Salkantay Trek, 2023 - (Know BEFORE You Go!)

[@wattstraveling]

Hi everyone, since I got a lot of questions about the time of year we went(silly, I left this part out) but we went May 7th/2023. Keep in mind these were unseasonal weather conditions as per the locals. Thanks for watching!

[@nk-pw6el]

Im headed to do this hike next month! Thank you for sharing your journey!

[@wattstraveling]

Hi there! 👋 Have a great time, Peru is such a beautiful country ❤️ thank you for watching! 😊

[@davidrichards9898]

No mistakes. I have done Salkantay in perfect weather. You made a really good choice not attempting Salkantay pass in the snow. If only rain and well above freezing having good coats may have helped. But you were a victim of circumstances and I am glad you are safe.

[@wattstraveling]

Hi David! 👋 Yes, I do believe we made the right choice.... I'm just sad we didn't get to see all the beautiful landscapes on the trek! Thank you for watching and leaving a comment! Means a lot 👍

[@davidrichards9898]

@Wattstraveling Yes. I am very sad for you. I started on June 11th and had perfect weather so you were probably so close. And its just the pass where weather is likely to be dangerous. The 10 hour hikes takes you right down to 7000 or 8000 ft on the other side so far less chance of dangerous weather outside of flooding. And heavens, but that little hike up to Humantay is a monster. Worst I felt whilst hiking in Peru was the 2 (or 2.5) hours up. I visited just for the day to do this. Then I started my eventual hike at Mollepeta. Made it longer but I always struggle first few days so tried to ease my way in. I hope you try many more places.

[@wattstraveling]

@David Richards lol, Humantay hike is no joke! We have been doing many hikes here! Ausangate was UNBELIEVABLE and we have more planned! Happy you got to do the Salkantany 👍

[@luiskaj2434]

Thanks for posting; my wife and I are planning our trip to Peru for next May (2025), and hope we don't end up with your unseasonal misfortune! We're only tackling the 2-day Inca Trail, as I'll be 66 by then, with bad hips and having had knee surgery, but it's been a life-long dream to visit MP. I'm surprised the two of you attempted the Salkantay alone, especially given you admitted to never having done a trek previously. It's a tough trek (my daughter did it 7 years ago) and with the high elevations, I wouldn't risk doing it without a guide and porters - glad you both made the wise decision to cancel and leave it for more favourable weather conditions! Cheers from Canada

[@wattstraveling]

Hello Canada! Good call on the 2 day trek for you condition. I HAVE heard it's a challenge and read LOTS and spoke to individuals that have done it independently..... we had no fear! 🤣🤣.... we WILL put it on our list! Have a great time? Maybe we will see you on the trek in 2025 👍

[@UrsulaUriarte]

Hi! Thanks for sharing your journey! Would you mind me asking what month of the year you guys went? Thanks again

[@wattstraveling]

Hi there! Thank you for watching! We went May7 to do the trek. The snow they told us was unseasonal and just a fluke...... just our luck I guess! 😪

[@kszid]

I read once "There is no such thing as failure. You just reached a result you didn't plan for" & Hey, you tried! that's a success if you ask me!! You guys made it farther than I would've for sure, friggin snow?!?! Oh brother 😂

[@wattstraveling]

Awe, thank you...... yes, I feel like we totally could have done it IF our clothes didn't get wet..... even with the 21km hike..... we would have done it! .... but ya, snow.... we didn't expect that at all! We are looking forward to more hiking in our future! 👍thank you so much for watching! ❤️

[@jryan1024]

I just did the Salkantay Trek from Mollepata to Agua Calientes/Machu Picchu while Camping with a guided group. That trek is a true challenge. The uphills are "huffers" but in the end were OK. The extensive downhills gave me blisters by the end of day 3. That, and the bug bites at the lower altitudes made day 4 's 23k steep downhill hike to Agua painful and somewhat slow. I am 66 yo and was clearly the oldest dude I saw on the entire hike. The younger kids were in a better mood. At the rest stops, I was patching my blisters with moleskin and duct tape. The young guys were playing soccer and flirting with the ladies. If you are gonna do this, have Good hiking shoes, Darn Tough socks, plenty of Moleskin, good poles, and be ready to hike 10 hr a day at a brisk clip.

