Salkantay Packing List

Before starting your great adventure hike through the sacred snow mountain of Salkantay to Machu Picchu you must have your travel backpack ready. Do not waste time looking for a lot of information on what to bring, that we provide you with the definitive packing list for the Salkantay Trek. 

Backpack for the 5-day hike from Salkantay to Machu Picchu: What backpack to take to the Salkantay tour of 5 days?  

As it is a 5 day journey, you will need a backpack of 30 liters or more, resistant to rain and with extra pockets to carry extra things. 

Clothing: The Salkantay Trek offers diverse landscapes with different climates so it is necessary that you go prepared for sunny days, rain, snow and humidity. We recommend you bring: A coat, also called a jacket, will be very useful to protect you from the cold and rain. Four shirts, which will be used during the five days of the walk. Try to be light and dry fast. Avoid cotton clothes because they are heavy.

Salkantay Hike: 

Choose a jacket that protects from cold and rain You must keep your legs and feet protected during the crossing. We recommend the following items in your travel backpack: 

• Hiking pants. A good idea is to use pants with removable boots (with zipper) to be able to use them as shorts. 
• Underwear: Comfortable pieces and that dry fast. 
• Footwear: Hiking shoes. Choose a pair that has good grip and is suitable for rough terrain and water resistant. Avoid wearing a new pair of shoes, as they can hurt you more than some used ones.Your shoes for the Salkantay trek must be water resistant accessories 
• Hat: Important for days of intense sun. 
• Plastic poncho: Do not let the rain bother you, rather enjoy the landscape! 
• Swimwear. On the route you can optionally enter the thermal baths. 
• Towel. Of regular size and that is of a fabric that dries fast.

Camping equipment 

• Water canteen: You can carry a reusable bottle for water. 
• Gloves: Sometimes the cold can get into your hands, so we recommend taking them. 
• Trekking sticks: They can be useful for some sections of the walk. 
• Lantern: Very useful for outings in the early hours or for camping nights. 
• Binoculars: Do not lose sight of wild animals in the distance!

Personal hygiene items 

Do not forget to bring items such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, and other personal items so you can start each morning refreshed and ready for adventure.

Electronic

The memories of your adventure will be recorded forever in the memory of the camera and you can share them with your friends and family. To ensure the functioning of your equipment, do not forget to bring extra batteries and an additional memory card. The landscapes you will find are one of the reasons to choose the way from Salkantay to Machu Picchu, so prepare that camera!

Documents 

It is very important that your backpack has your original passport and your original identity document to be able to identify you at the checkpoints. In case of being a student, the ISIC card will be useful for some discounts in the price of the tour and in some establishments in the city of Cusco.

Health articles

Small items that will be very useful in your backpack to travel to Salkantay:

• Insect repellent and sunscreen 
• Hand sanitizer 
• Toilet paper 
• Tissues 

Others 

• Cash. It is advisable to have around 400 soles (equivalent to 123 US dollars) in cash for extra expenses. 
• Personal medications: If you follow a treatment, do not forget to take all your medications with you. Snacks: Small healthy snacks like energy bars, granola, yogurt among others.
• Souvenirs of your country. Share your culture with your travel companions and the people you meet along the way!

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Salkantay Trek difficulty

Salkantay trek is one of the most beautiful Inca roads.This trek is an alternative route to the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. It is a 5-day and 4-night hike to the Inca Citadel by accessing the town of Aguas Calientes, located at the foot of the Wonder of the World. On the route you can see landscapes even more impressive than the Inca Trail. Places like the snowy Salkantay, whose summit is 6,721 m.a.s.l. and whose slopes the tourist crosses to 4,572 m.a.s.l. You can also visit places such as the beautiful Mollepata Valley, the ruins of Llactapata and tropical territories where flora and fauna abound. The last section is parallel to the Vilcanota River, until arriving at Aguas Calientes. From there, one ascends on foot or by bus to the entrance gate to the Inca City. The Salkantay Trek was chosen by the National Geographic magazine as one of the 25 best hiking trails in the world. To access this adventure you can hire a tour operator. The other option is to do it on your own. This requires experience and necessary care. There are some variants to this adventure, which start the route in different points.

Road to Machu Picchu through the Salkantay Trek 

The 'Apu' Salkantay (6,271 m.a.s.l.) is a snow mountain belonging to the Vilcabamba mountain range. It is the second highest mountain in Cusco after the Ausangate (6,384 m.a.s.l.). Its name means wild mountain. Due to its imposing and isolated appearance, it was much appreciated by the Incas. They put before him the denomination 'Apu' which means 'lord' or 'sacred'. This snow was considered as one of the most powerful in the region. They paid veneration to the point that they built Machu Picchu in view of its summit. According to the Andean cosmovision, the mountains provided life and decided on plantings, harvests and even natural disasters. Because of this, he should be given respect and offerings. Today, the inhabitants of the Andes still consider the mountains as important spirits. In Cusco, Salkantay is as much appreciated as the Incas were.
View of the Salkantay mountain The 'Apu' Salkantay

• Name: Salkantay Trek. 
• Duration: 5 days / 4 nights. 
• Kilometers: approximately 72 kilometers. 
• Climate: minimum of less than 0 ° C in the 'Abra Salcantay'. 
• Maximum height: 4,572 m.a.s.l. in the 'Abra Salcantay'. 
• Minimum height: 1,800 m.a.s.l in the town of Santa Teresa. 
• Difficulty: challenging. 
• How to do it ?: with a tour or on your own. 
• When to do it ?: in dry season (from April to October). 
• Places you visit: Mollepata, Soraypampa, 'abra Salkantay', Chaullay, Santa Teresa, Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu. 
• Physical conditions: advisable to be in good physical condition.

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Salkantay Trek Weather

Salkantay Trek, the old and remote alternative 5 day path to the Inca Trail, it has much more spectacular views and with different ecological levels we will walk among lagoons, impressive snow-capped mountains such as Salkantay and Humantay, crossing rivers and subtropical areas of abundant vegetation and fauna.

This trek is an excellent option for those who want to escape from the most congested routes and in a faster way, or for those who are looking for an alternative when the spaces of the traditional Inca Trail are occupied. This impressive excursion passes under the magnificent mountain Salkantay (6,710 m / 22,014 ft), one of the highest and most impressive of the Peruvian Andes. Its first two days will be dominated by the impressive snow-capped mountains of Salkantay and Humantay, as it travels through the high Andean landscape. The third day will descend to the warm cloud forest, to reach Aguas Calientes on the fourth day. The impressive sacred citadel of the Incas Machu Picchu is visited during the last day of the program.

This excursion is an interesting alternative for those who have not found space on the route from the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. The excursion to Salkantay was recently named by the National Geographic Adventure Travel magazine among the 25 best excursions in the world.

Salkantay trek weather is very sunny during the day but cold at night. The temperature falls below 0 ° C at night between June and September. From December to March it is rainy which is why the trail is closed during these months. The best time relative to the weather to make Salkantay trek or hike is between the months of June and September. So if you decide to travel during those months, we recommend you bring warm clothing to prevent getting sick so you can safely make your adventure tours to Salkantay.

Now see the best months to visit the Salkantay Trek:

• February is excluded because the Inca Trail is closed for maintenance all month.
• January and March should be avoided if possible due to the rains. 
• April, November and December are a good balance between a not very cold temperature and a pleasant climate. 
• May and October offer a pleasant climate with fresh tempreatures. 
• June, July, August and September correspond, in our choice, to the best months even if the nights are cool, because the weather is very pleasant and there is very little rain.

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