This morning, you will take a train from Ollantaytambo to Km 104, where you will disembark and begin the 2-day Inca Trail. Forgetting to book permits in advance for the Inca Trail and shorter day hikes is a mistake. We do not represent World Nomads. Although all hikes are more about the journey than a final destination, the Inca Trail stands out as having a destination to beat all others. It makes sense to buy them in Cusco or Ollantaytambo, although on Days One and Two of the trail you will find women along the Trail with makeshift stalls selling drinks, biscuits, and sweets. Yes, the Inca Trail is safe. This section of the Inca Trail hike provides a fantastic perspective of the gorgeous Peruvian countryside but is also very cold due to the high altitude. The Inca Trail is a 4 day hike at a very high altitude in the Andes Mountains. You are however responsible for bringing your own sleeping bag, which can be stored within your 6kg duffel bag allowance. Nope, and this is one of the best things about it. Day Four: Very early rise (3 a.m.) to reach the entry check-point and hike 1-2 hours to the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu. The Inca trail map shows a 50 km extension of the trekking route to get to Machu Picchu from the "82 km" point. They are experienced in supporting members of a group who may be struggling or slower than the rest, and ensuring that everyones experience is the best possible in the circumstances. Rain is likely during April and October and almost guaranteed between November and March making them a much less suitable time to walk to Machu Picchu the wet llamas are cute though! A short downhill walk is the final section of the trail.[11]. Once the day has come to an end, youll take a bus down to Aguas Calientes where you will take a train back to Ollantaytambo before arriving back in Cusco by bus or car. . As an Amazon Associate, Machu Picchu Trek earns from qualifying purchases. This trek additionally permits hikers to enter Machu Picchu through its Sun Gate. Visitors to Machu Picchu must purchase . Ive hiked all over the USA and other parts of the world but nothing has ever affected me in such a way as the Inca Trail did. The 2-day Inca Trail ends at Machu Picchu, which is located at 7,972 ft (2,430 m). However, its also possible to buy poles in Cusco or to rent them from your tour provider. A large number of these companies are only established to provide specific private tours in high season, with the rest offering year-round expeditions. I can hardly carry my petite wife for more than 20 seconds yet somehow our porters and guide managed for hours on end. Difficulty | Youre almost at the end and Machu Picchu, you should be hopping, skipping, and jumping all the way there! Later in the afternoon you will enjoy lunch and continue on toward the first campsite, Wayllabamba (9,840 ft / 3,000 m). Just make sure that if yours have exposed spikes, you buy some rubber stoppers in order to use them for the Trail. True Traveller and World Nomads are two respected travel insurers which we have used on South America trips who cover high altitude treks (just make double sure that youve selected the right option). Remember, you can always pay for an extra porter ahead of time if you need help carrying your things. Hiring a personal porter to carry your belongings and sleeping bag will make your trekking experience more enjoyable. Postpone your tour with zero cost up to 30 days prior to arrival with open dates. This wont always be the case, and your own group is just as likely to contain people of mixed ages and abilities. This was originally done informally by organizations such as South American Explorers,[2] but is now managed officially. Ley No 28296, "Inca Trail permits to be released four months early", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Inca_Trail_to_Machu_Picchu&oldid=1125666243, Jenkins, David "A Network Analysis of Inka Roads, Administrative Centers and Storage Facilities. For this reason, its recommendable to spend a few days in Cusco before hiking at high altitudes; this unforgettable experience. This highest point of the trek at 4,215 m (3,828 ft) with stunning views at the summit. Cusco is actually higher than most points on the Inca Trail. Yes, the trekking team will provide drinking water every morning and at each meal. A: The Inca Trail reaches an altitude of 2,700 meters (9300 feet) at its highest point. Wiay Wayna: 8,694 ft (2,650 m) To make your experience hiking in Peru more enjoyable, we recommend hiring a personal porter to help carry these items. Trekkers normally take four or five days to complete the "Classic