Salkantay Trek 5 Days with Andean Cooking Experience 5 Days | 4 Nights

Salkantay Trek 5 Days with Andean Cooking Experience

Hike through the Peruvian Andes and cook traditional Peruvian food in the mountains!

Experience Salkantay Trek 5 Days with Andean Cooking Experience hiking route combined with a unique Andean culinary experience deep in the Peruvian Andes, prepared with local products. This 5-day adventure is designed for travelers who want more than just a hike: it’s about connecting with the culture, Andean flavors, and local landscapes on the way to Machu Picchu.

During the trek, you will participate in a hands-on Andean cooking class, using fresh local ingredients such as native potatoes, quinoa, corn, and traditional herbs. Guided by Alta Montaña chefs, you will learn ancestral cooking techniques and enjoy the food you prepare in a unique and unforgettable mountain setting.
This small group trek follows the classic 5-day Salkantay Trek route and offers breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks, turquoise lakes, and high-altitude valleys, while adding a cultural and culinary dimension that makes your trip truly special and exceeds your expectations.

During one day of the 5-day Salkantay Trek, you will participate in a traditional Andean cooking class taught by mountain chefs. You will learn how to prepare a typical Peruvian mountain meal using regional ingredients and ancestral methods. This experience will allow you to understand Peruvian Andean culture through food, sharing stories and flavors in a unique natural setting.

⭐ Highlights
Classic Salkantay Trek route (5 days)
Authentic Andean culinary experience in the mountains.
Use of fresh local ingredients.
Small groups for a more personalized experience.
Breathtaking landscapes and cultural immersion.
Ideal for food lovers and adventurous travelers.

Itinerary

If you love adventure, hiking, and gastronomy, this is the best tour you can choose for your trip to Cusco, especially the 5-day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu. On this trip, you will visit the impressive Humantay Lake, the imposing Salkantay, and participate in a Peruvian cooking class in the Peruvian Andes. The Salkantay Trek is one of the best hikes in the world, and what could be better than taking Peruvian cooking classes, visiting organic coffee and cacao farms, and enjoying the adrenaline rush of the Salkantay Trek and the original Inca Trail to Llactapata, a breathtaking viewpoint of Machu Picchu? It’s the perfect combination for lovers of extreme challenges.

Are you ready for this great challenge?

Day 1: Cusco – Soraypampa – Humantay Lake – Soraypampa.

This day marks the beginning of our great adventure to the wonderful Salkantay. We will pick you up from your respective hotels between 4:15 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. and our transportation will take us to the stopping point, where we will have breakfast (Mollepata) at a local restaurant. After breakfast, we will continue for 45 to 55 minutes to the Devil’s Balcony. We will begin our hike at the Devil’s Balcony, the starting point for Humantay Mountain (5,381 meters above sea level). Humantay Lake is at an altitude of 4,200 meters above sea level. The distance to reach this destination is 7 km/5 miles (ascent only). The hike takes 2 to 3 hours, depending on your pace and physical condition. Once we arrive at Humantay Lake, we will have time to explore it, get to know it, and enjoy the majestic turquoise lake. We will then return to Soraypampa, where we will have lunch and time to relax in the afternoon, appreciating the natural beauty of our Soraypampa canyon. We will have dinner, receive information for the next day, and rest up for the great challenge ahead.

Day 2: Soraypampa – Salkantay Pass – Wayracmachay – Chaullay.

This is the most impressive day of the trek to Salkantay. We wake up very early with a delicious cup of coca tea at 5:00 a.m. Breakfast will be at 5:30 a.m. After breakfast, we will receive our final instructions and set off on the Salkantay Trail with sure steps and great confidence for approximately 3 to 4 hours, depending on your physical condition. We will make a few stops for short breaks to acclimatize gradually. After an arduous journey, we will arrive at the Salkantay Pass, and it is here where we will have the best time to enjoy this wonder of nature, the snow-capped Salkantay (6,435 meters above sea level), the highest point. Here we will have time to explore and learn more about this snow-capped mountain of Salkantay, the Salkantay Pass (4,634 meters above sea level). And it is here that we will ask permission to pass through its trail and continue on our way to our lunch spot, Wayracmachay, where we will also have our cooking class presented by our professional high mountain chef. Each person will prepare their own lunch, which is a unique and great cooking experience in the mountains on the 5-day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu. After finishing our cooking class and enjoying our lunch, we will continue descending at our own pace, witnessing the beautiful sights of our natural surroundings. Each point of descent is impressive. This trail will be our route until we reach our camp in Chaullay (2,900 meters above sea level), where a delicious dinner prepared by our mountain chef awaits us. We will also receive information about the next day. After dinner, we will rest up for the next challenge.

Day 3: Chaullay – Lucmabamba – Sahuayaco Beach.

