RISE TO THE CHALLENGE WITH THIS STAR TREK
When you arrive in Cusco, you’ll have endless options for hikes and treks to do during your stay - the Salkantay trek that ends in Machu Picchu, Inca trails, different hikes to Rainbow Mountain – there are so many. However, I highly recommend taking the road less travelled. During my stay, I was introduced to local guide, Marco Silva who runs a travel agency with his family, Bloody Bueno Peru.
He suggested a challenging one-day hike of a peak near the Ausangate mountain, about a three- hour drive from Peru. The peak was called Condorkunka and its 5,300m at its summit. If you’re up for a real challenge, it’s the hike for you. We set out from Cusco at 5am for the tiny village of Pajchenta, and left there at 10am after a hearty breakfast. It took us five hours to ascend the peak. It was one of the most challenging hikes I have undertaken, and I wouldn’t advise tackling it without a local guide like Marco. There was loose gravel on steep descents, so you need someone who knows what they’re doing. The views at the top were the most incredible I have ever seen – the climb was so worth it. For details on trekking in Peru and hiking Condorkunka visit bloodybuenoperu.com