Trek the Salkantay Route to Machu Picchu

A fantastic trip from start to finish, made even better by Christian and Eddie who were exceptional guides. They were patient, kind, funny and knew every question we threw their way!

The actual trekking route was challenging and the second day was the hardest, but also hugely rewarding. The Salkantay pass was such a culmination of climates, terrains, and views that made each day completely different and stimulating for someone who gets bored easily. Machu Picchu was exceptional and Christian gave really granular detail on its history which brought it to life, but I think some of the highlights were actually with the group and doing the extra activities that the team offered.

It was really refreshing to put your mind on autopilot and have someone take such great care of you.

Only bits of advice are bring a pillow - will definitely improve your sleep in the camping section. The day before trek starts is also a very long day with a lot of driving so be prepared!

Macchu Picchu and the Salkantay trek truely are must-do activities that would be amazing no matter what. MBA managed to take it to the next level though with a well planned itinerary that never left us bored and took us to the kind of places (like the avocado farm or Freddy's coffee place) you would never find if you were trekking privately. All the time we were supported by enthusiastic, friendly and knowledgable guides whose tales kept us interested through the long treks. The group dynamic worked well, and despite anxieties about mixing in with lots of strangers it worked great. Already searching the website to find the next trip! Thanks MBA.

What an amazing trip. Christian is the heart and soul of this trip and Eddy is a lovely support. Both of them ensured every detail was looked after. I felt extremely looked after. This trip will challenge you physically and mentally and not for the light hearted. There are parts of trail where the altitude hits hard. The first day and last day were a refreshing experience (alpaca farm, hot springs, coffee plantation with Freddie) Made some lovely friends and created wonderful memories . Really enjoyed the camping nights too, just being a vegetarian does not work in your favour. I have done a few trips with MBA and this is right there on the top. Thanks Christian, Edison and MBA

The trek was well planned out the Route takes you through some amazing scenery challlgeing But well worth it. The food was plentiful and fulling the Guides a well training and Streaming good knowledge of the area and the history you walk though with load off welcoming advice

We had the best trip, I was a little nervous but didn’t need to be. We were so well cared for. Food was amazing, tents were not luxurious but comfortable,, wake up calls with coffee were great. What an amazing experience, guides were brilliant. I was worried at age 45, 20lbs overweight and arthritis in my joints , if I can do it anyone can. Do not hesitate to book, you can do it honestly. You won’t regret it

This trip was well organised and well suited to our group. Our guides Christian and Eddie were great fun and very knowledgeable and were willing to work with the group to push ahead when we had opportunity to free up time for additional activities the following day. Well done and thank you

This was an incredible trip. I've been eaten alive by mosquitos, sunburnt, exhausted and had extremely sore calves, and it was still great.

We were eased into the week with a fascinating tour of the Sacred Valley, and then it was time for the hardcore hiking – and yes, it's tougher than you might expect, but it's so worth it. The second day going up to the Salkantay Pass was really challenging, with an early start, relentless uphill at elevation and (for some) a touch of altitude sickness. The views were stunning, though, and the sense of achievement I got was very much worth it!

I loved the contrast between those mountain days and the later trails through more jungley forest, with the dozens of beautiful butterflies and wonderful plants. I am, however, still putting lotion on dozens of mozzie bites long after getting home, so I'd recommend covering up if possible and perhaps finding a more effective repellent spray than I had!

The campsites were set up for us in advance, which was very welcome after long, hard days when I thought I'd never stop walking. The food was amazing, and it was hard to believe our chefs could create three course meals in campsite kitchens. Being so well fed and looked after made a huge difference to the experience.

Lastly, our guides, Dario and Eddie, were fabulous, full of expert knowledge and stories and always friendly and supportive. I struggled a few times and was a lot slower hiking than I'd expected, and they really helped me to keep going and reassured me. I appreciated them so much.

