Tips for porters and guides (more on this below). Not a bad view from Warmi Wausqa in Peru with @intrepidtravel! The best time of year to hike the Inca Trail is during the dry season (MaySeptember). Take a break to catch your breath and enjoy the spectacular views of the Urubamba River below the sites green terraces. However, there are a few key things to know about how luggage and kit is transported on the hike before you even think about whether you really need that extra pair of pants. Both the 4-day and 2-day Inca Trail treks have distinct advantages and disadvantages. Something as minor as a flight delay can have a significant financial impact, as can illness, bad weather or baggage delay. Pack a hat, strong sunblock, and glasses for protection against the sun. The Classic 4-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is the most sought after trek in Peru. This highest point of the trek at 4,215 m (3,828 ft) with stunning views at the summit. Visitors to Machu Picchu must purchase . As we were doing so many hikes in South America, we bought these excellent lightweight travel hiking poles in the UK. Theyre easily my picj for the best Inca Trail tour. A common misconception about the Inca Trail is that it will allow you to be amongst the first people into Machu Picchu - this simply isnt true as its much easier to get through its gates just after opening if you stay in Aguas Calientes the night before and hike or take the bus up. If youve really enjoyed our guides, you can buy us a virtual coffee here. The meals are quite exquisite considering that all of the ingredients and cooking supplies are carried from the Sacred Valley. At 4,215m above sea level, it's the highest point of the Inca Trail.Subscribe for more htt. Finally, when booking your tour for the Inca Trail, make sure that the tour operator is selling you the right trek and not misleading you with a similar sounding hike. Make sure to tip your team well as they deserve it and likely live off of those tips. I think doing the gruelling 4-day hike on the Inca Trail really gave us a greater appreciation for the ruins once we got there. Each porter should be tipped around 30-40 soles (about $10-$15) for the entire group. Quarry Trail FAQ: The 'other' route to Machu Picchu So, its clear that most of the hard work when it comes to carrying things will be done by others and the tour company provides a lot of the key camping equipment. INCA TRAIL SHORT 2 DAYS | Book your Inca Trail 2 Days to Machu Picchu If youre already in Peru or elsewhere in South America, then taking a flight from Lima - Cusco is the quickest and most sensible option. You may want to bring extra (or diet-specific) high energy snacks, such as some cookies, protein bars, chocolates, or nuts. Inca Trail Distance: Thankfully, we both fall into the latter camp and we always tell people to embrace getting a little stinky and dirty for a few days. 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. After all, its not a race and all about the incredible journey through Peru. So, whether youre heading there in high or low season and want to understand the camping and accommodation situation better, have no idea what to pack or how to get a permit, are worrying about whether youre fit enough, will get altitude sickness or if its too late to book a spot on a tour, then this post will provide you with all the necessary information answers from experienced fellow travellers (and, we hope, quite a bit of excitement and inspiration for the hike itself!). Our guide kept on calling us all professional hikers and the fastest group hed had that year as we arrived at camp each night a few hours ahead of expected 5-7 hours in his schedule. We managed with a group of six (not including the guide, porters, and cook). This is one of Perus highest major cities with an altitude of 3400m (11,152ft). Keep that in mind as you will need good long-range planning to make sure your spot is reserved. Booking far in advance is an absolute must. With high-altitude hikes, it's best to think of . 3: Its amazing the friendships that can come out of struggle and perseverance. There are no ATMs along the way. Up mountain passes and down into humid cloud forest valleys, the final destination is majestic Machu Picchu. ), 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. The most visitors the park allows is 500 a day and that includes guides and porters which make up over half that number. Cons | Dry season also coincides with high tourism season in Peru (June - August), so the Inca Trail will be at full capacity each day. This means that it is incredibly foolish to arrive in Cusco, which is at 3,339m (11,151 feet) above sea-level, and leave the next day to do a strenuous hike or even start the Inca Trail. 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. You do not need to be a vastly experienced hiker, but acquiring a good level of physical fitness prior to arriving in Peru will make everything easier and more enjoyable. 1)and theres also the bush. Your main luggage will be left in a secure hotel luggage storage room in Cusco, however we do not advise leaving any important or valuable items there - instead, its better to take them with you and keep them in your own daypack. The Inca Trail is a well-established and iconic 4-day, 3-night hike which leads travellers from km.82 (the start point 40 minutes outside the town of Ollantaytambo) all the way to Machu Picchu via its exclusive Sun Gate (also called Inti Punku). Hiking poles to aid you in ascending and descending the mountain 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. Prior to your arrival, the trekking team will assemble your tent, so you can focus on relaxing and enjoying the mountain scenery. Whether you're getting ready to hike, bike, trail run, or explore other outdoor activities, AllTrails has 22 scenic trails in the Jakarta area. You can spend those days sightseeing in and around Cusco as there are plenty of archaeological sites like Nazca. Bring extra batteries for personal electronics like cameras and cell phones. Once used as a checkpoint for those entering and exiting the holy city, this viewpoint affords hikers unrivaled views of the citadel far below. Design of the site closely follows the natural contours, and includes five fountains and an altar, which was probably used for llama sacrifice. The Inca trail map shows a 50 km extension of the trekking route to get to Machu Picchu from the "82 km" point. Altitude on the Inca Trail. Compare this with the speed of the electric rail train or KRL Jabodetabek, which is 80-100 kilometers per hourbecause it is designed according to operational needs with relatively close distances between stations . Unfortunately, this is the day that things went south for a couple of members of our team. By using these, you are directly supporting Along Dusty Roads to remain an independent travel blog, and to create free guides to help you travel more, travel better. Inca Trail - Classic Hike To Machu Picchu (Complete Guide) Direccion Regional de Cultura Cuzco. . Lastly, our guide told us that the nighttime temperatures in dry season drop significantly, so expect cold nights in the tent. The Grayl Geopress is the markets leading filtered water bottle protecting your tum from all the waterborne nasties. When you get to the top, you can take pictures in the snow to display your fortitude. It promotes sustainable and responsible travel for the curious modern day explorer. 