Salkantay
A permit-free alternative to the Inca Trail, tracing the base of the sacred Salkantay glacier through some of the most varied scenery in the Andes.
Named for the “Savage Mountain” it circles, the Salkantay trek is widely considered the most scenic overland route to Machu Picchu — and, unlike the Inca Trail, it requires no advance permit. The trail climbs to a windswept pass at 4,600 m directly beneath the glacier before descending through subtropical cloud forest to the town of Aguas Calientes.
Because group sizes aren’t capped by permit, Salkantay treks can be booked closer to departure, making it the go-to alternative when the Inca Trail is sold out.
Alternative route to Machu Picchu
Views of Salkantay glacier (6,271 m)
No permits required
Diverse ecosystems, from high Andes to cloud forest
