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For time reasons, I couldn’t book the Classic 4-Day Inca Trail! But I was lucky enough anyway because I chose instead the Salkantay Snowy trek to Machu Picchu, a 5-day “mission” across the highest paths of the Andes and the jungle border. Here is my account of this truly amazing adventure!
Day 1.
Very early, between 4:00 and 4:30 am, we got up and boarded the bus for a 3-hour ride until the Mollepata village (you can continue sleeping or relaxing on this bus). After an energizing breakfast the challenge began… we walked out of the village and got into the open wilderness: unpaved, rocky, steep paths but always surrounded by the mighty beauty of the Andean landscape of a blue, cloudy sky ceiling, lush vegetation and the massive mountain chain.
As we ascended, the long Apurimac canyon became fully visible and on the horizon the majestic Humantay snowy appeared. Also, we passed along the typical fauna of the region, free llamas and alpacas which were a delightful sight and made great pictures. Finally we arrived at the Soraypampa village, 3.900 meters above sea level, the place for our camp. There we were already able to see the mighty Salkantay Snowy, a mammoth mountain deemed sacred by the ancient Incas. We spent night 1 at the campsite.
Mighty beauty of the Andean landscape of a blue of the mountain chain.
Day 2.
At 6.00 am we got up for a reinvigorating breakfast and hit the path again, hiking along the mountains’ side with the massive Salkantay Snowy on sight. This was the glorious day when we got to the Salkantay Snowy pass at a victorious 4.630 meters above sea level, the closest spot to the mighty mountain. Amazing watching, natural energy flow and pictures-taking time! After some 5 hours of upwards hiking, we had lunch in Huayracmachay and then resumed the trek downhill for some 3 hours until our Chaullay campsite, to spend night 2.
Day 3.
We gradually left the Salkantay Snowy behind and the trek continues mainly downhill, as we entered the Western border of the Peruvian jungle. There everything changes: the climate is warmer, the path turns entirely to green allowing us to enjoy the rich, beautiful flora of the region and we hiked along the rocky, pleasantly hissing Santa Teresa river. Day 3 is an approximately 15 km trek across all this subtropical relaxing, healthy, mind-clearing beauty, perfect for adventure videos and pictures. Finally we spent night 3 in La Playa, at our campsite.
Day 4.
It was a roughly 10 km trek this day, across the jungle border seeing many varied plantations, the awesome Santa Teresa valley behind us and hiking by the wide Vilcanota river. What a wonderful, energetic, relaxing region this subtropical jungle is! So different than urban agitation! Day 4 of the Salkantay Snowy trek ended up at the famous Machu Picchu Hydroelectric, from where we took a train to the Aguas Calientes village, which is next to the Machu Picchu sanctuary citadel. We spent the night there at a hotel.
Road to the famous Machu Picchu hydroelectric plant, where we take the train to Aguas Calientes
Day 5.
Again we were hiking up, this time very early in the morning to be able to watch the magnificent sunrise, from Aguas Calientes village to the Machu Picchu site itself! I took the additional, optional chance of doing the Huayna Picchu hike, it’s the taller of the two mountains which can be seen on any Machu Picchu picture. It was really a great experience for I walked up along Inca ruins, the view and peaceful feeling at the summit indeed not possible to be put into words. After coming back down, we had an unforgettable 2-hour professionally guided tour of the citadel, visiting and being really well taught about all the important places and Inca culture.
Finally, we had free time to spend in Aguas Calientes village, where I had a delicious lunch, could buy wonderful typical Andean souvenirs and last but not least, enjoyed 100% the renowned thermal baths, a perfect grand finale to get completely back from the physical strain of the Salkantay Snowy trek. I even ordered a drink taken to my pool, for celebrating this unique adventure.
Finally the best, the citadel of Machu Picchu
Final Remarks
- I would advise people to prefer this Salkantay Snowy trek on dry season, which is from April to October in Cusco, because I have also been there on rain season and the showers, although brief, are really heavy and sometimes there is hail. It can be done on rain season if you’re looking for an even more challenging excursion!
- You will need to be on a good level of physical fitness and mental strength, because the rarified air on the highlands and the hiking will take some toll no matter what, but of course you can have breaks for rest and drink coca leaves tea for energy and resistance, an old Andean trick.
- Lastly, the Salkantay Snowy trek to Machu Picchu includes everything: defying terrain and weather, unmatched cardiovascular exercise, breathtaking landscapes, amazing animals, vegetation and flowers, highlands and jungle border, typical villages, archaeological sites, real peace of mind and so on.
Thus, go to Cusco so you can say “mission accomplished” and become a truly elite hiker! I certainly recommend TOUR IN PERU for booking the most challenging one in Peru, the Salkantay Snowy trek to Machu Picchu!
