Salkantay Trek Day 1

The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu was such an intense, complex, challenging, and beautiful undertaking that even the logistics of its description are daunting. Thinking will go day-by-day, beginning with some stats on distance & elevation, then trail description, followed up by people, flora, and fauna or other unique aspects. 

Will be in fits and starts as today is our return travel day, so will catch as catch can and Wi-Fi allows…

Challacancha (11,670’) the van ride began at 04:00 in Cusco where we were picked up by our guide Julio Choque, then picked up the chef, asst. chef, and food/gear. Then up a winding narrow road in the dark for several hours to the trailhead where we dismounted and prepped for the ascent. 

Friendly kitty at the send off

Daypacks loaded with rain gear and water we began the trip. Julio made the first rest stop at 12,462’ for a snack  and air. There’ll be an entire post about Julio to come!

First of many steps

After leveling off we followed an Inca-era irrigation canal for kilometers. The six-century old canal was designed to transport glacial waters into the terraced fields below and the hand hewn stones have just a little clay for mortar, so the fitment was so perfect, there’s still little leaking today!

All smiles with about 1,000’ and 6 km behind us!

At 7km and 12,795’ we reached out first base camp, the Sky Camp domes at Soraypampa. 

The covers are removed in the evening for some star gazing, weather permitting. 

After a quick lunch we made the 3 km round-trip hike to Humantay Lake at 13,780’, but since these posts are cumbersome on a phartsmone, will make that a separate story, which it really is…