The 15 5-Day Experiences in Peru That Earn Their Price

1.Small Group 5 Days Salkantay and Machu Picchu by Llactapata Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 88 reviews · 5 days (approx.) · from $593Our pick

This five-day trek links Cusco, Humantay Lake, Salkantay Pass, Lucmabamba, Llactapata, and Machu Picchu. You hike in a group of up to nine with a bilingual guide, cooks, horse support, camping gear, meals, and a private room in Aguas Calientes. Ask about guides such as Rolando, Carlos, Jainor, or Dario.

“Jainor was a gem of a tour guide. He is clearly passionate about Incan history and culture, and he conveys this well to the group. He also transitioned extremely smoothly between Spanish and English when explaining things in amazing detail and depth. He was never rushed, always taking the time to answer everyone’s questions. Lastly, he dealt well with the varying physical conditions of the group, with age ranges from 21 to 67.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.5-Day Salkantay Trek with Panoramic Train

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 79 reviews · 5 days · from $655

Spend five days hiking from Cusco through icy peaks, cloud forest, coffee country, and Llactapata. TreXperience provides guides such as Cesar, Roger, José, and Elias, hearty meals, glamping, camping, and a Vistadome or 360° train to Cusco.

“Fillo was the most amazing guide I’ve ever met! He took care of everything in every detail and helped alot with the headaches during hiking as I wasn’t used to that altitude. Amazing experience that I will never forget! Fillio, you gave us an outstanding experience during the Salkantay trek! Big up for the cook, Estevan, amazing chef and the peruvian food was top notch. And for the porters, all my respect, they are so hardworking. Totally recommend, the locations, the staff, the schedule, 10/10!”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Ausangate Trek 5 Days

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 74 reviews · 5 days (approx.) · from $660

Trek around Ausangate from Cusco with a small group of up to 10, crossing passes as high as 5,200 meters, visiting glacial lakes and hot springs, and learning about local food and weaving from a Peruvian family. Guides include Guillermo, Urbano, and Chino.

“An epic 5 days completing the Ausengate + Raimbow Mountain Trek with the Vidal Expedition crew (Chino, Begnino, Jośe, Angel). The scenery was amazing, super friendly and knowledgable team, yummy good, and lots of fun! Would highly highly recommend!! Thanks so much for such a cool experience :)”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Classic Choquequirao Trek – 5 Days / 4 Nights

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 52 reviews · 5 days (approx.) · from $735

Hike from Cachora through the Apurímac Canyon to Choquequirao, an Inca citadel larger than Machu Picchu. You get a small group, bilingual guide, cooks, muleteers, camping gear, meals, Saywite, and Cconoc hot springs. Expect steep climbs, long days, and basic mountain camping.

“WOW! Guido was/is a fantastic, knowledgeable, friendly, and humorous guide that cannot be outdone. His passion and knowledge for the culture is obvious throughout our trip. He connected with each one of our “Team Dave” and was there to help, each of us, when we needed it.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Ultimate Lares Trek & Inca Trail 5 days

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 47 reviews · 5 days (approx.) · from $980

You will trek from Lares through remote Quechua villages and over 4,700-meter Condor Pass, then join the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Local guides such as Manolo, Elias, Sara, and Jose Abad have led this route, with hearty camp cooking, horses for duffle bags, and hotels in Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes.

“My sister and I had the most wonderful time with TreXperience. Our experience was top notch all around. We first did the Lares trek with our guide Elias, chef Tiburcio, and horseman Toribio. It was my sisters birthday on the second day and the chef made her a full-on cake despite being camping in the woods without an oven. The food was delicious for every meal (we were stuffed) and the crew made us feel very welcome. It was a super authentic experience. Im glad I stuck to my gut going with this company instead of a more commercial company like alpaca exp.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Wonderful Cusco 5-Day Tour with Entrance to Machupicchu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 46 reviews · 5 days (approx.) · from $610

Spend five days exploring Cusco, Pisac, Machu Picchu, and Vinicunca with Maypi Travel. The package includes four hotel nights, meals, trains, Machu Picchu entry, airport transfers, and guides such as Guido, with an early start and high-altitude hike.

“I researched several companies before choosing Maypi and I don’t regret it. They are very attentive, punctual and polite. I loved my guided tours by them.Auto-translated”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Salkantay Trek To Machu Picchu 5 Days And 4 Nights

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 44 reviews · from $690

Take a demanding but rewarding five-day Salkantay Trek from Cusco to Machu Picchu. You’ll cross the 15,252-foot Salkantay Pass, visit Humantay Lake and a coffee plantation, camp with meals and support, then finish with Machu Picchu and a train ride back to Cusco.

