Salkantay Trail, Cusco: How to Visit and What to Do Nearby

The Salkantay Trail is a 74-kilometer trekking route from Mollepata to Aguas Calientes in Peru's Cusco region, crossing the Salkantay Pass at 4,630 meters between the glaciated peaks of Salkantay (6,271 meters) and Humantay. The route takes four to five days and descends from alpine tundra through cloud forest into the subtropical Urubamba valley. Unlike the Inca Trail, the Salkantay route does not require government permits or a lottery system. The trek ends at the Hidroeléctrica station, from which hikers walk or take a train to Machu Picchu. is just one of many options in Cusco. Major attractions worth considering include Agricultural Terraces of Moray, Choquequirao, and Cusco Historic Center (Centro Historico de Cusco).