[@wattstraveling]

Hi there! I totally agree! Hopefully next time it doesn't snow and we'll be able to try again and be successful! Thank you for watching and leaving your comments! ❤

[@rorialvarez7913]

thanks for sharing this other side of unhappy scenario for awareness. which month did you go? i thought rainy season is from October

[@wattstraveling]

Hi Rorialvarez 👋 Thank you for your feedback! We went May 7th..... the weather Peru had was unseasonably wintery for the TWO days we started the trek!......unfortunately 😭 We were so disappointed we couldn't go! Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@miguelguisberth5298]

Infeliz eres tu , no sabes que el clima es cambiante ? Eso es lo bonito de Perú que cada dia no es lo mismo

[@davidrichards9898]

I loved your thoughts on cold inside. We grew up in a warm country so had no central heating Even though temps in winter rarely reached freezing it was very cold indoors some winter nights. Cold toilet seats are torture. Homes also built for 3 warm seasons not 1 cold one. We love our central heating now.

[@wattstraveling]

Hello again! OMG..... we have a lot of respect for the Peruvian people...... WOW! Our airbnb here in Peru has zero heat so we are experiencing it first hand! I agree about the toilet seat! YIKES! Thanks again for your comments and for watching! 👍

[@THEEnfantTerrible]

Good on you for showing your adventure even though it wasn’t an ideal postcard or Instagram story. It’s important for people to not just share all the optimal and perfect sides to “vacations” or adventures. I’ll be making a trek to Machu Picchu this fall(northern hemisphere wise) and really want to do the salkantay but haven’t made the final decision yet.

[@wattstraveling]

Hello there 👋 Thank you for your feedback, means a lot! I think it's important to share all experiences.... good and not so good! Thank you so much for watching! ❤️

[@ignaciofuentesgonzalez9680]

In february I have one month vacations and the only thing stop me is irregular weather. I pretenden to stay in the north of Peru travelling in the Amazonas, close to Iquitos and Tarapoto and in the end maybe Machu Picchu. I know it will rain, probably a lot or less than the normal condition but I consider the climate change ... Maybe some activities are not allowed. Could be a challenge and no enjoynable Thanks for your time! I enjoyed it

[@wattstraveling]

@ignaciofuentesgonzalez9680 hi there👋 thanks for watching! I guess as long a you are prepared..... it might still be a great experience! Have a great time!

[@KennedyS123]

Excellent video 🎉Very informative 🎉

[@wattstraveling]

Thank you for your feedback! It wasn't the outcome we had hoped and thought maybe others might find the information helpful! ❤️

[@leemarvingaye4506]

Love the sub tropical mountain views, the Lupins are gorgeous, Canadians would pay a small fortunes to plant those. This is the most of Jay in all your travel videos..hahahaha ❤❤❤❤

[@wattstraveling]

Hi Lee Marvin Gaye! 👋 yes, we are loving the mountains in Peru 🇵🇪 it's unbelievably gorgeous! You are totally right about the lupine (because i have paid a fortune for some in the past) Hahaha, Jay doesn't usually like to be on camera.... maybe he's finally coming out of his shell! Thank you so much for watching! ❤️

[@cheryll8008]

Luckily you had a drone to be able to show the beautiful views of the mountains! Thank you

[@wattstraveling]

Hi there Cheryl! 👋 yeah, we were lucky and just drone when the weather let up. The mountains are just beautiful! Thank you so much for watching! ❤️

[@Magonos888]

booked yesterday my Flight for me and 3 friends ;) Want to do the Salkantay Trek Early September. Thanks for the Video! Just to be clear.... it was Wet and Cold .. please got i want better Weather ;) Greets from Austria ;)

[@wattstraveling]

Hello Austria!......a country that is on our list! 😍 Awesome, flights are booked! You'll have an AMAZING time! We love Peru and can't wait to go back! 😍 Thanks for your feedback 😊 And...... yes..... better weather! ... or atleast book places with the capabilities to dry clothes 👍🤣

[@kanikasubbiah]

Hi, thanks for the video... what time of the year was it?

