Salkantay Trek
Machu
Picchu
Peru
South America
Photo by NINA PASCAL on Unsplash
By Michaellbrawn under CC - 4.0
Official Website
Insurance
Flights
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Vital Statistics
Excessive crowds on the Inca Trail have led to the government to apply strict new rules, limiting numbers and you have to go on an expensive guided tour. Which means the Salkantay Trek is the way to go. No permits required (for now) and you can do it on your own if you want. It is longer and harder though so you'll need to be fit. The trail is well marked and there are campsites on the way around as well as accommodation and hot meals.
Guided tours are half the price of the Inca Trail and provide mules to carry the heavy gear and accommodation meaning you can travel light. If you're not experienced they are a good idea for safety alone. Some even provide an emergency horse to ride if you cant walk anymore!
If you decide to go alone you can hire trekking gear in Cusco. It will be a lot cheaper than an organised trek but it will also be a lot harder carrying all of that weight.
The third option is you can also do it on your own and not have to carry heavy camping equipment. There are places to stay and eat along the whole route and the trail is well marked.
The maximum altitude is 4630m at 'Abra Salkantay' or Salkantay Pass. You should acclimatise in Cuzco for a few days. The trek is 80 kms long and you walk roughly 20kms a day for 4 days. You could take longer which means less kilometers per day and you could have a rest day along the way.
Starting in Mollepata / Kallacancha through Soraypampa, Challway, Lucmabamba (Llactapata / Santa Tersa), Agua Calientes and Machu Picchu. Bus or walking up to Machu Picchu on day 5 then taking the train to Ollantaytambo, or an extra night in Aguas Calientes first.
When
Machu Picchu is open all year.
April, May, June, September and October are the best months. In June there is a week long Inca celebration around Inti Raymi with many pilgrims.
July and August are the peak months and get crowded.
January and February are not recommended. The other months have quite heavy rain.
Highlights & Scenery
Machu Picchu, glacier lakes, massive snow capped mountains, dramatic cliffs, tiny Andean villages, soaking your tired muscles in the hot springs, Humantay Lagoon, Abra Salkantay Pass, Llactapata Inca Ruins, Cocalmayo Hot Springs, Tropical Andean forest, can include zip-lining
Lush rainforests, Cloud Forest, rivers, mountains and Machu Picchu.
Before & After
Fly in and out of here from Lima. Spend 2 or 3 nights here to acclimatise yourself to the altitude. Go for a practise hike. Buy coca leaves and toffees for the trek as well as walking poles and anything else you need.
Agua Calientes / Machu Picchu Pueblo
Spend the night before and after your visit to Machu Picchu. Take advantage of the local hot springs and soak those aching muscles.
Catch the train here, spend a couple of days relaxing and checking out the Sacred Valley then take a bus back to Cusco.
Start & Finish
Mollepata - Kallacancha or Soraypampa (each starting point a bit colser to the finish) to Machu Picchu = 80 km in 5 days reaching nearly 4,600m above sea level.
Fun Facts
Salkantay means Savage Mountain
It is the highest point in the Peruvian Andes
Machu Picchu is said to have 2 types of weather - Rainy or Hot
Transport
Fly in and out of Cuzco Airport
Accommodation
Cuzco
Great location on the main square - excellent breakfast included - baggage storage - 24 hour desk
Mollepata
Fitness centre - garden - restaurant - bar - cafe - outdoor dining - sun deck - BBQ - live music - spa - massage - very friendly - very clean
Agua Caliente / Machu Picchu Pueblo
Sacred Stone Boutique Hotel *** - 8.8
Great location near the train station - restaurant - bar - wonderful breakfst included - spa (extra fee)
Ollamtaytambo
SAUCE Hotel Boutique *** - 8.8
Perfect location close to everything - cheerful family run place - wonderful breakfast included - restaurant - bar - sun deck - terrace - outdoor furniture - garden - cafe -
ATM - tour desk - packed lunches
Organise
No permits are required for the walk. You will probably still need to organise your Machu Picchu tickets.
Book all of your hotels on the trek in advance. You should be able to walk in to the ones in Cusco, Aguas Calientes and Ollantaytambo. Book them if they have free cancellation.
Packing List
Backpack with rain cover
Hiking Poles
Thermals
Zip off pants
Good, waterproof, worn in hiking boots or shoes
Tour companies will provide tents, sleeping gear, cooking equipment, food, camp chair etc
Extra socks
High energy snacks
First Aid Kit
Wet weather gear
Hydration bladder and water bottle
Large jar of vaseline to rub all over your feet and any where that chafes
Bug spray with DEET
Sun Block
Coca leaves / toffees - available in Cusco
Visas
Flights
Santiago de Chile Comodoro Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport (SCL) -
has direct flights to the Americas, Europe, Australia and New Zealand as well as connecting with Cusco
Lima Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM) -
has direct flights to 60 destinations in 18 countries including the Americas and Europe as well as connecting to Cusco
Cusco Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ) -
At present connects with Lima and Santiago as well as a few domestic flights
About -
Check Google Maps for available accommodation as there are quite a few places with no websites
DAY 1 CUZCO to MOLLEPATA 2 hour bus trip - 100km
Come the day before your trek to get organised and have a good night's sleep without the early morning wakeup and transfer.
