The Nevado Salkantay, also known as Apu Salkantay, has a height of 6,271 meters above sea level, which makes it the highest mountain in the Vilcabamba mountain range in Cusco, Peru.
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Height of the snow-capped mountains in the Salkantay range
The snow-capped Salkantay is the highest peak in the Cordillera Vilcabamba, in the Peruvian Andes, and is surrounded by several smaller snow-capped mountains. Below is a list of some of the peaks that border Salkantay with their respective altitudes:
- Nevado Salkantay – 6,271 meters above sea level.
- Nevado Humantay – 5,917 meters above sea level
- Tucarhuay Mountain – 5,910 meters above sea level.
- Nevado Pumasillo – 5,991 meters above sea level
- Yanama snow-capped mountain – 5,530 meters above sea level
- Nevado Veronica – 5,682 meters above sea level
Salkantay for the Incas
The Salkantay was considered an important deity in the Inca cosmovision, since it was believed to be the sacred mountain that protected the region and controlled the climate. It was worshipped as an Apu (protective spirit of the mountains) and was attributed with powers of fertility and abundance. It was also part of a system of sacred routes that connected important ceremonial centers and cities of the Inca Empire. Today, Salkantay Mountain is a popular destination for tourists seeking to trek and hike in the Cusco region of Peru.
Altitude of all the snow-capped mountains in Cusco
Ausangate – Altitude: 6,384 masl (20,864 feet)
Salcantay – Altitude: 6,271 masl (19,832 feet)
Salkantay East – Altitude: 6,100 masl (20,000 feet)
Tres Picos – Altitude: 5,597 masl (16,864 feet)
Chicón – Altitude: 5,530 masl
Verónica – Altitude: 5,682 masl (16,880 feet)
Pitusiray – Altitude: 5,557 masl (16,880 feet)
Salkantay history
The snow-capped Salkantay, which means “Wild Mountain” in Quechua, is a sacred mountain for the Incas and is one of the highest peaks of the Vilcabamba Mountain Range in the Cusco region of Peru. Throughout history, this mountain has had great cultural and religious importance for the indigenous peoples of the area.
During Inca times, the Salkantay was considered a sacred mountain and was attributed divine powers. According to Inca mythology, the Salkantay was one of the protectors of Cusco and was considered an apu, a deity protector of nature. In addition, it was believed to be a place of human sacrifice in honor of the Inca gods.
After the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century, the religious importance of Salkantay diminished, but the mountain continued to be a cultural and geographical reference for the inhabitants of the region.
