About

• Features

  This route is a half-circuit of Salkantay (6,271 meters above sea level), the highest peak in the Vilcabamba mountain range, which is a series of steep valleys surrounding Machu Picchu. The first half of the route is a walk through grasslands typical of the high-altitude Andes region while looking upon Salkantay. Its elevation is as high as 3,500 to 4,500 meters above the forest limit, allowing trekkers to enjoy the view to the fullest. After the midpoint of the elevation drop, trekkers enter the temperate rainforest, where orchids and other flowers blooming in the trees, wild birds, and other abundant nature are in full view. The dynamic change in views and nature from the Andean plateau to the temperate rainforest makes this route even more fascinating!

• History

  Salkantay Trail connects Cusco, the capital of the Inca empire, with Machu Picchu. Like the Inca Trail, it is a route taken by the Incas. While the Inca Trail mostly follows the ruins, Salkantay Trail passes at an altitude of nearly 5,000 meters. The reason for taking this harsher route is that Salkantay Trail was a route used by religious leaders who believed that walking at higher altitudes would bring them closer to god.

• Nature

  The temperate rainforests from the middle and later periods were formed by water flowing from the glaciers of Salkantay. People predating the Inca civilization realized that the presence of high peaks with ice and snow created rich forests. This high peak was then called “Apu,” meaning “spirit,” and was revered. Salkantay is called "Apu Salkantay" to this day and is revered as a sacred mountain by the local people. With Salkantay in the background, Lake Humantay shines in turquoise blue. The contrast with the perpetual snow on the mountain surface is beautiful.

• Salkantay Trail is one of the popular routes from Cusco, the capital of Peru, to Machu Picchu, and is sometimes referred to as another Inca Trail. Like the Inca Trail, which shares the same start and end points, it is not difficult to book several months in advance, and there are fewer tourists, so it is easier to enjoy the trekking itself. This route features higher altitudes than the Inca Trail, passing through majestic mountains and reaching 4,650 meters at its highest point, Salkantay Pass. Although there are no ruins along the 74-km route like the Inca Trail, it is still the same pilgrimage route to Machu Picchu that the Inca people walked and that has been passed down since ancient times. Salkantay is the highest peak in the Vilcabamba mountain range, and trekkers can feel its power up close from the route. Not only Salkantay, but also other high peaks line the route, resulting in an outstanding view of the mountainous area. There are many dynamic sights, such as mountain faces covered with perpetual snow and glacial lakes of turquoise blue color. The grasslands that stretch across the highlands beyond the forest limit are another typical Andean landscape. The view of the snow-covered mountains from the unobstructed grasslands is an iconic scene of the Andean plateau. From the middle of the route, the elevation drops and the area becomes thick with temperate rainforest. The water flowing from the glaciers nurtures the abundant forests. The jungle, with its diverse flora and fauna, is not created in isolation, but is supported by the presence of inhospitable sacred peaks. People predating the Inca civilization saw that Salkantay was the source that nourished the rich forests. They regarded it as a sacred mountain and believed that it was the weather god who controlled the fertile land, as the Southern Cross shines over Salkantay during the rainy season. And they called this sacred mountain "Apu," meaning spirit, and still cherish it to this day. Campsites are available along the way, but staying in a dome-shaped lodge is also recommended. The sky dome with a glass ceiling, the andean hut reminiscent of the Inca empire, and the domes erected in the jungle are all unique and comfortable. *Please check local websites for the latest information.