{"id":4626,"date":"2022-04-13T09:06:35","date_gmt":"2022-04-13T14:06:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cuscojourneys.com\/blog\/?p=4626"},"modified":"2022-04-13T09:06:30","modified_gmt":"2022-04-13T14:06:30","slug":"8-reasons-to-hike-the-salkantay-trek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cuscojourneys.com\/blog\/8-reasons-to-hike-the-salkantay-trek","title":{"rendered":"8 Reasons to Hike the Salkantay Trek"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"8<\/p>\n

One of the most popular activities for anyone visiting Peru<\/strong><\/a>, and especially Cusco, is a\u00a0trek to Machu Picchu<\/strong>. You get to meet new friends along the way, have an amazing time, and end it all with a visit to one of the modern world wonders.<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s a tough dilemma, though. With there being a selection of ways to get to Machu Picchu, how do you know which one you should choose? Well, today we\u2019re here to help you and let you in on the top 5 reasons why you should choose the\u00a0Salkantay Trek<\/strong><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Scenery<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Salkantay<\/p>\n

In comparison to the other treks available,\u00a0the Salkantay route<\/strong>\u00a0has the most stunning scenery. You\u2019ll pass through all kinds of climates and see some of the most spectacular views you\u2019ve ever seen.<\/span>
\nYou get to experience cold temperatures and snowy mountain peaks before you descend into the cloud forest, which is incredibly misty. Once you emerge on the other side, you\u2019ll be heading into the jungle, where you\u2019ll no longer feel the cold, but rather very warm.<\/span><\/p>\n

You get to experience cold temperatures and snowy mountain peaks before you descend into the cloud forest, which is incredibly misty. Once you emerge on the other side, you\u2019ll be heading into the jungle, where you\u2019ll no longer feel the cold, but rather very warm.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once you emerge on the other side, you\u2019ll be heading into the jungle, where you\u2019ll no longer feel the cold, but rather very warm.<\/span><\/p>\n

Make sure you take your camera with you to enjoy all the fascinating landscapes for years to come and show everyone at home.<\/span><\/p>\n

1.- Discover the Sacred Mountain of the Incas<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Salkantay<\/p>\n

The Salkantay trek perfectly combines cultural experience and natural beauty. The walk takes you back to the time of the Incas and brings you closer to the apus, the sacred mountain spirits who protect the people of the Andes. The most powerful apus were usually the highest mountains in the region, such as Salkantay. The Incas performed rituals to communicate with them, using sacred prayers and offerings, asking for protection and prosperity for the coming year.<\/span><\/p>\n

These same rituals exist today. August is the most active time of the year for these rituals; local villagers near Salkantay say that at this time of year Pachamama (the Earth Mother) is thirsty and hungry, and it is necessary to satisfy her with offerings of the best food, giving Pachamama strength and energy.<\/span><\/p>\n

2.- See the living culture of traditional communities<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Salkantay<\/p>\n

When you reach the Salkantay trail<\/strong><\/a>, you\u2019ll soon pick up on the mysticism that permeates the area. You\u2019ll also come across strange piles of stones, similar to small cairns, dotted all around Salkantay. These are\u00a0apachetas<\/em>, offerings made by walkers, climbers and locals to the apu mountain spirits of Salkantay, and to Pachamama.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before you continue on, your guide (if you have one) will make an offering of his best coca leaves, asking for protection during the trip and as thanks for past journeys. Apachetas are considered sacred, so you have to be careful with them. If you knock one over, don\u2019t expect any favors from the mountain spirits.<\/span><\/p>\n

3.- Visit the stunning Humantay Lagoon<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Humantay<\/p>\n

The Humantay Lagoon is one of the most beautiful natural attractions you\u2019ll see along the Salkantay trail. Its stunning turquoise waters are quite a sight, with craggy snow-covered mountains in the background. The lake is important to the people of nearby Mollepata, providing a constant source of clean water for their crops and livestock. Humantay is well worth visiting even if you\u2019re not doing the full Salkantay trek. Short one- and two-day treks can get you to the lake if you don\u2019t have time to hike the entire trail.<\/span><\/p>\n