DAY 2 KALLACANCHA to SORAYPAMPA 7 + 6 km = 6 hours
Up early, have a hearty breakfast, fill up your water and take some transport to the trailhead at Challanchancha. There are cabins and 3 campsites at Soraypampa. You can get a meal at the hotel. Humantay Lake is a steep uphill walk from the campsite.
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Alternately you can get an early morning bus from Cusco to Soraypampa. It picks you up at your hotel, stops for breakfast at Mollepatta and will drop you off around 9am. You could check into your accommodation and then do the hike up to Humantay Lake. Enjoy a restful afternoon and slot seamlessly into the program tomorrow.
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DAY 3 SORAYPAMPA to CHAULLAY 21km = 10 hours
Has a campsite and a hotel where you can get a meal. This is the hardest days walk and also the highest. You will see Salkantay Mountain Lake and Glacier. Get an early start so you have plenty of time and don't feel the need to rush. Just think once you reach the top of the pass it's all downhill from here. For a fair while anyway. It's a pleasant walk following the river through the jungle.
There are 3 places on Booking.com
Restaurant - Bar - Breakfast & Dinner included - free cancellation
Restaurant - Bar - Breakfast included - free cancellation
DAY 4 CHAULLAY to LUCMABAMBA 20km = 5 hrs
An easier days walking through forests with hummingbirds and butterflies, then coffee plantations with a hot spring waiting for you at the end - a 30 min minivan drive away from where you are staying. There are hotels and hot meals. You can do a coffee tour while you are here.
There are two places on Booking.com
Breakfast & Dinner included - set in coffee plantation with tours and terrace with views
Breakfast & Dinner included - onsite coffee tour included - only 3 rooms
DAY 5 LUCMABAMBA to AGUA CALIENTE / MACHU PICCHU PUEBLO 21kms = 8 hours (or 1N Llactapata)
Today you have the option of visiting the recently discovered Inca ruins of Llactapata. They have a fantastic view of Machu Picchu. (You could even spend the night here relaxing and taking in one of the most spectacular views in Peru. RECOMMENDED
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It is the first point to see Machu Picchu on the Sakantay Trek
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If you are lacking energy you can take the option of skipping them and going to Aguas Calientes via Santa Teresa where the hot springs are. The last 2 hours is a walk along the train line from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes. Give yourself plenty of time to get there before it gets dark and take mosquito spray with you. Dont forget some water. And watch out for trains. Find your hotel, book your bus for tomorrow and have another soak.
DAY 6 MACHU PICCHU to OLLANTAYTAMBO
Up very early to catch the bus up to Machu Picchu or walk if you're up for it. The gates open at 6 am so if you time it right you'll be at the front of the queue. It takes about 1½ hours tpo get there. Don't forget your water, headlamp, passport and tickets.
When you are ready catch the train to Ollantaytambo and spend a few days relaxing and having a bit of a look around. If you like, have another night in Aguas Calientes to relax and take it easy.
Fitness Level
Moderate to high due to the high altitude and steep ascents and descents - 9 / 10. Unless you are young and fit you should start a training regime up to 4 months beforehand including hiking in the mountains. Especially if you are going to be carrying camping and cooking gear.
If you go with a tour company it will be a lot easier as you won't have to carry heavy camping and cooking equipment. If you stay in hotels you won't have to carry it either.
If you're over 40 it wouldn't hurt to have a check up with your GP.
Don't forget to spend a few days in Cusco to acclimatise and do a practise hike at altitude.
Tips
Start your fitness training at least a month before you go and ideally start up to 4 months before.
Day 2 is the hardest
Sip water regularly when at altitude
You can buy water along the way
Safety
Acclimatise in Cusco for several days before you start
Don't push too hard in high altitudes
Stay hydrated
Check that your travel insurance covers high altitude trekking
Take walking poles
Eat & Drink
You can buy water along the way or get it out of the rivers and purify or filter it.
You can also get food along the way but it wouldn't hurt to carry some snacks, emergency reations and scroggin. (High energy hiking snack)
Flora & Fauna
Lush Rainforest, Cloud forest
Llamas, alpaccas, spectacled bears, vizcachas (squirrels), pumas, taruca (deer), Andean foxes, otters, coatis, raptors, hummingbirds, butterflies, condors, Andean Cock of the Rocks (Peru's National Bird), giant hummingbird, spiny whorltail iguanas, Optimus Prime lizard (named after the Transformers movie which was partially filmed here) and snakes
History
It is an ancient and remote Inca footpath. It is said that religious leaders took this route to Machu Picchu to bring them closer to God.
In more recent times it was used as a mule track to transport goods
Guided Tours
Books & Movies
You're bound to find some good books in this list
And an eclectic list of movies
Website
Souvenirs
Cusco is full of them and you won't have to carry them anywhere but home
Extra
See Brazil in "Countries" and South America in "Honeymoons".
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