GUNUNG · Peru

Nevado Salcantay

Salkantay

Information

Elevation: 6.271 m
Country: Peru (PE)
Location / Range: Cordillera Vilcabamba, Peruvian Andes
Mountain type: Non-volcanic glaciated mountain
Volcanic?: No (non-volcanic)
Coordinates: -13.3336, -72.5444
Difficulty: Trek: moderate to strenuous; summit: technical alpine climbing.
Best Season: Trek: May–October according to The Hiking Life; summit-route conditions require a separate assessment.
Permits & Rules: Historical trek accounts distinguish trail access from Machu Picchu admission. Confirm current tickets, local fees and access requirements before departure.
Hazards: Altitude, rain and cold wind on the trek; crevasses, steep ice and avalanches on summit routes.

Description

Nevado Salcantay, also spelled Salkantay, is a 6,271 m non-volcanic mountain in Peru’s Cordillera Vilcabamba. The Salkantay Trek crosses a pass below the summit before descending toward cloud forest and the Machu Picchu area. This trek is distinct from climbing the summit: Nathan Heald’s SummitPost account describes exposed rock, steep ice and crevasses on the northeast ridge. Trip accounts show that poor weather can obscure the views and make the descent demanding even after the pass has been crossed.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Routes

Punggung Timur Laut — pendakian puncak teknis

Alpin teknis: batu, salju dan es curam

Nathan Heald’s account approaches through Sisaypampa and Palqay to a camp below the northeast ridge. Above are exposed rock sections, a ridge camp, an ice tower and crevasses. This is a historical description; glacier changes can alter the line and its difficulty.

Source

Trek Salkantay via Soraypampa dan Llactapata

Sedang–berat; trekking berketinggian

4–5 hari (termasuk kunjungan Machu Picchu)

The trek passes through Soraypampa and Salkantay Pass, then descends into the valley and continues toward Llactapata and Aguas Calientes. Timing depends on the starting point and operator’s variant. Dan and Bailey emphasize the long pass day and cold, wet weather; this route does not summit Salcantay.

Source

Climbing Experiences

These accounts distinguish the trek below Salkantay toward Machu Picchu from a technical summit ascent. Trekking stories cover guided travel, a beginner’s experience, rain and muddy camps; the mountaineering account describes the northeast ridge. Historical reports provide terrain context rather than assurances about present conditions or access.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.