Machu Picchu via Salkantay Trek

Putting this as the cover photo because you have all see all versions of Machu Picchu shots.

A bucket list item that can be overwhelming with the amount of blog posts on.

Budget: $518 from Cusco

Booked and paid to Machu Picchu Reservations

US$280. Base tour price : Salkantay 5 day trek with one entrance ticket to Salkantay.
US$6. Entrance to Hulmantay Lagoon.
US$70. Additional fee - use return train.
US$30. Total tips. Tips are asked for 2x, one at end of the Salkantay Hiking to give to the porters / chefs, and another before Machu Picchu visit to give to the guide. (shout out to Grillo who was a great guide)

Booked by myself directly with official website. In Peruvian soles, but estimated US$ amounts below:

US$60. Entrance to Huchuy Picchu (coz I thought this was Huayna Picchu lol)
US$60. Entrance to Huayna Picchu.

US$12. Bus to Machu Picchu
+toilet fees
+snacks

Visit Date
July 31-August 4, 2024

When to Go
Anytime but Jan-Feb which is rainy season. I prefer winter as I dislike rain.

Special Notes

Salkantay vs Inca trail. Inca trail has a premium of about $400? and I'm more of a hiker... and most importantly, all Inca trail dates were sold out when I was booking 2.5 months before my trip.
Tour vs Independent. There are a couple of huts open to independent hikers, but honestly? For $280 for 5 days, this was quite a steal. But yeah, you can do this independently.

The package includes a duffel bag that the agency will provide a day or so before. Supposedly for 7kgs, inclusive of sleeping bag. So I tried my hardest to fit everything in. Everyone else in my group had a duffel bag + sleeping bag....

Tour company selection. Most charge at least $500. The cheapest provider I saw was Machu Picchu Reservations, and I think the main difference is that others have nicer accommodations.
5days vs 4days. There's no difference except for a hot spring day at the end. So 4 days' folks get a more intense day 3. I had enough time in my visit so I would still choose 5 days, but if you are short on time, I would recommend 4 days Salkantay +1 day Rainbow Mountain or Sacred Valley Tour.
Machu Picchu Circuit. Choose Circuit 2, then add Huayna Picchu or Montana Picchu.
Altitude. Only concern is Days 1 and 2, so definitely have at least 2 days in Cusco to acclimate.
Other tips :

Definitely book the extra circuits for peaks at Machu Piccu.
Bring cash. For tips, snacks and other incidentals.
For girls - bring pads / tampons. I finished mine a week before but I think the altitude wrecked havoc on my systems.

Itinerary

The itinerary in the reservation site was pretty on point. It's a slow itinerary, so plenty of breaks for everyone.

Day 1. Hulmantay Lagoon

My Hulmantay Ticket.

At the parking lot. See how many vans were already there?

We packed our duffle bags, left them there, stretched, and started our adventure!

Beautiful mountain in front of us.

Our first ascent (to Hulmantay Lagoon), and this was hard. Simply because of the elevation.

I loved these little yellow flowers.

You can kinda see them here. The small yellow spots on the ground. Except I was told that these things grow on poop....

Continuing the hike.

There's an option to take horses too. For a fee. At least in Salkantay, it was around US$50 a day if I remember correctly??

The trail is very clear to see and follow. And crowded. With no places to hide for bathroom breaks.

Small humans, big mountain.

Hulmantay Lake.

More pics from the top. This is where we found a spot for our much needed bathroom break.

View from my bathroom break.

Looking down at the crowd who also came to look at Hulmantay. Honestly, I dont think I am the type to hike just to see a lagoon. But I might be spoiled with all the summit markers in Japan, and I would have to understand a different kind of hike.

Our group's fave picture spot.

Heading to our stop for the night.

Much less crowds, but plenty of horses still.

Salkantay!

Llamas? Alpacas?

Huts to the left is where people stayed. Hut at the top is for eating. I wish I had a better camera to capture this.

Home for the night.

Best dish for the entire trip. It did not get better than this.

Our huts.

More pics of the huts. The glass was very helpful to protect from the cold, but I think the most helpful one was the grass (?) roof.

Gorgeous.

A warm drink in our hut. With fake grass.

Day 2. Salkantay Pass

Since we cannot actually summit Salkantay, just pass by.

Rise and shine.

It was cooooold.

Others decided they didn't want to hike and chose to ride a horse up instead. The horses mainly have their own trails which merges with others every now and then.

First stop for the day.

Chilling with the horses.

A pretty nasty toilet with no door lol.

Continuing on. A gentle ascent, but the altitude really hits.

Above (?) the clouds.

Yoga?

Beautiful, slow sunrise.

Next break.

Almost there.

Seriously, I think day 2 was the best day and had the best views.

Horses carrying our stuff.

A view to the side.

Alpine flowers.

At the "top"

View around

Others catching up.

Having a prayer with coca leaves to padja mama (?)

Group picture!

Ok time to head down.

Gorgeous peaks.

A slow descent.

Down the valley.

Looking back.

Clouds started coming in and blocking the views.

The only river "crossing"

Some local art. Reminds me of school projects we did when I was a kid.

Back at the forest.

Are these still considered "alpine" flowers?

Gorgeous trek next to a raging river.

Home for the night.

Day 3. Crossing to the Camp Spot + Hot Spring

We had to cross this river, but there's a bridge so no worries.

The bridge.

The river.

Most of the trail was at the side of the road.

Like this.

Thankfully at one point we left the road.

Much better views.

Looking back at the descent. You can see the trail at the face of the rock in the center right of the picture.

My paid toilet.

I took so many pictures of these.

Our camp spot. We got one tent per person. It also got so hot during the day that others removed the cover of their tents. Then it rained during the night, and they got wet.