Peru is, beyond a doubt, one of the greatest adventure travel destinationson the planet. It offers an amazing list of things to see and do, perfectly blending culture with both mountain, coastal as well as jungle settings, along with ancient artifacts and ruins that rival those found in Egypt and the other ancient lands. Of course, the most spectacular and famous of those ruins is the lost city of Machu Picchu, located at 8000 feet above sea level, in the Andes Mountains, close to the Inca capital of Cusco.
Machu Picchu is the number one tourist attraction in a country full of tourist attractions, and there are multiple ways of getting there. Most take a train to the site, preferring to enjoy a scenic ride through the mountains. But one of the other ways of reaching the “Lost City of the Incas” is hiking the Inca Trail, an option that has grown in popularity over the past few years. The Inca trail is a very popular trek or the alternative Lares trek both end at Machu Picchu. Please click on the previou links for more trip details or read on below..
The Inca Trail traditionally consists of four days of trekking through the Andes, culminating with hikers catching their first glimpse of the fabled city while passing through the Sun Gate, another small ruin not far from Machu Picchu itself. Along the trail, travelers will experience tropical jungles, cloud forests, and high alpine passes. They’ll also have the opportunity to visit several other ruins built by the Incas as they travel the ancient Incan highway.
In recent years, the trail has become extremely popular, forcing the Peruvian government to put a cap on the number of people (hikers and trekking staff) who can set out each day. This is currently set at 500 people. During the peak season of June through September, the permits for the trail can sell out weeks in advance, so if you’re planning to hike the trail, get your reservations in early. During the high season, you can expect larger number of hikers, up to 300 (with around 200 staff) per day, and busy campsites, the government does frequently change the campsites and each group will be directed to their site to limit crowding. Off peak season means a bit more solitude and open trails, but less predictible weather, usually resulting in more rain or snow.
The payoff for the days on the trail is at the end, when the hikers emerge from the mountains and descend the Incan Staricase from the Sun Gate into Machu Picchu, much the same way that ancient Inca people did hundreds of years ago. Completing the hike is a reward in and of itself, but finding the lost city at the end, and exploring it for several hours, just caps the whole experience.
The Inca Trail is considered by many to be one of the greatest treks of the world and still holds a high place on many hiker’s “life lists”, despite the fact that it has now become so popular. For many adventure travelers, it’s still worth the hike, and will always beat taking the train.
If you are interested in trekking the Inca Trail, You do need to book well in advance. The Inca trail sells out at least4 – 5 months in advance during peak trekking season (April through to September) and in other periods it fills 2 – 3 months in advance. Be wary when booking the trek, as many operators are not registered nor licensed and fraud is rife!. Best to book through a reputable local company or an overseas based operator (that usually have the welfare of the trek staff and guides at heart) expect to pay at least $USD 450 per per son for the trek, anything less than this would be a substandard and perhaps illegal tour. Visit our website to find out more about Inca trail tours and Chimu Adventures’ treks to the ancient city. Travel to South America with the experts!