“What an amazing trip- I would thoroughly recommend it.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.5-Day: Salkantay Trek to Machupicchu and Humantay Lake

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 42 reviews · 5 days (approx.) · from $360Best value

Trek from Cusco to Humantay Lake, Salkantay Pass, Santa Teresa, and Machu Picchu over five demanding days. You will camp three nights, sleep one night in Aguas Calientes, ride with a small group of up to 15, and have a bilingual guide such as Roger, subject to assignment.

“The Salkantay 5 day trek to Machu Picchu was a wonderful experience. Being in a small group made it more exceptional and personal. Our guide, Roger, was super, very helpful, and friendly! I would do it again”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Salkantay 5-Day Trek To Machu Picchu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 39 reviews · from $797

This 5-day Salkantay trek takes you from Cusco through Humantay Lake, a 15,200-foot mountain pass, high jungle, Santa Teresa, and Machu Picchu. A bilingual local guide leads the trek, while mules carry up to 7 kilos of your gear. Expect camping, long hiking days, and a final night in Aguas Calientes.

“Such a fun and challenging experience. I had no issues completing the trek, you want to make sure you are in good shape before arriving as it can be difficult if you are not prepared for log days and sometimes tough terrain. Beautiful views good food and excellent tour guides! Highly recommend to all!”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.5 Day – Tour to Machu Picchu Traditional – Group service

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 33 reviews · from $813

Spend five days tracing Inca and colonial Peru, from Qorikancha and Sacsayhuaman to Pisac and Ollantaytambo. You will ride the Expedition train to Aguas Calientes, catch an early bus to Machu Picchu, and return to Cusco with guides, hotels, breakfasts, transfers, and main entrance fees arranged.

“The trip was very well organized and the tour guides are superb.”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Salkantay Trek: 5 Days to Machu Picchu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 33 reviews · from $909

You trek from Cusco over the 4,650-meter Salkantay Pass to Machu Picchu, with three nights in camps and one night near Aguas Calientes. Expect early starts, strong meals, bilingual guides such as Nico and Carlos, mule support, hot springs, and a small group of up to 12.

“The tour was incredibly beautiful. We learned so much, and had the opportunity to see incredible natural beauty too! Food was amazing and staff was great!”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.5 Day – Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu – Group Service

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 27 reviews · from $650

You’ll hike from the Andes to Machu Picchu with a bilingual guide such as Aldo, Victor, or Ruben, crossing the 4,650-meter Salkantay Pass, cloud forest, and jungle. The $650 group trip includes meals, camping gear, porters, an Aguas Calientes hotel, entrance fees, and train transport.

“Our Guide - Aldo made the Salkantay Trek an amazing experience for our group. His knowledge about the Inca culture is great. All other crew members also did their best to make our stay comfortable.”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.5-Day Salkantay Trek to Machupicchu Sky Lodge Dome

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 6 reviews · 5 days · from $700

Take five days from Cusco to Machu Picchu by way of Humantay Lagoon and the 4,650-meter Salkantay Pass. Sleep in private-bathroom domes, learn coffee making, walk the Urubamba Valley, and finish with a guided visit to Machu Picchu. Small groups and bilingual guides lead the trek.

“Hee goed verzorgd! Goed eten en fijne bedden, laatste hotel was ‘oke’. De domes waren top! Alleen nacht 1 zeer koud maar ik Geloof dat dit bij alle domes van alle organisaties wel zo was! Eigen douche en toilet, top! Hike zelf prachtig!”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Manu National Park Tours from Cusco 5 Days

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 5 reviews · 5 days · from $673

Travel from Cusco into Manu National Park with a bilingual English and Spanish guide and a group of up to nine. You will visit Paucartambo, Tres Cruces, the Manu Cloud Forest, Soga de Oro Lodge, and the Madre de Dios River, with jungle walks, parrots, Amazonian meals, and a night safari.

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days with Sky Lodge Domes

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 5 days · from $680

Trek from Challacancha to Machu Picchu in a small group of up to eight, with Humantay Lake, Salkantay Pass, Sky Lodge Domes, a Llactapata visit, and a Machu Picchu tour. Guides such as Fernando and Nildo are available in English and Spanish.

“Le trek du Salkantay au Pérou était une expérience incroyable. Les paysages étaient grandioses, variés et à couper le souffle -entre montagnes enneigées, vallées verdoyantes et le superbe lac Humantay, vraiment magnifique. L’organisation était globalement très bonne. En cas de mal d’altitude, il y a toujours la possibilité de monter à cheval (payant), ce qui est rassurant pour les moments les plus difficiles. Le cuisinier nous a préparé d’excellents repas tout au long du trek : variés, savoureux, et bienvenus après une longue journée de marche. Le guide était également très professionnel, sympathique et attentif à chacun. Le seul petit bémol : la seconde nuit, où l’hébergement n’était pas à…”

Check availability →Read our full review