Salkantay Trail

The Salkantay Trail, a 4 day trail, three nights through the Andes mountains, ending in Aguas Calientes where the 4th night was spent and on the fifth day a visit to Machu Picchu was planned. We were with a small group, me and three Americans (Brad, Jeremy and Kelley), our guide Alain, the amazing cook Andres and horsemen Pedro.

Tuesday morning, being picked up from the hostel at 4 am. Yes, so freaking early. In a bumpy bus for two hours till breakfast, enjoying the breakfast and the another hour up the mountain to our starting point, soray Pampa at almost 3800 meters. Here we started, going up slightly, till our lunch, with the amazing snow capped Salkantay mountain (6264 m) in our sight. The beginning was warm, though we were gaining hight and the temperature was slowly dropping down.

It was steep, very steep, but amazing. We were longing for reaching the top.. Till we finally reached it, the top of our trip at 4600 meters. Yes... It was freezing!!! Then an amazingly strange landscape followed.. It slowly became greener till we arrived at our camping site for the first night (Huayracmachay). The view from the tent, well, judge for yourself, 6.30 in the morning.

The next day was a long down hill hike. Don´t think it was an easy hike, since it was downhill. Very rocky, it was a bit sunny and it got warmer and warmer the further we got down. It was amazing how the rocky and grass landscape gradually changed. More vegitation and about every half hour completely new plants and trees. The hiking trail went along the river (see pic). Around noon we arrived at Colcapampa, after crossing the river and going up for a while along the trail where even the trail functioned as a small muddy river.

After having another amazing lunch (the food through the entire trip was simply amazing!) we went down to the river for about half an hour and arrived at the hot springs. These natural hot waters contain minerals that are good for your body and health. These hot springs were really hot and delightfull. Besides the view on the river was an amazing one (pic).

We continued our hike for about an hour and a half before arriving to the next camp site at Winaypoco, at 2800 meters. Here we were welcomed by our cook and horsemen and some mosquitos. Luckily I was prepared and learned my lesson in Bolivia. At the last part of the hike it was really great, there were wild strawberries growing next to the trail, mini ones, but delicious! That evening we had some drinks, enjoyed our time and went to bed.

The next day we started at 8 for a short hike down to La Playa, a larger village. It was quite good because the next day there would be another long hike (if weather conditions would allow it) with immense differences in altitude. Right at the beginning we found some wild blackberries to eat (bramen). The trail was muddy and rocky, but good. (see left) The vegetation changed again, so many fruit trees, mango, banana, avocado, passion fruit and many more. Again the vegetation changed, since we were going down another 900 meters to 1900 meters. We arrived quite early, around 12.30 and had the afternoon off in La Playa, just before the rain started. After a game of hearts (resembles hartenjagen), of which the beating came quite hard to my American friends, I played a bit of soccer with some local guys (someone should show them how to play the game :P).

We turned to bed early, since we were getting up at five the next morning for the next hike, where we would also be able to see Machu Picchu. Only..... It rained the entire night. Due to that it was too dangerous to make the hike, especially the steep descent (afdaling). That is why we took the early bus to hydro electica where we took a train to Aguas Calientes. Arriving here we checked into the hostel, enjoyed the first (hot) shower in days and spent the day relaxing and having some drinks. Turning into bed not that late, since the next morning we would get up at 4 am.. To go to Machu Picchu (next blog).

ps, today I ate Alpaca, it was quite good. I´m thinking of trying roasted guinea pig (cavia) later.
ps 2, I booked the buses to Guayaquil, Ecuador. A city at the coast and the best place to continue to the Galapagos Islands.