On this trip I really got a sense of the different sides of these parts of Peru and I would really recommend it to anyone looking to explore this wonderful country and challenge themselves at the same time.

(As a piece of feedback, I booked a few extra nights' accommodation in Cusco, and this ended up meaning I had to move hotels a couple of times, which wasn't ideal. I would advise that if you book extra nights please be aware this could happen and you might need to closely follow up with the organiser. Once this was sorted, all was OK, but it was a more stressful start to the trip than I'd hoped for!)

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this trip to anyone who is interested in hiking and wild camping. The scenery throughout was spectacular. The hike through Salkantay pass and into the jungle takes you through every possible environment. The hike was hard and some days were over 8/9 hours of trekking through difficult terrain. The altitude made it even more difficult as you got out of breath much easier than normal. The team we had were amazing, particularly Dario who was an excellent guide and kept us all entertained with his stories and jokes. The day trip on the first day added to the experience. The early start each morning was rough but it meant that you got to experience a full day every day and it felt like we had been there two weeks not one. Being able to see machupiccu at the end was the icing on the cake. This was a fantastic trip which we will remember forever.

Unbelievable experience from start to finish. We had travelled and acclimatised for 5 days ahead of the Much Better Adventures trip, but that aside, there was so much included in this trek - one day was more action packed than a week would be back home!

Three days of real “trekking” doesn’t seem like a lot, but together with the other activities and travel to and from places, it’s a jam packed schedule.

For me personally, I think there was possibly a little too much time spent on buses / trains and felt a bit done with transportation at times. I’d have enjoyed one more day of full trekking which was hard going at altitude (the first 2 days are the worst!)

Guides were excellent; accommodation superb and food provided exceeded my expectations. Ditch a little of the transport and you’ve got a winning trek here!

This adventure was an unforgettable experience. The everchanging scenery was amazing, from reaching the Salkantay Pass to decending to the lush sub tropical rainforest (oh and Machu Pichu). Our guides, Christian and Eddy, were exceptional. Their knowledge of the region's history, local culture, flora, and fauna was impressive. They were always attentive to our needs, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable experience. The fantastic group of people I shared the trek with made the journey even more memorable. Highly recommend!

When I booked I didn't really know what to expect. MBA were great from the start, checking solo availability for me before I booked. A slight mixup with hotels on arrival was quickly resolved by the local drivers (shout out to Maximo 🙂). The guides (Chstian and Eddie) were amazing support and incredibly knowledgeable about the whole trip start to finish, I couldn't have asked for more. The best part was the people and the friends I've made, this was my first trekking holiday and I loved getting to know people and hearing their stories while trekking through amazing scenery. Thanks to all those on 14/09/24 loved our adventure.

P.s Ome thing to watch out for is mosquitos at the lower elevations, my legs too a battering even with repellent.

Mike D

Excellent trip. Enjoyed every minute (even the painful uphills 🤣) 2 fantastic guides with a great team. Craic was brilliant with the other travellers and the adventure was so much better than I expected. Look forward to the next trip with MBA

Christian and Eddy were both brilliant - very knowledgeable and I always felt very safe. The scenery and hike was fabulous. The accommodation was pretty variable - the first campsite was quite ropey and the bathroom facilities weren't good. The hotels at the start and end could also be improved.

I couldn’t recommend this adventure enough! This was my first group trip of this sort and I had the absolute best time! It was so cool meeting people from all over the world and sharing experiences together. The guides were top notch, the food incredible, and the scenery indescribable. I will definitely be booking another trip!

Our tour guides and the staff were very accommodating and the tour guides had a wealth of knowledge on the locations we had visited. I would definitely boast of this trek and suggest it to any looking for an unforgettable vacation.

Trekking the Salkantay trip was amazing! Our guides Christian and Eddie went above and beyond to make sure everyone had a brilliant time. The altitude definitely makes a difference when hiking but it's totally doable for any active person. We were treated to 3 courses dinners every evening, all of which were delicious! I'd definitely recommend!

