Climbing these stone steps along the Inca trail traced out thousands of years ago by the Incas and forgotten for centuries is a truly unforgettable experience.
Have you dreamed of its deep verdant gorges, lost citadels and peaks that appear and disappear in the mist. There is no doubt: for the traveller, the Inca Trail represents a rite of passage, the adventure of a lifetime. Logistics can be a little complicated, so it is essential to plan the trek well, a winding route of about 43 km to be covered in four days, from the Sacred Valley to Intipunku (the 'sun gate' to Machu Picchu).
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| Inca Trail Hike Tours |
When to go
The colder and drier season, from June to August, is the period chosen by most, but with adequate equipment, the itinerary can be tackled in any month when the path is open. There are groups of hikers who undertake this adventure at any time of the year, with the exception of February, when the path is closed for maintenance and the abundant rainfall makes the hike impracticable. You can plan the trek before or after the rainy season: March to May (more lush vegetation, orchids, birdlife) or September to November.
Visit the site early in the morning to avoid the crowds and allow at least three hours for the visit.
Book the trip
Since the Inca Trail trek is extremely famous and permits are limited in number, it is advisable to book well in advance, at least six weeks in low season and from six months to a year if you intend to tackle it between the end of May and the beginning September. To make the request, it is essential to go through an authorized agency, but to check the availability of permits for a certain date, you can consult the Inca Trail website.
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| Machu Picchu Hiking Tours |
What to bring
Bringing trekking poles is highly recommended, as there are many steeply sloping stone steps along the Inca Trail that put a strain on the joints. Also bring essential first aid medications, sunscreen, sandals or clogs to wear at camp, a down jacket for cold nights, a waterproof jacket, wool cap and gloves, a sun hat, a travel towel, walking shoes walking 'tests', hiking socks, thermal underwear, a fleece shirt, water bottle, insect repellent, long pants and sunglasses. Check that the backpack is not too heavy and add a good supply of batteries for the camera, as there are no places to buy them along the way.
Bring a small amount of cash (Peruvian soles) for tips; a figure of around S100 for a porter and S200 for a cook can be considered adequate.
As for the water, it is advisable to boil it for the next day and pour it into an airtight bottle, to be used to warm up the sleeping bag during the night. In the morning, when you start walking, the water will have cooled down.
Difficulty
Even with a light backpack, you need to be in good physical shape to tackle this trek. In the weeks leading up to your departure, you can prepare yourself by hiking and long walks in the mountains: it will also be an opportunity to try out the equipment and 'break in' your boots (don't leave with new boots!). Along the Inca Trail it can happen that you experience symptoms due to the heat and altitude. Keep a regular pace, try not to get tired and everything will be fine.
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| Inca Trail Trekking |
Alone or in a group?
The Classic Inca Trail is the only trail in the Cuzco area that cannot be traveled alone: in fact, it is mandatory to contact an authorized operator, calculating a cost that varies between US$550 and US$1465 or even more. Part of the fun of a group trek is getting to know travelers from all over the world. However, keep in mind that not everyone proceeds at the same pace and that group dynamics require some compromise.
For those who don't want to join a very large group, there is the possibility of organizing excursions with an independent licensed guide (US$1250 to US$2000 per person). The cost can be high, but for groups of six or more people it could be a cheaper solution than the standard excursion. Prices vary widely, so it's worth asking around.
Before booking, examine several agencies: you will not regret it. A very cheap trek can mean that, in order to cut costs, the agency pays guides and porters less than the norm. Other reasons for dissatisfaction are equipment in poor condition (for example torn tents that let water pass) and listless guides. On the other hand, higher prices are not always synonymous with better quality, especially if international operators rely on Peruvian agencies. The welfare of porters is a very sensitive issue in the Cuzco area, so much so that there are fines or suspension of licenses for agencies that contravene the porter laws established by the Ministerio de Trabajo (Ministry of Labour).
