The name Salkantay Mountain comes from Quechua and means “Wild Mountain.” For the Incas, this impressive snowy peak was a sacred mountain or “Apu,” protector of the people and the surrounding nature. It is said that Salkantay Mountain Peru was the brother of Ausangate, another sacred Andean peak. Its history is wrapped in myths and legends that still endure in Andean tradition.
According to legend, Salkantay was the brother of Ausangate, another sacred mountain of the Andes. The story tells of two brothers separated by destiny, Ausangate staying to feed the people with water and fertility, and Salkantay becoming the guardian of the jungle’s gateway toward Machu Picchu. These myths still live on among Andean communities, adding a spiritual dimension to every Salkantay hike and Salkantay trek experience.