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. At 26 miles long, it's tempting for hikers to think that the Inca Trail is an easy hike. 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. This steep ascent reaches 4,215m (13,829ft) above sea level. Buy a Geopress: its the last water bottle youll ever buy. You can see full details on whats included in G Adventures Inca Trail Tour here. Hiking poles to help ease impact on knees on downhills. New operators are added to the list each year so, as you can imagine, quality, experience, and equipment offered will vary quite a lot. I wouldnt be surprised if we were the last group to make it into the historic site. What is the best time of year to hike the Inca Trail? Share stories over dinner, and if the weather permits, partake in Andean stargazing before retiring to your tent. Your email address will not be published. The trail is about 26 miles (42 kilometers) long and takes four to five days to complete. Its sensible to take this money in the form of smaller notes and coins. Forgetting to book permits in advance for the Inca Trail and shorter day hikes is a mistake. She enjoys sharing her passion for all things nature-related. In all my experiences traveling and adventuring, the hike to Machu Picchu along the Inca Trail still stands as my most spectacular. 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! Day 2 is the biggest elevation gain on your hike. Just make sure that if yours have exposed spikes, you buy some rubber stoppers in order to use them for the Trail. We'll give you time in Cusco to acclimatize before the trek, but altitude sickness can be a problem for some. Concern about overuse leading to erosion has led the Peruvian government to place a limit on the number of people who may hike this trail per season, and to sharply limit the companies that can provide guides. The 2-day Inca Trail ends at Machu Picchu, which is located at 7,972 ft (2,430 m). This was originally done informally by organizations such as South American Explorers,[2] but is now managed officially. Chachabamba: 6,725 ft (2,050 m) We have previously taken a three-week overland trip in Africa with G Adventures, where we were responsible for setting up and taking down our tent each day (not so fun in the rain or after a long day). Cusco, in the south-east of Peru, thankfully doubles up as one of the countrys most popular destinations due to its history and position as an access point to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, so every Peru itinerary is guaranteed to include at least a few nights here. For this reason, all Adventure Life trips involving this hike require spending at . Within the first hour of your day, you will reach the Runquraqay ruins. The ticket for the $12 shuttle bus (30 minutes) down to Aguas Calientes will be included in your tour price and the ticket provided on the day by your guide. All the same, heres some must-bring packing for the Inca Trail: Finally, remember to pack light! See below for our packing recommendations. 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. and any personal medications. When to book: 36 months in advance. The highest point on the Inca Trail is Dead Woman's Pass. Permits are only available for purchase through the Peruvian government. As our G Adventures Inca Trail tour was actually over seven days, including time in Cusco and Ollantaytambo, we also required cash to cover a few meals as well as spending money for souvenirs in the Sacred Valley. On our last night, we even got a buffet! From November to March What we found the hardest was the sleeping at the altitude than hiking during the day. Close. Only 500 Inca Trail permits are available per day, Booking Inca Trail tickets in advance is a must, Inca Trail is closed for the month of February. The high season is June to August, but again make sure to book at least five to seven months in advance regardless of when you decide to travel. Many of the most popular places in Peru, such as Cusco and Arequipa, are at high altitude; this means that for anyone planning a trip to Peru understanding altitude sickness (and how to avoid it) is incredibly important. Plan to spend two to three days staying in Cusco acclimatizing before beginning the trek. There are no opportunities to charge electronics along the trail. Are Inca Trail permits sold out for your dates? Adams, Mark. The vast majority of costs will be covered in the up-front price of your tour, but there are a few costs along the way for which youll need to bring cash: Toilet entry fees (usually 1 sol, 2 soles at Machu Picchu). The most notable is a quota system, introduced in 2001, whereby only a set number of people (including hikers, porters, and guides) would be allowed to hike along the Inca Trail each day. There are several checkpoints along the route that monitor this. Four days of trekking through a variety of landscapes is a great way of getting to know this part of Peru. This means that - although many of Perus best hikes, like the Colca Canyon, are possible to do independently - you can only do the Inca Trail with an approved tour company and spaces are capped. When the Incans were conquered by the Spanish in the 1500s, they fled the jungle and Machu Picchu went hidden for hundreds of years. 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. From Aguas Calientes, either take the train back to Cusco or spend one night at an Aguas Calientes hotel and explore more of Machu Picchu the next day. The first pass is Runquraqay at 3,950m (13,113 ft) where, on a clear day, hikers can catch a glimpse of the snow-capped Cordillera Vilcabamba. It is customary to tip the trekking team on the last night of the trek (Day 3). Difficulty | High, this is the hardest day of walking but after you reach DWP, its mostly downhill. Wear quick-drying ayers. Rooted in Inca heritage, this centuries-old path gives hikers the chance to walk in the footsteps of pre-Columbian royalty.
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