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Top 5 tips for hiking the Salkantay Trail

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The Salkantay Trail is an ancient alternative trail to the Inca Trail, along the route you can appreciate beautiful landscapes with ecological diversity of flora and fauna, an excellent trekking route for travelers who love adventure.

Recommendations to do the Salkantay Trail

1. Best time to do the Salkantay Trail

The Cusco region has two types of marked climates, rainy season and dry season, so the months of May to October are considered the best dates to make this excursion since the rains stop and the road is firm; however this route can be done all year round, except for the month considered the rainiest of the year (February), so we suggest you think about it very well.

2. What the trekking offers

The route to Salkantay offers privileged views of the snowy Humantay and Salkantay, since with the thaw of these two there are lake formations, finding the most important and very visited by travelers, called Humantay lagoon, (currently visited by tourists from around the world to enjoy its beauty and leave offerings to the Pachamama, deity that represents Mother Earth in the Inca culture). In addition to the snow-capped mountains, the route shows a variety of flora and fauna as far as the region of the eyebrow of the jungle is concerned, since one is surrounded by a green and warm landscape that allows us to breathe pure air that is good for our organism.

Marvel at the vestiges and constructions that our ancestors left us as a legacy.
Enjoying magical nights with a starry sky, which makes you think and say that it was worth all the effort made.

3. Difficulty of the hike

The degree of difficulty for any hike depends a lot on the physical condition that one may have, in addition to already having experience in a similar route and if the state of health that one may have.

This route is considered by many travelers of greater effort since the degree of difficulty is “High”, thus being considered a great challenge for those people who do it.

Physical preparation

The preparation for the Salkantay Trek, begins taking into consideration the physical condition that one has, that is why specialists consider having an early preparation before making this excursion, since in that way the muscles are strengthened and generate resistance at the time of our walk to Salkantay.

So gradually your physical condition will be in better conditions, since at the time of the hike all the muscles will be prepared and in that way also our heart will pump blood more efficiently that will make us have more oxygen.

4. Altitude sickness

Also known as mountain sickness, soroche or properly speaking altitude sickness, it is a physical discomfort caused by the difficulty of adaptation to the low atmospheric pressure which generates headache, nausea, difficulty breathing due to lack of oxygen in the blood.

Usually this symptom is shown in travelers who live in countries or places that are at lower altitude, since those who live in plains or countries of similar altitude are more likely to suffer from it.

How to avoid altitude sickness

A day before your arrival, it is recommended to have a better rest, eat something light and avoid alcoholic beverages.
To avoid or make it more bearable, it is recommended to acclimatize upon arrival, take rest or not to make physical efforts that can agitate you, it is recommended in the first days upon arrival to the city of Cusco.

It is advisable to drink coca tea the day of your arrival, as a first natural remedy.

You should consider inhaling air, climb gradually, hydrate yourself continuously, avoid smoking, choose easily digestible food, keep warm and avoid taking tranquilizers.

5. What to take

Before starting our excursion, never forget our traveling companion “the backpack” (we suggest 30 liters or more).
It is always good to be prepared for all kinds of weather changes, that is why it is very necessary to take a super warm jacket, because at night during the route the temperature tends to drop and rainfall could occur.

Regarding the walking distance per day, it is essential to have an extra change of clothes in case a change of clothes is required.
For protection of our lower extremities, it is good to have removable trekking pants, since we can give them double use, shorts during the day and pants during the night; this way we reduce the weight and space in our backpack.

Main clothing are trekking shoes, which have grip capacity and are suitable for rough terrain and water resistant.

To count with accessories that help with our trekking, so we have: Water canteen, gloves, walking sticks, flashlight and binoculars in case we have the privilege of being able to observe wildlife.

Bring personal hygiene items such as: toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant and other necessary items.

In order not to have any inconvenience with the photographic captures, take extra batteries and an additional memory card since there will be a great variety of landscapes that you can photograph.

It is very important to have your original passport and/or identity card which will allow you to identify yourself at the checkpoints.
Carry with you health items as needed, such as personal medication in case you follow any treatment, insect repellent, sun block, hand sanitizer, tissues and others that you see fit.

It is necessary to have cash for extra expenses.

In short, this excursion will leave you breathless for everything it offers and is waiting for you when you decide to do it. Peru Grand Travel authorized operator of this trekking route invites you to discover this new adventure.

INTERESTED IN DOING THIS TREK? EXPLORE HERE ALL THE TOURS OF THE SALKANTAY TRAIL

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