UJ #9 - Adventure in Peru

TREKKING IN PERU
Ana Paula Albin
BASIC EQUIPMENT
- SMALL BACKPACK
- HEADLAMP
- TREKKING SHOES
- WARM AND
WATERPROOF JACKET
- THERMAL T-SHIRTS
- CAP AND SUN
GLASSES
- SUNSCREEN
Ana Paula Albin
Ana Paula Albin
SALKANTAY:
THE GREAT DESCENT
Salkantay is the second highest mountain in Cusco,
and its name, salqa, means wild. It is an impressive
snow-covered peak and at 6,271 metres, it is visible
throughout the first day of the trek. It is a long way off
but looks close enough to touch during the gentle
ascent to Salkantaypampa (4,100 m.a.s.l. ), site of the
first camp.
This comes after leaving Cusco on the Southern Inter-Ocean
Highway towards Abancay and the coast,
crossing the plains of Anta, breadbasket of the Imperial
City. You then reach the warmth of the River
Apurimac valley and Limatambo. There is fruit, and
archaeological sites such as Tarawasi and haciendas
dating from the 16th Century. For example, Sondor
and Mollepata. This is the start of the route from
Salkantay, although some go as far as Soraypampa
before starting the trek.
On the first night even the sky is closer. The camp site
is on a rocky plateau surrounded by snow-capped
mountains; it is spacious and adequately protected.
The peaks loom among the stars and the universe
of constellations forming part of Andean cosmology
can be seen. The following day brings five hours of
walking and the 4,600-metre Salkantaycasa pass. On
the way up, the ichu grass is replaced by black rock
formations and more and more snow.
Through the pass seems like another world – a parallel
universe. Mountains that stretch to the horizon,
ever lower, greener and more exuberant. This is the
start of the Amazon basin. The Salkantay trek takes
in part of the geographic area of the Machu Picchu
Historic Sanctuary and the Choquequirao Regional
Conservation Area. Three great routes leading
into the jungle. Salkantay is the most direct, a long
descent through a large number of different ecosystems.
There are lodges and camp sites as the trail
descends from snow to the heat of the forest, at the
Cocalmayo thermal springs and the ziplines at Santa
Teresa.
Then ichu gives way to orchids and heliconias. From
a multitude of birds to the spectacled bear and
Cock-of-the-Rocks. From the white of the snow to
the green of the vegetation. And between these extremes,
the pygmy forest and high jungle. For that
reason, and also because it covers a section of the
Inca Trail, National Geographic Adventure Travel considers
this one of the world’s twenty five best hikes.
And waiting for us at the end: adventures on the rivers
and forest canopy, access from the west to Machu
Picchu or the rail station to Aguas Calientes, 11
kilometres further on, from which to ascend to the
historic city. Deity and lord of the Inca universe.