Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu: My 5-Day Adventure Review

So, you’re thinking of hiking the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, too it’s almost like stepping into a dream? Very cool! Maybe you’re doing research trying to decide if it’s a decent option for you, right? I recently finished the five-day Salkantay experience, and let me tell you, as I was saying, it was seriously amazing. Not going to sugarcoat anything; this trail is rather challenging, too it’s almost like you’re pushing yourself to your limits, but in a pretty good way, definitely. It provides more gorgeous views and cultural moments than you could possibly deal with, honestly. That said, allow me to basically walk you through my days on the route, sharing tips, suggestions, and basically what to anticipate if you decide to do the trek yourself.

Why Choose the Salkantay Trek?

First things first: there are quite a few ways to reach Machu Picchu, as a matter of fact, the rather famous Inca Trail, so I’ve heard, yet many people are now picking the Salkantay Trek. As a matter of fact, the permits for the Inca Trail are nearly sold out months in advance. So, very much of a nightmare scenario, too it’s almost like winning the lottery, or something. The Salkantay Trek basically gives you, you know, an absolutely less crowded and possibly wilder option, just a little. It’s also more cost-effective, more or less making it a good option for folks who want some flexibility or maybe a pretty amazing adventure that won’t break the bank, so to speak. You actually hike past snow-capped mountains and possibly into lush jungles, basically seeing loads of ecosystems in just five days, almost unbelievably.

The Salkantay trek also features this sense of immersion into the culture, kind of getting to hang out with local families in rural communities, which is quite nice. Is that right? It might almost deepen the feeling you get on the trek when you feel linked with this area’s old legacy, so I’ve read, anyway. Therefore, when selecting my trip to Machu Picchu, that did greatly appeal to me, right. So, with those selling points, are you still interested? Next, I’ll basically break out what happened to me each day, so to speak.

Day 1: Cusco to Soraypampa – Getting Started

Everything kind of gets going extremely early, which I think is typical of, literally, anything going from Cusco, Peru. Okay? Most tours begin in Cusco and typically pick you up in the early hours of the morning from your accommodation to almost beat the traffic when they can. That said, the first point on the agenda involved a scenic ride to Soraypampa. I remember thinking that would basically take three to four hours on winding mountain roads, literally going up really slowly, or something. After arriving, as I was saying, the very first part of trekking starts; almost, you know, it’s mainly just acclimating. It’s just a slow ascent with amazing vistas, sort of introducing yourself, in some respects, to the Andes landscape, that. So, this day kind of wasn’t quite so taxing as other days might prove, that said, it’s almost like breathing got harder given the elevation, which I quickly understood, just a little. Basically, the hike lasted probably a bit around seven kilometers, and after reaching Soraypampa camp for the night, well there was still a certain majesty of these snow-capped peaks and, arguably, it’s where you rest to be set for the second day!

Day 2: Soraypampa to Salkantay Pass – The Big Challenge

So, Day Two? Arguably, Day Two serves as the most taxing day. Alright. Typically, it gets going very early and that’s important; after all, to reach the highest spot is not the simplest of feats for people, you know. A slow, yet steady hike basically got us to the Salkantay Pass which measures approximately 4,600 meters (15,091 feet), as a matter of fact! Typically, the increase makes breathing extremely tricky, right, therefore going slowly and continuously really matters, really. Once you, like your group makes it at the highest spot, naturally you feel sort of a feeling of triumph and satisfaction since you got that far, right? Then, so to speak, it offers beautiful vistas which you have to record, or anything. It’s as a reminder of nature’s strength, right? Later on, it is that the course declines to Huayracmachay in which you are probably going to find warmer temperatures given the decrease in the altitude.

By the way, trekking almost covers around twelve kilometers over very diverse terrains, as a matter of fact. Well this provides plenty of bodily difficulty; at the end, as I was saying, it gives off this rewarding sensation of achievement when pushing over a tough objective or anything. By night, naturally, one would crash, of course, really giving you, like your well earned sleep after all the days’ problems, more or less. That, or not.

Day 3: Huayracmachay to La Playa – Entering the Cloud Forest

Actually, you get an opportunity on the third day of Salkantay Trail of changing surroundings to greener, richer lands, more or less; unlike the prior ones that might seem almost like winter scenarios! Usually the distance covers around sixteen kilometers through rich forests that slowly transition towards tropical jungles as one makes their way across, or something. Okay? During the walking excursion, right there are likely hot springs on course that travelers could, for example, pause to basically chill after days spent on their legs and appreciate nature. After all, there’s nothing quite like relaxing into warm bubbling spring set far amid magnificent mountains.