We will wake up early today and have an energy-packed breakfast to fuel us for the day, although it will be a gentler, more relaxing day. We will go on moderate hikes, where we will observe the Santa Teresa Valley, with its wonderful flora and fauna, arriving at our camp for lunch. We will relax and have time to learn about the production and processing of organic coffee and cacao and taste them. If we still have time, we can visit the Cocalmayo hot springs (transportation to Colcamayo can be arranged with your guide and other travelers who wish to visit this relaxing place). If you visit the Cocalmayo Hot Springs, please make sure to return for dinner, which will be served at 7:00 p.m., where we will also receive information for the following day.

Day 4: Lucmabamba – Llactapata – Hydroelectric Plant – Aguas Calientes.

This fourth day is the longest. We don’t get up early, but we recharge our batteries with the last breakfast prepared by our mountain chef. We say goodbye to them and set off on the Inca Trail, as we will have to climb up to the archaeological center and viewpoint of Llactapata. We will have an uphill hike of approximately 3 to 3.5 hours to the Machu Picchu viewpoint, where we will be able to see the Machu Picchu Sanctuary, Huayna Picchu Mountain, and Machu Picchu Mountain. After visiting Llactapata, we will carefully descend using our walking sticks to the hydroelectric plant, where we will have lunch.
After lunch, we will relax for a moment and continue with the last leg of our hike from the hydroelectric plant to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo). This hike takes approximately 3 hours along the side of the railroad tracks, although you also have the option of taking the train. Upon arriving in Aguas Calientes, we will head to our 3-star hotel to rest, take a relaxing shower, and continue with our itinerary. We will have dinner at a local restaurant in Aguas Calientes and receive instructions from our guide for the following day.

Day 5: Explore Machu Picchu – Cusco.

This is the best day and the most eagerly awaited by all travelers: our visit to the great world wonder, the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. Depending on the time on your entrance ticket to the citadel of Machu Picchu, you can board the bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu citadel, present your entrance ticket, and visit every beautiful place in this majestic world wonder. The guide will accompany you throughout the tour for approximately 2 hours, showing you everything Machu Picchu has to offer, from its temples and guardians to its complete history. Once the visit is over and we have taken millions of photos and videos in Machu Picchu, it is time to return to the town of Aguas Calientes. You have two options: return by bus (12 soles per ticket) or continue walking for approximately two more hours. We arrive at the town of Aguas Calientes, have lunch at the place mentioned by the guide, receive final instructions and our train ticket, and head to the train station to board the train to Ollantaytambo, where the company’s transport will be waiting to take us to Cusco for approximately 2 hours.

INCLUDED

1.  PRE-TREK BRIEFING
2. The day before starting the 5-day Salkantay trek, there will be a briefing at 5 p.m. at your hotel. At this meeting, you will meet your guide and the other members of the group who will accompany you on the trek. The guide will provide you with important information, such as:

•  Technical details of the trek.
• Exact pick-up times to start the tour.
•  Printed train tickets and entrance tickets to Machu Picchu.
•  Distribution of the duffel bag, in which you can store up to 7 kg of personal items to be transported by horses.
•  The guide will also explain how to store your extra luggage if you wish to leave it at your accommodation. After the briefing, you will also be able to:  Pay any outstanding balance for the tour you are going to do in full.
• Inform us if you have a sleeping bag or trekking poles and do not need to rent them for the hike.

1. 2. PROFESSIONAL TOUR GUIDE ON THE SALKANTAY TREK TO MACHU PICCHU

•  The Salkantay Trek is led by professional guides certified by the Ministry of Culture and Gercetur with extensive experience in tourism and expertise in high mountain excursions, including the Salkantay. Our guides will accompany you throughout the hike and the guided tour of Machu Picchu.
• Equipped with a first aid kit and an oxygen tank.
• They are prepared to assist you in case of any emergency.
• Our guides speak English and Spanish, ensuring a reliable, responsible, and safe experience.

1. 3. PICKUP SERVICE FROM YOUR HOTEL OR AIRBNB BETWEEN 4:15 AM AND 4:30 AM:

•  The Salkantay Trek Tour includes pickup from your hotel.
• For pickup from your accommodation, you must provide information about where you are staying.
•  All pickup details will be coordinated directly with your guide during the briefing, which takes place one day before the start of the trek.

1. 4. 5-KILO TRAVEL BAG SERVICE:

•  During the briefing, you will be provided with a travel bag with a capacity of 5 kilos for your personal belongings. These belongings will be transported by our team on horseback throughout the trek, ensuring that you have access to them at the camps.
•  At the end of the trek and upon return to Cusco, you can easily leave the duffel bags at the reception desk of your accommodation.

