The trek to Salkantay counts with incredible landscapes like valleys, slopes with native vegetation, high Andean lagoons, rivers, animals, etc. The route has a good state of conservation, that is the reason why the influx of tourist increases every year, being the second most popular for the tourists.
There is a diferent way (and more adventurous) to reach Machu Picchu by foot in addition to the tourist trains that departs from Cusco to Aguas Calientes. Those routes are the Inca Trail and the Salkantay to Machu Picchu trek. The trek to Salkantay is the most impressive because is less known than the Inca Trail, and you also need to have a good physical condition to do it. This trek is full of exciting experiences like the visit of the Salkantay Mountain, the Humantay lagoon, the flora and fauna of the mountain range and the high jungle, walking through andean areas between the forests of pluvisilva.
The best season to go to make this trek is between the months of April to November because the rainy season starts on the following months.
The climate in Salkantay is very sunny during the day, but cold during the night. The temperature drops bellow 0°C at night, but once you pass the Salkantay Mountain you can enjoy the climates of the high jungle. You should be provided with the necessary equipment required for the mountain range scenarios, and you also should wear light clothes to enter ro the high jungle.
The famous Salkantay trek is considered one of the 25th best treks in the world by National Geographic Adeventure Travel Magazine. It is a trek open for all the people and withour space limit at least for now. It is surrounded by deep valleys and gorges, which makes this journey interesting but exhausting at the same time. We know that problems happen at any time, and that is why here we give you some tips for this amazing trek:
There is a diferent way (and more adventurous) to reach Machu Picchu by foot in addition to the tourist trains that departs from Cusco to Aguas Calientes. Those routes are the Inca Trail and the Salkantay to Machu Picchu trek. The trek to Salkantay is the most impressive because is less known than the Inca Trail, and you also need to have a good physical condition to do it. This trek is full of exciting experiences like the visit of the Salkantay Mountain, the Humantay lagoon, the flora and fauna of the mountain range and the high jungle, walking through andean areas between the forests of pluvisilva.
The majestic Salkantay Ice Peak is
one of the traditional sacred mountains in the Vilcabamba mountain range
located at 6271 meters above sea level (20574 ft.) in the south of Machu
Picchu. Its alignment with the Pleiades, Cruz del Sur and Yana Phuyu (Dark
constellations) formed an integral part of the sacred geography of the Incas. This
“Apu” or deity of the mountain served as reference for the cardinal
astrological observations, particularly during the solstice of June, December
and in the solar equinoxes.
The best season to go to make this trek is between the months of April to November because the rainy season starts on the following months.
The climate in Salkantay is very sunny during the day, but cold during the night. The temperature drops bellow 0°C at night, but once you pass the Salkantay Mountain you can enjoy the climates of the high jungle. You should be provided with the necessary equipment required for the mountain range scenarios, and you also should wear light clothes to enter ro the high jungle.
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| Salkantay Trek - Landscapes |
The famous Salkantay trek is considered one of the 25th best treks in the world by National Geographic Adeventure Travel Magazine. It is a trek open for all the people and withour space limit at least for now. It is surrounded by deep valleys and gorges, which makes this journey interesting but exhausting at the same time. We know that problems happen at any time, and that is why here we give you some tips for this amazing trek:
The route:
Is easy to follow the Salkantay
trek. You only need a good map. The road is full of big stones in some places
so it’s essential to have strong ankles.
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| Starting the hike to Salkantay |
Water:
During all the trek you will find
water on the way but we recommend you to bring iodine tablets or a filter. Also
in every camping site there are going to be a little store where bottles of
water are sold.
Food:
The trek mainly is going to be on
rural places on the first three days until you get to “La playa” so you need to
bring food for those days like instant soups, etc.
However, it’s not that important
because as we said early, there are going to be little stores where you can buy
food or you can also enjoy the food that the locals prepare.
WARNING!
The chance of something going wrong
is always there. You could get stuck because of the rain or you could get a
disease and if that happens finding food is a big problem. We recommend you to
bring one or two emergency food.
Clothes:
The climate will be below the
freezing point on the first night in the mountain. You should have winter
clothes and a good sleeping bag of 0 degrees.
Bring chemical foot warmers or
boiled water to warm your feet at the bottom of the sleeping bag.
It will get very hot during the
day, especially at lower altitudes. Synthetic light clothing is essential. A
good pair of hiking boots is advisable. You will carry a lot of weight uphill
and then downhill for 3 days. You need shoes that are going to protect your
feet.
Other supplies:
Sunglasses and sunscreen: You need
a sunscreen of high altitude protection.
Insect repellent: At the end of the
second day you arrive to a tropical climate and the insects are going to be
really annoying.
First-Aid kit: As a trekker you
need to bring a first-aid kit that includes band aids, disinfectant and basic
medicines. The high altitude sickness medicine is highly recommended. Remember
there are no cell phones, no park rangers, no rescue helicopters and no
hospitals.
Altitude Sickness:
The highest point of the trek is at
4,600 – 4,800 meters (15,100 – 15,700ft.). Each person reacts in different ways
but in general we feel the effects of elevation when we reach 10,000 –
11,000 ft. The key to deal with altitude sickness is to spend 2 or 3 days before
in Cusco so you get acclimatized.
The symptoms of altitude sickness
includes headache, slight dizziness or vertigo. Moderate symptoms includes
nausea and loss of appetite.
The coca leafs can also help if you
chew them during the trek but its taste is something you need to get accustomed
to.
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| Salkantay Trekking -Head trail |
Be careful
with the climate:
It is important to take precautions
with moisture if you go on the rainy season because it can reach your clothes.
We recommend that you bring your clothes in plastic bags inside your backpack.
Also bring waterproof ponchos to protect you from the rain.
Security:
Be aware of bringing valuable thing to your trip. You can catch the attention of other people and then be attacked.
Enjoy:
And last but not least, enjoy! Have
fun with the rest of the group, enjoy the marvelous landscapes that this trek
offers and don’t miss the opportunity to take pictures.
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