Dry season (April & November)
Day temperature 20ºC/25ºC
Night temperature -1ºC/7ºC
Wet season (December & March)
Day temperature 17ºC/22ºC
Night temperature 4º;C/10ºC
Salkantay Altitude
The Salkantay Peak - Savage Mountain - is located within the Vilcabamba mountain range, to the northwest of Cusco. Salkantay is one of the highest and most spectacular mountains in the Andes (6,271m/20,574ft).
Salkantay Trek: At Soraypampa camp, temperatures can fall below freezing at night. The annual maximum temperature varies from 20° to 27° Celsius (68º to 81º Fahrenheit) and minimum temperatures range between -5° to 11° Celsius (20º to 52º Fahrenheit). The other camps are much warmer.
What to bring
The key to packing for a trip to Peru is to pack for a variety of conditions while keeping the weight to a minimum. Easier said than done when you have to deal with the intense heat of the equatorial sun and the cold mountain nights spent camping on the Inca Trail. The best way to deal with these extremes is to dress using several layers rather than one thick jumper. If you forget something, don't despair since most things can be bought in most Peruvian cities frequently visited by tourists including excellent and cheap alpaca jumpers.
Acclimatization
We do recommend that you arrive in Cuzco at least 2 days before the trek departs to help you become acclimatised to the altitude and avoid possible problems with altitude illness while on trek. All treks from Cuzco gain altitude quickly on the first day(s) with some treks gaining more than 1000m in altitude in a single day and it is important to be well accliamtised before commencing the trek.
It is advisable to have two full days in Cuzco to recover from your travel and to do at least one day hike to higher altitudes help with acclimatisation. We canorganise day hikes & other tours around Cuzco for you.
If you have already been in another area of Peru at high altitude before arriving in Cuzco, we still recommend you have a complete day in Cuzco to rest, recover from your travel and enjoy the sights and sounds of Cuzco before departing for the trek.
Best Seasons
The best months are April, May - November, during the year and Salkantay Trek Team offers the amazing landscape during these months. The weather is sunny and warm, although the nights are cold and temperatures can fall to freezing. Weather can change rapidly and be unpredictable. Please note that when trekking in Cusco region, you will be moving from warmer climates at low levels to conditions of well below freezing. Be prepared for all eventualiti
Suggested Inca Trail packing list:
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Backpack (65 litres should be quite sufficient).
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Comfortable walking boots with good ankle support.
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Sleeping bag (can be rented in Cusco)
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Clothes
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2 pairs long trousers (lightweight)
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2 T-shirts
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1 short-sleeved shirt
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1 long-sleeved shirt
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1 pair shorts
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Underwear and socks (thermal underwear is highly recommended, being light, warm and makes good nightwear on cold nights).
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07 Hat or cap to protect from the sun.
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Toiletries: soap, toothbrush, toothpaste & toilet paper etc.
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Sun cream, lip salve, sun glasses.
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Flashlight
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Basic first aid kit.
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Insect repellent.
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Money belt + passport + emergency money
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Camera + film (film can easily be bought in Peru and is of excellent quality).
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Water bottle (mineral water can be bought throughout Peru)
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Water purification tablets (Micropur tablets can be bought in Cusco and are very efficient).
