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 on day 4.
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 4 - Llactapata to Aguas Calientes
Today started with a lot of fog and rain in the morning. I knew the hike would be less demanding today, so I decided to sleep longer and leave a bit later. It was a good choice because it was raining a lot during the morning. I left Llactapata around 9 am.
The downhill to Hidroelétrica is easy if the weather is dry. It is probably possible to complete the trail to the bottom in one hour. It was raining a lot, so it was muddy, really, a lot of mud. It was difficult to hike at an average speed; my feet dug in the mud all the time, and the trail edges were also muddy. If you are there during the rainy season, you will get dirt.
The mix of mud and rocks was dangerous in some parts, so I hiked slowly. The main problem is falling near the trail’s edges; a serious accident could happen if you slide down and fall, so be careful!!
The trail improved in the last 15 minutes before the restaurant near the Hidroelétrica area. I stopped there to buy some refreshments to continue the hike.
Hidroeletrica
There are many options to eat in Hidroelétrica and buy fruits and refreshments. I recommend not stopping to eat at the restaurant before Hidroelétrica and hiking for 20 minutes more. You will find better prices there.
Once you are in Hidroeletrica, you will see the train station and a hiking trail that starts on the right side and goes uphill. Take this trail and go up for a few minutes until you reach another railway. The railway will be your trail for the next 10 kilometers.
The hike from Hidroelétrica to Águas Calientes is easy and mostly flat. However, the small rocks can be painful, depending on your hiking boots. The views are great, and the mix of mountains around the Urubamba River gives a pleasant feeling of peace.
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The trains are operating from Hidroeletrica and Aguas Calientes. During the hike, you will often hear their bells when they are passing by. There is no need to be worried because they don’t drive fast. There’s always a person in the front part of the train watching for people and dogs on the way.
Three trains passed by me during my hike, so I just stopped hiking and stayed on the side, waiting for them to pass. It would be safer if there stood a proper hiking trail along the railway all the time, but that’s not the case.
Mandor and Aguas Calientes
After 8 kilometers from Hidroeletrica is the small village of Mandor. There you can also find food and refreshments. For those who want to avoid the mass tourism in Aguas Calientes, there are accommodation options in Mandor.
The last 2 kilometers from Mandor to Aguas Calientes are flat and easy. The number of people on the trail will also increase, mainly because of those leaving Aguas Calientes or walking to Machu Picchu.
Aguas Calientes is a town with many options for food and accommodation. It’s very touristy, and prices are higher than in Cusco. My accommodation was the Inca Hostel, which had rooms for 40 soles per person (breakfast and dinner not included).
Now that you made it to Aguas Calientes, you have some things to do. There are shops for souvenirs and places to drink coffee or play snooker. I recommend checking the hot springs to relax your body before going to Machu Picchu.
Conclusion
This guide explained how to do the Salkantay trek without a guide on day 4. If you want more details about the other days, click on the links below.
The fourth day was challenging initially with all the mud on the trail. The views from Hidroeletrica to Aguas Calientes were incredible. This part is where you have the best views of the hike today, where the mountains surround you, and they all seem very close. If you want to follow my route, here is the link.
Another highlight for me was the hot springs experience in Aguas Calientes. After hiking for four days straight, I took a one-day break and relaxed my muscles before going to Machu Picchu.
Well, that’s it for today!! 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!!
2 Responses
Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you penning this post and the rest of the website is very good.
Thanks a lot!! I hope that you will enjoy your trek on Salkantay.