Lucy

From WildWiki

Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu (7 days)

March (uh...dates to be decided, somewhere in the middle)

Summary:

No more than seven of us start in Salkantay, the tallest peak at 6,271 meters above sea level, northwest of Cusco. We're going to spend a few days in Cusco so we can get acclimatized to the area. After 7 days we'll end at the Inca ruins in Machu Picchu. We will have to use oxygen, a guide service (due to new government issued Inca Trail regulations...) and apparently horses. The first 4 days are relatively quiet with not so many other people wandering about because March is the end of low season. We run into the Inca Trail at Wayllambamba on five. The horses will have to be taken back to Mollepta at this point and we get to continue on our merry way. The remaining two days are spent on the Inca Trail until we reach Machu Picchu. We have to get our permit and pay our entrance fee at least 4 weeks before we actually want to go on the trip. There is the option of a student discount if you get the proper paperwork, and its $30 off. Because guides are now required in order to hike the trail, we're going to have to get a guide 3-5 weeks in advance. The skill level required is that you need to be in relatively good shape in order to hike the whole trail in the 7 anticipated days of travel. You don't need to be an expert mountaineer, we will be familiarizing ourselves with the gear and procedures in the few days we're going to spend in Cusco before the trip.

Transportation Information:

We will be traveling by bus and train in order to get to the start and end points, and meander our way home. Start out in Cusco and take the bus to Mollepta where we begin the trip. To come back, we leave from Machu Picchu by train to Aguas Calientes where we take another train to Ollantaybamba where we then take a bus back to Cusco.

Gear List:

Personal Items:

  Toiletries (toothpaste, toothbrush, anti-bacterial hand soap, medications etc.)
  Insect repellant
  Sunscreen
  Chap stick
  Sunglasses
  Sleeping bag (3 seasons perhaps)
  Sleeping pad
  Flash lighy
  Watch if wanted
  Passport
  Water purifying tablets, iodine, a tiny little machine that does it...etc.
  Knife of some variety
  Cards!
  Camera if wanted
  A clever journal!

Clothes:

  Take into consideration that the average temperatures during March are: high of 67 F (19 C) and low of 44 F (7) C
  1 tee-shirt, cotton is ok, synthetic is maybe better
  1 long-sleeved shirt, synthetic probably best
  1 pair of lightweight, breathable pants
  1 pair of shorts
  2 pairs of underwear depending on how you feel about that whole thing, thermal is best
  3-4 pairs of socks, 2 breathable, 1 wool or reversed or two of each
  1 fleece jacket
  1 windbraker/rain/warm jacket
  Trusty old, comfortable hiking boots with good ankle support
  There's always the option of camp shoes
  Hat/bandanas for sun protection

Group Gear

  Camping equipment, mainly tents and tarps
  Cooking equipment and mainly vegetarian food
  Oxygen
  Horses!
  First Aid kit
  

Expectations

We expect that participants will come into this trip excited to learn about mountaineering and the history of the Incas. We want everyone to practice safe and responsible behavior while we use technical equipment and while we are out on trail. Everyone should come away from this trip having had a fabulous experience seeing things that they haven't had a chance to experience yet.

Immunizations

Since we are going to Peru and it is in South America, it is important that we get the immunizations we need in order to stay healthy and well, alive on our trip. The immunizations you need are:

  Typhoid
  Tetnus
  Hepatitis A
  Polio
  Yellow Fever

It is also recommended that you get malaria tablets to bring along with you on the trip

Detailed Trip Schedule:

Day 1.) 4 1/2 hour bus ride from Cusco to Mollepta and then a 3 hour hike to our camp site Day 2.) 5 hours trekking until we hit Soray Day 3.) 4 hours to get to Incachiriaska Pass with another 4 hours to reach Pampachuana Day 4.) 3 hours takes us to the Incan Fortress of Inkaracy where we will spend about 2 hours playing in ruins. 1/2 hour to get to the campsite Day 5.) 3 hours to Llullchampampa and 1 1/2 hour to get to the top of the first pass Day 6.) 2 1/2 hours gets us to Sayacmara and spend more time exlporing ruins and climbing passes Day 7.) 1 1/2 hour hiking and we're at Machu Picchu and the rest of the Incan ruins