The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

Salkantay Trek: Day 1 - 6/20, Peru

With a 4:00 am pickup time, we headed to the Andes Mountains to squash some goals, reach some heights and land at a final destination approximately 46 miles and four days later! The beauty that we have seen along the way is hard to put into words. Pictures and videos don’t quite capture it as the eye does but they are still insanely beautiful.

As we arrived in Peru at the start of winter, the temperatures in the evenings were freezing. At 29 degrees, with a sleeping bag and an extra blanket, the nights were long and sleep was short.

For elevation sickness, my sister and I came prepared with preventative meds for our lungs, zofran, motion patches and an arrival two days early for acclimating. However, on day one of the trek, elevation sickness hit us both as food digestion rapidly slows at high altitudes and causes some severe side effects.

Sky Camp: 12,795 feet

Humantay Lake: 13,780 feet

Humantay Mountain: 19,521 feet

Salkantay Trek: Day 2 - 6/21, Peru

We started Day 2 from Soraypampa where we stayed in the glass dome sky camps. As Soraypampa is located in the middle of a glacier valley, we headed up through the rocky valley base towards the second tallest mountain in the Cusco region, Salkantay Mountain. The cargo mules that carry the equipment, food and gear got a head start before us and headed to the next camp. (Don’t worry! These sweet babies are well taken care of and hooves are in pristine condition.)

On the way up, we survived the “Seven Snakes” switchbacks, the steep uphill grind that has zero forgiveness and we summited the Salkantay Mountain Pass.

On the way down, the landscape drastically changed and we entered Amazonia, also known as the Cloud Forest. From lunch until after dark, we descended through the jungle to our Andean huts in Chaullay.

Soraypampa: 12,795 feet

Salkantay Mountain Pass: 15,190 feet

Salkantay Mountain: 20,574 feet

Chaullay: 9,514 feet

Salkantay Trek: Day 3 - 6/22, Peru

On Day 3, we left Chaullay, our cozy Andean huts (although still freezing at night) and headed down the Santa Teresa River through the jungle! Throughout the mountains and on the trail, there were passion fruit plantations, corn crops and tiny shops for travelers like us passing through. We stopped for a snack in Winaypoqo and it was a delight. After carefully walking down a cliff to cross the river on a makeshift wooden bridge, we climbed our last ascent for the day. Before my sister and I left our friends to be on our way to our last stop, we visited a coffee plantation and stopped for lunch in Playa Sahuayaco.

Hands down Peru has the best ceviche ever!

After separating, we followed the Hydroelectrica tracks six more miles to Aguas Calientes. We arrived after dark and we both agree that trekking the tracks at night in Peru was fantastic! The little food stops next to the tracks definitely made the experience. The next morning, we arrived at our final destination!

Salkantay Trek: Day 4 - 6/23, Peru

On Day 4, we arrived at our final destination, MACHU PICCHU! 46 miles and 4 days later! The moment I saw it, I cried. It’s breathtaking. The time, the years, the sweat, the pain and the effort it took to get us here was worth this one sight! We arrived early in the morning to watch the Sun rise over the mountain tops!! I captured the most perfect picture/video!

Then…I almost fell off of a rock and died. Almost! My sister about lost her mind and is still shook. I was a little scared myself, but not too much to keep me from climbing one more peak: Huchuy Picchu Mountain. This is where I got the aerial view of the site!

Once we finished visiting Machu Picchu, it was time to return to Cusco and to home! This time though, we took transportation! We rode the train out of Aguas Calientes for two hours and then a two and a half hour van ride to Cusco from Ollantaytambo.

Huge thanks to our Salkantay Trekking guides, Saúl and Juanito! They made the trip a success. Also a huge shout out to our muleteer and chefs! The food was phenomenal and our gear always made it safely to camp!

I have included a before picture of us on the plane from Houston to Lima and an after picture on the plane from Lima to Houston! Makes us laugh! We were tired lol