1. 5. PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION FROM CUSCO TO SORAYPAMPA (DEVIL’S BALCONY):

•  Our Salkantay Trek service includes private transportation for the group from Cusco to Soraypampa (Devil’s Balcony), the starting point of the trek. There we will meet with the support team to begin your trekking adventure and receive a few instructions for this great start to the hike. The car ride takes approximately 3 hours.

1. MEALS INCLUDED IN THE 5-DAY SALKANTAY TREK:

•  For the Salkantay Trek, especially the 5-day trek, it is very important to inform your guide if you have any dietary restrictions.
•  We will provide you with: 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, a cooking class in the Salkantay mountains, and 4 dinners.
•  It is important to mention if you are vegetarian, vegan, or allergic to any type of food, so that we can plan your meals along the route.

1. ACCOMMODATION ON THE SALKANTAY TREK TO MACHU PICCHU.

•  The first night we will stay in rustic huts designed for travelers, which are warm, comfortable, and above all clean, just what we need to rest on our first night.
•  The second night we will also stay in rustic huts designed for travelers, which are comfortable with hot showers and above all clean.
•  The third night will also be spent in rustic cabins, designed by the locals, comfortable with hot showers and clean.
•  The fourth night will be in a 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo). A place where we can rest as we deserve.
•  Each camp is equipped with mattresses, blankets, and pillows; you only need to bring your sleeping bag. If you don’t have one, you can rent one from Guiding Cusco Expeditions.
•  The accommodations are designed for two people each, but if you are a couple or a group of more than 2 people, you will be grouped together and accommodated according to availability.

1. HIGH MOUNTAIN COOKING TEAM AND CHEF:

• Guiding Cusco Expeditions has a team of professional high mountain chefs dedicated to preparing our meals along the Salkantay Trek route. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including our cooking classes in the high mountains of the Salkantay Trek. They are also responsible for preparing your food according to your dietary requirements, whether vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.
•  Our kitchen equipment and utensils are transported to each camp, ensuring that you can enjoy your delicious meals in good conditions.

1. MULE DRIVERS AND HORSES:

•  For the Salkantay Trek, we need a team of mule drivers and horses to transport all our belongings and those of the passengers. We use these horses to transport food and other necessary supplies along the route.
•  The horses also carry the 5-kilogram travel bags that we provide at the beginning for each participant’s personal belongings, including sleeping bags. This way, you can enjoy the trip with a light and comfortable backpack.

1. ENTRANCE FEES

•  The cost of this trip includes entrance to Humantay Lake.
•  Entrance to Salkantay Mountain (Salkantay Pass).
•  Entrance to the citadel of Machu Picchu (for entrance to Machu Picchu, our best option is Circuit 2: Llacta de Machu Picchu | classic route, this circuit takes you to see the panoramic view of Machu Picchu).
•  We have other options available, Circuit 2 | lower terrace is a good option.
•  To ensure that your trip goes smoothly, we recommend making your reservation 3 or 4 months in advance so that you can get one of the best views of the Machu Picchu citadel and not miss a thing.

1. GUIDED TOUR OF THE CITADEL OF MACHU PICCHU:

•  The 5-day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu tour includes a guided tour of the citadel of Machu Picchu.

1. TRAIN FROM AGUAS CALIENTES TO OLLANTAYTAMBO.

•  The return train service from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo is one of the best options as it is the fastest way to get to Cusco.
•  The Peru Rail or Inca Rail train, depending on the availability of these services in Expeditions, departs at 2:55 p.m. or 3:55 p.m.

1. CONSETUR BUS

•  The Consetur bus service to Machu Picchu is one-way only. If you need a return ticket, there is an extra cost of $12 per person. You can purchase this immediately at the gate before entering Machu Picchu citadel or buy it the night before.

1. FIRST AID KIT.

• It is advisable to have your own kit according to your condition if you suffer from any illness.

NOT INCLUDED

1. SLEEPING BAG

•  Sleeping bags must be suitable for high temperatures in the mountains to withstand cold temperatures below 10°C. Guiding Cusco Expeditions has sleeping bags designed for these types of altitudes and cold weather. If you do not have one, you can rent one from Guiding Cusco Expeditions.

1. TREKKING POLES

•  On the 5-day Salkantay Trek route, trekking poles are very important as our geography is variable, and we will need them to support ourselves on the descents from Laguna Humantay, the pass from Salkantay to Chaullay, and the following days known as the challenges.

1. EXTRA EXPENSES
   EMERGENCY HORSES

•  Emergency horses are important whenever you need them, due to the altitude, as this route requires a lot of energy and physical fitness. Therefore, if you lack the energy to ascend Humantay and Salkantay, these emergency horses can help you reach your destination.

1. TIPS FOR STAFF ON THE ROUTE

•  On the 5-day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, tips are important as many of the staff consider this a huge contribution and a great help for the work they do during the time they accompany you.

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