There are several ways to get to Machu Picchu: bus, train, or the best way for many adventurers. The Inca Trail is an amazing and really unique experience that you will not forget never in your life. Also, there are many options to enjoy this trek, you can do it in just 2 days (The Shorter version of the Inca Trail), 2 days with camping, or the Classic Inca Trail of 4 days. In these lines, we will try to transmit the experience of arriving at the wonder of Machu Picchu through the most famous travel tour: Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
The Inca Trail (Inka Trail) is a road with more than 500 years of history. It is an ancestral path part of the network of roads of Inca times (Capac Ñan) that the Incas used to communicate throughout their empire. The Inca trail is very extensive and it is not conserved in its entirety, but today it is possible to travel 42 km of this legendary road before reaching the citadel of Machu Picchu.
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is part of the 23,000 kilometers (approx.14,000 miles) of roads built by the Incas in South America are on the most famous trekking route in Peru, and possibly one of the most spectacular in America. Every year, approximately 25,000 hikers from all over the world travel their extraordinary 42 kilometers along a stone-paved road built by the Incas, which leads to the impregnable citadel of Machu Picchu located deep in the high jungle of Cusco. So remember to book Inca Trail as soon as possible, as tickets are so limited.
It is a demanding trip that lasts 4 days, but it can be done as long as you do not commit excesses, such as through acclimatization or hangover. Machu Picchu is a unique place and therefore is one of the wonders of the modern world, but to reach it with effort makes the experience absolutely round. What's more, when you arrive after 4 days walking you feel a bit adventurous and know that you are going to enjoy that a thousand times more than the rest.
The Inca Trail trek to the Sacred site begins either at Km 82, Piscacucho, or sometimes at km 88, Qorihuayrachina, and take note you will be at 2600m.a.s.l In order to reach km 82 hikers are transported by their tour operator in a minibus on the road that goes to Quillabamba. From Piri onward the road follows the riverbank and ends at km 82, where the adventure starts crossing a bridge. Please it is very important to keep with you your personal documents because Sernarp and Culture Minitry will welcome us checking our personal documents and they will compare your full name, passport number and nationality, so please take your original passport for the Inca Trail Peru.
The walk to Huayllabamba, following the Cusichaca river, is about 3 hrs and isn't too arduous. Beyond Huayllabamba, there is camping places about an hour ahead, at Llulluchayoc (3200m). A punishing one and a half hour climb further is Llulluchapampa, an ideal meadow for camping. If you have the energy to reach this point this will make the second day easier because the next stage, the ascent to the first pass, Warmiwañuska (Dead Women's pass) at 4200 m, is an utterly exhausting two and a half hours trek.
Afterwards take the steep path downhill to the Pacaymayo valley, beware of slipping on the rainy Inca steps. You could camp by a stream at the bottom (one and a half hours walking from the first pass). It is no longer permitted to camp at Runkuracay, on the way up to the to the second pass (a much easier climb of 3850 m.a.s.l). Magnificent views near the summit in clear weather. A good overnight place is located about 30 minutes passing the Inca ruins at Sayacmarca (3500m), about an hour on after the top of the second pass.
After 2 hrs climbing on a fine stone highway leads through an Inca tunnel to the third pass. There's a spectacular view of the entire Vilcabamba range near the top. You descend to Inca ruins at Phuyupatamarca (3650 m.a.s.l), where is well worth a long visit, even camping overnight. There is a 'Tourist bathroom' here where water can be collected (but purify it before drinking). From there, steps go downhill to the impressive ruins of Wiñay Wayna, (2700 m.a.s.l.) with views of the recently cleared terraces of Intipata. Access is possible, but the trail is not easily visible. There is a small campsite.
The path from this point goes through jungle until the steep staircase up to the Intipunku (2 hrs walk), where you find a magnificent view of Machu Picchu, especially at dawn, with the sun alternately in and out, clouds sometimes obscuring the ruins and sometimes leaving them clear.
The climate is relatively mild all year round, with heavy rains from November to March, and dry and hot weather from April to October, so these months being the most recommendable to visit. The minimum annual temperature ranges between 8 ° to 11° C. In the months of June, July and August the temperature can fall below 0 °. The maximum annual temperature varies from 20° to 26° C. The terrain is quite irregular, with ravines and holes fed by glaciers that finally pour their waters into the Urubamba River, which crosses this area forming a deep valley that extends through the granite base of Vilcabamba for more than 40 km. crossing through a variety of ecosystems.
The following client information is requested for any Inca Trail booking:
The exact information provided by you will be submitted to the governmental institution in charge of regulating the access to the Inca Trail and will be included in the official permit to enter the Inca Trail on the requested date. There shoulnd't be any change in the above-mentioned data (for example the New passport number); in that case, we kindly request you to inform the department booking at Salkantay Trek Machu Tour Operator via email as soon as possible.
The government reserves the right not to allow the entry to any visitor whose data are not the exact ones as those in the official permit. Salkantay Trek Machu excludes any responsibility for a no entry in case the passenger information has changed without prior notice to us.
Departure dates to Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Daily departures are available along the year. Exception: one-month closing period of all Inca Trail routes in February. Please contact us to check departures to alternative routes. All Inca Trail departures are subject to government space availability.
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