INCA TRAIL
Machu Picchu, the mysterious "Lost City of the
Incas".is an independent guide to the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu aimed at helping
visitors to decide whether the Inca Trail is the trek for them. Although there
are literally thousands of kilometres of "Inca Trails" throughout
Peru this website concentrates on the Classic 4-day Inca Trail trek that starts at km82 (82
kilometres along the railway from Cusco to Aguas Calientes) and treks high up
into the mountains passing the Inca ruins of Llactapata, Runkurakay,
Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca and Wiñay Wayna before finally arriving at Machu Picchu
for sunrise on the 4th day of the trek. We have include information about when
is the best time to do the trek, how best to prepare for it, and advice on how
to choose a tour operator best suited to your interests and budget. The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu really is an
beautiful trek and we hope that with a little advice and planning it turns out
to be an incredible and unforgettable experience. Good luck and happy trekking
The trail is usually covered in 4 days arriving at the
Inca ruins of Machu Picchu for sunrise on the fourth day. The trek is rated
moderate and any reasonably fit person should be able to cover the route. It is
fairly challenging nevertheless, and altitudes of 4200m are reached, so ensuring
that you are well acclimatized is important. If arriving from sea level, plan
to spend at least 2 full days in Cusco prior to commencing the trek. This
should allow plenty of time for acclimatization and give you sufficient
opportunity to visit the city of Cusco and nearby Inca ruins at Sacsayhuaman,
Q'enko, Pucapucara and Tambomachay, as well as spending a day or two exploring
the Sacred Valley of the Incas visiting the tradition market town of Pisac and
the fascinating Inca fortress at Ollantaytambo.
The Inca Trail can
be hiked year round although the months of April
till October are probably more comfortable since the weather is drier. June,
July and August are in the
high season when the trail can become fully booked so be sure to make a
reservation in advance. The 4 day Inca Trail is closed each year during the
month of February to allow conservation work to take place. The months of
January and March are in the wet season so hiking the trail can be a little
miserable unless you have a good rain jacket and waterproof tent.
There are two main alternative treks to the traditional 4-day Classic Inca
Trail that both end
at Machu Picchu. The first and most popular alternative is the inca trail which
can be completed in 1 or 2 days. This is an easier trek and starts further
along the Vilcanota River Valley closer to Machu Picchu at a place called
kilometer 104. The second trek is a more strenuous 7 day hike via,salkantay a
beautiful snow-capped mountain.
If you are searching the web for information about the 4 day Inca
Trail you'll find
hundreds of tour companies offering this popular trek amongst their services.
Many of these companies are acting only as agents for the relatively few specialist trekking companies that actually operate the trek. Prices for the 4 day
trek start at US$240 per person for a basic service (including entrance fees
and return on train) and can climb anywhere up to $1000 depending on the
service and how
comfortable you eant to be. Purchasing the trek directly with a local tour
operator in Cusco can often be less than half the price of buying the trek in
your own country through an agent. However, great care should be taken in
choosing a tour company especially using the internet. Our page has been written to help you avoid many of
the pitfalls.
