Chat on WhatsAppOur Salkantay trek began with a relatively short acclimatization trek, including a hike up to the Umantay Lake. For me, this was the most challenging day as I'm pretty unfit and needed time to get back into the habit of walking! I didn't know what to expect on the way up to the lake, but the beautiful turquoise water was definitely worth the climb.
We had heard before we came that the nights would be very cold, so we bought sleeping bag liners for around S/.40 each. Every night we were lovely and warm. On the first night our campsite had an individual shelter for each tent, which meant it felt a bit like a "glamping" experience. The bathroom contained two toilets together so go with a friend!
The second day is supposedly the most challenging day, as it starts with a four hour climb. When we went, the misty day made the views mysterious, adding to the spiritual experience of the hike. After a long afternoon, we finally arrived at a really cool campsite with a lovely bar. There is a shower but it costs S/.10 per person and it's a bit dirty. Unfortunately the combination of a tiring day and the cerveza helada made one of our team a bit ill, so we would recommend not drinking too much on this day!
One of my highlights was definitely the walk on the third morning, which was very easy, and we saw loads of fascinating wildlife, including a stick insect in its natural environment! Fascinating! The hot spring in the afternoon was a welcome relief for my tired body, although I was a little disappointed by the number of small children splashing around - it wasn't quite the calming experience I had previously imagined. We also got bitten a lot during this day and night.
On the fourth day we had the opportunity to pay an extra S/.95 to go Ziplining over a beautiful valley. This was worth every cent and I would definitely go again. We stayed in the town of Aguas Calientes, which was very pretty. I was delighted that it was so easy to find. Fast laundry service at a fairly reasonable price.
The best part of the trip was definitely Carlos, our guide. He was always so cheerful and knew everything there was to know about the nature along the trail. If more people were as happy as Carlos, the world would be a more colourful place to live! The food was fantastic as well. I would definitely recommend this trek to anyone who enjoys the outdoors and is looking for a fantastic holiday.
