WHO BUILT THE INCA TRAIL?
According to Peruvian archaeologists, there are stretches of this road network about 2,000 years old and was built by ancient cultures.
Researchers indicate that the Inca Pachacutec, who created the Machu Picchu citadel, used these existing roads and built others, linking them into a network.
WHEN DOES THE INCA TRAIL CLOSE?
The Inca Trail to the Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu is closed in February each year as part of the regulations of this archaeological site and by the provision of the institutions responsible for its administration, such as the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism, the INC, etc. Therefore, it is impossible during this period if you wish to go on an excursion.
WHEN IS THE BEST SEASON TO DO
THE INCA TRAIL?
The Cusco region is characterized by only two climatological seasons that help us choose the best. The rainy season runs from November to March, and the dry season is between April and October. Hiding the Inca Trail in Machu Picchu during the dry season is advisable because we will have better views of the landscapes during the tour. However, coming to Machu Picchu in rainy weather also has its own; also. As we said, February is the only month you can not walk the Inca Trail.
HOW FAR IS THE INCA TRAIL?
The total distance of the Inca Trail is approximately 39.6 Km. and starts at Km. 82 from a place called Q’oriwayrachina. You will visit archaeological complexes such as:
- Pulpituyoc
- Kusichaca
- Patallaca.
You will reach the highest point, 4,200 meters, crossing the Warmiwañusqa pass. This distance is calculated in the tour of 04 days and 03 nights. On the last day, you will arrive at the Inti Punku (Gate of the Sun) area, with an impressive view of the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.
WHAT TO BRING FOR THE INCA TRAIL TREK?
You can imagine nature and adventure lovers who like to change the city’s noise for the beautiful singing of birds and the most beautiful landscapes. This Inca citadel of Machu Picchu hike by the Inca Trail will fulfill all your expectations. However, this type of trekking is not an easy thing to do, especially for those who are not used to exercise or physical exertion normally. That said, the route of the Inca Trail exceeds 4000 m.a.s.l. in some areas, so we must take some precautions, which Intupa Cusco will describe below.
- Trekking shoes
- Waterproof garments
- Wide-brimmed
- Towel and bathing suit; along the way, there are camping sites where showers are
- It would help if you had underwear every day.
- A small blanket for the nights because these are really
- Sunscreen and insect
- Fresh fruits, candies, and chocolates (they are suitable for accumulating energy)
- Money (local currency soles)
- Walking Flashlight and
- Sunglasses, lip balm
- A photographic
HOW TO PREPARE PHYSICALLY FOR THE INCA TRAIL?
Here are some tips to prepare before embarking on this fantastic adventure for those who plan to hike this impressive route.
This route will not be complicated for people in good physical condition and who practice some sport, although it involves walking for many hours on rough trails of rugged and flat terrain. However, people not accustomed to extreme physical exertion may experience minor fatigue and tiredness. Before undertaking this incredible route, the most important thing is to prepare yourself physically to condition your body for physical work.
Recommendations
- Hike: Walk more than two to three hours daily to avoid discomfort on the Inca Trail route, such as excessive fatigue, since you will be walking for approximately 5 to 6 hours daily.
- Up and downstairs: Practice going up and downstairs to train yourself with challenging hikes because, along the Inca Trail, there are stretches up steep mountains that could cause excessive fatigue and muscle pain in the legs. Especially if you plan to climb Huayna Picchu mountain or descend from the citadel of Machu Picchu to the town of Aguas Calientes because both routes are incredibly steep with minimal incline
- Do breathing exercises: The Inca Trail starts at a point with 2650 masl until reaching 4000 masl. Then, it is convenient to do breathing exercises to learn how to cope with altitude sickness. Breathing exercises will help you adapt quickly to the environment and breathe without problems, even with the low oxygen level in some parts of the trek.
- Prepare your body for the physical effort: If you are not used to exercising, you should start practicing since the action you will make on the trail generally belongs to walks throughout the day, with short breaks. Therefore, do walking exercises and prepare your body to experience absolute pleasure during your adventure on this magnificent Inca trail.
- On the Inca Trail hike, you may experience some physical problems, such as fatigue, back pain, feet, headache, shortness of breath, and others, depending on your physical condition. Still, suppose you prepare yourself properly before embarking on this adventure. In that case, it is more confident that the only thing you will feel will be absolute pleasure and satisfaction. We have beautiful landscapes and archaeological complexes wrapped in a rich history that you will observe en route to the enigmatic Inca citadel, Machu Picchu.
