If you are someone who is into trekking and enjoying the lush greenery of the natural beauty around you, the Inca trail is definitely something you are going to end up loving without a shadow of a doubt. The infamous Inca trail is situated around the popular South American city of Peru and is known as one of the best short treks one can indulge in for the overall amazing experience. The majority of the trek is spread across the beauty and gigantic area of the Machu Picchu sanctuary which is loaded with rich vegetation, wildlife and even exotic animals around. Often trekkers who visit this trail have mentioned that the entire journey takes around 3 to 4 days to complete if someone constantly walks along at a steady pace. You cover three distinct mountain passes along the way which is what makes it a mystique experience all in itself.
Below are a few trail options to Machu Picchu with special emphasis on the Inca trail and everything you need to know about for an adventurous trekking experience.
About Inca Trail
Before we jump head first into describing the various trail options that take you to Machu Picchu, let us clarify the options that we do already have at hand. While the Inca trail hike is possibly the most popular and most opted for hiking trail around to reach Machu Picchu, there are a few more viable options that one can take a peek into.
It predominantly starts around 82 km away from the Cuzco and starts at an altitude of around 2800 m. The entirety of the trail covers through the Incan ruins hence why the name. The trip, as mentioned before, is often completed within 4 days. The entire length of the trail is around 45 km. At the end of the fourth day, you are often expected to arrive at Machu Picchu by the sunrise and then spend the day visiting the popular sites of attraction around you.
Just as the sub-category suggests, we do have a few alternatives for the Inca trail tours that many people often consider thinking of. One such popular one in the lot is the Mollepata Trail which is situated around the village of Mollepata and takes a total of 5 days for you to reach Machu Pichu. If you are starting off with this route, you will join back to the classic Inca trail tours on the 4th day at Wayllabamba. The best thing about this trail is the kind of views that accompany it all together. The scenic beauty around is just too good to be missed out on.
Apart from the standard Inca trail, there are two different trails, one that runs longer and the one that runs shorter for people who are not that physically fit.
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Best Time To Go To Inca Trail
When it comes to discussing the best time to visit the Inca trail map is during the dry season so you are not faced with any kind of mishaps around. Mid-April till November is considered as the best time of the year for you to visit the Inca trail and Machu Picchu. Owing to the heights they are situated in, it is not surprising that there could be sudden weather changes no one predicted of.
The cost for the entire trip varies from time to time and the agencies you are booking them from. For the most part, it is always best suggested to make all the bookings beforehand for you to avoid any kind of issues regarding the price hikes and such.
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Itinerary & Route For Inca Trail
Now that we have more or less briefed you of the possible hiking options, it is time that we consider speaking about the complete itinerary and the route involved in it. Given the fact that the entire trekking through the Inca trail length does take 4 days to complete, we are going to be shedding some light on the activities you indulge in on each day.
Day 1 : Start off from Cusco
Majority of the hikers start off the hike by arriving at Cusco on the first day. From there, they take a train to reach Ollantaytambo, otherwise known as Km 88. The hike predominantly starts from Rio Urubamba which lets you walk along the famous ruins of the Llaqtapata. Following that, you need to keep your hiking through the RÌo Cusicacha from where one starts walking in through the inhabited village of Huayllabamba. This is where the majority of the hikers spend their night in.
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Day 2 : Reach the ruins of Llullucharoc
The second day is considered to be the most strenuous one in the lot. Irrespective of the trail, it is quite tough and rugged which makes it tedious to walk around on. The very first thing to do on the second day is to reach the ruins of Llullucharoc which is loaded an hour away from Huayllabamba at an altitude of 12,460 ft. The next pit stop is when you cross the Dead Woman’s Pass, otherwise known as Abra de HuarmihuaÒusqa. This is the highest point in the Inca trail height at 13,780 ft. The complete time to reach the top takes around 2-3 hours and the changing weather conditions can take a toll on you, so be aware. The last stop on Day 2 is to descend down to the campsite located in Pacasmayo.
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Day 3 : Go further than Runcuracay
The third day is possibly the most extensive part of the journey and also the part where you cover the majority of the distance to finish the best Inca trail tour. You walk along the original footpath made in by Incas and cover the area of ruins of Runcuracay. To pass through the second pass of the trek, you need to climb up to an altitude of 12,790 ft to visit the Abra de Runcuracay. Following that, you can pass through a tunnel and a staircase like an ascent located in the Sayacmarca at an altitude of 11,840 ft. The views from this spot are nothing short of breathtaking and do make for one of the best spots around the entire hike. Next, you pass through the famous pass of Phuyupatamarca where the Urubamba Valley is visible from. Walking ahead, you will spot the Aguas Calientes and the backside of Machu Picchu. Following the designated path of the trail, all you need to do is indulge in a 10 minute off the trail trek down the steps to finally reach the ruins of Huinay Huayna. This is where the trekkers spend their night in.
Day 4 : Reach Machu Picchu
The last day of the trek is when one reaches their final destination of Machu Picchu. From Huinay Huayna, descend down to reach Intipunku from where you can visit Machu Picchu and witness the beautiful sunrise there. The entire time it takes to reach Machu Picchu is around 45 minutes to an hour. Upon reaching the ruins, you can deposit your backpack at the hotel and get a pass to explore around the entire place of Machu Picchu.
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What To Pack For Inca Trail Hike
Owing to the fact that the dry season is the best time to visit, the things you need to pack will mainly focus around the resources you would need to survive around the place during the four days of the trek. Ensure to pack good dehydrated foods for emergencies and even carry all the essential medical requirements and pumps if you suffer from asthma or any other kind of chronic disease. Clothes can be anything that’s comfortable.
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When it comes to your plans for a trip to the Inca trail 2022, this easy guide will surely help you plan a hassle-free affair. So, don’t think much and plan your international trip with TravelTriangle and explore Peru like a pro!
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