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Issue link: https://digital.miamilivingmagazine.com/i/497473
TRAVEL MIAMI LIVING 131 It begins the way it usually begins: with a very early wake-up call. Then comes the tentative, sleepy conversation you find yourself having with about half a dozen strangers – a.k.a. your new best friends forever (or, alright…the next 96 hours) – in front of the main circa mid-16th century cathedral that stands proud at the heart of Cuzco. Your backpack's sitting next to ya, packed to the brim with what ought to be the bare necessities. And you're feeling rested…acclimated because you were smart to arrive in the undisputed tourist capital of Peru at least a couple of days ago and have been taking it easy. This was crucial, you start understanding. This you are grateful for be- cause you aren't there to party; never mind that, yeah, Cuzco does offer a vi- brant nightlife. You can party afterward. After what? What…on Earth is it that's prevailed upon you that you've consciously left your comfy bed at, say, the JW Marriott El Convento Cuzco (a beautiful prop- erty built on the grounds of the 16th century San Agustín colonial convent) to go stand outside an old church on a chilly Peruvian winter's night? You're there to take the first steps of your Salkantay trek to Macchu Picchu, an experience that will send you on a four-day 26-mile journey up and down the sacred snow peak before culminating in a visit to the Lost City of the Incas. If that sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime thing to do that's because, well…it is. Not because it leaves you with this Reese Witherspoon-in-Wild feeling of "I got to know myself!" but because going on a friggin' 26-mile four-day walk is not som'in' that people really do, right? A trek like this is a treat, and my hope is that this will inspire you to go for it. Obviously, I did, and that adventure – that walk to remember – kinda changed my life, putting me on a different path than the one I was on before I got to walkin'. How come? Well, let's just say that I chose the right trekking partner, which is key when on embarking on such an endeavor. So is picking the right time o' year to hit the trail. Cuzco and the surrounding areas, and thus the trails (you likely have heard of the Inca Trail, the popular one; the Salkantay trail is a newer, harder option), they are best to visit when it's fall or spring in Peru. December to March, a.k.a. the summer months, can get rainy. Sometimes too rainy. And that can translate into mudslides, as has been the case this past season. A good time to go down there is April through October. We took on the trail 'round last Labor Day, so we were there after the worst of the cold. No matter, since you walk across many a landscape with many a climate. Make sure you break in your hiking boots and pack at least three pairs of good socks and a (light) blister care packet. And know that layers are your friend: Uniqlo's HEATTECH stuff comes in quite handy. Don't forget a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a water canteen. Your guided tour will not include stops at any CVS remote outposts. Six short hours after waking, you set off on the trail after breakfast, from the village of Mollepata, which is at about 2,900 meters above sea level, and hike up the winding paths of the Apurimac River valley to the first camp at Soraypampa, which is at 3,850 m.a.s.l. The views are breathtaking. So is the exercise. It must be noted that accommodations are basic, but by the time you arrive around 5-6 p.m., you're so tired and happy to be there that the tents that are erected before your arrival will feel like a BYOSleepingBag Ritz-Carlton. FYI: There are toilets along the Salkantay trail – proper, clean facilities that remain as presentable as you and your fellow trekkers care to keep 'em. Meals are cooked and served on site. Don't bring any (heavy) extras if possible. Porters will be on hand to transport your packs, but, if you should come across a transport strike (which, trust me, it can happen), you will find yourself carrying your stuff yourself. That will not make you a :). Hiking the Salkantay