One prominent peak
The Andes so burst with skyscraping peaks that Salcantay is only the 38th-highest mountain in the range. But what a spectacle it provides: Reaching more than 20,000 feet in elevation, Salcantay is plenty tall, but it's the sheer vertical face of the mountain, and the deep valleys from which it rises, that provide the real wow factor. This region of southeastern Peru doesn't skimp on the sights—just north of Salcantay is the historic Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.
The Andes so burst with skyscraping peaks that Salcantay is only the 38th-highest mountain in the range. But what a spectacle it provides: Reaching more than 20,000 feet in elevation, Salcantay is plenty tall, but it's the sheer vertical face of the mountain, and the deep valleys from which it rises, that provide the real wow factor. This region of southeastern Peru doesn't skimp on the sights—just north of Salcantay is the historic Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.
This beaten path is less beaten than others in the area—but the trail less traveled has its rewards.
© Anna Gorin / Moment / Getty Images 2026-06-15 11:34:59 :