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But the trek is considered crowded, many visitors complain about mass processing. Individual tourists cannot go alone to the Inca Trail, everyone must join an organized tour. Often, walking permits, a maximum of 500 per day, months before running out.
Fortunately, many roads lead to Machu Picchu. Of these, the Salkantay Trek 5 Days is perhaps the most spectacular alternative to the classic route prize 25 best treks in the world national geographic salkantay : the four to five day walk is 68 kilometers one and a half kilometers longer than the Inca Trail. And it takes up to 4630 meters above sea level, which is higher than the Matterhorn.
On the second day, there are another 830 meters high: up to the pass under the Salkantay (6271 meters) with its huge ice fields. Here it could be very cold and stormy, says Chuchullo Loayza, in the Peruvian winter from June to August, the snow on the pass could be meters high.
A day and a half later and 2700 lower vertical meters: overcrowding. The trek ends in Aguas Calientes, where the majority of Machu Picchu 2 day tours from cusco visitors spend the night.
There are numerous Salkantay Trek FAQs, here you will find the most important and the difference of Salkantay Trek 4 or 5 days .
The individual stages at a glance
The individual stages at a glance
Stage 1: Mollepata (2900 meters) - Laguna de Umantai (4200 meters) - Soraypampa (3860 meters), 18 kilometers
The mountain town of Mollepata is the traditional starting point for the Salkantay trek. Here, hikers can stock up on food, rent a donkey or porters. Many tour operators from Cusco travel by bus to Challancha at 3360 meters above sea level. From there, the trail climbs steeply, then flattens out after about half an hour and drives along a centuries-old Inca Canal to the camps on the Soraypampa plateau. 300 meters above is the Umantai glacier lagoon with a direct view of a peak of five thousand meters. Not only is it worth seeing, but the ascent also helps hikers adjust their heights.
Stage 2: Soraypampa (3860 meters) - Salkantay Pass (4630 meters) - Chaullay (2900 meters), 23 kilometers
Early in the morning, the groups begin the ascent to the highest point of the walk to avoid the heat. After about an hour, the streamers wind down a steep slope. This is followed by a level, and finally the final ascent of approximately half an hour to the step. Reward: a panoramic view of snowy peaks of five and six thousand meters. Then it goes downhill, first to the Huayracmachay plateau at almost 4000 meters, and finally to the mountain village of Chaullay with cabins and camps.
Stage 3: Chaullay (2900 meters) - La Playa (2130 meters), 15 kilometers
Along the Santa Terese River, the route continues downhill, and the road is getting warmer and warmer. After about two hours of walking, fruit orchards appear on the left side. In small stalls along the way, vendors offer avocado and granadillas sandwiches, sweet fruits and passion fruit. In the coffee plantations of La Playa, many take their lunch, some also stay here. If you want to save a day, you can go directly from La Playa by bus to the Hydroelectric station. From here, a tourist train (more expensive) goes to Aguas Calientes, the starting point for a visit to Machu Picchu.
Stage 4: The Beach (2130 meters) - Llactapata (2500 meters) - Hydroelectric (1770 meters) - Aguas Calientes (1900 meters), 12 to 23 kilometers
First, go downhill down the Santa Teresa Valley, then return to the Llactapata pass and finally go down to a hydroelectric power station. From the train station next to the Hydroelectric, two tourist trains leave for Aguas Calientes in the afternoon. Those who want to save $ 30 and enjoy the varied nature, can walk the tracks another 11 kilometers to Aguas Calientes. Along the way there are beautiful views of the mountains around Machu Picchu.
Stage 5: Aguas Calientes (1900 meters) - Machu Picchu (2440 meters), 4 kilometers
The standard means of transportation to the Inca city is the bus. But more and more visitors are running the last part. The road crosses the forest, constantly high and can be slippery in the rain. It ends right at the main entrance of Machu Picchu. Those who wish to walk higher in the city in ruins can climb the Sonnentor (2745 meters) or the mountains Huayna Picchu (2720 meters) and Machu Picchu (3082 meters).
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