Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu

Our wonderful experience will allow us to discover magical and amazing places, this destination is currently considered one of the favorites to discover the mysterious Inca citadel of Machupicchu. The places that we will visit on our trip are:

• Humantay Lagoon: It bears the name of Humantay because of its location at the base of the snow-capped mountain that bears this name. The formation of this lagoon is due to the melting produced over the years and its peculiar coloration is produced by greenish microalgae, possibly of the species Microcystis aeruginosa and Oscillatoria, these mixed with the crystallinity of the water and solar radiation. produce the particular effect that draws everyone's attention. possibly of the species Microcystis aeruginosa and Oscillatoria, these mixed with the crystallinity of the Water and the solar radiation produce the particular effect that attracts everyone's attention.
• Abra Salkantay: It is the highest point of our entire experience, located at 4650 msnm. From this point we have a privileged view of the Salkantay mountain and its entire valley. Due to the height at which it is located, it is natural that the climate is extreme and icy due to the presence of snow-capped mountains. A tradition of walkers is the construction of apachetas in this place, which are stones superimposed one on top of the other as a symbol of respect towards the mountains as the Incas used to do.
• Cocalmayo: It is located next to the Urubamba River and a small mountain. It is a perfect place for all visitors who make the journey from Salkantay to have a well-deserved rest in these pools fed by natural hot springs surrounded by varied vegetation. We found 3 pools of different sizes with a temperature between 38 and 44 ºC. We also find cold showers with water from the Uripata lagoon and it is very refreshing.
• Guardian House: This beautiful place is located in the highest area of the Inca citadel on the Agricultural Area. Its function was to control the entrance to the Inca city and review the entire agricultural and urban area. From here you can see a panoramic view of the entire citadel and the entrance to the old Inca trail. It has three walls: In the central wall we find three large windows, which allow us to easily observe the entrance to the Inca trail and the Inca bridge, the only means of communication with the outside world. We can also see how the Incas covered the enclosures with a ichu roof.
• Llacta Punku: It is the income for the urban sector, it is located limited by a deep excavation. This sector is located from the cemetery by a long staircase towards the peripheral neighborhoods, it has a system of points to hold a wooden door, in person and not as an element of restriction or security since the city can also be accessed by other roads.
• Ceremonial Plaza: It is a set of enclosures made around a quadrangular patio, you can see three polygonal walls, made with immense stone pieces assembled perfectly. The presence of three windows and two niches on each side stands out. It is considered that the function of these windows was probably purely religious, next to this we can find a different enclosure called The House of the Priest.
• Temple of the Sun (1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.): This enclosure has a finely polished two-story structure: the first is semi-underground and the second features a beautiful semi-circular wall with perfect finishes, with an incline towards its interior due to what is called “Torreón”. It was used to celebrate religious ceremonies, especially during the months of June and December, special dates for the Solstices.
• This Tower has two trapezoidal windows, one oriented towards the most extreme point of the winter solstice that takes place on June 22 and the other oriented towards the Puerta del Sol (Intipunku) for the summer solstice that occurs on June 22. from December. In the middle of this architecture we can find a central rock, polished in the shape of an altar that was used for the ceremonies of interpretation of the path that the sun followed. It is built on a large rock, under which there is a small cave, which has been worked and covered with a thin wall, this is because it probably fulfilled the function of a mausoleum, because it has niches of a moderate size, where they placed the mallquis or mummies where they were worshipped.
• Temple of the 3 windows: This enclosure has three polygonal walls, built with enormous stone pieces perfectly assembled, highlighting 3 windows and 2 niches at each end. The function they had was religious magic and not only aesthetic.
• It was Hiram Bingham who carried out excavations in the front part of this temple, finding a large amount of fractured ceramics and highlighting the detail of the bases of this temple with a depth of more than three meters, here is also the possible symbolic figure of the head of a carved llama, this image is allegorical to the camelid because of the importance it had as a beast of burden, supplier of meat and clothing to the Incas.
• Main Temple: It has a finely polished structure with beautiful finishes, an enclosure framed by only three walls, each of the large pieces have been carefully crafted. The central wall has a dimension of 11 meters. Behind the Main Temple there is an enclosure whose function was probably also for religious use according to the records obtained and whose stones have no less than 32 angles, which makes its meaning quite mysterious.
• Intihuatana (07:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.): It bears his name in Quechua which translated means "where the sun hangs“, is an area that corresponds to one of the highest sectors of the Urban Zone. This is the most important area of Machu Picchu, at the top of this area we can find a huge sculpture made and carved with flat surfaces, a column of 66 cm. tall and with finely carved faces that complement the sculpture. The total space of the Intihuatana measures 8.60 meters and 1.76 meters high.
• The Intihuatana, is one of the most enigmatic objects of Machu Picchu, it is related to the sunrise and the mountains. The movement of the Sun causes projections of shadows at different times, this served to recognize and interpret them in different periods of the year.
• Sacred Rock: It is a carved stone that resembles the silhouette of a mountain. It is located next to the control point to access the Huayna Picchu Mountain, made up of two Huayrana-type environments (three-walled environment), with very high ceilings that face each other forming a small, almost square plaza. This rock has an important location, since it is on the path that leads to two very important sites such as Huayna Picchu and the Temple of the Moon.
• Water mirrors: Its name is in relation to the enclosure where they are found as well as to the constructions that are in the place. It is a wide sector, with a single access door, which is why it is attributed to be an Acllahuasi or House of Selected Women who were dedicated to spinning, cooking and preparing chicha or acja, for the privileged class.

