Where is the trailhead?
The start has shifted closer to the mountains in recent years as the road is improved & as more hikers have arrived.
First, from Cuzco, travel to the small village of Mollepata (3-4 hours by bus). You can start hiking from there if you wish, not a bad idea if you are still acclimatizing to altitude.
In 2004 we started instead at Soraypampa, delivered there in a heavy duty people-mover truck. This saved us 8-10 hours of hiking, 2 hiking days! We were already acclimatized from prior hiking trips in the Andes.
truck loading hikers in the town square, Mollepata
Other options? In Mollepata you could arrange horses or burros to carry your packs over the high pass — or for the entire hike.
Be warned that it may be impossible to find wheels to carry you to Soraypampa if the road is damaged when you arrive. Price may vary depending on the number of hikers wanting to go. We paid less than US$4 each for the truck because there was a full load of hikers wanting to go (students from Cuzco) the morning we arrived in Mollepata.
Check our recommended hiking Routes.
How do I get there?
That is the BIG & EXPENSIVE question for foreigners.
In 2004 the cheapest flights we found to South America were into Lima, Peru.
From there it is an easy flight to Cuzco — fares are kept as low as US$50 one way due to the competition between a number of airlines.
Recommendation? If you are flying in to Lima we suggest you connect directly to Cuzco. You can acclimatize there 3400m (11,600 feet) in preparation for the highest pass on the Salcantay (4700m).
Most hikers choose to travel overland if they have enough time. Many bus companies compete on the Lima <> Cuzco route. No problem in 2004.
There are more options in our Details section.
updated What does it cost to hike the Salcantay?
Note: Big fluctuations with US currency make this section inaccurate. Use it only as a general guideline. Note: there is no bank or bank machine in Aguas Calientes — bring enough cash to get you back to Cuzco.
The big cost for foreign hikers is travel to Peru. The hike itself is comparatively inexpensive. Peru is an inexpensive country.
Machu Picchu has the reputation of being expensive. It is. Too many affluent suitcase tourists throw money around there.
But the Salcantay Trek including Machu Picchu is not expensive.
To and from Cuzco, including 1 day at Machu Picchu, we paid US$80 / person in 2004. (The Inca Trail at the same time was US$200 minimum all inclusive.)
This does not include accommodation & food in Aguas Calientes. Counting everything to and from Cuzco, we paid US$110 / person for 6 days, 5 nights.
For tenting independently, budget a minimum of US$100 for:
+ bus Cuzco to Mollepata = US$3
+ truck Mollepata to Soraypampa = US$5 / person
negotiable, varies depending on number of hikers on a given day. Hire your own small vehicle for US$45 or thereabouts.
+ tenting = free
+ food = US$25+ including drinks en route
+ train new hydroelectric station to Aguas Calientes = US$6
We walked about 8km along the tracks instead.
+ Machu Picchu entrance fee = US$20 / day
Food & drinks are extemely expensive on site. Bring your own food from town.
+ bus Machu Picchu <> Aguas Calientes one way = US$3
We walked, about 90 minutes up, 60 minutes down.
+ train Aguas Calientes
back to Cuzco = US$42
There are cheaper & more expensive tickets. Book this in Cuzco before you start the hike.
The Salcantay is cheaper than the Inca Trail, but not that much cheaper. Cost is not the main reason to opt to do Salcantay.
|
Aguas Calientes (also called Machu Picchu town) is a tourist trap. The town exists only for tourists. Yet there are inexpensive hostels & restaurants too, if you look for them.
You can hire pack animals & guides in Mollepata less expensively than though an agency in Cuzco. In 2004 you needed to budget about US$10 / day for a horseman/guide (arriero) and US$6 / day / burro. A bargain, though we prefer to carry our own packs.
One of several hikes which get you to