Salkantay Trekking ToursSalkantay Trek Glass Cabins: The 5-Day Alpaca Expeditions Route
This Salkantay trek glass cabins departure is the 5-day, 4-night Alpaca Expeditions departure sold on Viator for $695 per person, and it is the pick on Salkantay trek tours for travellers who want real beds and walls on the high route to Machu Picchu. Instead of tents you sleep in a glass cabaña at Soraypampa, a glass dome at Wayracmachay, a hobbit house at Loreta and a 4-star hotel before Machu Picchu. The price covers every entry fee, the round-trip Machu Picchu bus, the Expeditions train back, a personal porter up to 7 kg and a chef-cooked menu. Groups run to 14. This page walks through the route day by day, lists what you still pay for, and points to cheaper or shorter alternatives where they fit better.
About This Trek
Alpaca Expeditions runs this 5-day Salkantay trek from Cusco to Machu Picchu with private transport, an English-speaking guide, professional chefs and porters. The signature difference is the sleeping: a glass cabaña on night one, a glass dome on night two, a hobbit house with outdoor jacuzzis on night three and an exclusive 4-star hotel on night four. The listing rates 5.0 from 2,900 Viator and Tripadvisor reviews.
The trek itself is the standard route: Soraypampa, the Salkantay Pass, the high jungle at Colpapampa, the Inca path over Llactapata with views of Machu Picchu, then Aguas Calientes and a guided final day at the site. The Machu Picchu circuit you get depends on availability, and the guide holds all entry fees, so you must carry your original passport.
$695 per person on Viator. Solo travellers pay a single room supplement of USD 50 per person.
5 days and 4 nights, with hotel pickup in Cusco around 4:00 to 4:30 AM on day one.
1 night in Glass Cabañas, 1 night in Glass Domes, 1 night in a hobbit house and a fourth night at an exclusive 4-star hotel. No tents.
Included. Entry fees cover Salkantay and Machu Picchu, Circuit 2, 3 or 1 depending on availability. Huayna Picchu Mountain is not included and must be booked in advance.
An Expeditions train ticket from Aguas Calientes for the way back, plus all private transportation during the tour.
Up to 14 travellers. All sales are final, with no refund for cancellations, so plan flights and insurance around that.
Check Dates and Availability
Departures run on fixed dates from Cusco with hotel pickup included. The Machu Picchu circuit is subject to availability, so earlier booking gets the better circuit.
You'll confirm the exact date and time on the secure booking page.
Quick answer Price, sleeps and inclusions in brief
This Salkantay trek with glass cabins costs $695 per person for 5 days and 4 nights with Alpaca Expeditions, sleeping in a glass cabaña, a glass dome, a hobbit house and a 4-star hotel. The Machu Picchu ticket, the round-trip bus, the Expeditions train back and a porter up to 7 kg are all in the price. Groups cap at 14 and the booking is non-refundable.
Key takeaways
- See exactly what is and is not covered in what the price actually covers.
- Only 4 days free? The Salkantay Sky Camp 4-day trek is the shorter option with the Machu Picchu ticket included.
- Want a panoramic window train home? Compare the TreXperience 5-day trek with the Vistadome train at $698.
- On a tighter budget, the 5-day Hiking Holiday at $500 includes free cancellation up to 24 hours.
What the Price Actually Covers
The $695 price covers a lot, but a few things sit outside it and it is worth knowing them before you book.
Included in the Price
Alpaca Expeditions bundles most of the big-ticket items. All entry fees are covered, including Salkantay and Machu Picchu on Circuit 2, 3 or 1 depending on availability, and the guide takes all entry fees at the gates. The round-trip bus ticket to Machu Picchu is included, as is the Expeditions train ticket for the way back. You also get all private transportation during the tour, an experienced English-speaking guide, professional chefs and porters, drinkable water along the trek, a first aid kit, oxygen tank and satellite phone, and a personal porter carrying up to 7 kg, with the duffel bag issued at the briefing.
Meals run through the tour: all meals are included except the last lunch, and every dietary restriction is catered for. The four nights of lodging are the glass cabañas, the glass domes, the hobbit house and the 4-star hotel.
What You Pay on Top
The single room supplement for solo travellers is USD 50 per person. Sleeping bag, air mattress and trekking poles are available for rent at extra cost. The Huayna Picchu Mountain ticket is excluded and must be booked in advance.