[@wattstraveling]

Hi there! Your are very welcome! ❤️ we went in early May!

[@SiteOne-z1b]

A LITTLE BIT DANGEROUS, BUT NICE EXPERIENCE. GREAT VIEWS !!

[@wattstraveling]

That's why we didn't continue!.....hopefully we'll try again another time!

[@Sali0731]

Hi! When did you go? Im going in the beginning of June:)

[@wattstraveling]

Hi there Sali0731 👋 we went just this past May 8th! Guess the weather was unseasonal for this time line ib mentioned in the video. But be prepared for anything! Have a great trip..... you'll love it! Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@anadeavental4349]

So are we !

[@THEEnfantTerrible]

I apologize if I missed it in your commentary… what date did you attempt the Salkantay?

[@wattstraveling]

Hi there May 7th......I do have to say that the weather we had was unseasonably wintery for those 2 days.... which was very unfortunate 😕

[@ailsonsantos7381]

did you book your accommodations ahead of time? or walked up upon arrival?

[@wattstraveling]

Hi there Allison Santos! 👋 we booked everything in advance! It was fairly easy to book but we were so disappointed it snowed! Thank you are watching! 👍

[@mariasajan7695]

In which month did you do the trek?

[@wattstraveling]

Hi Maria! 👋 We (tried) to do the trek in early May.... the snow was unseasonal.....of course the week we picked! 🤪

[@charlottebartlettmusic]

Thanks for the video! Food for thought for my upcoming hike! What time of year did you do this hike?

[@wattstraveling]

Hi there Charlotte 👋..... we went May 7th..... the snow (we were told) was unseasonal..... just our luck! Other than this fail we live Peru and talk about going back All. The. Time! Thank you for watching, means a lot! Have a great trip to Peru 🇵🇪

[@cyclotron676]

how was it without a guide? Hostels and food easy to find? :)

[@wattstraveling]

What we did do was easy..... doing it independently isn't a problem.... there's always people around. Download a couple good trail apps.... you will be good

[@krazykara1327]

What month was this? Thx

[@wattstraveling]

Hi there krazykara! 👋 we started the trek May 7th! 👍Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@maryogabuzios1338]

what month was it?

[@wattstraveling]

Hi there! It was May 7th.

[@PearLcarolinejaneara6760]

What month was this taken?

[@wattstraveling]

Hi there! We went May 7th. The weather (described by the locals) was unseasonal. Lucky us 😭

[@PearLcarolinejaneara6760]

@@wattstraveling May should be the start of summer 😬

[@wattstraveling]

@PearLcarolinejaneara6760 actually in Cusco their summer is dec-march when they get hot weather and rain. Winter is June to Sept. Cooler temps and rain.... may is technically a shoulder season, thought we were safe......🙃

[@krazykara1327]

So, let's pretend weather would've been nice, would you do humantay or the seven lakes? Thanks for sharing some real content, not just nice fancy trips that don't show downfalls or weather etc....also all this snow and rain in May! Your fate! Even when you woke up determined to do it, weather told you no! Take care

[@wattstraveling]

Seven lake 100x...... it blew me away! It was a great hike, gradual incline with a few uphills, Humantay was incline all the way.... and we couldn't see much.... was it impressive yup..... but I'd recommend 7 lakes! Thanks for your feedback, means a lot! ❤️

[@edgardoria6342]

No worries, still so cool

[@wattstraveling]

Awe, thank you! We hoping to get back and have a redemption trek! Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@cuscobirding2189]

It Is a real adventure, we'll you couldn't to continúe. Any way you have to comeback, a mountain guide like me, love that kind of weather. So after The pass 14,00ft it Is just a long way down and when you get to 11,000ft. You'll reach and hike in the midle of the cloud forest till 9,000ft. For camping. The restt of the trail Is much easy and warm (Cloud Forest) till Machupicchu Town. This was a good video, next time you need at least a good guide. Thanks for The video and congratulation. You should come back. God bless you. 🇵🇪🇨🇦

[@wattstraveling]

Hi there! We loved Peru and talk about coming back all the time! Peru blew us away and there's so much more to see, I can't wait! Thank you so much for watching and giving your feedback 😊