Attractions along The Salkantay Trek

Attractions along the Salkantay trek

Attractions along The salkantay Trek

Along the Salkantay trek route there are mainly small communities and beautiful landscapes, but not as many Inca ruins as on the Inca Trail route. The following are a few attractions you’ll see along the Salkantay trek route.

Marcoccasa 

Marcoccasa is a small community along the way where most people star their Salkantay Trek.

Soraypampa:

Soroypampa is a small community where we’ll set up our first camp. There is also a lake close by that if you arrive in Soraypampa early, you will be able to visit.

Humantay Lake:

Humantay Lake is located fairly close to Soroypampa and you will have the option to visit if you arrive early to your camp. It is a beautiful glacial lake with a great view.

Salkantay Mountain

Salkantay is a beautiful snowcapped mountain considered to be a god (Apu) by the Incas.

Salkantay pass

The Salkantay Pass will be the highest part of your trek with a great view of the Salkantay Mountain.

Laguna Salkantay

When you cross the Salkantay Pass you have the option to visit the Salkantay Lake. It’s a small lake fed by a glacier with a turquoise color where many people make a small offering asking for safe passage and a good life.

Santa Teresa

Santa Teresa is a small town along the Salkantay trek route when going to Machu Picchu.

Playa

Playa means beach in Spanish but in this case it is a small town on our route to Machu Picchu.

Colcalmayo

Colcalmayo is the location of the local medicinal hot springs. Depending on your type of trek and how much time you have, you can take local transportation to the local hot springs to relax (not included in itineraries).

Hidroelectrica

Hidroelectrica is the end station for the local train and also the location of a small community. If you would like to skip the last part of the trek to Aguas Calientes, you can take a train (not included in itineraries). Or you can walk the rest of the way to Aguas Calientes along the train tracks, which should take between 3 and 4 hours and is mainly flat terrain. If you do walk to Aguas Calientes, you have the chance to see the small Inca ruins called Intiwatana.

Aguas Calientes

Aguas Calientes is the town at the bottom of Machu Picchu where most people stay overnight before and/or after visiting Machu Picchu. There are many options for different types of restaurants, hotels and small stores full with souvenirs.