Tips for the crew, travel insurance, a hotel in Cusco before and after the tour, extra drinks, and lunch and dinner on day 5 in Aguas Calientes or Cusco are all excluded. Note the booking is non-refundable, so a travel insurance policy with cancellation cover is advisable given the operator itself recommends it.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Salkantay entry | Yes | The guide takes all entry fees |
| Machu Picchu ticket | Yes | Circuit 2, 3 or 1, depending on availability |
| Machu Picchu bus, round trip | Yes | Included in the listing |
| Train ticket for the way back | Yes | Expeditions class |
| Hotel nights x4 | Yes | Glass cabañas, glass domes, hobbit house, 4-star hotel |
| Personal porter, 7 kg | Yes | Duffel bag provided at the briefing |
| Meals | Most | All meals except the last lunch, plus dinner on day 5 excluded |
| Single room supplement | No | USD 50 per person for solo travellers |
| Sleeping bag, mattress, poles | No | Available for rent |
| Huayna Picchu ticket | No | Must be booked in advance |
| Tips and insurance | No | Excluded, insurance advisable |
| Lunch and dinner day 5 | No | In Aguas Calientes or Cusco |
Humantay Lake under the Humantay glacier, the first-day detour from Soraypampa. Photo: Steve FUNG, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Trek Day by Day
Five walking days from Cusco to Machu Picchu, with the hardest climb on day 2. Times and altitudes below come from the operator's own itinerary.
Day 1: Cusco to Soraypampa, Glass Cabañas, and Humantay Lake
Pickup is around 4:00 to 4:30 AM, then a drive through Anta and Limatambo to Mollepata, about 2 hours, for breakfast at a local restaurant. Another hour by road reaches Challacancha, the trailhead. The first section is a gradual 1.5 hour uphill to Soraypampa, at about 3,900 m per Wikivoyage, where lunch is served at the Glass Cabañas.
The day title also lists a Humantay Lake outing for the afternoon. Soraypampa sits below Salkantay, which independent sources put at 6,271 m.
Day 2: Soraypampa to Salkantay Pass to Wayracmachay, Glass Domes
Breakfast is at 5:30 AM and the day runs about 8 hours, the toughest of the trek. After 2 hours on a defined trail you reach Salkantay Pampa at 4,100 m for a rest with glacier views. A steep zigzag of about an hour brings you to Soyrococha, below the peak, where the chef serves lunch.
Roughly an hour more reaches Salkantay Pass at 4,630 m, the highest point of the route. The itinerary then descends toward Wayracmachay, where the night is spent in the Glass Domes.
Day 3: Wayracmachay to Rayanpata to Colpapampa to Loreta, the Hobbit House
Another day of about 8 hours, mostly downhill, leaving the high Andes for the high jungle. Tea arrives at your room before breakfast. After roughly 2 hours you reach Rayanpata, where the tropical forest begins, then 2 more hours to Colpapampa at 2,950 m for a jungle-inspired lunch.
The day finishes at Loreta, where the night is the hobbit house, with outdoor jacuzzis mentioned in the operator's description.
Day 4: Lucmabamba to Llactapata to Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes
About 7 hours on Inca paths. After breakfast at the Hobbit House a 30-minute drive reaches Lucmabamba. The uphill trek along a well-preserved Inca Trail takes about 4 hours through coffee, banana and avocado forest to Llactapata at 2,700 m, an archaeological site with panoramic views of Machu Picchu, where the guide gives a short tour.
A 1.5 hour descent reaches Hidroelectrica, and the day ends in Aguas Calientes at the 4-star hotel.
Day 5: Machu Picchu Guided Tour and Return to Cusco
About 6 hours of activity. The crew wakes you early with a hot drink and breakfast comes from the trekking chef. A scenic 2-hour downhill walk reaches Hidroelectrica Station, passing a 300-meter natural waterfall that supplies electricity to the Cusco region.
From there the itinerary follows the river past the Intiwatana sun-dial rock toward Machu Picchu for the guided tour, with your entry on Circuit 2, 3 or 1 and the round-trip bus ticket. After the visit the Expeditions train carries you back toward Cusco. Lunch and dinner on day 5 are not included.
Hiking to Machu Picchu on the Salkantay Trek with Alpaca Expeditions
Two travellers film this operator's 5-day route, glass cabins included. Third-party video by Jordan and Emily. This site did not shoot it and has no relationship with the creator.
