About Salkantay

The name Salkantay is a Quechua word that comes from two Inca meanings: Salqa = sullen or savage and Antay = the one who makes avalanches. So its meaning is a Wild mountain.

In the Inca religion, the snowy Salkantay is considered as APU (in the Quechua language it means protector god).

Snowy Salkantay

The Salkantay mountain is part of the Vilcanota mountain which is located in Cusco and this is considered the most wonderful snow-capped mountain for its great beauty and for the landscape that surrounds it, in addition to being a road to the famous Inca city Machu Picchu.

The first to climb the snowy Salkantay was Bronimann and Marx (1952) of Swiss nationality.

The second expedition to climb the Salkantay was made up of French and North American mountaineers.

The west ridge of Salkantay is a route that remains unspoiled over the years given the complexity of its route and the remoteness of the traditional points of approach, which requires additional porting by pulling a backpack.

From Cusco to Salkantay you go through endless unique and beautiful landscapes.

Currently, the Salkantay mountain has been climbed by mountaineers from all over the world: French, Peruvian, Argentine, Chilean, Swiss, North American, New Zealander, Mexican, Polish, Austrian, German, Mexican, Slovenian, Spanish, some of them triumphant to the Summit and others just stayed halfway and had to go back for their lives.

The Alternative Route to Machupicchu

Passing the Nevado Salkantay and following the path of the local towns you can reach the Inca city of Machu Picchu, this route runs through the Vilcabamba mountain and the beauty of the landscape is incredible. However, this route requires that you have a good physical condition because the trekking is 70 kilometers and 4/5 days of camping.

Leaving from Cusco to Machupicchu through Salkantay is to meditate on life and the world, many of the travelers who make this trekking say that the days lived on this trek have been of reflection and encounter with the Inca nature and culture.

You can book your Salkantay trek 5 days or Salkantay trek 4 days with Peru private tours.