Self-Launched Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu
8 days · Peru
Much Better Adventures charges £1,745
No-markup version: ~£425 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 8-day version of the classic Salkantay Trek from Cusco to Machu Picchu — the same glaciers, cloud forest, high pass at 4,630m, hot springs and Incan ruins, but arranged independently via local buses, collectivos, family-run campsites and self-booked Machu Picchu permits. Suited to fit solo trekkers comfortable with altitude, early starts and arranging things as you go. Costs are rough per-person estimates in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Cusco and acclimatise
Cusco
Fly into Alejandro Velasco Astete (CUZ) via Lima and take a taxi (S/20-30, ~£5) or local combi into the historic centre. Check into a hostel or guesthouse in San Blas or around Plaza de Armas and spend the afternoon doing absolutely nothing energetic — Cusco sits at 3,350m and altitude is real. Drink coca tea, eat light, hydrate. In the evening pick up a SIM/data top-up and buy your Boleto Turístico (partial ticket ~S/70, ~£15) for Sacred Valley ruins. Book your Machu Picchu entry + Circuit 2 online in advance (S/152, ~£32), plus a train ticket Aguas Calientes–Ollantaytambo (book before you leave home — sells out).
🚌Local taxi or combi from CUZ airport, ~£5
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in San Blas, private or dorm, ~£12-18
- →Airport transfer to Cusco centre
- →San Blas wander
- →Buy Boleto Turístico
- →Confirm Machu Picchu permit and train
- →Early night for acclimatisation
Sacred Valley ruins by public transport
Pisac & Ollantaytambo
Take a collectivo from Cusco's Puputi or Huayruropata street to Pisac (~S/5-8, 1hr) and climb the terraces to the Intihuatana and ruins above town — genuinely quieter in the morning. Continue by collectivo to Urubamba (~S/8) then on to Ollantaytambo (~S/5), where the massive fortress, temple and still-inhabited Inca streets are the highlight. If you have the energy, add the short walk up to the Pinkuylluna granaries opposite town for free panoramic views. Return to Cusco by collectivo or shared van (~S/10-15, 2hrs). Early night — tomorrow is a 5am start.
🚌Collectivos Cusco-Pisac-Urubamba-Ollantaytambo-Cusco, ~£5-7 total
🛏Same Cusco hostel, ~£12-18
- →Pisac ruins
- →Ollantaytambo fortress
- →Pinkuylluna granaries (free)
- →Collectivo hopping through the valley
Cusco to Soraypampa and Humantay Lake
Soraypampa
Book a shared trailhead transfer the evening before (hostels and trekking agencies in Cusco run shared vans to Challacancha/Mollepata for S/40-60, ~£10-13). Leave Cusco around 05:00 with a stop in Mollepata for breakfast, then start walking from Challacancha to Soraypampa (3,900m) — a gentle glacier-carved valley following an old Inca irrigation channel, roughly 3-4hrs. Set up at one of the family-run campsites in Soraypampa (S/20-35 per person, ~£5-8; basic, blankets available, meals usually offered for S/25-40 each). After lunch hike the steep 1.5-2hr climb to Humantay Lake (4,200m) — the turquoise water and Humantay glacier are the payoff. Eat early, sleep early.
🚌Shared minivan Cusco-Challacancha, ~£10-13
🛏Family campsite at Soraypampa, own tent or rented, ~£5-8
- →Shared transfer to trailhead
- →Trek to Soraypampa camp
- →Humantay Lake sunset/afternoon hike
Salkantay Pass (4,630m) and descent to Collpapampa
Collpapampa
The big day. Coca tea, then walk in the dark towards the pass — the ascent from Soraypampa to Salkantay Pass (4,630m) is steep, exposed and takes 3-4hrs; pace it slowly. At the top, the view of Salkantay (6,271m) directly ahead is unforgettable. Make a small offering of coca leaves at the cairn — the mountain is Apu Salkantay, sacred in Inca cosmology. Then begins the long descent: drop to Huayracmachay (3,850m) for lunch, then continue steeply down into cloud forest to Collpapampa (2,950m). Total 9-10hrs, ~21km — the hardest day of the trek. Arrange transfer or continue on foot the final stretch to Collpapampa where family campsites (S/25-40, ~£6-9) offer hot food and a bonfire.
