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Located
in the department of Cusco, Mount Salkantay (6,271 masl) marks
the culmination of a trekking circuit that combines majestic
landscapes with the attraction of the world's most famous
pre-Hispanic site: Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail
The route starts out following the old Inca road carved into
the rock and which leads to the citadel of Machu Picchu.
The trail crosses through a high mountain pass between Mount
Salkantay and Humantay (5,917 masl) before heading along
the Acobamba River Canyon down to the archaeological site.
The trail grant hikers extraordinary views of most of Cusco's
most beautiful mountains: Mount Wayanay (5,464 masl), Palcay
(5,229 masl) and Wakay Willka or Verónica (5,750
masl), which soar above one side of the Urubamba River Valley.
Climate: Rainy during the summer
months (December-March). Sunny from May to September. Maximum
temperatures reach 27° C, while minimum temperatures rarely
drop below 11° C.
Access: Like the Inca Trail,
the route starts out at Km 88 of the railway. Organized groups
set out from the town of Chilca at Km 76 of the same line.
Services: There are trekking
and adventure tourism companies that organize hikes along
this circuit from their headquarters in the city of Cusco.
Hikers will need to take along drinking water and food, in
addition to camping equipment. |
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