As you may have noted from my Inca Trail facts and figures post, this is not an cheap or easy-to-book route to take to Machu Picchu. Prices are sky-high (or should I say Dead-Woman’s-Pass-altitude-high?), and reservations must be made months in advance. Luckily, there are alternative treks that require much less money and advance planning.
When Anders and Co., hereby referred to as The Scandis for their shared Scandinavian heritage, arrived in Peru their first mission was to get to Machu Picchu via the most boast-worthy route possible. They chose the Salkantay Trek, a spectacular five day hike with a peak altitude of over 15,000 feet. (Note: Because some of the group was pressed for time, they chose to do the four day version instead, which compressed the third and fourth days of the traditional itinerary.)
As opposed to the $600 I spent to hike the Inca Trail with Llama Path, The Scadis payed $210 for the Salktantay trek. There are also optional add-ons for hot springs and ziplines, though the boys skipped those because they did the compressed four day itinerary. (Strangely, it was the same price for the five day.) That price did not include the bus between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu, which cuts out an hour each way of hiking but costs $18 round trip. It is important to note there was definitely a difference in the luxury levels between Llama Path and the no-name agency The Scandis booked with, but the boys were very happy what they got for their money.
Another difference: booking time. The Scandis arrived in Cusco on a Wednesday, booked the trip that afternoon, and took off on Friday morning. They trekked in mid-November, when many agencies are shutting down their Salkantay treks for the duration of the rainy season (the route is much muddier than the Inca Trail, and therefore less pleasant to hike towards the end of the calendar year), but lucked out with perfect weather.
But blah blah blah, show you the pictures, right? Basically I wrote this entire post because I wanted to share Anders’ fantastic video with you guys. I mean, yeah, I wanted you to know that you can get to Machu Picchu on your own steam without spending a fortune and planning half a year ahead…. but really, just watch the video, okay?
Hope you’re all having a magical holiday season, whatever it is you’re celebrating.
This is why I love seeing a video! It can makes you drool to the bones. *I dont even know what I’m saying*
Anyway the boys looked so fun with their super weird act, LOL.. I’m impressed.
Thank you for sharing, Alex.
Glad you enjoyed it, Mita! Thanks for the comment!
Those boys! How do they have so much energy? π Looked like they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Cool video.
I know! My video was certainly boring in comparison but no way did I have the energy to pull stunts like these!
Ha ha, the video is awesome. You should employ Anders and the guys as your permanent videographers/actors/directors. Merry Christmas Alex!
Right now Anders is in a pretty permanent position as videographer here. Definitely makes my life easier! π
Awesome video!! Thanks for sharing this Alex and well done Anders on another awesome film. This is probably the trek we will end up doing so thanks for the inspiration!!
This will be a great trek for you guys, Sarah! There is also a Salktantay trek that goes from luxury lodge to luxury lodge… keep your eye out for it if you win the lottery (I know I would! Ha!)
I love Anders video! Another hit. Merry Christmas to you and the Scandis, wherever you all are today.
It’s down to just Anders and me, as the Swedes have gone home! It didn’t really feel like Christmas here, but you know that feeling!
That video definitely did not help my wanderlust today! They seem like such a fun group of guys, and the views were breath taking!
Good luck curing the wanderlust, Briana…. I think it is a lifelong affliction!
Wow, what an amazing video! they looked like they had fun. The sights are still pretty nice considering it isn’t the traditional inca trail. Hope you had a good Christmas!!
There are beautiful mountains and vistas all over the Sacred Valley leading to Machu Picchu. I really don’t think you can go wrong!
What a bunch of jokers! Loved this video and have now added the Salktantay trek to my travel wish list!
I kind of want to too after watching it! (Even after doing the Inca Trail!)
Love the video! When I hike I definitely don’t have that much energy though, haha- I’m just trying to survive! What kind of GoPro did he use for the video? It’s really nice quality. I’ve been wanting one for ages but can’t decide if I reallly need one or not.
He has the GoPro Hero 3 Black Edition. He loves it! Zoe gave me the GoPro Hero 3+, which just came out and has even better image quality if you can believe it!
Oh my! This video just makes me want to really go and visit Machu Picchu. The three guys are so funny and cool. Great job guys!
They are pretty fun guys π
Machu Picchu is still on the list and it looks like the Salktany trek is a great alternative for the Inca trail:)
Also check out the Lares trek if you’re looking for alternatives!
Awesome video, good to see those guys having such a blast. I always meet so many travellers who seem to take the whole thing so seriously, like it’s their job & they don’t allow themselves to have any fun. Yes there are instances that need to be treated seriously, like respecting local customs, when you’re at religious sites etc, but the rest of the time you need to let loose & enjoy the experience!
So true Phil. Some people seem to have missed the memo that travel is fun rather than a competition!
LOVE the video! Definitely worth a watch like you said. At first, I was like eh she’s just biased and it’s 5 minutes but after starting it I had to finish and I’m still sitting here smiling. Boys will be boys, always fun, never a dull moment. Definitely got a better sense of what the hike was like too – very cool. Now I want to go!