🚌On foot; optional short shared transfer to camp, ~£3-5
🛏Family campsite at Collpapampa, ~£6-9
- →Sunrise start on the trail
- →Salkantay Pass crossing
- →Coca-leaf offering at the cairn
- →Long descent into cloud forest
Cloud forest to Lucmabamba and Santa Teresa hot springs
Lucmabamba
A shorter, warmer day — 4-5hrs descending along the Santa Teresa River, past banana and avocado plantations and small waterfalls, to Lucmabamba (2,000m). Stop at a small coffee finca (S/20-25, ~£5-6) for a tour of picking, drying, roasting and a fresh cup straight from the source. In the afternoon take a shared taxi the 45mins to Santa Teresa's hot springs (Cocalmayo, entry S/20, ~£4) — natural heated pools above the river, bliss on tired legs. Return to Lucmabamba and camp in the grounds of a local farmer's house (S/25-40, ~£6-9) — dinner is often home-cooked and excellent.
🚌On foot; shared taxi Lucmabamba-Cocalmayo return, ~£4-6
🛏Farmer's land campsite at Lucmabamba, ~£6-9
- →Cloud forest descent
- →Coffee farm tour and tasting
- →Cocalmayo hot springs soak
Llactapata, Hidroeléctrica and train to Aguas Calientes
Aguas Calientes
Climb 2hrs from Lucmabamba through cloud forest to Llactapata (2,700m), an Inca ruin perched directly opposite Machu Picchu — if the sky is clear you get your first, spine-tingling glimpse of the citadel across the valley. Descend on the old Inca path to Hidroeléctrica (1,850m), where the 250m artificial waterfall powers the region. From Hidroeléctrica there are two options: walk the 11km alongside the train tracks to Aguas Calientes (3hrs, free) OR take the local train (book at the station, S/110-150, ~£25-32). Check into a budget guesthouse in Aguas Calientes (S/50-90, ~£12-20) — prices are inflated but bookable. Ask your host to print your Machu Picchu permit for tomorrow.
🚌On foot; optional Hidroeléctrica-Aguas Calientes local train, ~£25-32
🛏Budget guesthouse, Aguas Calientes, ~£12-20
- →Llactapata ruins viewpoint
- →Inca path descent to Hidroeléctrica
- →Optional train ride to Aguas Calientes
- →Evening in the hot-springs town
Machu Picchu and return to Cusco
Machu Picchu / Cusco
Up before dawn to join the queue for the first buses up to the citadel (S/24 each way, ~£5; buy at the bus station near the bridge). Enter with your pre-booked permit and Circuit 2 — if you want a guide, licensed guides gather at the entrance and charge S/50-100 per group (~£11-22) for a 2hr tour, or join one via GetYourGuide ahead of time. Climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain only if you pre-booked that add-on (S/50 extra). Spend the morning exploring, then bus down, eat lunch in town, and take the afternoon train to Ollantaytambo (1.5-2hrs) — booked separately, S/180-260, ~£38-55. From Ollantaytambo, collectivo or shared van back to Cusco (S/15-25, 2hrs).
🚌Bus up/down, train to Ollantaytambo, shared van to Cusco, ~£45-62
🛏Cusco hostel, ~£12-18
- →Machu Picchu sunrise entry
- →Optional Huayna Picchu hike
- →Return train and collectivo to Cusco
Departure day
Cusco
Easy morning — coffee in San Blas, maybe a last wander through the San Pedro market for souvenirs. Take a taxi to the airport (S/25-35, ~£6) for your flight via Lima. If your schedule allows, an extra day in Cusco to see Sacsayhuamán and Qorikancha, or a couple of days in Lima's Miraflores, softens the return to sea level.
🚌Taxi to CUZ airport, ~£6
🛏N/A — flying home
- →San Pedro market
- →Sacsayhuamán (optional if time)
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Much Better Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Much Better Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£425 | £1,745 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,320 per person (76%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Much Better Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£425
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £425 per person for 8 days in Peru. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Much Better Adventures?+
Yes — Much Better Adventures charges around £1,745 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £425 — a saving of roughly £1,320 (76%) per person.
How long is the Peru trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Peru.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, culture trip through Peru, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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