One of the first decisions to make when booking the Salkantay trek is how you want to sleep. The choice shapes the entire character of the experience. Camping and lodge trekking cover the same ground, cross the same pass, and arrive at the same citadel. What changes is everything that happens between the end of one day’s walking and the start of the next.
There is no objectively correct answer. Some people want the full immersion of waking up inside a tent at 3,900 meters with the glacier directly above them. Others have earned the right to a hot shower. Many people are somewhere in between. Here is what each option actually involves.
Camping is the traditional way to trek the Salkantay and the option included in our Classic and Express routes. Our camp setups are not the minimalist experience that the word camping sometimes implies.
The tents are double-walled four-season mountain tents, set up and ready before you arrive at each campsite. The sleeping mats are insulated foam pads. The dining tent is a full standing tent with a folding table and camp chairs, where the cook serves three-course meals morning and evening. The kitchen tent operates separately with a dedicated cook and assistant who carry everything in and pack it out.
What camping genuinely involves, and what you should be prepared for, is cold nights, particularly at Soraypampa on Night 1. Temperatures at 3,900 meters drop well below zero even in the dry season. A good sleeping bag is not optional. Basic washing facilities are available at most campsites but they are cold water and limited. Privacy is what it is. The toilet facilities at campsites along the Salkantay route are shared and functional.
The payoff is something that no lodge can replicate. Waking up inside a tent at Soraypampa with the Salkantay glacier directly above you, in complete silence at 5am before the rest of the group is moving, is one of those moments that stays with you.
| Camping |
Included routes | Classic · Express · Salkantay + Choquequirao |
Tent type | 4-season double-wall mountain tent |
Sleeping mat | Insulated foam pad (sleeping bag not included) |
Meals | Full breakfast and dinner prepared by camp cook |
Washing | Cold water facilities at most campsites |
Temperature Night 1 | Can drop below -5°C |
Temperature Night 2 | Mild, 10–15°C |
The Luxury Salkantay Trek follows the identical route but replaces tents with a series of mountain lodges positioned at each overnight stop. The lodges are small, built specifically for trekking groups, and designed to make the most of the terrain they sit in.
Rooms have real beds with proper mattresses, duvets, and pillows. Hot showers are available at all lodges. Dinners are served at a proper table from a set menu using fresh local ingredients, with wine available. Breakfasts are substantial and give you a proper start before a long day on the trail.
The lodges are not five-star hotels. They are comfortable mountain accommodation with warm rooms, attentive service, and a level of quality that feels extraordinary after eight hours of walking at altitude. The distinction matters: if you are expecting a Cusco boutique hotel experience at 3,900 meters, you will need to adjust your expectations slightly. If you are expecting a comfortable bed, a hot meal, and a warm room in a spectacular location, you will not be disappointed.
The lodge route operates with a maximum group size of eight people, which makes the dining and common area experience considerably more personal than a standard group trek.
| Lodge to Lodge |
Included routes | Luxe Salkantay-trektocht |
Room type | Private rooms with en-suite bathroom |
Bed | Double or twin beds with full bedding |
Meals | Full breakfast and three-course dinner |
Hot shower | Available at all lodges |
Common areas | Dining room and lounge at each lodge |
Temperature | Heated rooms at all altitude lodges |
Night 1 — Soraypampa (3,900m) The most dramatic overnight stop on the entire route. The camp or lodge sits in a wide valley directly below the Salkantay glacier. On a clear night the peak is visible by moonlight. It is also the coldest night of the trek by a significant margin. Whether camping or in a lodge, bring warm layers for the evening. The altitude affects sleep quality for most people on the first night, which is normal and temporary.
Night 2 — Santa Teresa (1,700m) A complete contrast to the night before. The altitude is gone, the temperature is warm and humid, and the town of Santa Teresa sits in a valley surrounded by tropical vegetation. The natural hot spring pools are a 15-minute walk from the camping area and most trekkers spend the evening there. The walk from the pass to Santa Teresa covers one of the most dramatic descents in the Andes and the hot springs at the end of it feel genuinely earned.
Night 3 — Aguas Calientes (2,040m) The last night before Machu Picchu is spent in Aguas Calientes, the small town at the base of the mountain. On the camping routes, this night is spent in a guesthouse rather than in tents there is no camping in Aguas Calientes. The town is busy and lively with trekkers from every route converging for the same reason. Most people are in bed early. The first bus to Machu Picchu leaves at 5:30am and nobody wants to miss it.
We accommodate our groups at Casa del Sol Aguas Calientes, a well-positioned hotel two minutes from the bus stop with clean, comfortable rooms, hot showers, and a breakfast service that starts early enough for a predawn departure. It is the kind of place that exists entirely to serve trekkers on their final night before the citadel. It does that job very well.
| Aguas Calientes Hotel |
Property | Casa del Sol Aguas Calientes |
Room type | Double or twin with private bathroom |
Breakfast | Included · Served from 4:30am |
Location | 2 min walk to bus stop |
Check-in | From 2:00pm |
Check-out | After Machu Picchu visit |
A sleeping bag is not included in any of our trek packages but is essential for the camping routes. We recommend a bag rated to at least minus 10 degrees Celsius for the Soraypampa camp. If you do not own one or prefer not to travel with one, high-quality sleeping bags are available for rent in Cusco from multiple outfitters near the Plaza de Armas. We can also arrange rental directly through us at the time of booking.
