{"id":2163,"date":"2022-12-06T23:22:52","date_gmt":"2022-12-06T23:22:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/atvcuscoadventures.com\/blog\/?p=2163"},"modified":"2022-12-06T23:22:52","modified_gmt":"2022-12-06T23:22:52","slug":"7-reasons-to-hike-the-salkantay-trek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atvcuscoadventures.com\/blog\/7-reasons-to-hike-the-salkantay-trek\/","title":{"rendered":"7 REASONS TO HIKE THE SALKANTAY TREK"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Salkantay Trek<\/a> is a great alternative trek to our\u00a05 Day Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu.\u00a0Both treks take 5 days to complete; four days trekking through the beautiful Andean mountains and one day touring the\u00a0world-famous Machu Picchu.<\/a><\/p>\n

Here are seven reasons to hike the Salkantay trek:<\/h2>\n
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  1. Trek the mountain passes and get close to glaciers<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    There is something extremely humbling about the sheer magnitude of mountainous glaciers, and the Salkantay glacier and its sister glacier, Humantay Glacier, are no different. As you trek through the pass you will be humbled by the utter greatness of the mountains on either side of you. It\u2019s impossible to truly describe the size, or the feeling, that encapsulates you here.<\/p>\n

    The ability to be able to get up close and personal with a glacier of this magnitude (not to mention the beauty of Humantay Glacial lake, visited on the first day of the trek) is enough of a reason to hike the Salkantay trek for many. But we have six more reasons lined up, so buckle up!<\/p>\n

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    1. Descend mountains and pass through indescribable scenery and eco-systems<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Many travelers rave about the variety of ecosystems on the Inca Trail. The Salkantay Trek offers even more. (Which is better though?\u00a0The Salkantay Trek or the Inca Trail?<\/a>)<\/p>\n

      Starting on the relatively dry side of the mountains, you visit the glacial lakes of Humantay<\/a>, camp beneath the gleaming snows of Salkantay, before climbing over glacial moraine to the high pass at 4600m\/ 15000ft (higher than any point in the Inca Trail).<\/p>\n

      The Salkantay Trek route descends through beautiful high mountain scenery to reach warmer, greener climes and the hot, humid \u201cCeja de selva\u201d, or high jungle. \u00a0Here you walk through plantations of coffee, granadilla, bananas, and avocados eventually reaching the lowest point of the trek at \u00a0Hidroelectrica, 1870m\/6135ft.<\/p>\n

      A great reason for choosing the Salkantay trek is the huge variety of ecosystems that you will encounter as you trek. Peru is famous for its diversity, and the Salkantay trek demonstrates that perfectly!<\/p>\n

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