Snow Mountain Salkantay

Last Updated on Tuesday, 26 January 2010 15:45 Thursday, 07 January 2010 22:56

Written by Diego Quispe

According to some authors the name of this mountain is a contraction that comes from Salqa = sullen or savage Antay = scudding clouds or avalanches occur. He is often prefix the name of Apu, which in the Quechua language would mean sir, is defined as the great mountains that mean something sacred above the valleys. For example Apu Salcantay in the Cordillera Vilcabamba

The snowy "Salkantay is the guardian of Cusco with Apu 6271 mts. altitude. In our journey we cross beautiful mountain landscapes, we pass a pass of 5000 mtrs. and have the chance to see condors and alpacas in their natural habitat.

In this trip we will find the beautiful and great snow Salkantay (6271 masl), we can bathe in natural hot springs from the depths of the earth, see the Condor, different fruit plants and a wide variety of orchids, as if little can prove the tastiest coffee in Peru, of the Convention.

The Inca Trail is less traveled and more popular along the Inka Trail to Machu Picchu, is peculiar to blend into their journey, the cold landscape of one of the highest mountains of Cusco (Salkantay) after passing through the most famous route to Machupicchu inka . In the course can fully enjoy the scenery with its lakes glacier clearly color seldom seen, reaching Andean landscapes which are of course very beautiful. Already for the past three days at the most famous Inca trail to have our reward in the very sanctuary of Machupicchu

The Cordillera of  Vilcabamba, where is the Salkantay massif, is a beautiful and solitary. Dominated by the same Apu Salkantay has numerous high-elevation snow, as the Tucarhuay (5,910 m), Veronica (5,682 m) and Huacayhuilca (5.361 meters), among others. They are visible from the area Puyupatamarca during the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Geography is difficult and capricious round the edge of this attractive. Salkantay is surrounded by deep valleys and gorges, making your journey both interesting but exhausting

There are two possibilities for a return to solid. The first circuit starts the same Km 88 of the railway that goes to Machu Picchu, which marks the start of the Inca Trail. After walking for about four hours from the Urubamba River, take a detour in the hamlet of Huayllabamba. The second possibility of Mollepata, and then the two roads meet at the pass between the glaciers and Humantay Salkantay. Since there is no single path that passes through and reaches Colcapampa Santa Teresa, near the archaeological ruins of Machu Picchu.

The large white and Apu, a little history between ropes and crampons:

The Salcantay not the highest mountain in the region Cosqo (Cusco) as once believed, and that can surpass 65 meters in the Jatun Ausangate Cordillera Vilcanota located further south. However, without doubt, is the most grandiose in its splendid isolation and grandeur of his two-headed mole, with the addition of being one of the mountains of this magnificent Andean region with the highest technical problems all its aspects. This is demonstrated by the six routes open to date by the various facets of this white giant.

Location:
Salkantay Route, also known as the "New Inca Trail", located north of the city of Cusco

Climate:
It is very sunny during the day but cold at night. The temperature falls below 0 ° C at night during the months of June through September. In season from December to March is rainy why the trail is closed in those months.
The best time for the weather, to make this hike is during the months of June through September.

Getting there:
The bus from Cusco to Mollepata leave early and go through Limatambo. We suggest you visit the fortress of Tarahuasi. From the road you can see the Apurimac River and part of an impressive canyon. Note that the area is cold and reaches an altitude of around 5,000 masl Already Mollepata, Victor Delgado and his family, offering services of mules and mule drivers. If you plan to make the circuit Mollepata Santa Teresa, it is necessary to provide food for six days.
Being a 2.803 m.s.n.m. altitude, Mollepata allowed to rise gradually towards the Salkantay. On the way they observe herds of llamas. After tracing a step height can have a breathtaking view of the Salkantay pyramid, one of the most beautiful snowy Cusco. From Mollepata it takes two days to descend to Huayllabamba and splice with the second day the trail.

TREKING - SALKANTAY- MACHUPICCHU
A new and good alternative to trekking, for before the adventure and for those who did not find a place for Inca Trail - Machupicchu classic. This alternative leads to the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu with landscapes between lagoons, snowy mountains like the Humantay and Salkantay, a path of our ancestors Quechua where we can see a progression of the various ecological zones, crossing rivers, the mountain we visited Thermo-Natural Waters, entering the region of the jungle of tropical vegetation, appreciating different colored orchids, birds like hummingbirds and parrots of the rainforest.
The last day of trekking very early visit the Lost City of the Incas - Machu Picchu and the same day afternoon return to Cusco

Salcantay and walk to the ruins of Machu Picchu
Salkantay is the second best option for those travelers who want to go to Machu Pucchu, offering a journey filled with all-natural settings, through the majestic slopes of Nevado Salkantay, colorful villages where Spanish is the second language, and where the Andean people still maintains traditions that date back to ancient times. Unlike the Classic Inca Trail, the Salkantay hike to take him to places less visited and little presence of tourists, enabling you to enter truly in contact with the Andean world and interact with their people..

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