Chat on WhatsAppAfter finishing the five day Salkantay Trail to Machu Picchu, I would recommend this trip to any adventure seeking individual who desires to see The Lost Incan City. We were initially disappointed to find out that the original Inca Trail was fully booked for the time we were in Peru. But the Salkantay Trail offered many amazing views and sites that we would not have been able to admire if we went on the other trail.
The first day or two was a little challenging, mostly adjusting to the high altitude, but we went at a reasonable pace and made several short stops along the way. I wouldn´t consider my self much of an experienced hiker but handled most of the trail with relative ease. Our guide and cooking staff were awesome and provided us with delicious meals to keep our energy level up as well as entertainment to keep morale around camp high. The hike we did to the glacial lake was breathtaking as it was under the shadow of the huge mountain peaks. It was exciting to reach the peak at 4600 meters and take in the scenery around us. Starting the descent, it was cool to see the climate change so rapidly. It went from windy and chilly at the top, to a humid tropical climate before our next base camp.
We followed the itinerary pretty closely and on the fourth day were escorted to our hotel in Aguas Calientes. This was a nice change of pace from the previous nights sleeping in tents, and gave us a night to relax before making the trek into Machu Picchu. We woke up early the next morning, walked up the trail and were the first ones camped out in front of the gate. The ultimate reward was getting to check out the city and the guided tour gave us lots of information about the Incans and each of the buildings. Whether you hike much or not, this trip was amazing and would be a great experience for anyone looking to see natural beauty as well as lost ruins.
