Viva El Peru (2022)

Heading out from our camping site near Wayllabamba

Sept 22 to Oct 1, 2022

This trip was planned around the Salkantay Trek, a multi-day, high-altitude route in southern Peru that finishes at Machu Picchu. Lima and Cusco served as bookends and staging points, with the majority of the trip spent hiking at elevation.

Route overview

Miami → Lima (arrival; food walking tour and city exploration)
Lima → Cusco (home base)
Cusco (acclimation and exploring before the trek)
Salkantay Trek (5 days) via Sam Travel, ending at Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu full site walk-through, followed by Huayna Picchu
Rainbow Mountain region (2 days) hiking additional routes and visiting hot springs
Cusco → Lima → departure

What this trip was

A hiking-first trip, and my first sustained experience backpacking at altitude. The Salkantay Pass brought cold conditions and overnight snow that we did not expect, followed by notably better weather once over the pass with a generally downhill trend toward Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu

We started at the upper sections, worked through the full site, then climbed Huayna Picchu for a different vantage over the ruins and surrounding valley. Even after multiple days on trail, the scale and setting were exceptional.

Rainbow Mountain

After the trek, we stayed in the Rainbow Mountain area for multiple days rather than treating it as a single out-and-back. The extra time allowed for additional hiking routes, acclimation, and time in nearby hot springs.

Looking back

This trip mattered because it confirmed we love backpacking and opened the door to longer, more demanding journeys. It was the first trip that made the idea of something like the AT feel realistic.

Field Notes from Peru

View all Field Notes from this adventure →