Difference between Salkantay 5 day vs 4 day

The famous Salkantay Mountain, is the most recent Trek in the world, by National Geographic Adventure Travel Magazine. There are different experience of hiking to the lost city of the Incas that you should include in your Machu Picchu Vacation Package. After flying from the capital of Perú, Lima, you will arrive in Cusco to walk for four days along an ancient and remote trail that is located in the same region as the Inca Trail, where massive snow-capped mountains collide with lush tropical forests. Located less than fifty miles northwest of the city of Cusco, in southern central Peru by the Cordillera de Vilcabamba and reaching 6271 meters above sea level (20574 feet). Salkantay is an exceptionally topped glacial peak adored for miles of years by local Indians. The name Salkantay is a Quechua word meaning wild mountain. This road is an excellent option for those who want to escape from the most congested routes like the Inca Trail Tours, and in a faster way, or for those who are looking for an alternative when the spaces of the traditional Inca Trail are occupied. Remember to book this trek in advance, to secure your Machu Picchu Tickets.

There are a lot of treks to this magnificient mountain, here we explain you the main difference between the 4 and 5 days treks:

On the 4 day Salkantay Trek, we will walk through the same beautiful and scenic landscapes as the 5 day Trek. The difference is that we will climb to the Salkantay Pass on the first day of the trek instead of the morning of the 2nd day. We will also stay in different campsites along the trail than the 5 day Trek. We recommend this trek to people who have less available time in Cusco but still want to experience the amazing scenery of the Salkantay Trek.
On the 5 day Salkantay Trek, you will have more time to relax and take things a bit more slowly than the 4 day trek. This trek is recommended if you have more time and do not want to hike for as long during the first few days of the trek.

The best season to hike to Salkantay is during the dry season, which covers the months April to the end of September. In October the rains begin and you can find Machu Picchu covered by clouds. If you travel in June, we recommend you to book the Inti Raymi 2025 Tour that takes place in June 24th, and also hike the Palcoyo Mountain Tour, which is an incredible Rainbow Mountain located in the Andes. Always remember that acclimatization is necessary in Cusco, two days before starting the tour. For a good acclimatization it is necessary to rest as much as possible, eat little, drink plenty of liquid; especially the coca lef tea, that has known healing and digestive properties. Adequate acclimatization prevents affecting the soroche or altitude sickness, which could cause numerous discomfort to health.