Machu Picchu

The Salkantay Trek

Mighty mountain giants tower above me. I walk at high altitude in the Andes of Peru. We are now at about 4600 meters. There is less oxygen in the air here, and that air is also drier.

TEXT: Marco Barneveld

PHOTOGRAPHY: Frits Meyst

Magazine A Journey Through Ice, Flavours, Cities and Mountains

It’s something you notice. Breathing is heavy and every step is a battle with your own stamina. Not that you don’t get used to it, but it takes a few days. It does not stop the Peruvian farmers from manually plowing their fields to plant their many varieties of corn and potatoes.

 

This 7-day lodge to lodge trekking experience will take you on a historic section of Inca trail through 15 different eco-systems, while you traverse a mountain pass over 15,000 feet, explore villages where locals still maintain age-old traditions and re-discover the mystical beauty of Machu Picchu, the crown jewel of the Inca Empire.

Each day’s trek ends with a hot shower in a cozy lodge, complemented by a massage or a dip in an outdoor jacuzzi, followed by a gourmet meal with select wines and all provided with highly personalized service by local staff.




Each day ends in a cozy lodge, complemented by a massage or a dip in an outdoor jacuzzi


The Salkantay experience goes beyond deluxe lodges and a great trek. It is a unique opportunity to experience ancient history in the Land of the Incas, as well as the most interesting and exotic variety of flora and fauna, all in the company of new friends and likeminded souls.

 

Want more information about this insanely gorgeous trekking through the Andes of Peru you can find at Mountain Lodges of Peru?

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Marco Barneveld's travel stories have been published in magazines such as National Geographic Traveler, Lonely Planet, Sidetracked (UK), Newsweek (US), and Explore (Canada) since 2004. ‘I like to inspire people to enjoy our gorgeous planet,’ Marco says. ‘Our goal is to motivate and create wanderlust.’ He has a background in advertising and global PR and has served as editor-in-chief for Wintersport Magazine, B-magazine, and MAN. Marco is also the founder of WideOyster.

ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER

For the past 25 years, photographer Frits Meyst has travelled the world in search of unknown cultures, remote places, and great adventures. ‘I hope to inspire my readers to travel, to step out of their comfort zones, and to immerse themselves in unfamiliar cultures,’ Frits explains. His stories and images are published in National Geographic Traveler, Time Magazine, New York Times, The Guardian, ANWB Reizen Magazine, Kampioen, Op Pad, and WideOyster Magazine.

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