Salkantay by your own 2023

The Salkantay trail is one of the hiking trails in the Cusco region that reach the Inca city of Machu Picchu. This alternate trek has a distance of approximately 75 kilometers and an altitude at its highest point on the route is 4620 masl at the Salkantay pass, which is why it is considered a difficult trek compared to other treks.

Location and Altitude

The Salkantay trail begins in the town of Soraypampa, which is located in the Mollepata district of the Anta province (Cusco) at an altitude of 3,800 meters above sea level.

Climate

The weather on the Salkantay trail is variable since there are sections through the mountains and they will also pass through the jungle, so the weather will depend on the area where they are located.

Route along the Salkantay Trail to Machu Picchu

The Salkantay trail lasts 4 to 5 days to reach Machu Picchu, however many travelers do it in four days, in this article I will give you all the information on the Salkantay trail in 4 days on your own, the first thing you have What to do is wake up very early and take a bus from Cusco to Mollepata. The bus can be found at the bus station in the ArcoTitica neighborhood, which is located northeast of the city of Cusco. The trip to Mollepata will take approximately 4 hours to arrive. to the town in mention in this place you can have a breakfast. 

Then you will have to take a transport to the town of Soraypampa, this is where your journey to Machu Picchu begins. Upon reaching Soraypampa you will start a walk towards the Humantay lagoon, which is only 1 hour and a half away.

The path will ascend until you reach the turquoise lagoon. After visiting it, you will return along the same path and you will arrive at the camp in Soraypampa, in this place you will pass the night.

On the second day after breakfast we return to the path to Machu Picchu and you will have to climb the Abra Salkantay at 4629 masl on the way you can take many breaks since the trek will be very demanding, upon reaching the Abra Salkantay you will have to take a light rest To contemplate the beautiful Salkantay mountain, you will immediately have to continue the walk, this time descending until you reach the Chaullay farmhouse. In this place you will have lunch, rest and spend the night.

On the third day the path will be less demanding, before restarting the path you should have a good breakfast since there will be no places to have a snack throughout the stretch, our first stop will be the place called La Playa, which is the lowest point all the way (2460 masl), then we will continue the way until we reach Santa Teresa where you can take a break and have lunch, immediately you will resume the walk this time along the railway towards the town of Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo) to the When you arrive you will have to look for a lodging to spend the night and rest.

On the last day you will visit Machu Picchu for which you should have reserved the entrance tickets to Machu Picchu, according to the schedule of your ticket you will board the bus from Aguas Calientes to the entrance gate to Machu Picchu, before entering you must take the service of a tour guide or also look for a group of tourists so that the cost of the guide is cheaper for you, the guide will take you through the most important places of the Inca city of Machu Picchu for a time of 2 hours and a half, then you will have time to explore Machu Picchu on your own, back to the town of Aguas Calientes you can have lunch in the market of the same name to save money, then according to the schedule of your train ticket you will board the train that will take you to the town of Ollantaytambo the trip is about 2 hours, when you arrive in Ollantaytambo you must take the bus back to the city of Cusco.

Salkantay Trail on your own or by agency

The Salkantay Trail is an alternate trek to the well-known Inca Trail since on many occasions availability cannot be found, for which the Salkantay Trail was opened, it is advisable to hire the service of a tourism agency since they already have all the equipment to carry out this 4 day trek.

What to bring for the Salkantay Trail

It is recommended to bring the following items for this trek

• trekking shoes
• trekking poles
• Camping equipment (matras tents)
• Appropriate clothing for the cold (hat, socks, scarves and wool sweater)
• Insect repellent and sunscreen.
• Hand sanitizer.
• Water purifying tablets.
• Lanterns and solar chargers