• Among the possible functions attributed to this space are:

  • In one of its rooms, you can see two circular rock protrusions, which have the shape of mortars, they were probably used to grind grains or prepare dyes.
  • It is also given the name of 2 water mirrors, because in the rainy season they agglomerate with water and allow us to see the reflected stars.
• Temple of the Condor (10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.): It is a wide set of constructions, made taking advantage of the irregular shapes and on a cave that was notoriously used for ceremonies. The condor was an animal worshiped during Inca times and associated with the divinity of the mountains.
• The area is delimited by stairs and finely carved walls, its access is controlled by a double jamb door, which shows the hierarchy and the activities that took place in this area, it presents a great variety of closed and open environments with one and two levels.
• In the central patio it has as its main point, a carved rock, where the representation of the head and part of the body of a condor can be clearly distinguished. You can see the head, beak and eyes, as well as the necklace of white feathers of the Royal Condor, with the body projected towards the interior of the cave, which subtly joins two natural rocks.
• In this sector you can see the clear union of natural rocks with others worked by man, seeking to represent a tutelary deity. In the underground cave (the body of the Condor) offerings, ceramics and bone remains of camelids were found, which confirm the quality of a "ceremonial center" where offerings were made.
• In front of the temple of the condor enclosure we will find a 2-story structure that has two entrance doors, the second level is flush with the patio of the condor and by observation it must have served as the enclosure of the priest, in charge of the worship of the Condor. You descend to the first level by a staircase that connects to other rooms. In an environment attached to it, sectors for raising animals were found, other stairs lead to a lower platform.
• Water sources: We can see a large staircase next to which runs a system of 16 waterfalls, most of them carefully carved in polygonal blocks and surrounded by gutters made in the rock. The water comes from a spring in the heights of the Machu Picchu mountain that was channeled in Inca times. A separate channel at the top of the mountain also associates the seepage of rain from the mountain and diverts it to the main channel.l.

• Airfare: Both international and national.

• Transportation: From Playa to the town of Santa Teresa.

• Breakfast of the first day. You will need to reserve it at your hotel early, before we come to pick you up.

• Sleeping bag: It is essential that you have one, that resists up to -18°C. They are stuffed with feathers (we rent them for US$25.00).

• Entrance to the Huayna Picchu mountain: This walk must be reserved separately, at an additional cost and well in advance.

• Personal expenses and Tips: How to buy handicrafts, clothes, drinks, etc. Tips are not included either, these are voluntary according to the service received.

• Travel insurance: It is a very important requirement for your safety and protection, for example in case of a medical emergency, the costs will be much lower.