Lisa
Salkantay Trek with 57hours- a cultural and spiritual experience
This trip was one of the most challenging and rewarding trips of my life. 11 women set out on a girl's outdoor hike that ended up being an amazing cultural, physical, and emotional journey. We were expecting a tough hike through some mountains to Machu Picchu, and it turned out to be so much more. Going at the end of the rainy season, all of the weather elements were in play at some point, sun, rain, snow, and all of it added to the challenge and joy of the trip. Our guides, Yariza (Yaya) and Zoraida, along with our awesome chef, Modesto were key to the trip. Yaya shared her culture and love for the mountains all along the way, making it so much more meaningful. We all learned about and fell in love with Pachamama, Mother Earth. One day was spent at a community project where we experienced the day-to-day life, not to mention the wonderful food of the Peruvians. The rain is key to growing the vital potatoes and we all celebrated the rain along the way as we knew the importance of the potato to this beautiful culture and its people. When the going got tough- it is a challenging trip, Yaya was there, giving us the confidence and energy to take the mountain. There are no words that can accurately express the vast beauty that you will experience. As each day ended, we gathered around the dinner table and shared with much laughter at what we had done! We added on Rainbow Mountain- you do not want to miss this mountain! The entire experience will be etched in my mind and my heart forever!