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| Machu Picchu Trek |
The goal: Machu Picchu
The imposing 15th-century Inca citadel stands on a ridge at an altitude of 2430m in the RÃo Urubamba valley. Traditionally considered a political, religious and administrative center (several tracks connected it to the Inca capital, Cuzco, and other important jungle sites), according to a more recent hypothesis it was a royal residence in the countryside designed by Pachacutec, the Inca ruler who with his military conquests initiated the unstoppable rise of the empire. Machu Picchu was never discovered by the Spanish conquistadors and scholars have not yet managed to establish its true function or when and why it was abandoned.
It is thought that around 500 inhabitants lived in the citadel, which was built in 50 years and with the work of thousands of men. The walls, a masterpiece of civil engineering, are built with stone blocks fitted together, without the use of mortar. To make it habitable it was necessary to level the site, divert the water from the mountain streams into stone canals and erect a system of terraces planted with corn, potatoes and coca, facing east to enjoy maximum exposure to the sun. The planners created an ingenious drainage system for the runoff of heavy rains and to use the water for irrigation.
Alternative routes to Machu Picchu
For more detailed information on the various possible itineraries, obtain a copy of the Alternative Inca Trails Information Packet by contacting the Inca Trail Machu.
The five-day trek allows you to maintain a less strenuous pace and to spend more time visiting the ruins and observing wildlife. Other advantages are the less crowding of the campsites and the possibility of staying overnight in the most picturesque one – Phuyupatamarka (3600m) – on the third evening.
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| Inca Trail Hiking to Machu Picchu 5 Days |
Guided itinerary of 10 km that touches the most beautiful points of the Inca Trail. It must be booked well in advance because the number of permits is limited. The walk is quite demanding and allows you to admire some of the most evocative landscapes and the most spectacular ruins and terraces. Taking the first train of the morning from Cuzco or Ollantaytambo, you can tackle it calmly and have an extra couple of hours to enjoy the scenery and explore the area. We spend the night in Aguas Calientes and visit Machu Picchu the next day, so it's actually about a day's hike. The average price ranges from US$400 to US$535.
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| Short Inca Trail 2 Days |
Excursion to be carried out preferably in the company of a guide, starting from the thermal springs, from where the itinerary winds through rural Andean villages, lesser-known Inca archaeological sites, verdant lagoons and gorges carved by rivers. Although it is more of a cultural excursion than a technical trek, along the way you can admire breathtaking landscapes and reach an absolutely magnificent mountain pass at an altitude of 4450m. The price is around US$460.
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| Lares Trek to Machu Picchu |
It is a more scenic and demanding itinerary, with the approach march to Machu Picchu a little more difficult than the Inca Trail. The highest point is a pass over 4700m near the magnificent glacier that caps Salkantay peak (6271m; 'wild mountain' in Quechua), from where a spectacular descent into dizzying subtropical valleys begins. It takes five to seven days to get to Machu Picchu and the cost of the excursion is around US$400. It can be tackled both with a guide and alone.
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| Salkantay Trekking to Machu Picchu |
Inca Jungle Trail: the secondary access to Machu Picchu
The itinerary from Cuzco to Machu Picchu which passes through Santa Teresa includes sections in mountain biking, trekking and rafting. Some call it 'the secondary access to Machu Picchu'. The number of days and activities may vary, but in essence the program is the same for everyone. The long ride to Santa MarÃa is tackled on a mountain bike, then from the glacier you descend to the tropical forest in 71 km.
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| Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu |
In Santa Teresa you will find the thermal springs of Cocalmayo waiting for you; some agencies also include in the package a rafting descent near Santa Teresa or a trip on the zip-lines of Cola de Mono.
There are many packages for the Inca Jungle Trail; the cheapest ones do not always include hotels or entrance to the sites, so read the fine print conditions carefully before booking the excursion. Whether you decide to stay overnight in a tent or in a hostel, the factors that most affect the price of the excursion are the quality of the bicycles, the availability of professional guides who speak English and the fact that you can get to Aguas Calientes on foot or by train. The three-day, two-night excursion starts at US$465 and usually includes a guided tour of Machu Picchu and return train fare to Ollantaytambo.
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