The Salkantay Trek The trek is a 5 days to Machu Picchu and is named Salkantay because of Salkantay mountain which was sacred to the Incas and still is to many Peruvians. Day 1 We covered a total of 16km - mostly uphill on a grit road but not too difficult. We arrived at 3900m above sea level, very near the snow line. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, crackers and popcorn were served (a slightly odd combo but it seemed to work after full day of hiking...

Entering Peru was uneventful in itself, a painless border crossing, no money; a few stamps and you're off. Nevertheless the bus journey was eventful to say the least! We changed bus companies in Puno Peru and hopped on another bus. My seat was broken on the second bus so I could not sit in it so had to sit far from Sarah down the front of the bus. There were a number of Cholita's (old Bolivian grandmas) bustling around at Puno; they always have about 20 bag...