Inca Trail" but a two-day trek from Km 104 is also possible. At Wayllapampa the trail to Machu Picchu turns west and begins ascending along a tributary of the Cusichaka. This is the second highest pass on the Inca Trail known as the Runquraqay Pass. From Aguas Calientes to the entrance area to the citadel, you can take a 15-minute bus ride, or you can walk up the hill (approximately 45 minutes). For the most part, there is no cell phone signal along the Inca Trail. Mollepata is the longest of the three routes with the highest mountain pass and intersects with the Classic route before crossing Warmiwausqa ("dead woman"). This pass has the highest elevation on the Inca Trail at 4,215m (13,829ft). Cons | Dry season also coincides with high tourism season in Peru (June - August), so the Inca Trail will be at full capacity each day. How long is the Inca trail (day by day hiking length). Secondly, for our G Adventures tour, we were each supplied with black duffel bags at the hotel. After crossing the pass the trail drops steeply into the Pakaymayu drainage. This first day of the trail meanders up and down gradually, with an elevation increase of only 1,610 ft (400 m). The trail passes through diverse microclimates each day. Torre Mirador is 12.5 mi (20 km) to the north of Nazca city along the Panamerican Highway. Guides are required to carry oxygen tanks in case of emergencies. Check in to your hotel and later enjoy dinner with your hiking group. And during the trek, it's also vital that you ascend towards Machu Picchu as slowly as possible. The Inca Trail traverses a variety of climates: temperate highlands outside of the Sacred Valley; cold, arid puna at the highest elevations; and warm, humid, cloud forest valleys close to Machu Picchu. However, you also need to have a small daypack to carry your snacks, camera, water, suncream, and any medication, on the Trail itself - this will be carried by you and only you throughout the trip. April and October: shoulder season months. 10 The Highest Point On The Inca Trail. Since 2002, access to the Inca Trail has been limited to 500 people per day (roughly split between 200 tourists and 300 accompanying guides and porters), no matter the time of year. Top Tip // As we discussed above, there are cheaper alternatives to the Inca Trail tour we took including a shorter tour by G Adventures, and this highly-rated, four-day tour on Get Your Guide. If your budget is a little higher, or youd prefer a longer organised tour in Peru, they also offer a 14-day National Geographic Iconic Peru tour which includes the Inca Trail, the Amazon, Lake Titicaca, and return flights from Lima - Cusco. Note that its often necessary to pay a deposit in advance to secure your Inca Trail permit, so if you go with a new, non-established, or cheaper provider, make sure you have done enough research into them before paying anything. The first day is a relatively easy hike and goes past the ruins of Patallaqta, which means town on a hillside in the Incan language of Quechua. Despite your best efforts (as well as the efforts of your CEO, porters etc), things can and do go wrong; if you get sick whilst hiking and are unable to make your own way back, without travel insurance, your evacuation will get expensive pretty quickly. The Inca Trail undulates between a low point of 2,250m/8,366ft and its highest point of 4,200m/13,780ft, with many peaks and troughs along the way. Explorers will glimpse archaeological sites and a remarkable diversity of Andean landscapes, all building up to the final grand entrance to Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. When you get to the top, you can take pictures in the snow to display your fortitude. Each trekker is also provided with snacks to take with them on the trail. A portable power bank is also useful. Along Dusty Roads is a travel blog by British couple, Andrew & Emily. On the highest points of the Inca Trail, some hikers experience unpleasant symptoms. Today you will trek to the Wiay Wayna campsite (8,700 ft/2,650 m). In our group of 10, three people were feeling the altitude on the first day of the tour due to lack of acclimitisation, but with more time, water, and a healthy dose of coca tea (the age-old Peruvian cure!) Cons | Hiking and camping in the rain for four days is never fun, so you are increasing the chances of that. If you have the time to take a dip in the hot springs I recommend you do so before grabbing the train out. Tours are slightly cheaper and easier to book with only a few weeks notice (a guy on our tour booked his place only a week before the trip began). The highest point on the Inca Trail is Dead