🥾 Why Choose the Salkantay Trek?

The Salkantay Trek is the perfect alternative to the traditional Inca Trail. It’s less crowded, doesn’t require a government permit, and offers more dramatic scenery — including a close-up view of the towering, snow-capped Salkantay Mountain (6,271m). Over five days, you’ll traverse changing ecosystems, explore Inca ruins, and finally reach Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

✅ Preparation Tips for the Salkantay Trek

1. Train Your Body — and Mind

While no technical climbing is involved, the Salkantay Trek is physically demanding. Expect long days of hiking (6–9 hours per day) and significant elevation changes.

Preparation tips:

• Start hiking or walking regularly at least a month before your trip.
• Include cardio and leg workouts (think stairs, squats, and lunges).
• Take practice hikes with a loaded daypack to simulate trekking conditions.

2. Acclimatize in Cusco

Altitude is one of the biggest challenges. Cusco sits at 3,400 meters, and Salkantay Pass reaches up to 4,650 meters.

What to do:

• Arrive in Cusco 2–3 days before your trek.
• Drink coca tea, stay hydrated, and take it easy the first day.
• Avoid alcohol and heavy meals while acclimatizing.

3. Pack Smart, Pack Light

We provide a duffel bag and carry up to 7 kg of your gear with pack animals, but your daypack should be light and practical.

Essential items:

• Layers: base layers, fleece, down jacket, waterproof jacket
• Hiking boots (well broken-in), sandals for camp
• Sun hat, gloves, beanie
• Reusable water bottle or hydration bladder
• Sunscreen, insect repellent, headlamp, personal medication
• Light sleeping bag (can be rented from Green Peru Adventures)

A detailed packing list is provided upon booking.

4. Travel Insurance Is a Must

Make sure your insurance covers high-altitude trekking and possible medical evacuation. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

5. Book with a Trusted Local Operator

With Green Peru Adventures, you’re choosing a locally-owned, experienced company that prioritizes your safety, comfort, and connection to the local culture.

🗺️ Sample 5-Day Salkantay Trek Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco – Mollepata – Soraypampa

Early morning drive to the trailhead. Hike through scenic valleys to Soraypampa (3,900m) with a side trip to Humantay Lake, a glacial gem.

Overnight: Campsite at Soraypampa

Day 2: Soraypampa – Salkantay Pass – Chaullay

Challenge day! Cross the dramatic Salkantay Pass (4,650m) and descend into lush cloud forest.

Overnight: Chaullay campsite

Day 3: Chaullay – La Playa – Lucmabamba

Trek through tropical terrain filled with orchids, waterfalls, and coffee farms. Optional coffee tour in Lucmabamba.

Overnight: Local guesthouse or campsite

Day 4: Lucmabamba – Llactapata – Aguas Calientes

Climb to the Llactapata ruins, where you’ll glimpse Machu Picchu from a unique angle. Descend to the train tracks and hike to Aguas Calientes.

Overnight: Hotel in Aguas Calientes

Day 5: Machu Picchu Tour

Early morning bus or hike to Machu Picchu. Enjoy a guided tour with time to explore on your own. Optional hike to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (book in advance).

Return: Train back to Cusco in the afternoon

🌿 Trek Responsibly

We believe in sustainable tourism that benefits local communities, protects the environment, and offers travelers a deeper connection to Peru’s natural and cultural heritage. When you trek with us, you’re supporting local guides, chefs, and families — and leaving only footprints behind.

🧭 Ready to Hike the Salkantay Trail?

Let us handle the logistics so you can focus on the journey. Visit greenperuadventures.com to check dates, gear up, and join fellow adventurers on the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu.

The post How to Prepare for the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu: Tips & Itinerary appeared first on Green Peru Adventures.

The Inca trail takes four to five days to complete, and it is twenty-six miles long. The hikes begin from Cusco with several tour companies leading the treks along with local guides and porters. The Lares Trek is one of the moderate treks to Machu Picchu since it is twenty-one miles. Salkantay is thirty-seven miles and has been categorized as difficult; it takes four to five days. The Lares and Salkantay treks do not require a permit.

While hiking the Inca trail, you can still hike to the ruins from AguasCalientes. Only five hundred people are allowed to hike the Inca trail per day including porters and guides. You enjoy the stunning views of the ancient cloud forest and the glaciated peak of Salkantay. During the hike, you can camp near the Inca sites. The trail is steep while hiking you should head for the small stones also rent some hiking poles for support.

If you are not interested in hiking, there are other modes of transport like taking a bus, which is the most popular. You should line up early to avoid the crowds if you want to travel by bus. Some also go with the help of a train which is a bit expensive. The best way to enjoy the landscape and absorb every view is by hiking up the Inca trail. When hiking you also get to benefit from the company of llamas and play with them.

Just near the main Machu Picchu site, you can have the Huayna Picchu hike which takes an hour or so. It is a very steep uphill climbing worth for spectacular views. If you want to have this activity, plan in advance. The weather in Machu Picchu changes from time to time, make sure you dress in layers. It might be chilly in the morning but as you walk around it becomes warm. You have to carry your passport; you must show it anytime you exit the gate to get some food. Also bring some coins for use in the restroom.