Additionally, so I’ve heard it is a very educational journey in relation of local floras, too it’s almost like, you know, one learns medicinal herbs along with getting information through regional plant usages that local guides have typically provided them with that type knowledge and have been kind enough for basically letting folks know its usage so everyone can gain benefits. Arguably, as it draws shut closer or when darkness starts setting on day, as I was saying, everybody stays located in a village area that basically lets them, for example, understand just a little with local existence given those more intimate relations or anything—quite special at some stage! All of this means everyone appreciates culture more while seeing another face out where folks, apparently, maintain strong linkages going together since far back which seems just priceless given their time or energy in those areas. Well these events assist very lot whenever travelers try perceiving different facets to living given their adventure far in mountains located faraway coming near the most sacred spot in them called Machu Picchu almost seems quite like one magical occurrence after a few sun powered durations.

Day 4: La Playa to Aguas Calientes – The Final Stretch

Alright, now we move closer near to the point of arriving after nearly, sort of, any amount, by contrast through landscapes or regions around. As I was saying, typically walking entails going upward by stages to the village called Llactapata! Arguably it shows very early peeks onto exactly the majestic site in consideration as they might possibly find, very, Machu Picchu! What you will enjoy over places when they come into them on top by stages or anything! As a matter of fact these sorts of sites show ancient legacies for societies over time while offering a number points for recording scenes using gear when capturing moments! So the road generally continues along parts where things generally feel just at any common urban locality right toward to those areas from where those site appear situated in and they start getting close and everybody basically gears toward them or when lights could suddenly dim right following to these moments! It also feels fairly thrilling particularly during intervals close prior getting over sites that travelers have generally walked, nearly always by way trails over several prior periods when these had, pretty much, taken much longer stretches out on rugged surfaces for getting or reaching the thing, that is for everyone by there at any moment, just to be inside them, or just witness such beautiful things by self!

Day 5: Machu Picchu – The Grand Finale

Next, obviously, is the day everyone is apparently thrilled concerning or getting the greatest view. Okay? The very prior step to the city takes quite something else or might seem quite exciting while everything moves towards some spot particularly upon where you might almost grasp that magical ancient location where old peoples made and created monuments far ago which would continue standing until some distant day, like now. Now! You finally arrive almost closer during moments inside it, therefore! Usually I find its magnitude kind or giving the ability bringing silence by me at least because something happens almost quickly that can bring such thing even. You can use most part through watching by corners also sites with guidance if everyone finds such plan fitting inside these place so you can witness how places functioned plus just witness legacies inside locations throughout days when others once had this location so close.

Furthermore people that wish may move over peak called Huayna Picchu but those spots require that kind bookings prior even approaching Machu given capacity over them generally get stuffed fully prior or there might just might be almost spots available whenever approaching such type destinations within such particular destination generally over all!

Essential Tips for the Salkantay Trek

• Acclimatize Properly: Stay in Cusco for at least two to three days before starting the trek. Drink loads of water and that is extremely necessary, just a little.
• Pack Light: So, very stick with what you, like your body seriously needs. You will seriously appreciate every single ounce, alright.
• Hire a Good Guide: Seriously a great guide basically adds tons to the experience. You know? They basically know the route, know all of that history, just a little, and give you a lift when going gets pretty harsh, of course, basically.
• Bring Snacks: Usually there could happen to seem longer spans than foreseen or predicted when eating, it almost turns that cases as fairly required ones right when energy gets more out for walking purposes plus not less or fewer in some spots and things seem harder also.
• Dress in Layers: Basically, what can happen to these sorts of altitudes often will find things ranging more towards hotter sides plus colder sort therefore pack using things fitting easily which enables comfort easily irrespective during any period provided from outdoors from over hills.

Is the Salkantay Trek Right for You?

So, in my book, seriously the Salkantay Trek seems truly outstanding. To sum up, are you seeking pretty a hard hike filled up from beautiful mountain landscapes while exploring, potentially? If all that appears pretty much your thing for journeys! Okay? Plus maybe you hope or dream doing that without costing excessive expense like typical expensive traditional routes usually may incur; maybe here everything basically becomes fairly worthwhile plus enjoyable or any of their adventure throughout some stages there, more or less!

Salkantay Trek FAQ

Hopefully that kind experience is kind helpful or brings value whether just or getting information that can lead a next adventure!