This is an exhausting day, but worth every step. This is the second highest peak in South Peru and one of Peru's most beautiful . Ask anyone and they will tell you that the best way to experience the magic and mystery of Machu Picchu and the Incan culture is to put on your walking shoes and get hiking. So when a friend asks if you want to tag along to visit their friends in Peru and check out Machu Picchu, you say âHeck, Yes!â While Peru has a lot of great adventure opportunities, the classic Inca trail to Machu Picchu is one worth checking out. The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is the ultimate Peru adventure tour. From here the trail continues north for 2 days, up towards Wayllambamba, where you join trekkers on the Classic Trail. From here it is another 1.5-2 hours to reach the top of Warmiwanusca Pass (aka Abra de Huarmihuañusca or ‘Dead Woman’s Pass), which is situated at 4,200m. Here are some helpful tips that should get you on your way.Â, The Inca trail is one of the most famous trails in the world and for good reason. These men will work hard for you and really are the ones that make the experience the amazing one that it is.Â, Â You will want to find out what is included, how much they expect you to carry, how much their porters will carry, how many guides, and if they offer the option to rent gear from them, etc. Del Busto explains: “It is said (Capac) placed emphasis on the roads so as to be able to get his army around quicker and be able to crush the rebellions that flared up during his reign.”. The four day Inca trail brings you along ancient narrow paths deep into the Peruvian countryside and high into the Andean mountains. Day 3: Pacamayo – Runkurakay – Sayacmarca – Phuyupatamarc – Winay Wayna. Rainforest Cruises cannot and will not accept responsibility for any omissions or inaccuracies, or for any consequences arising therefrom, including any losses, injuries, or damages resulting from the display or use of this information. To help prevent it, it helps being physically fit, but altitude sickness really affects each individual differently. The Salkantay Trek is about 46 miles long, while the Inca is 25 miles long. Be aware that the hikes are mostly uphill, and you should have a good level of fitness to complete the treks â especially the four-day trail â as well as wear the appropriate hiking gear. It is believed to be the primary route the Inca used to get from the capital of their empire, Cusco, to the Ancient City. We have reviewed a number of travel insurance providers. Six weeks. Seven countries. One adventure with a sketchbook. Writer and sketch artist Candace Rose Rardon invites you on a serendipitous sketching journey through Southeast Asia and Japan. Quite possibly the most popular trekking route in the world, the Inca Trail has long been a bucket list staple and with good reason. The short Inca trail literally takes half the time of the classic trail, and is great for travelers who want to experience the beauty of the landscape of the region and some additional sites, but don’t have enough time to complete the four-day trek. The day begins with an hour-long trek up to the ruins at Runkuracay, an Inca site that is believed to have been used as a watchtower over the Pacamayo valley. After months of planning and over a year of dreaming about it, I finally got on a bus from Arequipa to go to Cusco to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. This is ideal for those who would like to spend more time at Machu Picchu (perhaps climbing Machu Picchu Mountain or Putucusi) and provides an opportunity to visit the hot springs at Aguas Calientes. Explore Cusco, once the heart of the Inca Empire and described by Travel & Leisure Magazine as "a living monument to Inca history". What to Pack for the 4 Day Inca Trail Hike to Machu Picchu I love packing. Complete with detailed maps and concise descriptions, this Peru travel guide will help you plan your trip with ease. Join Fodor’s in exploring one of the most exciting countries in South America. Many people arrive in Cusco woefully underprepared, which can have a negative impact on one’s trekking experience. Even if you decide to hire a porter to carry your things, he will still have to carry it so donât make it any harder for him than it already will be. During your excursion, you will be walking around 12km per day, which can take anything from 3-6 hours depending on how many breaks you take, how difficult the terrain is and what kind of an incline youâre faced with. Round trip bus ticket from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu on day 2. Author Hugh Thomson writes in his acclaimed and highly recommended book, The White Rock: “We are used to a road system designed for the horse and then for the car: a system which tries at all cost to avoid steep gradients and whose ideal (so established by the Romans) is the straight road over flat ground. Over 250 species of orchid have been counted in the Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary, as well as numerous birds such as hummingbirds, waterfowl and the majestic Andean Condor. An hour along from the second pass you will reach Sayacmarca, an Inca ruin that features a beautiful stone staircase. Youâve seen it a thousand times, but the pictures just donât do it justice. The dry shoulder months of March / April and October / November, can also make a good time for trekking, although the probability of rain is higher. Iâm not always able to get out to the mountains and go for a hike every day and some people may not have that option. On this day, the landscape changes dramatically. Travelers are required to spend a minimum of two nights at high altitude before the trek, usually in Cusco, Sacred Valley, or Lake Titicaca. Note: the map is not to scale and the itinerary, particularly with regards to camping sites, can vary from tour company to tour company. The Short Inca Trail (aka the ‘one day route’, ‘two day hike’, ‘Sacred Trail’ or ‘Camino Real de los Incas’), is ideal for trekkers who don’t have much time, or would like to do some light trekking that doesn’t result in tired legs and