Who This Trek Rules Out
This listing suits comfort-first trekkers, but several stated limits push other travellers toward different departures.
Anyone Who Only Has 4 Days
This is a 5-day, 4-night trek and the itinerary uses all five. If your schedule is shorter, the Salkantay Sky Camp 4-day trek at $720 keeps the Machu Picchu ticket and a hotel night while cutting a day off the trail.
Travellers Who Want the Panoramic Train
The listing names an Expeditions train ticket for the way back and does not mention a panoramic carriage. If a window-roof carriage matters to you, the TreXperience 5-day trek with the Vistadome train at $698 is the closest match at $698, rated 5.0 on Viator.
Travellers Watching the Budget
At $695 this is a comfort price. The 5-day Hiking Holiday costs $500, includes the Machu Picchu entrance and train, and offers free cancellation up to 24 hours instead of the non-refundable terms here.
Anyone Affected by the Stated Health and Age Limits
The listing covers children 8 to 17 and adults 18 to 75, and requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. It is not recommended for travellers with spinal injuries, pregnant travellers or travellers with poor cardiovascular health, and day 2 climbs to the 4,630 m pass. Read how hard the Salkantay trek is before committing.
Solo Travellers and Anyone Who Might Cancel
Solo travellers pay a USD 50 single room supplement per person, and all sales are final, with no refund for cancellations. The Machu Picchu circuit is subject to availability and entry requires the original passport matching the ticket, so book flights only once the trek is confirmed. You also need a hotel in Cusco before and after, which is excluded.
If flexibility matters more than glass cabins, the Sky Lodge Domes 4-day trek at $680 has free cancellation 24 hours ahead, though it excludes the Machu Picchu ticket and the return transport.
The Temple of the Three Windows and the terraces below the Intihuatana at Machu Picchu. Photo: Steve FUNG, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Before the Pickup and After Machu Picchu
The Cusco hotel before and after the trek is not included, and both ends matter more than they look.
Acclimatise in Cusco First
Cusco sits at about 3,400 m, and this trek sleeps near 3,900 m at Soraypampa and crosses the pass at 4,630 m. Altitude sickness usually begins above 2,500 m, so the NHS advice is not to go from below 1,200 m to above 3,500 m in one day and not to gain more than 300 m of sleeping height per night above 3,000 m. Wikivoyage recommends at least 2 to 3 days in Cusco or a similar altitude before starting.
Symptoms normally ease in 1 to 3 days, and confusion or breathlessness at rest means descending 300 to 1,000 m and getting medical help. The listing carries a first aid kit and oxygen tank, but prevention is the better plan. More on this in altitude and fitness.
What to Pack
Pack for two climates: freezing nights near the pass and humid warmth in the high jungle. Bring layers, a warm jacket for the 4,630 m pass, sun protection, a refillable bottle since drinkable water is provided along the trek, and your original passport, which the guide needs for all entry fees. Trekking poles, a sleeping bag and an air mattress are rentable rather than included, so ask the operator how to reserve them or bring your own.
The full checklist is in the Salkantay trek packing list.
The Way Back on This Listing
After the guided visit the return runs on the Expeditions train, which is included as a ticket for the way back, together with all private transportation during the tour. The listing does not state the train departure time or the arrival point and time in Cusco, so confirm both at the briefing. Keep cash for the excluded lunch and dinner on day 5 and for tips for the crew, where one operator suggests 40 to 60 soles for the guide and 150 to 200 soles for the cook from the whole group.
More on inclusions in what the listing price covers.
Itinerary at a Glance
The five days as the operator's itinerary lays them out, from the early pickup to the train home.
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Briefing
Briefing and duffel bag
A duffel bag for the personal porter, who carries up to 7 kg, is issued at the briefing. You must bring your original passport because the guide takes all entry fees.
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Day 1
Cusco to Soraypampa and Humantay Lake
Hotel pickup around 4:00 to 4:30 AM, breakfast in Mollepata after about 2 hours, the trailhead at Challacancha an hour later, then a 1.5 hour climb to the Glass Cabañas at Soraypampa at about 3,900 m, with a Humantay Lake outing in the afternoon.
