Salkantay Trek is considered one of the most popular multi-day hikes in Peru, which allows tourists to travel from Cusco to Aguas Calientes, which is the gateway to Machu Picchu. Besides, choosing this trek is also a great option for people, who want to experience the beautiful scenery of the Peruvian Andes and want to explore a diversified landscape and nature, which gradually reveals some beautiful views. And the conclusion of this trip is one of the main highlights of South America, which is Machu Picchu.
So, the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu offers you a great scope to get back to nature, when you will walk for several hours regularly in an impressive area without sharing the experience with many other tourists. This is one of the quietest trails in Peru that you can visit and you can enjoy some magnificent views throughout the trek.
How to plan your Salkantay trek?
Cusco- Mollepata- Soraypampa:
The total destination of these three places is 13km. Mollepata is situated at 2900 meters above sea level. And from there you have to hike to the altitude of 4200 meters. Hiking from Mollepata to Soraypampa is a nice and even walk where you will be enjoying some beautiful views. The first-day tour ends with a trek to Humantay Lake where you have to ascend to almost 300 meters.
Soraypampa- Salkantay Pass- Huayramachay- Collapampa:
The total destination of these four places is 24km. Here you have to start from Soraypampa to arrive at Pra Salkantay which is the highest point elevated at 4630 meters. And the best thing about this tour is here you have to look over the complete valley and you will get to see the beautiful snow-capped mountains. After reaching Soirococha, you need to walk up steeply to Pra Salkantay. And this is a heavy part. Once you reach there, you have to continue your trek to the Amazon jungle and the final stop for the day will be at Collpapampa.
Collpapampa- La Playa- Santa Terrasa:
The total destination of these three places is 14km. And this is the easiest part of the trek where you will be enjoying the view of some beautiful waterfalls and some unique species of plants.
Santa Teresa- Hidroelectryc- Aguas Calientes:
The total destination of these three places is 19km. In this trek, you have to walk past different fields where coffee and cocoa are grown and beautiful waterfalls. On this day, the last destination will be Aguas Calientes, which is a village situated near Machu Picchu from where you will get a glimpse of the lost city.
Aguas Calientes- Machu Picchu- Ollantaytambo- Cusco:
This is the last day of your trek and on this day, you have to cover the total destination of 4km. On this day, you have to start by experiencing a beautiful sunrise at Machu Picchu. After that, you will continue on the Machu Picchu tours where you will be able to visit the temples, palaces, priest houses, and other important constructions. After completing this trek, you can also explore this beautiful city independently.
When is the best time to go for the Salkantay Trek?
With the right preparation, you can go for the Salkantay Trek any time of year. The official dry season for visiting this trek begins from May to October. And during this period, you will have a great chance to enjoy sunny days and clear skies. You will find more hikers in July and August and then the costs will skyrocket. On the contrary, hiking is a hit and miss between November to April as the rainy season continues.
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