Before booking the Salkantay Trek, one of the most important questions is knowing exactly what is included in the price and what is not. At Incredible Peru Tours, the first thing we do when sending a proposal is break down every element of the package because we have seen that the most avoidable disappointments on the route do not come from the trail itself, but from incorrect expectations about what the agency provides. This guide gives you that breakdown with the clarity you need before comparing quotes between operators.
What every serious Salkantay Trek package includes
Regardless of the package level, number of days, or type of accommodation, a Salkantay Trek tour operated by a responsible agency always includes a set of elements without which the route cannot function logistically. These are the minimum foundation of the service, and if any of them are missing from a quote, you should ask specific questions before confirming your reservation.
Transportation from Cusco to the starting point in Soraypampa. The drive from Cusco to the base camp takes approximately three hours by road and is done in a private or shared vehicle depending on the size of the group. This transfer is included in all Salkantay Trek packages without exception.
Certified guide throughout the five-day route. The guide accompanies the group from the departure in Cusco to the arrival in Aguas Calientes, manages the pace of the trek, provides historical and natural context along each section, coordinates the support team, and handles any unexpected situations on the ground. At Incredible Peru Tours, all our guides have specific experience on the Salkantay route and knowledge of the weather behavior of each section during every season of the year.
Support team with porters or muleteers and mules. The collective equipment, including tents, sleeping mats, cooking equipment, and food, is carried by the support team. Participants only carry their personal daypack during the hiking hours. The number of porters varies depending on the group size and the package level.
Cook and all meals during the trek. From the first breakfast in Soraypampa to lunch on the fourth day before arriving in Aguas Calientes, all meals are included. That means four breakfasts, four lunches, three dinners, and hot drinks with each meal. Dietary restrictions, such as vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free diets, can be managed if they are communicated to the agency with enough advance notice.
Camping equipment. Two- or three-person tents, insulated sleeping mats, and in many packages the sleeping bag are part of the service. The sleeping bag is the most important item to verify: it should be rated for comfort temperatures of 32°F / 0°C or lower for the first night in Soraypampa. Some lower-priced packages do not include the sleeping bag and offer it as a separate rental.
Machu Picchu entrance ticket for the final day. Access to the archaeological site is included in all standard Salkantay Trek packages. The specific circuit and entrance time vary depending on the operator and the fifth-day itinerary. Before confirming, it is important to verify which circuit the ticket includes and whether the entrance time is compatible with the group’s real arrival time from Aguas Calientes.
Return train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo or Cusco. In most standard packages, the return train is included. In some lower-priced packages, it is charged separately, which can add an extra cost of $60 to $90 per person. Verifying whether the train is included before comparing prices between operators is essential for a fair comparison.
What higher-level packages include
Higher-category packages add a series of elements to the basic service that improve the overnight experience and the level of service during the trek.
Accommodation in domes or ecolodges instead of standard tents. Domes offer real beds, quality bedding, and in some complexes, private bathrooms with hot water. Ecolodges add sustainability criteria and a stronger connection with local communities to the accommodation experience. Both domes and ecolodges cost more than standard camping, and the price difference is justified by the fixed infrastructure these complexes maintain in remote points along the route.
Private dining and kitchen tent. Higher-level packages include an independent tent separate from the sleeping area that works as a covered dining space, protecting the group during meals even on rainy days and creating a shared area separate from the rest area.
Menu prepared with Peruvian cuisine. Some higher-level operators design Salkantay menus with local Andean ingredients and dishes that go beyond basic camp cooking. Quinoa in different forms, native potatoes, trout from the Urubamba area, and wild aromatic plants are ingredients that cooks with specific training in Peruvian cuisine include in higher-priced package menus.
Spa or massage service. Some dome complexes in the intermediate valley areas include or offer sports massages after the second day, the most demanding day of the trek. This service has a real impact on muscle recovery and sleep quality on the second night, and for some types of travelers it can be the factor that turns a tough day into an enjoyable one.
What is never included in any package
There are elements that, by definition, are not part of any Salkantay Trek package and that each participant must cover on their own, regardless of the price of the tour they booked.
Tips for the support team are not included in the package price, although some operators suggest them in their informational materials. Suggested ranges for the five-day Salkantay Trek are between $15 and $25 per porter, between $20 and $30 for the cook, and between $25 and $40 for the main guide, calculated per person in the group. Bringing that cash in Peruvian soles from Cusco at the beginning of the trek is the most practical way to manage it.
Travel insurance with coverage for high-altitude trekking and evacuation in remote areas is each participant’s individual responsibility. No agency can replace that coverage because the risk is linked to the person, not the package. At Incredible Peru Tours, we always request insurance confirmation before departure because not having it in case of an emergency can have very significant financial consequences.
Personal expenses in the towns along the route, additional drinks outside the included meals, and any optional activity not included in the itinerary are additional costs that each participant manages with their own cash. Bringing between 80 and 120 soles in cash for these expenses is enough for the five-day trek.
Personal trekking gear, including hiking boots, technical clothing, a daypack, a headlamp, and trekking poles, is each participant’s responsibility or can be rented in Cusco before departure. The sleeping bag may or may not be included depending on the package, and it is the most important item to verify before confirming your reservation.
How to compare two Salkantay Trek quotes correctly
The correct way to compare two Salkantay Trek quotes is not by simply looking at the final numbers. It is done by verifying that both quotes include exactly the same elements. A package that does not include the return train, the Machu Picchu ticket, or the sleeping bag may appear cheaper and end up being more expensive once the additional costs are added.
The specific questions to ask any operator before comparing their price with another are the following: Does it include the return train from Aguas Calientes? Does it include the Machu Picchu ticket, and with which circuit and entrance time? Does it include a sleeping bag rated for Soraypampa temperatures? How many porters are included in the service, and what are their working conditions? Is the entrance to Humantay Lake included or paid separately?
Once those questions are answered in writing, the comparison between quotes becomes real and allows you to choose based on clear criteria instead of simply choosing the number that appears in the email.
Do you want to know exactly what the Salkantay Trek with Incredible Peru Tours includes and compare it with what you are evaluating from other operators? Contact us with your dates and the number of people in your group, and we will send you the complete package breakdown before you confirm any reservation.
