The first 30 minutes of the trek is uphill, while the remainder of the trail is largely a descent. Your campsite is located just a few minutes from this archaeological site, famed for its steep and towering agricultural terraces that overlook the Urubamba River. Difficulty | Youre almost at the end and Machu Picchu, you should be hopping, skipping, and jumping all the way there! After the tour, trekkers who pre-purchased Huayna Picchu tickets will continue hiking, while the rest of the group will take the 25-minute shuttle bus to Aguas Calientes. Or maybe you would rather take a longer or shorter trek or a path less beaten? A reusable water bottle or hydration pack works well for this. The road on one of the highest altitude routes of the Inca Trail. Every Inca Trail tour worth its salt employs and includes an incredible team of support staff who will carry the camping and cooking equipment plus food supplies on the Trail to each campsite (the tour company provides all of this equipment), as well as everyones 6kg duffel bag. Here, you will be introduced to the rest of the trekking team, who will accompany you on your adventure. Savour the route, rather than trying to set a record pace (which youll never do by the way - its currently 3 hours 23 minutes by a porter. After all, reaching Machu Picchu is the reason that many of you will be considering this hike in the first place! From May to September The days are sunny and the nights are very cold. If youve made it to the end of the post, then congratulations! Settlements, tunnels, and many Incan ruins are located along the trail before ending the terminus at the Sun Gate on Machu Picchu mountain. Today you will trek to the Wiay Wayna campsite (8,700 ft/2,650 m). This aint no walk in the park unless you like your walk in the parks accompanied by blood-tingling cliff-drops and ruins of ancient South American empires. It will take you along ancient narrow paths deep into the Peruvian countryside and high into the Andean mountains, where you will see perfect Incan ruins, cloud forest, and majestic valley views, ultimately leading to perhaps the greatest end-point of any multi-day hike on earth, the iconic Machu Picchu Citadel, one of the . Lowest Elevation: You can read more about altitude sickness in the Health + Safety section towards the bottom of this post. These ruins are at an altitude of 3750m (12,300ft). Altitude sickness on the Inca Trail is rarely severe. Instead, you and your group will spend evening conversing over plastic cups of hot tea, playing card games, or lazing in nature together. Reading this and hoping for a last minute spot? 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. They offer simple & flexible travel insurance, and safety advice to help you travel confidently. Its sensible to take this money in the form of smaller notes and coins. The second day ascends over Dead Woman's pass- the highest point on the Inca Trail at 4,200 metres. It is recommended to spend a few days getting used to the elevation before you hike the Inca Trail. Each evening, water is collected from nearby streams, boiled, and left to cool overnight. If youre confused about buying travel insurance, read this post and this post. (2001) Turn Right at Macho Picchu. Cons | Hiking and camping in the rain for four days is never fun, so you are increasing the chances of that. All food, apart from snacks along the way (although we were also provided with a bag of snacks), is included in the up-front tour price - and you wont have to lift a finger to prepare it or wash up. Forgetting to book permits in advance for the Inca Trail and shorter day hikes is a mistake. The trekking team will wake you before sunrise to ensure that you arrive at Machu Picchus Sun Gate by mid-morning. Hiking boots with a solid tread and ankle support to help prevent injuries. 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. Youll have to carry your pack for 4 days so only take the lightweight essentials. You may want to bring extra (or diet-specific) high energy snacks, such as some cookies, protein bars, chocolates, or nuts. When you get to the top, you can take pictures in the snow to display your fortitude. At the small village Wayllapampa ("grassy plain", Wayllabamba) the trail intersects with the "Mollepata Trail" at 3,000 metres (9,800ft).[3]. Drink water from ANYWHERE. Not a bad view from Warmi Wausqa in Peru with @intrepidtravel! The Inca Trail, How Long Is It? | Andean Trails If youll be taking an Inca Trail tour in rainy season, a little more spontaneity is possible, unless you have very specific dates in mind where it makes sense to get your booking in sooner rather than later. Q: What is the cost of hiking the Inca Trail? The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (also known as Camino Inca or Camino Inka) is a hiking trail in Peru that terminates at Machu Picchu. February: Inca Trail is closed for maintenance. [3], It starts from one of two points: 88km (55 miles) or 82km (51 miles) from Cusco on the Urubamba River at approximately 2,800 metres (9,200ft) or 2,600 metres (8,500ft) elevation, respectively.