A great week with a brilliant team trekking the Salkantay. The opportunity to explore Cusco, archaeological sites at Pisac and Ollaytatambo were fantastic. The hike itself was good, and challenging in parts - Salkantay Pass and the descent into the rainforest was particularly spectacular. The hot springs and coffee tour were also highlights, but a full final day at Machu Pichu was by far the standout set piece.

Shout out to Christian and Eddie for making the trip very memorable indeed !

5 stars. A must for all budding overseas hikers.

What an incredible experience! We had a great group of 14 interesting people of various ages and backgrounds…this made for a really fun trip that I felt very fortunate to be a part of!

Our guides, Christian and Edison, were exceptional, extremely knowledgeable and professional throughout with a positive and fun-loving mindset. They took good care of us, but at the same time treated us as adults and as individuals, always with excellent communication. I was quite emotional saying goodbye at the end. The chefs and tent crews were excellent and we were always well fed with delicious and varied meals!

The trek was a perfect mix of terrains, scenery and challenges…altitude, steep inclines and descents in parts, ever-changing and stunning scenery from glaciers to rainforest…all capped off with Machu Picchu which is truly spectacular!

The hotels we stayed in Cusco and Agua Caliente were very comfortable, clean and well-run, which was nice to have after four nights of camping!

Would definitely recommend this trip!

The Salkantay trek trip was amazing. Stunning views, a great group of people, some very memorable cultural experiences and a trip I'll never forget.

There were a couple of downsides though. It is incredibly physically challenging and the added altitude element made it much harder than expected. It's hard terrain on day 2 with lots of climbing up and down on boulders and rocks which was hard on the knees and required a lot of concentration. We apparently missed the chinchillas because we were heads down, trying not to slip or stumble. We also had mixed ages and abilities in our small group which meant the one guide couldn't be with everyone.

There was some confusion with the access to Machu Picchu as the rules have changed recently. Luckily we were able to get the access we had booked, but I'd recommend you confirm that you're getting the right route as we very nearly didn't.

The trek itself was very well organised and ran smoothly. We didn't have to do anything except walk and carry our day packs. The tents were set up, amazing meals prepared. It was excellent.

We did have a lot of problems with the extra nights accommodation we'd added on to both sides of the trip. We were moved to several different hotels. We had to find this out for ourselves and the communication around it was poor. We came back to our room one day to find someone else in it and all of our stuff had been moved. We went on a 4am trip on another occasion to be told we had to check out as we had no reservation at that hotel for that night. We couldn't check out as we were being picked up by a tour, and when we returned, all of our things had been moved to a different hotel.

To be fair we were offered airport transfers to compensate which was a nice touch, but it was a chaotic experience at the time.

This was a bucket list experience that I'd highly recommend. My advice is to train for it as it's demanding and double check your Machu Picchu access/ any extra arrangements you also book so you're not disappointed.

Words cannot express how incredible this experience was with Lino and Much Better Adventures. I have done backpacking and outdoors trips before, but this takes the cake. The hospitality, food, crew, accomodations -- everything was incredible. This particular trek isn't for the faint of heart, especially if you're looking to sleep in, but the early morning and steep elevation change are worth it for the views. None of the pictures here do it justice. If you're worried about a group of strangers, I was too. But we showed up as strangers and left as lifelong friends ❤️.

Amazing trip. I did not do as well with the altitude as i thought but thanks to a great guide (Lino) and a great group i made it to Machu Picchu and it was well worth the effort. Bucket list trip!

Christian and Eddie the guides were full of knowledge and infectious expertise, their passion for their country and this trek was unparalleled compared to any other guides we saw. The food was incredible given the circumstances. The trek was as easy or as hard as you wished to make it, which catered for a range of different fitness levels (albeit ensure you’re not a complete mincer for this). Well up there as one of the best weeks of my life, I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone.

