Self-Launched Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu (5 Days)
5 days · Peru
Bamba Travel charges £630
No-markup version: ~£345 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Bamba Travel's 5-day Salkantay Trek: hike the high pass at 4,650m, camp under the Andes, soak in Santa Teresa's hot springs and walk the railway to Aguas Calientes before a dawn visit to Machu Picchu. Independent travellers book the same trail sections and transport directly — collectivo and bus to Mollepata/Challacancha, local mountain lodges and camps, self-organised Machu Picchu entry plus an optional locally hired guide in Aguas Calientes, and the return train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo with a bus back to Cusco. Costs are approximate backpacker rates in GBP and assume shared accommodation, camping food bought locally and self-guided trekking; booking Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu tickets well in advance is essential.
Day-by-day
Cusco to Challacancha, trek to Soraypampa and Laguna Humantay
Cusco / Soraypampa
Leave Cusco early (05:00–06:00) on a shared minibus or collectivo towards Mollepata (about 3 hours, ~£8–10), stopping to buy snacks and water. From Mollepata take a local shared taxi or the trailhead shuttle the final stretch to Challacancha (~£4–6), pay your trail fee at the checkpoint and start a 3-hour walk through highland farmland to Soraypampa (3,920m). Have lunch at a basic family-run campsite or hospedaje, then walk 1–1.5 hours up to Laguna Humantay for the classic glacier view and back to camp. Pitch a tent or take a bunk in a rustic lodge (~£10–14). Eat dinner early — this is the highest and coldest night of the trek.
🚌Shared minibus/collectivo Cusco–Mollepata ~£8–10; shared taxi Mollepata–Challacancha ~£4–6
🛏Basic family-run campsite/hospedaje in Soraypampa (tent or bunk, shared bathroom) ~£12
- →Trek Challacancha to Soraypampa (3 hrs, highland scenery)
- →Side hike to Laguna Humantay (1.5 hrs return)
- →Optional horse hire for luggage or the climb
Over Salkantay Pass (4,650m) to Colcapampa
Salkantay Pass / Colcapampa
Start before sunrise with a cold-weather breakfast. Climb steadily for about 4 hours to Salkantay Pass (4,650m) with views of Salkantay and Humantay peaks — go slowly and watch for altitude symptoms. Options if you are struggling: hire a horse for the ascent (arrange the night before, ~£15–20). Descend 2 hours to Huayracpampa for lunch, then continue about 3 hours down into the upper jungle to Colcapampa camp, where it is noticeably warmer. Rustic camp or simple family hospedaje (~£10–12). Carry cash in soles — there are no ATMs beyond Mollepata.
🚌On foot (approx. 9 hours trekking)
🛏Rustic camp/community hospedaje at Colcapampa ~£11
- →Trek to Salkantay Pass (4,650m)
- →Descent to Huayracpampa
- →Jungle descent to Colcapampa
Jungle trail to La Playa and Santa Teresa
Santa Teresa
Walk out of the high jungle through river and brook crossings with waterfalls and dense vegetation, pausing for lunch at La Playa (2,200m, about £4–6 for a set menu). The trail continues along the Santa Teresa river valley to Santa Teresa village. Check into a basic guesthouse (~£10–14), then take a shared taxi or walk to the Cocalmayo/Santa Teresa hot springs (entry ~£4–5) to soak tired legs. Eat at a local restaurant (~£6–8). Ask your guesthouse to confirm tomorrow's transport options to the hydroelectric station.
🚌On foot approx. 5–6 hours; shared taxi/tuk-tuk to hot springs ~£2–3
🛏Basic guesthouse in Santa Teresa ~£12
- →Trek Colcapampa–La Playa–Santa Teresa
- →Santa Teresa hot springs (entry ~£4–5)
Santa Teresa to Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes
Aguas Calientes
Have breakfast at 08:00, then either trek about 3 hours through cloud forest to the Hidroelectrica station or take a shared van/taxi along the road (~£3–5) if you want to save your legs. From Hidroelectrica walk the flat 2–3 hour trail alongside the railway tracks to Aguas Calientes — the classic free approach. Alternative: the afternoon train from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes (roughly £25–35). Check into a budget guesthouse (~£15–20), eat dinner in town (~£7–9) and buy your bus ticket for the morning. Collect or confirm your Machu Picchu entry ticket today and print/screenshot it — date errors are the most common reason for being turned away.
🚌Shared van Santa Teresa–Hidroelectrica ~£4; railway-track walk 2–3 hrs (or optional train ~£30)
🛏Budget guesthouse in Aguas Calientes ~£17
- →Cloud forest trek to Hidroelectrica
- →Railway walk to Aguas Calientes
- →Optional hot springs in Aguas Calientes (~£4)
Dawn at Machu Picchu and return to Cusco
Machu Picchu / Cusco
Queue for the 05:30 Consettur bus up to Machu Picchu (~£10–11 one way) to arrive at sunrise. Enter with your pre-booked ticket (circuit + optional Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain add-on ~£12 — book weeks ahead, these sell out). If you want narration, hire a licensed guide at the gate (shared group ~£10–15 per person) or pre-book via GetYourGuide. Take the bus back down, then the afternoon or early-evening PeruRail/Inca Rail train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (~£30–45 for the cheaper services — book online early) and a bus or shared van from Ollantaytambo to Cusco (~£3–4, or £8–10 for a tourist bus). Eat lunch before you leave Aguas Calientes (~£6–8).
🚌Consettur bus up/down (~£20–22 return); train Aguas Calientes–Ollantaytambo ~£30–45; bus Ollantaytambo–Cusco ~£3–4
🛏Own arrangement in Cusco (hostel ~£10–15/night)
- →Sunrise at Machu Picchu
- →Optional Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain hike
- →Locally hired guide or self-guided exploration
- →Scenic train through the Sacred Valley
Self-launched vs. Bamba Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Bamba Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£345 | £630 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £285 per person (45%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Bamba Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£345
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.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu (5 Days) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £345 per person for 5 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 Bamba Travel?+
Yes — Bamba Travel charges around £630 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £345 — a saving of roughly £285 (45%) per person.
How long is the Peru trip?+
This itinerary runs 5 days, covering 5 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, backpacker 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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