Salkantay In September

Quick Overview Of Salkantay In September

Pros Of Salkantay In September:

• September is still within the dry season, meaning clear skies all throughout the trek.
• Temperatures begin to slightly warm up, and won’t be as cold as nights can get in months like July on the Salkantay Trek.

Cons Of Salkantay In September:

• September is one of the overall best months to hike Salkantay, so there are no real disadvantages!

Important Things To Know:

• Like with any high altitude trek, packing properly is essential – with thin layers for the hot daytimes, and thick layers for the cold evenings.
• Be sure to acclimate properly before your trek, as the Salkantay Trek has high elevations of over 4000m+.

Everything You Need To Know About Salkantay In September 

Below we’ll now cover everything you need to know about hiking Salkantay in September, 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 September?

While the Salkantay trek is great for hiking pretty much any month of the year, September is arguably one of the overall best with many advantages. It continues to be within the dry season so clear blue skies and virtually zero rainfall can be expected along the trek. Temperatures will continue to be hot during the day but also slightly warmer at night, which is better compared to winter months like July and August on the Salkantay Trek.

As well as having some of the very best conditions of warm weather and no rainfall, the route will also be quieter when compared with earlier months of the high season. While the Salkantay portion is pretty quiet anyway most of the year, this extra reduction in crowds is ideal when we arrive at Machu Picchu – which can often sell-out fast in months between June and August. This also means hikers can book slightly later in advance – although we still recommend booking 3 months prior to guarantee your ideal dates.

The Weather Of Salkantay In September

The turn of Spring in this high altitude region means we can enjoy warmer temperatures as we move into September. This is especially felt at night, where nighttime temperatures are cold but slightly warmer than the previous winter months. This is ideal for the evenings and having dinner with your trekking group, where you’ll then enjoy a comfortable and warm night’s sleep in our tents when hiking the Salkantay trek with us here at AB Expeditions.

September is also one of the last dry season months (with this period running from May until October), so we can also enjoy perfect weather and visibility along the route. This means we don’t have to worry about getting cold and wet while hiking and can enjoy warm hiking temperatures. We’ll also have great views of the scenic Lake Humantay, Machu Picchu Ruins, Mount Salkantay and more as mists don’t tend to be an issue here like they can in the wetter summer months.

A Packing List For Salkantay In September

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

• Thin layers for hiking during the day and late mornings.
• Thick jumpers and layers for the cooler temperatures in the evenings (September is still a very cold month).
• A warm coat.
• 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 (the sun can easily burn as it’s more intense up at these higher altitudes).
• 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 September 

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

Like with any other month of the year for Salkantay, the weather will experience large shifts throughout the day – so packing properly is essential for having both the most enjoyable and comfortable experience possible. We suggest wearing short layers and applying lots of sunscreen during the day, since the intense Andean sun can make it easy to burn (even on overcast days too). Given we are still in September and no rains occur, you won’t need to worry about bringing a poncho or rainproofs. For the cooler evenings, be sure to pack a thick jumper, coat, hat and gloves ready.

Another major point of preparation is the altitude of Salkantay. During the first two days of the trek, we will be at our highest elevations of between 4000-4500m+, where sometimes hikers can experience altitude sickness symptoms. The best way to avoid this is to acclimate properly beforehand, which includes spending 2/3 days in Cusco prior to let your body naturally acclimate. We also highly recommend taking Coca Leaves or Soroche Pills which both help with preventing symptoms.

How To Book Your Salkantay Trek

Booking in your Salkantay trek in September is relatively simple, however there are a couple of important things to know. For the Classic Four Day Salkantay Trek, we recommend booking at least 3 months in advance. September remains a somewhat popular month for visiting the Andes and Machu Picchu – with the latter destination sometimes selling out – which is also the final point of our Salkantay trekking route. The actual trail itself will be relatively quiet though, and especially in the more remote cloud forest and high Andean stretches.

For the Five Day Salkantay Trek, the same rule applies as above – however it’s even more important. On this trek we will actually enter onto the formidable Inca Trail path which this ancient civilisation once took to reach Machu Picchu, while seeing other impressive ruins like those of Wiñay Wayna and Chachabamba. Given it has very limited daily entries, we suggest booking this longer overall trek at least 4 months in advance to guarantee all permits and ideal dates.

Why Book With AB Expeditions?

Here at AB Expeditions, you will be receiving much more than just a simple hiking tour. With a completely local team from the region and decades of trekking experience, you will be part of a small group and have a much more immersive experience. This includes meeting and learning from indigenous locals from these Andes regions, visiting the most scenic spots along the Salkantay route, as well as benefiting from tips and legends as told by your local hiking guide along the route.

As well as the local immersion factor, you’ll also have an all-inclusive hiking experience. Our professionally-trained chefs cook three buffet-style meals each day to ensure you are full and happy before and after hiking, where you’ll also be provided lodging, warm tents and camping equipment for a comfortable night’s sleep up in the Andes Mountains. Finally, you’ll also have all permits and private transport included when booking either Salkantay trek with us here at AB Expeditions.

Overview Of Salkantay In September 

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

If you’re currently looking for one of the most memorable hiking circuits in Peru, then look no further than the Salkantay trek. Here you’ll spend several days hiking through pristine Andes Mountains, see glacial lakes and misty cloudforests, the dense high Amazon Jungle as well as the legendary ruins of Machu Picchu. September is still a dry season month which is great for weather – however it’s often considered one of the best months of the year for this trek since crowds tend to drop quickly as this month progresses.

Ready to enjoy an unforgettable trekking experience in Cusco? Book Your Salkantay Trek Today, where you’ll have the most immersive and culturally-aware experience with our fully local team of guides, porters and cooks – while also enjoying high quality lodging, buffet-style meals and all permits and private transport also included.