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As we were saying, the Salkantay Trek is a top alternative if you can’t find tickets for the Classic 4-day Inca Trail when you’re on vacation. Also, it is a perfect hike on its very own, an unforgettable adventure which crosses mountains, forests, lakes until arriving at Machu Picchu, the ancient Inca hilltop citadel.
Here are some of the Salkantay Trek highlights waiting for all adventure-loving visitors:
- It’s a 52 kilometers (32.31 miles) hike.
- You will walk 6 to 7 hours a day among the Andean wilderness.
- The trek approaches and make a stop in front of the mighty Salkantay snowy, located at 4,620 meters above sea level (15,157 feet), for incredible sightings and pictures.
- The beautiful Humantay lagoon is part of the Salkantay Trek. It’s a new, trendy, paradisiac spot at 4,200 masl (13,779 feet)!
Next, we’re going to break down our insider tips for this amazing Salkantay Trek, covering all the areas you need to know about in order to have the best hike ever across the Andean heights. Check and keep in mind our really valuable insider tips!
Physical Preparation
Know that the Salkantay Trek is a total of 52 kilometers, across altitudes reaching more than 4,000 meters (13,123 feet approx)… so you must be in adequate physical shape. Here are the insider tips for you to be ok hiking toward Machu Picchu:
- Back at home, do 5 to 6 hours of walks, 2 or 3 times a week, in preparation. Carry a backpack weighing 5 kilograms (11lbs approx.) and also, very important, bring the hiking boots you’ll wear for the hike. Your feet will get used to them and this avoids painful blisters. If you have uneven, difficult terrain available, it’s better.
- Another good one among physical insider tips for the Salkantay Trek is exercising, particularly routines that will strengthen your legs and improve the respiratory system.
- Finally, in this section of insider tips, it’s all for the good if you are on proper weight. If not, shedding the required pounds will be great: you will increase stamina and the heart will pump easily for much more time.
Clothing
This is a central element for a good Salkantay Trek preparation. Imagine hiking on high altitudes across icy winds without the proper gear! So next we are going to get you well-dressed for the adventure with our insider tips:
- Sun hat or cap, also a woolen, warm hood
- Sunglasses.
- Warm scarf.
- Woolen gloves.
- Warm, stuffed, windproof jackets.
- Sweaters.
- Polyester t-shirts (they dry quickly and do not stick to the body).
- Nylon pants (better if convertible to shorts, as the Salkantay Trek approaches Machu Picchu weather gets warmer).
- Soft, hiking socks.
- Hiking boots (waterproof and remember, give them some use prior to avoid blisters!)
- Warm sleepwear for nights at the campsite. You must have a stuffed sleeping bag; if not, we have them for rent.
- Finally, there are two hot springs, not included, one in Santa Teresa and another in Machu Picchu village (Aguas Calientes). In this case, also bring a towel, bathing suit and sandals.
Food and Beverages
No problem, we will keep you well-fed during the Salkantay Trek. The tour includes 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners, and also lunch on the 5th day. Special or vegetarian/vegan diets are also available upon request, at no additional charge. We also provide snacks like fruits and energy bars daily.
Talking insider tips, the good one here is bringing your own flask, sugar, and bags of coca leaves tea; we provide hot, boiled water every day and you can take the flask along the path. Coca leaves tea is a millenary Andean trick to fight cold, hunger, tiredness, and altitude sickness. And naturally, if you want to smuggle extra canned food, energy bars, fruits, etc because you’re a survivalist, it’s ok for us if you feel better this way!
Miscellaneous
And last but not least, here on our insider tips for the Salkantay Trek, comes the box where we throw things we know will be useful at some moment…
- Sunblock: mandatory, especially as the Salkantay Trek gets closer to Machu Picchu, which is at the border of the Cusco Amazon
- Bug repellent: also mandatory among Salkantay Trek insider tips, for when the hike turns downwards heading to the jungle
- Cash in Peruvian currency (sol): for expenses not included, like buying souvenirs, typical clothes, entrance tickets to the hot springs, and similars. Also, it is customary to tip helpers groupally, like porters, kitchen personnel, and guides.
- Don’t ever forget your passport! You will need it more than once
- Travel insurance: we strongly recommend you buy one. It provides many advantages and adds a lot of safety and troubleshooting to your vacation
Finally, if you want to do the amazing Huayna Picchu hike on day 5 of the Salkantay Trek, it must be booked separately with us, at an additional cost
So, these are the insider tips for our Salkantay Trek, one of the spectacular routes available in Cusco to get to Machu Picchu, the vacation retreat of Inca royalty back in the day. Talk to our travel professionals and give yourself this unforgettable experience!
