Salkantay In August

Quick Overview Of Salkantay In August

Pros Of Salkantay In August:

• August is a very dry month, which is perfect for hiking Salkantay with clear blue skies and great visibility.
• Trails here are much quieter compared with the Inca Trail in August – and that’s despite it being a high season month.

Cons Of Salkantay In August:

• August is one of the coldest months of the year along with July, so it’s important to pack warm layers ready for the nighttimes when temperatures drop.

Important Things To Know:

• The altitude of the Salkantay trek can be demanding, so it’s important to acclimate properly in Cusco for a few days prior.
• You’ll need to pack both thin layers for the hot days, as well as warm thick layers for the cold evenings and nighttimes.

Everything You Need To Know About Salkantay In August

Below we’ll now cover everything you need to know about hiking Salkantay in August, such as why it’s worth it and what to expect when it comes to the weather.

Is It Worth Hiking The Salkantay Trek In August?

Like with the other winter months of July and June in Salkantay – August is a prime time for hiking this memorable route. Firstly it’s one of the overall driest months of the year, which means we can expect clear blue skies and perfect visibility of towering Andes Mountains and deep-blue glacial lakes. There will be no need for waterproofs this month, although a range of thin hiking layers and thick jumpers and coats will be needed as temperatures vary drastically between the afternoon and nights.

While August is part of the busy season for travel to Cusco and around Peru, this route remains quiet and great for authenticity. It’s much less busy than the Inca Trail this month, or when compared with those who are solely heading to Machu Picchu on a day or overnight tour. Along the route you can enjoy peaceful nature with your experienced tour guide pointing out native flora and fauna along the way – while also getting the chance to meet native groups who still live in this remote mountainous region.

The Weather Of Salkantay In August 

One of the deepest winter months, August can get very chilly in the evenings. While it’s true that all months are cold up at these altitudes anyway – this particular month has the lowest lows – so you’ll need to prepare accordingly. A big coat, thick jumpers, a hat and gloves are all recommended to stay warm during dinners and when winding down for the evenings. On the contrary – the daytimes get very hot as skies are quite clear in August – so be sure to bring lots of sunscreen and thin layers ready.

There is virtually no rainfall at all during August in Salkantay, which brings two distinct advantages. Of course firstly no rain means no getting wet, or having to stuff an extra rainproof into your bag that you will be carrying with you. However on the other side, this also means that clear skies will have almost perfect visibility with less cloud cover. This is ideal for seeing Machu Picchu and glacial lakes like Humantay at their very best, while the scenic alpine landscapes of Salkantay can also be enjoyed at their very best too.

A Packing List For Salkantay In August

Here we will now list everything that you’ll need for your hike for August.

• Thin layers for hiking during the day and late mornings (August is one of the consistently hot months as clouds are minimal).
• Thick jumpers and layers for the cooler temperatures in the evenings.
• A warm coat (as the nighttimes reach their coldest lows in August).
• High quality hiking boots or other shoes that are suitable for hiking.
• Thick pijamas for staying warm at night.
• A baseball cap or Andean-style hat.
• Sunglasses to prevent glare from both the sun and snow.
• High SPF sunscreen (we suggest at least a sunscreen SPF factor of 30+ given it’s easy to get sunburns at these higher altitudes).
• Warm clothing additions for the evenings (such as a thick hat, scarf, and gloves).
• A hand towel.
• A reusable water bottle (on our treks we’ll bring all the water you need – so you simply refill your bottle at our stations).
• A day pack to hold everything you need (must be light as you will always be carrying this).
• Hiking poles if necessary.
• Personal medications if necessary.
• A quality camera or mobile phone.
• A portable power bank or extra batteries for your camera.

Preparing For A Salkantay Trek In August

Ready to hike the Salkantay trek? Let’s now cover the most important things for you to know.

The most important part of preparing properly for Salkantay is understanding how the altitude works. Given the route passes frequently above 4000-4500m, it’s possible to get altitude sickness along the way with symptoms such as headaches or nausea. This can be entirely avoided by taking altitude sickness medications (such as Diamox if your doctor clears you for use), or Coca Leaf Tea which is native to the Andes regions. Spending a minimum of 2/3 days in Cusco prior to your trek is also essential for your body to naturally acclimate.

You’ll also want to pack properly for your Salkantay trek in August. Daytime temperatures can get very hot since there is little cloud cover along the route, so reapplying sunscreen frequently, bringing a hat, and wearing short layers is best practice. Once the sun goes down temperatures get cold quickly – so be ready to put on thick layers like a warm coat, jumpers and a hat once we arrive at our next lodging and campsites each new afternoon after trekking.

How To Book Your Salkantay Trek

Now that you’ve decided you want to hike Salkantay in august, it’s time to book in your Four Day Salkantay Trek. Given this month is one of the most popular of the entire year for trekking in Cusco, we highly suggest booking this at least 3 months in advance. While the route itself will be quite open and quiet around Salkantay and through the cloudforests, Machu Picchu at the end of the trek can get very busy – and often sells out months in advance during the high season.

For those who want a more complete trekking experience, you can also consider the Five Day Salkantay Trek. Here you’ll also hike the alpine landscapes of the four day route, while also getting to hike the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu – where you will see remote Inca ruins like Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna along the way. It’s important to note that if you want to book this longer trek in August, then you’ll want to reserve at least 4 months in advance as the Inca Trail has limited daily entries.

Why Book With AB Expeditions?

While many tour operators around Cusco offer the Salkantay trek – here at AB Expeditions we offer a more intimate and cultural experience. Our entire team of lead guides, chefs and porters are natives from the Peruvian Andes – and during your trek you’ll learn more insights and share memorable experiences with them along the route. This includes trying delicious Peruvian cuisine and buffets prepared by our chefs, as well as visiting the most scenic points led by your head guide.

You’ll also get to enjoy a fully all-inclusive experience during your trek when heading with us. We provide all lodging and accommodation every night along the route with warm sleeping bags and equipment, as well as three buffet-style meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner each day of the trek. As well as having all entrances and private transport included, you’ll have a maximum group size of 8 passengers – which helps to ensure a more seamless and personalised hiking tour experience with little delays along the route.

Overview Of Salkantay In August

And that’s all for this guide on hiking the Salkantay trek in August.

The Salkantay trek is by far one of the most notorious hiking circuits in the entire Cusco region, famed for its impressive snow-capped peaks, the bright-blue Humantay Lake, native flora and fauna in the cloudforests and high Amazon Jungle. August is one of the best months of the year for weather and visibility, although it’s important to book your trek around 3 or 4 months in advance given tickets for the Machu Picchu and Inca Trail portions of the routes can sell out quickly.

Book Your Salkantay Trek With Us Today, where you can enjoy one of the most beautiful regions with an experienced local hiking company – where you’ll have all meals, lodging, trekking equipment and private transport included in your experience, as well as having professional lead guides and experienced chefs join you on your trek.