Amazing trip. Highly recommended.

It was a great adventure making memories for a lifetime! Huge thank you to our guide Christian for his guidance, knowledge, funny moments and patience)

Excellent Organisation, Great Team Guide, and support Team

Absolutely incredible adventure - challenging hike up Salkantay pass and stunning views every day. Our guide Cristian was the best - perfect English, motivational and funny, and very knowledgeable about the trail, history and wildlife. He watched out for everyone in the group and made sure we had enough rests to catch our breath while telling us interesting stories about the area. The food was delicious and freshly prepared, with different selection and fresh juices for every meal. The camp site was always set up and the tents were comfortable; it was an added bonus to wake up to hot coca tea and hot water for washing. We had options to visit alpaca farms, coffee plantation and hot springs which added to the adventure.

I had a great time on this trek. The landscapes are so varied and we took in so many beautiful places, from Humantay lagoon to the cloud forests. The food was incredible and plentiful, and the guides were great at bringing us together as a group and solving any issues that cropped up along the way (like struggles with the altitude). I would recommend arriving in Cusco a few days early, though, as two days may not be enough time to acclimatise if you do not have previous experience hiking at altitude. Also be aware that the Machu Picchu ticket only includes access to the citadel. If you want to climb Machu Picchu mountain or Huayna Picchu, you will need to organise this separately (in consultation with MBA) well in advance, or take your chance and queue for a ticket at Aguas Calientes when you get there.

MBA experiences are always incredible. From start to finish, they are thoughtfully planned and fantastically executed, and the adventure to Machu Picchu via the Salkantay trek was no exception, leaving me with unforgettable memories.

Everything went smoothly on this mountain adventure, blending intense hiking with activities like feeding alpacas and becoming coffee farmers. It was a journey through the forest with breathtaking views and guides who went above and beyond to make our experience unforgettable. Dario, Eddie, and the rest of the staff took great care of us, preparing special diets for those with ailments, providing support during the hike, and explaining the history of every corner of each Inca ruin we encountered.

A special shoutout to Dario for helping me with my "stuff" (💍).

Wow, wow, wow! These guys are amazing and what a trip! Our guides Christian and Eddie were just superb and the rest of the team from the chefs to the horsemen were also incredible. The trek was insane and well within reach of anyone with ‘fairly decent’ fitness and a great attitude (I’m nearly 50 and have ‘fair’ fitness although injuries to contend with) The altitude was fine to contend with - I took dried/sugared ginger to munch on, drink plenty and we did breathwork each morning to get our oxygen levels up. No dramas! The scenery, people and experience as a whole was second-to-none. Peru is just beyond stunning. Ealing up with a glacier view from your tent was unbelievable. Every little thing was thought of and the whole team were so accomodating. How they knocked up these awesome 3 course meals in tiny mountain huts and camp kitchens etc was insane! The knowledge, story telling and connection till to the land is something you will never forget. Nothing was too much trouble and the guides were so attentive - working so hard so keep everyone safe. Truly soul inspiring and such a magical break from the materialism and ego of ‘western society’. This is so much more than a trek. It’s a life changing, soul nourishing reality check that many of us so badly need. We opted to head to Machu Picchu the earliest we could on the last day and the 4am wake up was well worth it. To arrive at this historical site before sun rise when it was so quiet and watch the sun rise over the mountains was worth its weight in gold. Barely anyone there but us to witness this awe inspiring sight. My fellow trekkies were the best, if I could do this all again I would choose these beautiful folks to do it with. We laughed together, cried, shared stories and learned about each other and supported each other in so many beautiful ways. I would do it all again tomorrow if I could. I don’t want to add many pics as I don’t want to spoil it lol. Thanks so much guys, I love you all forever and every single part of this trip holds a special place in my heart forever 💕🥹

Couldn't recommend highly enough, had a wonderful time surrounded by breathtaking scenery and our guide Dario was awesome, everything was so well organised.