A path through the clouds

“After looking for various options for trekking to Machupicchu, I decided to do the trek from the Nevado de Salkantay to Machupicchu is one of the many comments that can be found on the internet when making the decision to make an unforgettable trek. Can you imagine walking 6 hours on a climb next to the river and finding the landscape of your best dreamsueños?

Salkantay Indomitable Mountain

They call him Apu Salkantay, Lord or Guardian God. The snowy mountain is considered Apu because there lives a superior spirit that protects the men and peoples of the valley. The Incas associated fertility with the rains produced by the snowfall, which is why they considered Salkantay one of the divinities that controlled the climate and fertility in Cusco.

 The snowy is well known by mountaineers and also for its difficulty. It has been visited by North Americans, Swiss, New Zealanders, French, Austrians, Poles, Germans, Argentines, Mexicans, Slovenes, Spaniards, Catalans, Brazilians, etc. For the most part, they have had to retire in the middle of the ascent. With a very aggressive climate, the top is very difficult to reach. Therefore, most choose the path that leads to the citadel of Machupicchu.

Next we will show you a bit of this 4-day trip to go through the sky before reaching the thick jungle and the Macchupicchu sanctuary

 Day 1:

Visit to Humantay Lagoon

Before it was taboo to get to the lagoon because they said that you couldn't travel alone; because when you were alone a mermaid could come out and take you to the bottom of the lagoon. You could only go for something very special, for example: payment to the land.

From the city of Cusco to the Salkantay refuge it is 2 hours passing through Mollepata, on a trail path in which a vehicle will take us to the foothills of the beginning of the trek in the town of Soraypampa. From there to the lagoon it is almost 2 hours depending on the physique of each one, a climb up to 4,200 meters above sea level that with each turn of the head you can see the imposing mountains that surround you. In the distance you hear the small streams that are slopes of your destiny, Humantay. It's hard to breathe but the reward when you reach the lagoon makes every step worth it.

With turquoise waters and hopefully a blue sky, the contrast between the snow-capped mountain and the lagoon at its feet give you that impression of being in a sacred place.

 

Day 2:      

Salkantay Pass

Mountains are sacred, and for every Andean hiker, making a payment is an obligation. A ceremony so that you have more energy and tranquility, paid dispatches to the land and coca readings are made so that nature is calm along the way.ido.

Our goal is to start from the top with sunrise, where the sun rises behind you, perfectly lighting the Humantay mountain, the mountain where you were on day 1.

You climb for 6 hours to reach the Salkantay Pass at 4,600 meters above sea level, and you can see the mountain full of snow. Below it is a small lagoon but no less beautiful, the Laguna del Salkantay, from where we can see the mountains of Humantay, Salkantay, Tucarhuay and Pumasillo.

 

This marks the end of the mountain pass and begins the descent into the deep jungle of Cusco. We will go from touching the clouds at 4600 meters above sea level to enjoying the aroma of wet grass at 2600 meters above sea level.

We still have 3 more days to visit the sanctuary of Machupicchu, but so far we have enjoyed the imposingness of the tour.

 

…(To be continue)…