Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
is the Salkantay Trek, which leads to Machu
Picchu via the Cordillera Vilcanota mountain
range. The five-day trail begins south of Machu
Picchu at Mollepata (2900m) and ascends
through dry Andean grasslands for the first two
days, during which the scenery is dominated
by the impressive peaks of Salkantay (6271m)
and Huamantay (5850m). On the third day you
descend through a warm cloud forest passing hot
springs and waterfalls, before finally reaching
Aguas Calientes, rising at dawn to trek the final
stretch up to Machu Picchu.
Another alternative is to miss out Machu
Picchu altogether and trek to the ruins at
Choquequirao (“cradle of gold” in Quechua). It's
more remote, but arguably equally as important,
as well preserved and as beautiful as its famous
neighbour: for forty years (1536-72) the Manco
Inca dynasty resisted the Spanish conquerors
from this impressive fortress in the Vilcabamba
range.
The trek from the north of the ruin takes
nine days and begins at Huancacalle village
- a community of tin shacks approximately six
hours by minibus from Cusco. The first stop
south is the Vitcos ruins - a classic ceremonial
plaza lined with massive, lichen-
covered Inca stone - and on to
the canyon waterfall of Puma
Chaca, before spending the
second day climbing up through
forest to the high-altitude
desert at Choquetacarpo
(4600m). The following three
days you descend to a cloud
forest, then climb to the village
of Yanama and further up along
vertiginous mountain ridges.
You'll then pass through more
forests and valleys, camping
out on mountain ridges,
before eventually arriving at
Choquequirao - a combination
of a central plaza, terraced
buildings, small chambers and
water channels. It's an awesome
326 Hike an alternative inca
trail, Peru
Every year the Inca Trail sells out. It's a good
thing too - where once up to two thousand
people trampled every day along the sacred trail
to Machu Picchu in the high season (April-Sept),
causing massive erosion
of the path and ruins, now
only five hundred permits
are available per day (and
because this includes
support staff, in reality
that's only two hundred
trekkers).
Congratulations if you're
one of the lucky ones to
get a ticket - it's one of the
most spectacular hikes in
the world. If you're not,
don't worry, as there are
plenty of alternative treks
available, usually far less
crowded and often rivalling
the Inca Trail for their
sheer beauty. Among these
The path to Choquequirao,
a lesser known yet equally
stunning alternative to
the trail to Machu Picchu; The
main square in Choquequirao
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