Salkanty Trek to Machu Picchu

Well so I've been a bit behind with this and at this stage nobody probably cares but I'm bored in Sydney waiting to start my job so heres what happened after I got off that fucking mountain.

After we got down we went straight back to La Paz and booked into a 3 bed private room in a fairly nice hostel and got drunk on cheap wine. The next day me and Rodger were leaving to go to lake Titicaca and Jesus was supposed to leave and go back to his girlfriend who was working on a monkey sanctuary at the bottom of death road. That plan soon changed when we got drunk and me and Rodger convinced Jesus  to come to lake Titicaca with us even though he had already been there.

The next day we all headed off on the bus to Copacabana and booked into  hostel for 30 Bolivianos(about 3 euros ). Here we met Mark and Breda again and we all went out for a Mexican with a dutch couple we had met along the way as well. After we all headed out to a strange little bar and got drunk. Mark and Breda were leaving the next day to go to Cusco and start their Machu Picchu trek so we said our goodbyes and me and rodger said we would meet them in Cusco before their trek started.

Rodger and Jesus at lake Titicaca

The next night it rained I think and we got drunk again. The following day it was sunny and me,Rodger and Jesus climbed the hill near the lake and sat their looking at the lake for the day and talking.  Jesus had told us about a really good 5 day trek  to Machu Picchu called the Salkanty trek . I had never done a 5 day trek before but it sounded like good craic so me and Rodger decided we would do that.  (on a side note , it actually works out cheaper to do a trek to Machu Picchu as getting the train and entrance fee almost costs the same. The trek cost $220 for five days with food and accommodation for 4 of the 5 ).

Anyway we all got drunk again in the room and then Rodger passed out as usual and me and Jesus went to get more drink and stopped in at that doge pub for a pint . Here I convinced JC to come with us to Cusco the next day. Since we were locked it seemed like a great idea so we decided we would stick together and all head to Cusco together.

The next morning me and Rodger got up really hungover to catch the bus to Puno and then another bus from Puno to Cusco. Jesus woke up and decided he wasn't going to come with us after all as it didn't make much sense for him to go back to Cusco! Me and Rodger had to run to get the bus so we couldn't really argue with him. We hugged it out with JC and said are hungover goodbyes and legged it to get the bus.

(Jesus it was some craic travelling with you, wherever you are now I hope your still saying really inappropriate things and pissing in Bottles :-))

After the worst bus journey ever we arrived in Cusco at around eight at night and booked into the eco back packers hostel. The Next day we booked our Salkanty Trek to Machu Picchu set to leave 3 days later. We then moved to another hostel where Mark and Breda were staying. That night we all went to Paddy's bar which is apparently the highest Irish bar in the World. Here I made everyone drink a really bad pint of Guinness.

The Following day we were all going to our meetings about our treks to Machu Picchu . Here we met Edalf ( a welsh guy) and Emily (Canadian). They were a couple who had met in London. We also met Herman( pronounced like German) an Argentinian from BA who was here on a holiday for a week to do the trek. This turned out to be the group of people I mainly stuck with for the entire trek.

After our meeting we went back to hostel and said goodbye to Breda and  Marky Mark. We decided we would all meet again with Geraldine in Arequipa after the trek.

Herman,Rodger,Emily,Me and Endalf first
day of the trek

Next morning me and Rodger were being collected at 4.30am to start the trek. We drove for a couple of  hours to the beginning of the trek. Here we were put into groups of 18 people  and all started walking . There was Dutch in the group, English and the guys we had met the night before at the meeting. There was also a group of crazy Brazilian girls who turned out to be great craic.

The First day involved a lot of walking but it was a lot of fun as we were all walking,talking and eventually singing so the walk didn't seem to bad and the sun was shining so it all went grand the first day.  We reached our camp site got our tents went for dinner then had a couple of drinks and went to bed as we were up early the next day.

Rodger and me at the top

The next day we had to walk 19km and walk up to a height of 4600m. Again this probably seems grand but walking to that altitude is never really easy as the air becomes so thin . Hard to explain but it ends up being fairly tough and you end up constantly chewing coca leaves,eating chocolate bars ans drinking shit loads of water. After we reached the top we had to trek down then through the jungle to reach where we were staying the for the night.

Group at 4600m

This was grand until it started to rain and there was mud everywhere . Downhill trekking through mud and rocks isn't that much fun but we sang a few songs and had the craic with the crazy Brazilians so it was actually good craic.

Eventually we reached the camp site for that night had dinner and a few drinks and went to bed.  The next day involved more trekking and a stop to hot pools which was cool and nice and relaxing after all the walking.

That night we had a party around a camp fire. Myself ,Rodger, Endalf , Emily ,Herman and the loco Brazilians all got really drunk on wine and Inca tequila and danced around the camp fire all night.

Night at the camp-fire 

In bits hungover we all got up the next day and headed off to trek to Aguas calientes. This was pretty cool as you walk along the train tracks through the jungle. We ended up walking for a good bit with out guide Ed who gave us cool info about Machu Picchu.  Eventaully we reached Aguas Calientes and checked into our hostel. That night he entire group went out for dinner and then me,Rodger,Endalf,Emily and Herman went back to our hostel had a few drinks and watch the Miami Heats beat the Spurs in the NBA final.

Machu Picchu

The next day we got up at 4am to start the trek to Machu Picchu. This involved walking up loads of steps in the dark and singing the rocky theme song over and over again. Eventually we reached the top and joined the line to get into Machu Picchu. We hadn't realised it until we got there but the day we arrived at Machu Picchu was actually the winter Solstice which was a pretty big deal at Machu Picchu and to the Incas.

As we walked into Machu Picchu we were completely blown away. To say this is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen is an understatement. The town nestled with the mountains is a spectacular display of Inca society that leaves you standing there completely in awe and wonder.

While I didn't have a spiritual awakening (Gap Yaahh) it was unbelievable to watch the sun rise over the mountains and shine over the alter in the middle of the courtyard( this only happens on the shortest day of the year).

Rodger,Endalf,Ed,Emily and me

We finished our tour with our guide Ed and then decided to walk up Machu Picchu mountain. We all thought how hard can it be we've just trekked through the mountains for 4 days. This wasn't our smartest move . The mountain itself was just over 3000m which we though would be grand. It wasn't grand. It was thousands and thousands of endless steps which after trekking for 4 days with blisters on our feet we eventually made it to the top to see some spectacular views of Machu Picchu.

The way down was fairly tough as well but eventually we made it back down and spent the rest of the day exploring the ruins of Machu Picchu. Then me and Rodger ran all the way back down the steps to machu Picchu. By the time we got back to the hostel we could barely stand. Check out the picks !

Me at the top of Machu Picchu Mountain                  

Endalf,Rodger,me and Emily 

Machu Picchu

Herman,me and Edalf half way up Machu Picchu
 Mountain

Just wanted to say a big thanks to everyone in the group on the trek especially Endalf ,Emily,Herman,Rodger and the Crazy Brazilians. All the walking, talking and singing made the whole trek itself better then reaching the destination ! Wherever you are I hope your all still singing and having the craic :-)

A few things you cant be at on a trek

Don't take Valium at all while drinking wine - you cant be at that lads !

Don't forget to bring a waterproof cover for your bag and have to buy a giant red poncho to cover your shit .

Don't think you don't need hiking boots. You do . If you plan on trekking up and downhill for five days bring a decent pair . Don't rent a pair off some doge shop in cusco !

Don't forget Motillium !always bring Motillium !:-)