Yes boys will indeed be boys! My video looks so boring in comparison but that’s because I was DYING OF EXERTION and was not able to be creative, ha.
Ha ha, what fun!! Would have been lots of laughs trekking with these guys π
Yes, if you could keep up! π I’m kind of glad I stayed behind for that exact reason…
Those guys look so fun! I want to do this trek and I want to do it with fun people like them haha! I just found your blog Alex, and I love it. Can’t wait to read more. I’m only just beginning to explore the idea of the Inca trail. Do you think it’s possible to do in Dec? Or is that way too far into the rainy season? Do you know if you can do it alone, without a guide service?
Hey Jacklyn, thank you so much and I’m so glad you’re enjoying Wanderland! There is no way to do the Inca Trail independently, it must be with a guide and special permits. I’m fairly sure you need a guide for the Salkantay as well. If you want to do an independent trek as well in Peru, I’d recommend Colca Canyon! I’m not too sure what the weather would be like in December. Best of luck!
Thanks Alex for posting! Do you know what kind of camera (and camera stick?) the guys used? Is it GoPro?
Yup, all was shot with a GoPro. Hope that helps!
This looks great! I was wondering what agency your friends booked with? I’m on a budget and all of the Salktantay Treks are around $500-600 instead of $210.
P.S. I just recently stumbled upon your blog since I will be going to Peru this summer. Thanks so much for your many detailed posts!
Hey Sarah! Are you trying to book online? That is always going to jack the prices way way up. I’d wait and book in person, though the time of year and your group size may also have some influence as well! Best of luck π
Thank you so much Alex! I’ve decided to go with the Salkantay Trek with Llamapath. Your posts about hiking the Inca Trail and this fun video inspired me to choose this ethical company and make the daunting trek (which doesn’t seem to scary anymore π )
I’m so happy to hear that, Sarah! That’s always my goal — to make things seem a little more manageable when you’re travel planning π You’re going to have such a great time!
Hey Alex-
I have a couple questions since my friend and I will be hiking there this January! Obviously the boys were all in great shape and adventurous – would you still recommend getting guides or paying for the trek? We definitely want to do Salkantay and are both pretty rugged and don’t mind carrying our stuff but would also love to get a guide if it adds something in terms of history and all that!
We’re also going the first week of January – do you know if there were many local companies still offering treks that time of year?? I know you mentioned rainy season shutting some of them down, so hopefully we don’t have too much mud and slip-sliding! Ha!
Love the video!
Michelle
Hey Michelle, do you mean you’re considering doing the trek totally solo, without guides or a group? Honestly I’m not sure if that’s possible — it’s DEFINITELY not possible on the Inca Trail (you must trek with a permitted guide), and regardless I wouldn’t recommend going solo on any of them. The guides do give some historical information but more importantly act as local liaisons, make camp, and cook each night. If you are an extremely experienced hiker and are capable of carrying enough food and cooking equipment for several days, I guess the next step would be looking into how the campsites get assigned each night — and asking if it’s a safe route to trek sans guide (many in Latin America aren’t.) Best of luck!
Hey Alex (and everyone else),
Just got back from hiking the Salkantay in Peru, and I can safely say it’s an AMAZING hike. Glaciers, jungle, high dusty mountain passes… We did it without any guides and during rainy season, and didn’t have a problem at all. You see the guided tours each night and there were a couple of other solo backpackers we met at different points. As long as you’re adventurous, I can definitely recommend doing this solo! And the video on this page is definitely great inspiration! π Machu Picchu looks all the more magical when you’ve been carrying everything and hiking 15,200ft passes to get there! Thanks again Alex for your posts on this and the Inca Trail!
Michelle
That’s awesome, Michelle! Glad to know it’s a doable proposition for those that want to DIY. I loved the Inca Trail but if I head back someday I may follow in your footsteps! Nice work!
Hi there! Loved the video as well. I have a quick question and wanted to know your thoughts. We are planning our trip to Peru and are leaning toward the Salktantay trek that goes from lodge to lodge as you referenced above. Would you recommend this trek if you’re in good not great physical condition and are quite a bit older than the young men in the video? I’m 50 & my husband is 60. I’m fairly active as I do pilates 5 days a week, and my husband walks/runs. We plan on going with our kids who range in ages 16-25. The tour group we are working with, Peru for Less, indicated this trek is tougher, quite a bit longer, and much more challenging than the Inca Trail although they did recommend horseback riding for a portion of the trek. Any thoughts?
Hey Kathy! Honestly it’s pretty impossible for judge to say when I haven’t done the trek myself. I have heard great things about the lodge-to-lodge trek though and I know it is a popular option for those looking for a slightly more comfortable option than camping. Sounds like you are in very good shape if you are exercising regularly — maybe just amp it up a bit with some small hikes in anticipation of the trip π Enjoy!