Off To Do The Salkantay Trail To Machu Picchu

Mount Salkantay

In just four days my great friend Liz and I are going to Peru to do the Salkantay trail to Machu Picchu. We haven't trekked together since we walked from the Dead Sea to Petra a few years ago. We had great adventures then, drinking vodka shots with new found trekking friends, in the middle of a sandstorm in the Jordanian desert without a tent, since that was blown to the ground. So much swirling sand everywhere, like buckets of sand being thrown at you, but we still managed to party on! Petra was impressive, we made wonderful new friends, and sleeping outside on the sand in the desert is a memorable experience. But anyway, I digress and must talk about our upcoming trip to Peru.

The Salkantay trail is independent from but in the same region as the Inca Trail which also ends in Machu Picchu. The Salkantay trail gets its name from the Salkantay mountain, which is 6271 meters or 20,574 feet and the name means "savage mountain". The trek takes 7 days and is more difficult than the classic Inca Trail since it covers a longer distance and higher altitudes.

Salkantay Trail

We will fly to Peru on the 4rth of May and after an overnight stay in Lima, we will acclimatise for two days in Cusco (3400 meters or 11.154 feet) before descending to Mollepata (2900 meters or 9515 feet) to start the trek. The trail is an ancient and remote footpath that includes trekking through snowcapped mountains with descents through lush tropical forests, along the Vilcabamba mountain range. It also includes an ascent to the Salkantay pass (4638 meters of 15,213 feet) via the glacial ice and snowfields of mount Salkantay.  We will continue down through the forests into the rocky trails to  Machu Picchu where we will hike up the Huayna mountain to see the world famous views.

Machu Pichu

After two days in Machu Picchu, I will continue on to Lake Titicaca, which is the highest lake in the world (3812 meters or 12,507 feet) for a spot of kayaking.  My trip will finish in Lima where I will learn to cook Peruvian delicacies  and to sample as much as I can of the local delicacies with the help of a few well deserved piscou sours.

Lake Titicaca

Piscou Sour

I'll include my packing list right before we leave, for anyone who might be considering this trek in the future. Unfortunately, I had a little accident last week with my knee (many operations have passed for both knees with ACLs and meniscus issues) but fingers crossed, the Aztec Sun God is watching over me and the trek will only be a thoroughly enjoyable and exciting experience! Hopefully there will be working wifi in each of the hotels so you can follow our adventures in Peru.