blisters! Check our Inca Trail Tours and find the trek that's right for you. To avoid altitude sickness it is important that you understand the process of acclimatisation and spend at least 2 days prior to starting the trek acclimatising in Cusco. Understanding the recent social unrest and political developments in Peru requires a thorough understanding of the country's past Short Inca Trail to Machu Pichu. We chose the classic Inca Trail hike: a 4-day, 3-night trek through the Andes that ends at the Sun Gate, an exclusive entrance to Machu Picchu. For this price the trek will sometimes include airport transfers, a 7D/6N itinerary which covers 2 nights in a hotel in Cusco to acclimatise, and a further night in Cusco after the trek, along with the identical trekking service outlined in the ‘Local’ section above. Inca Trail to Machu Picchu . Cusco, however, is already at high altitude (3,400m) so if you flying in from sea level it is very likely that you will experience mild altitude sickness symptoms after you arrive. The Inca Trail. A Guide To Hiking The Inca Trail To Machu Picchu, Take altitude sickness tablets and have extra on hand, Drink plenty of water, this is very important, Eat well, but avoid heavy foods that are difficult to digest, Chap stick (your lips will get dry from the altitude/sun), Extra camera battery (essential for multiple day treks). Well, the demand side of things is fairly self-explanatory – hiking the Inca Trail is on many people’s bucket list, both young and old. Forty years later, this ground-breaking guide has been updated to include classic treks through all the great mountain ranges of Peru. My wife and I love your products, and will keep checking your website for new products. There are miles of Inca trails in Peru, but the world-famous hike on the Camino de Inca, or the Inca Trail, in the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu is the most popular way to get to the ancient ruins. It is important that you take layered clothing to adjust comfort levels as temperatures fluctuate throughout the day and across different levels of altitude (see Inca trail packing list below). Day 2: Wayllabamba – Llulluchapampa – Warmiwanusca – Pacamayo. The supply side is maybe less obvious. © 2021 Rainforest Cruises. Unlike the majority of trails, which were used for practical means, the Inca trail to Machu Picchu was solely used as a pilgrimage or religious route. Day 1: KM104 – Winay Wayna – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes. Most tour operators include a full 2-3 hour tour of the city before giving you free time to explore the ruins. The purpose of Sayacmarca is still unknown but the site’s name means ‘Inaccessible Town’, which accurately describes the sites well-protected position at the foot of three steep cliffs. Found insideHow to Travel the World on $50 a Day reveals Nomadic Matt’s tips, tricks, and secrets to comfortable budget travel based on his experience traveling the world without giving up the sushi meals and comfortable beds he enjoys. After celebrating your successful climb to the highest point of the Classic Inca Trail, you will descend for ~2km on a steep trail to the campsite for that night, which is located at Pacamayo (3,600m). I have the Crimson helmet, great ventilation system, easy hookup for sound as well, love the color! Unfortunately it is nearly impossible to predict ones susceptibility to altitude sickness as there is very little correlation with factors of age, gender, fitness etc. The first day starts early. We are an online trekking tour company based out of Cusco - Peru, offering the most AUTHENTIC cultural experiences as well as life-changing hikes through the beautiful Andes Mountains and Sacred Valley of the Incas. You donât want blisters impeding your pleasure. Here is a schematic showing the average number of rain days per month in the Machu Picchu Sanctuary. We often get asked if you can purchase last minute cancellation permits. This book is entertaining and educational. Spend quality time with your child or keep them busy with hours of interactive fun. Advanced readers can read on their own. This book is challenging for everyone. December, January and February are the wettest months, and the Classic Inca Trail and Salkantay / Inca Trail Combo is in fact closed for maintenance in February (it is possible to trek the Short Inca Trail or any of the alternative treks to Machu Picchu during Feb). The Spanish invasion and excessive use of the trail did a lot to damage it and today we still do not know the true extent of the Incan network. You can find several sites that will give full packing lists for the Inca trail and the trekking service you go with will have recommendations, but hereâs what I wouldnât leave home without: Check out the Wildhorn Highpoint 31L packable Daypack for your Inca Trail adventure. It connects with the traditional 4-day route at . pre and post hotel nights in Cusco, with city tours etc), airport transfers, all inclusive trekking services and more. The trek starts just north of Mollepata and follows the same first day trail used on the Classic Salkantay trek. The porters have to get the first train out of Machu Picchu village, which is at 5:30am. Alternatively, if you are looking for a shorter trekking experience then the ‘Short Inca Trail’, presented below is for you. The bus trip is usually included in your Inca trail tour price, but the walk down, which takes approx. Near the site is a hostel, which goes by the same name, and is used as the camping spot for folks on the Classic Trail. Celebrated as Peru’s most famous hike, and one of the world’s most iconic trekking experiences, the classic Inca trek to Machu Picchu provides an awesome combination of sub-tropical Andean mountain environments, including cloud forest, alpine tundra and jungle, with an impressive array of Inca archaeological sites; some of which are worthy of a visit on their own! Cusco is a hiking. From Winay Wayna you will awake early (around 04:30) to have breakfast and start to 1.5 hour trek to Inti Punku (the Sun Gate). 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