Salkantay Trek – 5 Day Trek to Machu Picchu-

HISTORY OF SALKANTAY

The Salkantay trek is a journey that many Peruvians still take to this day to reach the top and honor Mother Nature and the spirits of the Incans. When you reach the top it is tradition to build a little stone statue to honor Mother Nature. On the top, with the wind biting at my checks and my body still shaking with exhaustion, I felt closer to the earth and the spirits than I have ever felt before. I felt honored to get the privilege to stand in a spot filled with the power, strength, and the spirituality of the Incan people.

Fun fact about the word Incan is that it is actually not even a word it is a sound. It is said, that if you are on the top of the mountain directly across from the Salkantay, the Mountain will speak to you and sound like iiiinnnnncccaaaaaaa; that is how the Incan people got their name, which happens to mean perfection.

THE TREK SCHEDULE

DAY 1:

On the first day of the Salkantay Trek the tour group is picked up from heir respectful hostels and hotels around 4:30. Then there is a two hour drive toto Challacancha, which is at an altitude of 11808ft to start the trek.

The first part of the hike lasts roughly for 4hours and you climb to an altitude of 12464ft. Soraypampa, is the name of the first stop and where guests will stay for the night. Lunch is served and then guests have the option of going on an additional trek up to Laguna Humantay. Laguna Humantay is a glacier lake above the base camp. the hike is challenging but well worth a little extra effort.

DAY 2:

Day two of the Salkantay Trek starts with a nice breakfast at 4:00 am followed by a slow start hiking higher into the clouds. The group walks to a section of the hike called the Seven Snakes, which takes about 5-6 hours of walking. After the Seven Snakes the group walks for another five hours to an altitude of 15088 ft.

I have never been so exhausted and so proud in my entire life. It definitely did a number on my body and lungs but the joy I felt reaching the top and looking out above the clouds and at the Salkantay mountain was more than enough to make all the pain and misery before well worth it.

CONTINUING DAY 2:

After a brief ceremony to honor the spirits at the highest point of the trek the group will descend to an altitude of 9512ft., which is the same altitude as Cusco, Peru.

Lunch is served halfway to the next campsite and then the group will arrive at campsite number 2 around 7:00pm.

DAY 3:

Day three of the Salkantay Trek starts early again around 6:30 am. Breakfast is served and then the hiking continues. This time the group will trek through the jungle. This hike has an opt out option. If people are sick or injured they can take a truck to the lunch and next campsite location.

The group will arrive at the campsite in the afternoon. After lunch there is a quick car ride to the next campsite. Then people can rest for the rest of the day.

DAY 4:

On day four of the Salkantay Trek there are some options you can take. First option is the last hike which is a straight shot up a mountain and down in the course of 4-5 hours.

The other option is to go to the hot springs and or go zip lining. The hot springs are included in your ticket but the zip lines are extra. If you chose the hot springs you take a bus there and then a bus to the Incan trail after. Once on the Incan trail you meet up with the other people who chose to do the optional hike and then walk the rest of the way to Aguas Clientes which is an altitude of 6691ft.

The group arrives in Aguas Clientes in the afternoon and then all go out to dinner in the evening. There is a brief explanation about how the next day will go and then everyone goes to bed early.

DAY 5:

Wake up call is around 6:00 am. Each group member is given one bus ticket which they can use to go up the mountain to Machu Picchu or down it. I recommend taking the bus up to Machu Picchu.

Your entrance to Machu Picchu is included in the price of the Salkantay Trek. The group have 4-5 hours to explore Machu Picchu . If you want you can pay extra and climb up to Huayana Picchu. If you want to climb Huayana Picchu however you have to tell your guides before the day of. Only 400 tourists are allowed to go up per day and at specific times.

After everyone is down from Machu Picchu the group takes the train back to Ollayatambus and then a bus back to Cusco.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Overall, when visiting Peru you have to see Machu Picchu. While there are many different ways to visit this incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site the Salkantay Trek is one of the best ways to visit.

Learn more about Machu Picchu HERE: LA CIUDAD DE LAS INCAS