4.- You can Salkantay Trek with kids<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Salkantay<\/p>\n

Despite the challenge of the Salkantay trek, you can still hike the trail with kids. So if you feel like you\u2019re missing out on adventurous outdoor activities because of your children, consider bringing them along.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here at Salkantay Trek, we recommend the Salkantay trek for kids of 10-years-old and above, as long as they have a good level of fitness and ideally some trekking experience. But if your kid simply hates trekking and the great outdoors, then they won\u2019t have much fun no matter how physically fit they are.<\/span><\/p>\n

5.- Experience How People Live in the Wilderness<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Salkantay<\/p>\n

As you walk through the mountain trails, you\u2019ll occasionally come across small communities. It can be absolutely fascinating to see how people live up here, as it\u2019s so different to what you\u2019ll be used to. They are super friendly and always happy to see trekkers passing by.<\/span><\/p>\n

You\u2019ll find that many don\u2019t have electricity, and also grow a lot of their own food as it\u2019s no easy feat for them to get to the grocery store or corner shop to top up on necessities.<\/span><\/p>\n

You\u2019ll also be stopping for lunch in many of these areas along the trek, where you\u2019ll get to taste some of the best Andean food that Peru has to offer. The chefs will, to your surprise, manage to cook up a delicious feast whether in a hut or tent!<\/span><\/p>\n

6.- There are fewer people on the trail<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Hike<\/p>\n

Trekker traffic along the Salkantay trail is about 70% less than on the Inca Trail<\/strong><\/a>. That\u2019s good news for anyone who likes to avoid other trekking groups and spend more time away from other tourists.<\/span><\/p>\n

7.- Discover the Sacred Mountain of the Incas<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Sacred<\/p>\n

The Salkantay trek perfectly combines cultural experience and natural beauty. The walk takes you back to the time of the Incas and brings you closer to the apus, the sacred mountain spirits who protect the people of the Andes. The most powerful apus were usually the highest mountains in the region, such as Salkantay. The Incas performed rituals to communicate with them, using sacred prayers and offerings, asking for protection and prosperity for the coming year.<\/span><\/p>\n

These same rituals exist today. August is the most active time of the year for these rituals; local villagers near Salkantay say that at this time of year Pachamama (the Earth Mother) is thirsty and hungry, and it is necessary to satisfy her with offerings of the best food, giving Pachamama strength and energy.<\/span><\/p>\n

8.- The Cost<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Prices<\/p>\n

Another reason why many choose this trek, and why we think it\u2019s an excellent option, is that it doesn\u2019t cost too much. In comparison to the\u00a0Inca Trail<\/strong>, it\u2019s much more affordable. The main reason being that the Inca Trail requires a special permit, whereas the\u00a0Salkantay<\/strong>\u00a0doesn\u2019t.<\/span>
\nThe price tag makes this hike much more accessible for everyone, and you\u2019ll still have the most wonderful time!<\/span><\/p>\n

Choose the Salkantay Trek; You Won\u2019t Be Disappointed<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

So, there you have it! Our top 8 reasons why you should opt for the Salkantay trek<\/strong>. Of course, the list could go on and on, but we think this enough to help you decide. The scenery, places you visit, and the Andean villages along the way will amaze you and make for some perfect shots with your camera. If you like small groups and something a little more affordable, this is the trek for you.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"contat<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of the most popular activities for anyone visiting Peru, and especially Cusco, is a\u00a0trek to Machu Picchu. You get to meet new friends along the way, have an amazing time, and end it all with a visit to one of the modern world wonders. There\u2019s a tough dilemma, though. With there being a selection […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4631,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[78],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4626","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-trek-to-machu-picchu"],"views":908,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cuscojourneys.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4626","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cuscojourneys.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cuscojourneys.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cuscojourneys.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cuscojourneys.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4626"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.cuscojourneys.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4626\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4636,"href":"https:\/\/www.cuscojourneys.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4626\/revisions\/4636"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cuscojourneys.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4631"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cuscojourneys.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4626"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cuscojourneys.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4626"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cuscojourneys.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4626"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}