[3]. The Grayl Geopress is the markets leading filtered water bottle protecting your tum from all the waterborne nasties. If you are hiking the Inca Trail, you will most likely be spending some time in Cusco. The 4-day Inca Trail is ideal for travelers looking for a physically challenging adventure. ), but after your time on the Trail you will be left in no doubt that those porters deserve an extra bit of cash to recognise their sterling work and to support their own endeavours in life. They work hard, and based on your experience, you can even tip more. 2023, The Broke Backpacker. It is recommended to arrive in Cusco at least 2 days before the start of your trek so that you can acclimatize. More information. You should be able to walk for at least 23 hours at a time on varied terrain. Throughout day 3 youll also see several mini Machu Picchu-like ruins spread throughout the trail. Each trekker is also provided with snacks to take with them on the trail. Its a somewhat strenuous 4 days so its important to consider what you are getting yourself into before leaving for the trip. Machu Picchu: 7,972 ft (2,430 m) Even so, you should ascend slowly and drink lots of water. This total includes 4-day, and 5-day routes, as well as trekking guides, porters, and chefs. He profiles some of his. Booking far in advance is an absolute must. Your guide will be fluent in English and Spanish. Unless you hire a private porter, youre expected to carry both pads and sleeping bags along the trek. Get used to walking long distances before embarking. If you don't, altitude sickness could make your first few days pretty uncomfortable. It is customary to tip the trekking team on the last night of the trek (Day 3). In addition to the Classic 4-day Inca Trail trek, there is a shorter full-day trek. We had to book the tour about 6 months in advance to reserve a spot. If you are looking for a more personal, private outdoor experience, I recommend you pick a less prevalent adventure as there are many alternative Inca sites to choose from around the Cusco area. Note in the sectional view of the trail map that Abra de Warmiwanusca is the highest point in the trek with an elevation of 13,795 feet (4,205 meters). The biggest surprise for us both on the Trail was just how incredible the food provided was every single day. This means fuller camp sites and more traffic along the Trail (although the tours do try and stagger this out). Theres even a marathon!). The legendary hike culminates at the Puerta de Sol (Sun Gate) where you overlook the magnificent ruins below and the iconic Huayna Picchu mountain to the side. Yes, the trekking team will provide drinking water every morning and at each meal. 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. It consists of a 1500-meter descent into the subtropical cloud forests and through the Amazon basin. Share stories over dinner, and if the weather permits, partake in Andean stargazing before retiring to your tent. See below for tipping recommendations. At the beginning of the hike the morning mountain air is likely to be cool, however you will warm up as you continue your journey to Machu Picchu. High probability of rain on any given day. 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. When to book: 36 months in advance. While overcoming the pass is a celebration in itself . Note that the Inca Trail is closed in February for everyone in order to allow it to replenish. If youre reading the above and thinking that neither sounds appealing now, then please dont be too despondent - the Inca Trail can be hiked year-round and weve just outlined the worst cons of each season so that you dont have any nasty surprises! Porters can be hired to carry up to 18 lb (8 kg) or 33 lb (15 kg). One of the most popular things to do in South America - and one of the worlds most famous hikes - the Inca Trail is the sort of singular adventures for which we all travel. Everything is set for you to walk the Inca Trail. You will spend the night at Huayllabamba, the only inhabited town on the trek. The highest point on the Inca Trail is Abra Warmihuausca or 'Dead Woman's Pass which is located at 4,200 meters. If hotels and tour companies offered lockers in Cusco which travellers could secure with their own padlock, then this would have allowed us to leave various cards, cash, and tech with confidence (and insurance coverage) in the city rather than carrying it all in our backpack on the trail (Andrew actually lugged 18 kgs on his back for the entirety of the trail because of this, so views himself as an honorary porter!). Altitude pills can be the difference between a great trip and a terrible one. They may also let you buy or extend a policy once youve started your trip and are already abroad which is super handy.If theres one insurance company I trust, its World Nomads.
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