Womans Pass. Were both vegetarian and were catered for incredibly well - with each meal giving us a vegetarian version of the same dish the others were eating (another thing we did not expect at all). Alright, lets get to the details. The Incan Empire (which at its largest joined Peru, large parts of modern Ecuador, western and south central Bolivia, northwest Argentina, north and central Chile and a small part of southwest Colombia) created thousands of kilometres of trails to link its important settlements and centres of civilisation, but it is this specific 4 day route which is known as the one and only classic Inca Trail. However, as mentioned earlier, a couple of our team members were really hurting by day 4 so it made hiking to the Sun Gate longer than anticipated and we certainly didnt see the sun come up. A maximum of 500 people are allowed on the trail each day, of which only 200 are trekkers, the rest being guides and porters. Hiking poles must have rubber tips on the ends. Firstly, you are going to leave the bulk of your luggage securely in a luggage storage room back at the hotel in Cusco; dont leave valuables here though as thats just silly. If your main consideration however is that you may not be able to hike for the full four days, consider joining this two-day tour. The Inca Trail has very steep inclines. No matter the season, make sure to bring a rain jacket or poncho as there is always the chance of showers in the Andes. As your elevation increases, take note of how the ecosystems change. May to September: dry season with good trail conditions. For your main and assistant guide, 25 - 50 soles for the former and 10 - 25 soles for the latter is advised per hiker. Now, the important thing to note here is that your bog-standard, one-size-fits-all travel insurance will almost certainly not cover you getting unwell at significant altitude - youll need to buy an add-on which specially covers hiking at high altitude. Plan ahead . As the trail ascends toward Warmi Wausqa, or "Dead Woman's Pass", which resembles a supine woman, it passes through differing habitats, one of which is a cloud forest containing Polylepis trees. This is where your campsite is located. Rise early for the first day of your trek. Even with daily tourism limits, there are still many, many tour groups and you will constantly be surrounded by other hikers, guides, and porters throughout the 4 days. and any personal medications. 1. The highest point of the trail is Dead Women's Pass at just over 4200m. Everything You Need To Know Before Hiking the Inca Trail, 13 Wonderful Things To Do in Drake Bay | The Wild Side of Costa Rica, this highly rated four-day Inca Trail tour, these excellent lightweight travel hiking poles in the UK, three-week overland trip in Africa with G Adventures, these excellent lightweight sleeping bags. Ask your Travel Advisor for more details. Bring extra batteries for personal electronics like cameras and cell phones. What is the best time of year to hike the Inca Trail, How much does it cost to hike the Inca Trail, Can you do the Inca Trail without a guide, Do you need a permit to hike the Inca Trail. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Inca Trail Distance: Take some time to relish in your accomplishment before accompanying your guide to the Machu Picchu bus stop for your transfer down the mountain to Aguas Calientes. If you do have any pre-existing medical requirements, inform your tour company when booking and also remind the CEO before setting out. Our own Inca Trail group were all roughly the same age and fitness, which meant that our pace was consistent and we all arrived to rest-stops and campsites at roughly the same time. If you are yet to book a tour, then we can highly recommend the 7-day G Adventures Inca Trail tour which we joined - it exceeded our expectations. Inca Trail permits are usually available, except for holiday weeks, such as the end of December. Instead, youre treated to an entry at the Sun Gate just after sunrise (expect about 6-7 a.m.) and then a wonderful descent down to an uncrowded Machu Picchu with special views of it all the way (trust us, its much better than queueing in the pitch black Aguas from 4 a.m. in the morning to get on the first bus up to then queue at the ticket gate). New York, NY:Dutton. Consult your Travel Advisor if you require a guide who speaks a different language. The less you have to carry, the more enjoyable the experience. SAM Travel Peru: Inca trail 4D/3N - See 3,255 traveler reviews, 2,451 candid photos, and great deals for Cusco, Peru, at Tripadvisor.
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