Congrats, you decided that your next trip will be to Peru! You will experience traditions and cultures that are totally new to you. Imagine being part of ancestral festivities that are still celebrated today in Peru. You’ll be living new experiences every moment; every corner has something amazing waiting for you to be discovered. Now it is time to start planning your trip in this amazing country full of cultural history, breathtaking nature, unforgettable adventures and a gastronomy to die for.
There are several ways to travel to Machu Picchu. The most popular is the train, a rather expensive though beautiful journey leading you all the way from the Cusco Andes over the Sacred Valley to the cloud jungle of Machu Picchu. For the backpackers there is also the option to travel by car a long and sometimes bumpy road leads to a small place at only 3 hours walking from Machu Picchu town. This way you can travel on a budget and you will be able to explore Machu Picchu in only 2 days’ time starting from Cusco. But the real adventurous souls and nature lovers, they choose a trekking to Machu Picchu! Nothing is more beautiful and rewarding than arriving at Machu Picchu after days of trekking through the Andes and pre-jungle of Peru.
All tours and treks to Machu Picchu start from Cusco, also known as the Imperial Capital of Peru. Cusco is one of the busiest tourist epicenters in all of Peru. The most famous trekking is probably the Classic Inca Trail which is a perfect choice for everyone who want to follow the footsteps of the Inca. But this is also the most expensive trail and permits can be sold out months in before because of its popularity. There are also other trails such as the Inka Jungle Trail, the Lares Trail and the Huchuy Qosqo trail. But the most spectacular and affordable trail is without any doubt the Salkantay trail!
The Salkantay trail will take you to some remote areas to offer you an opportunity to get closer to nature and enjoy the pristine beauty of the area. Far-flung villages with a variety of different cultures and lifestyles, virgin forests with exotic plants and animals, hidden mountain valleys, rivers and waterfalls are only some highlights of your tour. The trail can sometimes be a bit rough and steep. The region features an incredible range of landscapes of mountains and glaciers terrain. You will walk through scenarios of grazing llamas, alpacas and even vicunas.
The Salkantay trail starts from the city of Cusco. As Cusco is located at an altitude of 3400 masl, it is highly recommended to take minimum 24 hours to acclimatize in Cusco before starting any trek. We recommend you to take another full day after your arrival in Cusco to further acclimatize and of course to have the opportunity to explore Cusco a bit further! This will give you the opportunity to get to know the amazing city of Cusco. There is so much to see and do in Cusco: the Temple of the Sun, the beautiful central square Plaza De Armas, the surrounding ruins, the vibrant night life, the local cuisine, the Sacred Valley of the Incas nearby, the historical museums, etc. After ending your trail you’ll come back to Cusco, from where you will be able to continue your travels in Peru the next day!
There are uncountable reasons that the Salkantay trail became the 2nd most popular trail in all of Peru! Here is our selection of the 8 best reasons:
You’ll visit the Humantay lake on the first day of the Salkantay trail. This Andes Lake is a turquoise mirror at an altitude of 5473 masl! Our first camping site is located at only 2 hours walking from this lake. The terrain is a bit rough but the walk to the lake is totally worth it and you’ll enjoy the freshest air on the way. You’ll see herds of alpacas and llamas and if you are a bit lucky you can even see condors in the sky. Be amazed when the lake comes into view, at the foot of the Salkantay mountain and in the middle of the Vilcabamba mountain range.
After a first day trekking, you totally deserve to relax and enjoy a good night’s rest. Our Andean Sky huts are just perfect. Did you ever observe the stars in a place without any light contamination? It is just amazing; you can even see the milky way if it is a clear night. The huts have a glass roof so you will be able to enjoy the fullest, all of this in the midst of the Andes mountains. Worried that the other nights will be much less? Of course not! You’ll sleep every night in our spacious quality tents. And because it can get pretty cold the second night, we even place them in our special Andean Huts!
If you are travelling around Peru on a budget, then the Salkantay trail to Machu Picchu is the perfect trail for you!! Our prices are just unbeatable and it is impossible finding these prices for the Inca Trail or alternative trails such as the Lares trail. We offer a package with all transport and train, professional bilingual guidance, accommodations, food, entrance fee, etc. included. Beside we also make sure to offer a first aid kit and we bring satellite phones with us so we can reach help in case of an emergency.
There are countless hot springs in Peru. Maybe you heard some sad stories of people getting disappointed in the hot springs of Machu Picchu town or the hot springs in the north of Peru because the water is pretty cold and they are not so beautifully located. These people for sure haven’t visited the hot springs of Cocalmayo in the district of Santa Teresa. The baths are located in the middle of a beautiful landscape of sub-tropical jungle. They are consisting of large pools with crystalline water have a temperature between 38 – 45 degrees Celsius. These medicinal waters are attributed healing properties for skin problems, rheumatism or joint pain, being at the same time a natural source of hydromassage and relaxation. It is the perfect place to relax your muscles on the 4th day of the trekking.
For sure you will enjoy the stunning scenery during your Salkantay trail! You’ll pass through a great variety of micro climates what will make this trail always interesting and never boring. You go all the way from the snowy and cold mountain peaks, over the cloud forests to the warm sub-tropical jungle where the floral splendour and exotic plants will amaze you. During spring, you’ll probably see giant orchid forests in full bloom. But it is not only the flora that is very impressive, also the fauna is incredible, you’ll see many types of wild birds, alpacas, llamas and vicuñas. Make sure to bring your cell phone or camera (and an extra external charger or batteries) to be able to take some pictures of the amazing landscapes you will walk through.
The most popular trail to Machu Picchu, the Inca Trail can get sold out months in advance. That also means it can get very busy. Although that also on the Salkantay trail there are always several groups walking, you will almost not see any other people except for the people and the guide of your own small group. The Salkantay trail covers a very extensive area which allows you to enjoy the natural beauty on the way while breathing in the cleanest air possible. You will get to appreciate the route the fullest!
With the Salkantay you will experience the Andes the way they should be experienced! If you stay on the beaten paths just visiting the touristic highlights while coming to Peru, you’ll miss a great part of the Peruvian culture and landscapes. The best way to really experience the true Andes, is by doing a trek of several days through it. Beside the breathtaking landscapes you’ll also walk through some small local communities. It is without any doubt fascinating to see how people live there without access to electricity and still using traditional farming methods.
It can be pretty hard to carry all your luggage by yourself, that includes your clothes, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, etc. etc. On the Salkantay trail it is possible to give 7 kg per person personal luggage to our horses and mules who will carry this for you from camping to camping. This way you will support the local horsemen who make a living out of this and you will be able to enjoy the trail much more without having to carry a heavy backpack. We do recommend to bring your own daypack with you so you can bring a bottle of water, some snacks and a rain jacket during the day.
For more information about our Salkantay package of 5 days and 4 nights, contact us at our email info@machupicchutrekkingperu.com, Whatsapp or Facebook. We are happy to send you more information!
Are you coming to Peru but are you rather interested in other tours and another type of package? Also don’t doubt to contact us, we are happy to send you more information about our other ready-made travel proposals or to make you a personalized package!
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