CAN I THE INCA TRAIL WITHOUT A GUIDE?
As the entrance to the Inca Trail is limited, only authorized tour agencies can enter and do the tour, so it is challenging to make the Inca Trail to Machupicchu without a tour guide.
HOW MANY DAYS IS THE INCA TRAIL?
The Inca Trail trek has a great variety of options, which we will list below:
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN INCA TRAIL TREK AND SALKANTAY TREKKING?
We have a variety of routes to the Modern Wonder of Machu Picchu; we will show you the most important ones:
The Inca Trail is emblematic, thanks to its history as part of the Royal Roads system connecting the Inca Empire. Thanks to this, combined with the natural environment and the impressive finish at Machu Picchu, it is considered the number one hike in South America.
But we have an alternative, the Salkantay Trek, in which you will enjoy beautiful landscapes surrounding the essential snow-capped mountains that the Incas considered gods or Apus.
Below, we will list some Pros and Cons between the two tours:
Salkantay Trek
Pros of the Salkantay Trek:
The Salkantay Trek is famous for its scenery, which most guidebooks recommend, where you have a better chance of seeing larger mammals such as foxes, deer, chinchillas, and, with luck, even spectacled bears. We will also see a wide variety of plant species; a hike through the picturesque Andes takes you to the splendor of the glaciers, then down through lush valleys with coffee plantations, and then back to the high jungle.
On the circuit, it is 72% less crowded than the Inca Trail, with a daily average of 50 people compared to 180 people on the Inca Trail. This info means you will have a lot of the hike to yourself, and the campsites en route do not crowd, allowing you to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the landscape.
This information helps make reservations easier since we can find daily trips to Salkantay. It is just a matter of finding a group that leaves on the same day as you (unless you go independently or opt for a private tour), unlike the Inca Trail, where strict permit rules do not allow date changes or cancellations.
Cons of the Salkantay Trek:
Unlike the Inca Trail, you do not enter Machu Picchu through the Inti Punku Sun Gate. By spending the night in Aguas Calientes the night before, you can take the bus to the ruins or, if you wish to see Machu Picchu at sunrise, walk to see the morning. During your visit to Machu Picchu, walking to the sun gate in about half an hour is possible. The Salkantay trek is almost twice as long and higher than the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. This info means that it is physically more complicated than the Inca Trail. It is generally colder as well.
Campsite facilities along the trail are self-installed. Although you can bathe in the streams to brave the cold, there are no showers.
Although the Salkantay Trek also follows historical routes, the only ruins you will see are the citadel of Machu Picchu.
Inca Trail
Inca Trail Pros:
The Inca Trail is one of the most famous treks globally, where hikers emerge from the jungle to the Sun Gate or Inti Punku, where Machu Picchu comes into view. From the gate, hikers descend to the citadel.
The Inca Trail features beautiful scenery ranging from snow-capped peaks to cloud forests and high-altitude jungles and includes a variety of tiny historical ruins along the way. The most important of these is Wiñay Wayna, abundant agricultural terraces.
Campsites along the trail include toilets that are cleaned every other day. For some, this is an advantage of the trek, although purist campers might prefer the more ‘wild’ feel of the Salkantay Trail.
Inca Trail Cons:
The Inca Trail is a trendy route. Permit limits keep crowds tolerable, but larger crowds mean the chances of seeing large mammals are reduced. You will likely encounter walking and other groups and crowded campsites during the challenging ascent.
To hike the Inca Trail, you must go with an approved operator (Kondor Path Tours), who will purchase an Inca Trail permit on your behalf. Permits are limited to 500 per day, 300 of which are guides, cooks, and porters. During much of the year, tickets are available, but you should purchase them for at least one or two months to ensure that you will find the desired date for the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
If you would like more information about these and other tours in the Peruvian Andes, please do not hesitate to contact our travel agency in Cusco for information, assistance, or excursions.
FROM WHAT AGE CAN YOU DO THE INCA TRAIL TREK?
The Inca Trail can be hiked by all adventure lovers who are in good physical condition and are willing to walk for 04 days, 2 to 8 hours per day, sleeping in tents during this time.
This hike has no age restriction; however, it is advisable to consider the travel of children under 08 years old, seniors, and people with heart problems.