Green Peru Adventures offers the best experiences during your Machu Picchu adventure tours. We have a team of local tour guides and porters to guide you during your visit. We help you in organizing your trips, you do not have to hassle to get a permit, transportation, and accommodation, we get it done for you before you arrive in Peru. We offer best services ensuring that you stay safe during your tours. Our guides are very attentive and fun to hang out with. Book us for your adventure tours to Machu Picchu and enjoy your trip every step of the way.

The post Best experiences in Machu Picchu Adventure Tours appeared first on Green Peru Adventures.

The Christmas Eve or Noche Buena

The Spanish introduced people to Christianity sometime around the 1500s. Unlike in other parts of the world Christmas is celebrated with pomp and pageantry on the 24th of December, known as Noche Buena or the Good Night. Evening is the time when the celebrations start with the ritual Mass at the local church. The mass is known as the Rooster Mass and begins at 10 PM. After Mass people return to their homes to open gifts and this is followed by champagne for adults and hot chocolate for the children. Dinner is usually turkey, Paneton and other local foods including tamales. Cake with a fruit center known as the Paneton is the specialty of Christmas. Children then enjoy bursting of fireworks. This done, the adults start celebrations with dances that last till the early hours of Christmas.

Image Credits to Wikipedia

Nativity

While western homes emphasize Christmas trees and their decoration you will find that Peruvians place importance on the Nativity scene. Known as pesebre, this recreation of the scene of the birth of the Christ is done in painstaking detail with the use of local pottery, stone and grass manger. One member of the family formally places a figurine of the Christ known as Nino Manuelito or baby Jesus in the manger. However, trees are now making their presence felt in the Christmas decorations. Peruvians go out of their way to set up the Nativity scene in their living room. It is intricate and includes a statue of the child Jesus and three wise men in addition to animals. In Peru, they use Llamas and Alpacas instead of donkeys, camels and oxen. Some people may create a detailed nativity scene while others can buy retablos, a box in which the scene is set up. You just place it in your living room.

For Some information you may visit : http://www.greenperuadventures.com/useful-information-about-peru/

Highlights

While gifts are traditionally exchanged on the 24^th night, it is a ritual in the Andean regions to let the gifts be until the 6^th of January, the Epiphany day of the arrival of the three wise men who symbolically brought gifts for the child Christ.

Drinking chocolate known as chocolatada and distributing it to the poor and needy who line the streets is another important ritual. Rich men and churches organize chocolatadas and distribute hot chocolate with biscocho, a sweet bread with fruits to people.  Chocolatadas symbolizes the Christmas spirit of giving of gifts to the poor.

Santa Claus is not a prominent figure in Peruvian Christmas celebrations since the government banned him on various grounds. However, it is up to the people. Some believe and presents are opened on Christmas eve. For those who do not believe, the day for opening the gifts is 6^th January.

While people in other parts of the world wake up early on Christmas day to open gifts and go to Church, people in Peru are sleeping late because of the previous night’s revelry.

Since Christmas coincides with the summer break children and adults alike are free to devote time and energy to celebrate it with gusto.

It is common to find children forming choirs and walking around singing Christmas carols. The group has a shepherd and the three Kings or Magi.

Girls dress up in a skirt and blouse with spangles and ribbons as well as a handkerchief on the front. This is topped with a hat with ribbons.

Food

For most people Christmas means roast turkey with tamales, salads and sauces. Some might opt for chicken instead while some even have a roast suckling pig. The traditional cake is Paneton, a bread with raisins and candied fruit. The paneton is usually accompanied with hot chocolate flavored with cinnamon and cloves. Tamales for Christmas are special with fillings of meat, cheese and chilli. Rosca de Reyes or the King’s Ring is a round sweet bread served on Epiphany day, 6th January, marking end of celebrations. The Rosca de Reyes usually has a tiny figure of Christ hidden inside. Whoever gets it is considered to be lucky. The midnight Christmas meal is known as Cena de Navidad.

Image Credits to Wikipedia

Christmas in the Andes

Christians in Cusco in the Andes celebrate Christmas, endowing it with Incan flavor of dances and plays. A special market known as the Santurantikuy (buying of saints) springs up and farm people gather to sell plants and mosses used in nativity scenes. Epiphany day on 6th January has special significance since the day coincides with the taking of power of the varayoc. People gather and take out a procession headed by the image of the Christ Child and San Isidro.

Image Credits to Wikipedia

Worthy of special mention is the Christmas celebration of Takanakuy. While people dance, put on costumes and celebrate as is usual in the Andean regions and in the plains, the Takanakuy is a special event in Cusco. The world beans “when the blood is boiling”.  It is a way to get rid of social tensions and stress. Fights are organized and there are referees supervising matches. Fights usually last only about a minute or so. Anyone can participate, even teenagers and women. People settle grievances against neighbors or family members in an amicable way during the short fight.

Image Credits to Wikipedia

Christmas in Peru has a festive, carnival air and one cannot but help become immersed on the Eve. You are likely to stay awake all night, dancing, eating and roaming the streets. Enjoy Christmas in the most exotic way you never imagined before.

What customers says : http://www.greenperuadventures.com/testimonials-and-feedbacks/

The post Exotic Christmas Celebrations in Peru appeared first on Green Peru Adventures.