Salkantay Trek — frequently asked questions

Non-stop flights to Lima are recommended: roughly 5½ hours from Miami, 8 hours from New York and 8½ hours from Los Angeles. You then connect to Cusco, about 1½ hours further.

Peru has enormous weather variety, so travellers visit year-round. The dry season runs May to November and is the most recommended, though it is also the cooler part of the year — nights can drop below freezing at its height. June, July and August are the busiest months. In the wet season (December to April) expect showers three or four afternoons a week, with smaller crowds, greener hillsides and orchids in bloom. The shoulder seasons — April to June and September to November — often give the best of both. See our best time to trek guide for a month-by-month breakdown.

U.S. citizens need a valid passport and the tourist entry card provided by your airline at check-in or on board. Other nationalities should check with their nearest Peruvian Consulate for the correct requirements. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date you enter Peru.

Yes. Peru is a welcoming country with extraordinary culture, and most crime is opportunistic rather than violent. Ordinary care and common sense are almost always sufficient. The Sendero Luminoso is no longer active.

A mix of private vans and cars, comfortable tourist buses, flights and occasionally boats, chosen for the safest and most efficient option in each area. On some routes we include short stretches of local transport to give a sense of local life.

All escorted tours include arrival transfers — a representative will be waiting for you at your arrival point.

Some travellers feel the effects of altitude anywhere in the Peruvian Andes. If you plan to hike the Salkantay Trek we recommend arriving two or three days early to acclimatize and rest. Our altitude guide explains what to expect at the 4,630 m pass.

Descend wherever possible. If you are in Cusco and still feeling it, rest, sleep, take plenty of fluids and try coca tea. Tell your guide — every departure carries a first-aid kit and bottled oxygen, and guides are trained to recognise the symptoms.

No. Although cocaine can be extracted from coca leaves, it requires a long chemical process. Your body cannot extract any meaningful quantity from chewing the leaves or drinking the tea.

It is moderate to challenging. There is no technical climbing, but there are several long days and one very high pass. With two to three months of preparation, hikers across a wide range of fitness levels complete it every season — see the difficulty guide.

You cross five climate zones, so layering matters more than any single item. Our packing list covers everything from boots and a sleeping bag rating to sun protection and the daypack you carry yourself.

If you would rather carry less, yes — specify it on the booking form and we will arrange it. The same applies to sleeping bags and walking poles.

Boiled water is provided for your canteens at camps throughout the trek. Bring a reusable bottle or bladder; you do not need to buy bottled water on the trail.

We pack out what we pack in, use established campsites, brief every group on leave-no-trace practice, and train our staff in environmental handling as part of their induction. Responsible operation is a condition of working these routes.

No. Unlike the Inca Trail’s 500-a-day quota, Salkantay requires no trekking permit and is open year-round. You still need a Machu Picchu entrance ticket, which is included in every package. See the permits guide.

Fill in the booking enquiry and we will contact you within 24 hours to confirm your trek, arrange accommodation and help customise the package. Full detail is on the booking information page.

Yes — a deposit of US$250 per person for all treks. The balance is due before the trek start date and can be paid by credit card, PayPal, e-check, wire transfer or direct deposit through our secure server.

Yes. The discount applies to the Machu Picchu entrance ticket under Peruvian government policy. Students must be under 26 with a valid student ID card (photo, full name, institution and expiry) emailed to us after booking; children under 16 receive the same discount with a scan of their passport. ISIC cards and graduate cards are not accepted.

Changes are sometimes possible depending on availability and fare rules, but they are not guaranteed and a change fee usually applies. Tell your guide or our office as early as you can and we will try to arrange it.

Yes. Bookings from solo travellers are accepted on the Salkantay Trek group service. A single supplement applies only if you would prefer your own tent and room.