The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

I'm not sure we knew what we were getting ourselves into; we rarely hike at home for an afternoon let alone 5 days of camping and 82km of hiking at altitude, but we were up for the challenge (we had to be, we'd already paid our money!). There are many options for getting to Machu Picchu but we chose the Salkantay trek for the diversity, the scenery and duration; it did not disappoint. Just to put things into perspective, the highest mountain in Alberta is Mount Colombia at about 3,750 meters...

Day 1 - 4:30am pickup and 3 hour drive to a little town called Mollepata where we started our trek (at 2,900m). The landscape was pretty and the hike was relatively easy except for a few steep, muddy "short-cuts" that the guides took us through. We arrived to our campsite in a little village called Soraypampa (3,850m) around 5pm and immediately bundled in all of the clothes we had packed for the trek - it was cold, even for the only two Canadians in the group!

 

arriving to camp on the first day

Day 2 - We were forewarned that this would be the hardest day of the trip, ascending to 4,600m and hiking about 21kms in total. Essentially we ascended for 3 hours to reach Salkantay then descended for 5 hours, which did a real number on my knees. With about an hour & a half left of the descent, I gave in an hired a mule to carry me the rest of the way which was a fun change of pace :) By the time we reached our camp in a village called Challway (2,900m) we were out of the snow and into the jungle.

Salkantay Mountain

Day 3 - We hiked for about 6 hours in a warmer, more jungle-like terrain and ended in the early afternoon for some 'free time' in the town of Santa Teresa. We spent the afternoon soaking our aching muscles and blisters in the crystal clear hotsprings - what a God-send!

 

Day 4 - We walked along the railroad tracks from a town called "Hydroelectric" to "Aguas Caliente" for about 3 hours, stopping for lunch along the way. My blistered feet were very relieved to make it to Aguas Caliente, and our aching muscles were grateful for a hot shower & a bed! We ate a big dinner with our group and celebrated being at the gateway to Machu Picchu with a beverage before calling it an early night to prepare for an early rise.

 

 

Day 5 - At 5am we began climbing the old Inca stairs up the side of the mountain to get to Machu Picchu; 45 minutes later we arrived just in time for sunrise. What a sight! Photos do not do it justice; it is really an incredible place

 

 

 

 

spent!

I've included a link to the full photo album from our trek for anyone interested :) click here: Salkantay Trek