Salkantay Trek

It's really obnoxious how much I'm looking forward to Peru. I feel like I have a mandate to lecture anyone and everyone on Machu Picchu and the various Andean treks that bring you there. So here we go: I'll tell you a little bit about the Salkantay Trek, one of the alternative routes (in relation to the traditional "Inca Trail") that winds its way to Machu Picchu, the Incans' holy grail of seemingly everything. This trek was voted by National Geographic as one of the 25 best in the world. It lasts 5 days and 4 nights, one of which is spent at a hostel in Aguas Calientes, a small touristy town that lies one hour away from the base of Machu Picchu.

Day one begins at the small village of Mollepata. Hikers gently make their way up the side of a valley covering a distance of about 16km/9.9 miles and climb 1200m/3937ft. The views throughout the day are fantastic- verdant green mountains, native plants, and flowers with birds surround you. By the end of the day you'll see the snow-capped peaks of Humantay and Salkantay (the Savage) looming high in the distance. Camping at night can get pretty chilly so it'll be a good idea to put on a hat and some gloves.

Similar to the traditional "Inca Trail", day two is the longest and hardest day of the trek. Unlike the traditional "Inca Trail", this day is the most beautiful. The scenery throughout the day goes from one extreme to another. Starting from the high Puna covered in Ichu grass, hikers make their way up and over the Salkantay pass where everything is rock and ice. Then they descend the far side down to warm and lush cloud forest. Along the way hikers see a variety of wildlife from small finches to hummingbirds and toucans. There is also a small chance of seeing the Andean fox, white tailed deer, and rabbit-like chinchillas. From this point on tiny mosquitoes will have a nasty bite- insect repellant is a must.

Day three's final destination is the village of La Playa, which lays 12km down from day two's campsite. The route takes a hiker along the Lluskamayo River through an area that teeters with life and has various coffee and fruit plantations. The scenery is not as stunning as the previous day but the warmth and lush vegetation are a welcome respite from the high mountains left behind. La Playa is well connected with plenty of places to buy snacks and refreshments. Hikers can also try the locally grown coffee. There is an option to visit some local hot springs nearby. A nice beer goes a long way as you soak your sore muscles in hot water.

Day four is the final stretch of the trek before hikers reach Aguas Calientes at the base of Machu Picchu. The main focus of the day is a visit to the Incan site of Llactapata. Following an original Inca Trail hikers will arrive to Llactapata by early to mid morning and can enjoy fantastic views of Machu Picchu. After a tour of Llactapata hikers head back down to the mountainside to a hydroelectric station where they can either catch a train to Aguas Calientes or walk the remaining distance.

In Aguas Calientes trekkers stay at a hostel provided by their tour agency. You'l shower for the first time in four days and have an enjoyable dinner, preferably accompanied by pisco sour- the national cocktail.

Hikers wake up early on day five to take the first bus to Machu Picchu as the site opens. A 2-hour guided tour is in order in which hikers will learn about the Incas and visit all of the important areas of the citadel. After the tour hikers will have free time to explore the site by themselves and possibly climb Huayna Picchu. In the afternoon you'll take a train back to Ollantaytambo from where you'll carry on by bus back to Cusco.