Doing the Salkantay trek independently may be easier than you think. I decided to do this fantastic trek during the rainy season in February. There were a lot of questions in my head about how to do it properly, and only a few answers were available. That’s why I decided to write this blog series to help you.
In this Machu Picchu series, I will share details on how I did the Salkantray trek in five days without a guide. It took me six days to complete the trip, but the fifth day was only for resting. After hiking for four days straight, I decided that one rest day at the hot springs in Aguas Calientes was well deserved.
If you are here, you are also trying to figure out how to do the Salkantay independently. My experience will help you create a clearer idea about this trek. In this article you will find the details of doing the Salkantay trek without a guide, day 2.
This blog post is part of a series about doing the Salkantay trek without a guide. If you are interested to know more details about the other days of this trek, click on the links below:
Table of Contents
Day 2 - Soraypampa to Collpapampa
This day was the second most challenging day of the hike for me. If you talk to people about Salkantay, they will tell you that this is the most challenging day of the trek. Two reasons make this statement true: The first is the constant uphill to the Salkantay pass. Second is the downhill full of rocks around Wairaqmachai.
After leaving Soraypampa, you can go to the Humantay Lake on the left of the village or go straight to Colcapampa, hiking for 23 km. Visiting Humantay will add 6-7 km to your hike.
I planned to visit the lake, but there were two Humantay Lakes on Maps.me with the same name. It wasn’t obvious, but after checking the map, I saw that Humantay Lake is close to the trail that leads to Collpapampa. This news was too good to be true!! After starting the hike and getting close to the lake, I realized there was a mistake and that I missed the real Humantay Lake.
On the way to Salkantay Pass
The way to Salkantay Pass is mainly uphill, and the total elevation gain is around 700m. In the beginning, the elevation gradually increases with the fantastic views of the mountains around Soraypampa.
As soon as you reach the Salkantay pass area, the number of big rocks on the trail and at the edges increases. The landscape will change drastically from the greenish vibes of the fields to snowy mountains and gray stones.
The temperature changed very fast at the top of the Salkantay Pass, and it was possible to see the snow at the top of the mountain. Take a moment to appreciate the views of the area and prepare to start the downhill hike to Collpapampa.
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It was raining when I was there, so the stones were very slippery. Have a good pair of hiking boots for the Salkantay trek without a guide during the rainy season. Another tip is to always step on the edges of the rocks so as not to slip on them.
The downhill to Collpapampa
As soon as you leave the Salkantay Pass, the amount of stones on the downhill trail will increase. After a few km of hiking, you will reach the village of Wairaqmachai.
There is one accommodation option and a restaurant as well. Both were closed when I passed them, so I assume they open only during the high season.
After the village, the landscape changes to a closed forest that resembles a jungle. From this moment, the stones on the way are gone. The jungle part of this hike is the easiest part of this day; it ends a few km later in the small village of Challuay.
From Chaullay to Collpapampa
There is a small village called Rayanpata on the way to Chaullay. It started raining a lot, and I was lucky to find this village to take a break. One villager set up a tienda to sell beverages and snacks there. This village is the last stop before reaching the day’s final destination.
The distance from Rayanpata to Challuay is around 4 km. You are almost there!! The trail gets easier, with less downhill, so less pressure on the knees.
In Chaullay, there are a few accommodation options. I didn’t check their prices, but they seem very budget-friendly. If you decide to continue to Colcapampa like I did, it is a 20-minute final walk.
Like in Soraypampa, there were only two available accommodations. I saw more accommodation options, but they were closed. I chose El Mirador for the night, bed, dinner, and breakfast for 50 soles per person.
Conclusion
This guide explained how to do the Salkantay trek without a guide, day 2. If you want more details about the other days, click on the links below.
Of all the days of the Salkanty trek, I found this to be the most demanding. If you decide to visit Humantay Lake, it will be a challenging and long day hike. Be prepared for a 30km hike if you combine Collpapampa and Humantay. If you want to follow my route, here is the link.
Thanks for reading about my adventure!! In the comments, let me know about your plan or experience doing the Salkantay trek without a guide. Bye!!
