professional cook, the four nights described above, 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 4 dinners with vegetarian options, the Machu Picchu admission ticket subject to availability, the guided visit, first aid, oxygen, a satellite phone, an informative briefing one day before the trek, and the return transport depending on the option chosen. That is a long inclusions list for a $462 trek.

The listing also asks you to bring your passport. Trekking poles are S/ 30 to rent and a sleeping bag is S/ 40 to rent if you do not carry your own.

What You Pay on Top

The listing is explicit about extras. Breakfast on the first day costs S/ 20, Humantay Lagoon admission is S/ 20, the Consettur bus to Machu Picchu is not included, the train from Hidroeléctrica to Aguas Calientes is US$39 and the return leg Aguas Calientes to Hidroeléctrica is also US$39 if you take that option. Lunch and dinner on the last day are not covered.

A sleeping bag rents for S/ 40, poles for S/ 30, the Cocalmayo hot spring ticket is S/ 10 with S/ 40 transport, duffel bag transport from Lucmabamba onwards is S/ 15, and travel insurance is excluded. No total is worked out here because the extras depend on the options you choose.

Cost Lines at a Glance

The table pulls every line the operator states, so you can see what the $462 covers before you book. Figures come from the GetYourGuide listing for this Hola Cusco departure.

Day 1: Cusco to Mollepata, Soraypampa and Humantay Lake

The day starts early with pickup from your hotel in Cusco. You ride to Mollepata and on to Soraypampa, then hike to Humantay Lake. The listing says the hiking time may vary with the pace of the group and the weather.

After the visit you continue to the campsite near Apu Salkantay for dinner. The Humantay admission of S/ 20 is an extra. The listing gives no distance or hiking hours for this day.

Day 2: Salkantay Pass to Chaullay

This is the long pass day. Breakfast is at 5:00 am, the ascent from Soraypampa starts at 6:00, and the listing puts arrival at the highest point, Salkantay Pass at 4,650 m, at 10:00 am with views of Apu Salkantay. Descent to Wayracmachay follows at 11:00 am, lunch at 1:00 pm, then a walk to Collpapampa through cloud forest, arriving at camp around 5:00 pm.

Other sources give the pass between 4,580 m and 4,660 m, but the figure here is the listing's own. Note the listing labels the day Chaullay in its title while the schedule text stops at Collpapampa.

Day 3: Chaullay to Coca Camp and Cocalmayo

Breakfast at 6:00 am and a 7:00 am start toward Lucmabamba through cloud forest, coffee plantations and tropical fruit country. At 10:30 am there is a local coffee sightseeing tour and tasting, lunch at 12:30 pm, then more walking to the accommodation with arrival at 4:30 pm and dinner at 7:00 pm. The Cocalmayo hot springs appear in the day title, and the optional ticket is S/ 10 with S/ 40 transport, both listed as extras.

Day 4: Llactapata and Hidroeléctrica to Aguas Calientes

A 6:00 am breakfast and a 7:00 am hike toward Hidroeléctrica with tropical vegetation and mountain views. Arrival and lunch at 11:30 am, then a 1:00 pm walk along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes, reaching the hotel at 4:30 pm for check-in and free time. The optional train from Hidroeléctrica instead of walking costs US$39, listed as an extra.

Duffel bag transport from Lucmabamba to Hidroeléctrica and Aguas Calientes is S/ 15 if you want it carried. Dinner is at 7:00 pm.

Day 5: Machu Picchu and Back to Cusco

Breakfast at 5:00 am, the bus transfer from Aguas Calientes at 5:30 am, and entry to Machu Picchu at 6:00 am for the guided visit. The drop-off back in Aguas Calientes is at 9:00 am, leaving free time for lunch, which is not included. Depending on the option selected, the train to Ollantaytambo leaves at 1:00 pm and the vehicle from Ollantaytambo to Cusco at 4:30 pm.

The Consettur bus fare is an extra cost on this listing.

No Reviews Behind the Booking

The listing is new and has no ratings yet, so you book on the operator's word alone. If that matters to you, the Classic 5-Day Salkantay Trek carries a 5.0 rating from thousands of reviews, or the Salkantay Panoramic Domes Trek has a 4.8 rating at $300.

No Cancellation Safety Net

This activity is non-refundable, so illness, flight changes or a cancelled connection cost you the whole fare. If you want flexibility, the Salkantay 5-Day Hiking Trek offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before, with Machu Picchu entrance and train tickets in its price.

Fitness, Altitude and Pregnancy

The operator states the trek requires a good fitness level because of the altitude and the long hikes, and the pass sits at 4,650 m on the listing. The activity is not suitable for pregnant women. There is no stated minimum age, so ask the operator about children.

If the altitude worries you, read the guide to altitude and fitness before booking any Salkantay route.

Ticket, Passport and Extras

The Machu Picchu ticket is included subject to availability, so confirm availability for your date before you travel. The shared hotel room in Aguas Calientes means solo travellers should check the rooming arrangement before booking. The Consettur bus, the Humantay admission of S/ 20 and the optional Hidroeléctrica train at US$39 each way all come out of your pocket.

If you want the bus and a train back included, the Salkantay Glass Cabins Trek covers entry fees, the Machu Picchu bus and an Expedition train.

Acclimatise in Cusco First

Cusco sits at about 3,400 m and the trek pass is at 4,650 m on the listing, which is well above the 2,500 m line where altitude sickness usually begins. The NHS advises avoiding a jump from below 1,200 m to above 3,500 m in one day, not gaining more than 300 m of sleeping height per night above 3,000 m, and taking a rest day every 3 to 4 days. Wikivoyage recommends at least 2 to 3 days in Cusco or a similar altitude before starting.

Symptoms usually begin 6 to 10 hours after arrival and most pass in 1 to 3 days. More detail is in the section on altitude and fitness.

What to Pack

The listing asks you to bring a passport, warm clothing, hiking shoes, sunscreen, a jacket, gloves, toiletries, cash, a scarf, hiking pants and personal medication. It also says to carry a raincoat, insect repellent, water and a small backpack, and warns the weather can change quickly. Drones are not allowed, and your duffel is limited to 5 kg.

A sleeping bag rents for S/ 40 and poles for S/ 30 if you prefer not to carry your own. The full checklist is in the Salkantay trek packing list.

The Way Home

The listing's return depends on the option chosen: a return bus to Cusco, or a train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo at 1:00 pm followed by a vehicle from Ollantaytambo to Cusco at 4:30 pm in the sample itinerary. The return point in Cusco is not stated. Machu Picchu entry is at 6:00 am and the drop-off in Aguas Calientes is at 9:00 am, which leaves free time for lunch and the village before the train.

If you want to see how this return compares with other departures, see what the listing price covers on the homepage.