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Day 2
Over the Salkantay Pass
About 8 hours of walking from a 5:30 AM breakfast. Salkantay Pampa at 4,100 m after 2 hours, lunch at Soyrococha, then the pass at 4,630 m before descending to the Glass Domes at Wayracmachay.
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Day 3
Into the high jungle
About 8 hours, mostly downhill. Rayanpata at 2 hours, lunch at Colpapampa at 2,950 m after 4, then Loreta and the hobbit house for the night.
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Day 4
Llactapata and Aguas Calientes
About 7 hours. A 30-minute drive to Lucmabamba, a 4-hour Inca Trail climb to Llactapata at 2,700 m with views of Machu Picchu, a 1.5 hour descent to Hidroelectrica, and a 4-star hotel night in Aguas Calientes.
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Day 5
Machu Picchu and the train back
A 2-hour walk to Hidroelectrica Station past a 300-meter waterfall, the Intiwatana rock, then the guided Machu Picchu visit with the included entry and round-trip bus, and the Expeditions train home. Lunch and dinner are on you.
What Works and What Does Not
An honest read of this listing against what else is on sale for the same route.
What we genuinely like
- Four different sleeps with no tents: a glass cabaña, a glass dome, a hobbit house and a 4-star hotel
- All entry fees including Machu Picchu, plus the round-trip bus and the Expeditions train back, are in the $695
- A personal porter up to 7 kg and professional chefs are included, and every dietary restriction is catered for
- Rated 5.0 across 2,900 verified Viator and Tripadvisor reviews with a group cap of 14
- Safety kit listed: first aid kit, oxygen tank and satellite phone
The honest downsides
- All sales are final, so a cancellation costs you the full price, and insurance is excluded rather than provided
- Solo travellers pay a USD 50 single room supplement per person
- The listing names an Expeditions train for the way back and mentions no panoramic carriage
- The Machu Picchu circuit depends on availability, so you might not get Circuit 2
- Sleeping bag, air mattress and trekking poles cost extra, as do Huayna Picchu, tips and day 5 meals
- A 4:00 to 4:30 AM pickup on day 1 and an 8-hour pass day on day 2 make this a demanding five days
Who it's NOT for: Not for travellers with spinal injuries, pregnant travellers, those with poor cardiovascular health, or anyone who needs a refundable booking or a panoramic train.
Questions About This Glass Cabin Trek
How much does this Salkantay trek with glass cabins cost?
The price is $695 per person for 5 days and 4 nights, with solo travellers paying a USD 50 single room supplement on top. Machu Picchu entry, the bus and the train back are included. See how it sits against the rest in the comparison of Salkantay trek tours.
What do I actually sleep in each night?
The listing gives 1 night in Glass Cabañas at Soraypampa, 1 night in Glass Domes at Wayracmachay, 1 night in a hobbit house at Loreta and a fourth night at an exclusive 4-star hotel. No camping. The classic 5-day Salkantay trek uses camps and a 3-star hotel night instead.
Is the Machu Picchu ticket included?
Yes. All entry fees cover Salkantay and Machu Picchu on Circuit 2, 3 or 1 depending on availability, and the guide takes all entry fees, so carry your original passport. The Huayna Picchu Mountain ticket is not included and needs advance booking. Ticket rules are explained on the page about what the listing price covers.
Can I cancel if my plans change?
No. All sales are final and no refund is available for cancellations. The Machu Picchu circuit is also subject to availability. If flexibility matters, the 5-day Hiking Holiday offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
How hard is day 2 over the Salkantay Pass?
It is the hardest day, about 8 hours of walking from a 5:30 AM breakfast, with a steep zigzag above 4,100 m to the pass at 4,630 m before the descent to Wayracmachay. The listing asks for at least moderate fitness. The guide to how hard the Salkantay trek is breaks the stages down.
Do I need to acclimatise in Cusco before the trek?
Yes. Cusco sits at about 3,400 m and the trek crosses 4,630 m, so Wikivoyage recommends 2 to 3 days at a similar altitude first, and the NHS advises against jumping above 3,500 m in a single day. Details are in altitude and fitness.
What is not in the price?
The single room supplement of USD 50 for solo travellers, sleeping bag, air mattress and trekking poles for rent, the Huayna Picchu ticket, tips, travel insurance, a Cusco hotel before and after, extra drinks, and lunch and dinner on day 5. A porter up to 7 kg is included.
Prices, availability and terms are set by the operator and confirmed at checkout.
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