INKA TRAIL

CONTACT US

INKA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU

INKA TRAIL PROGRAMS:

PACKAGES INKA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU 8D/7N

TRADITIONAL INKA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU 4D/3N

SHORT INKA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU 2D/1N

At its height the Inca road system covered over 20,000 km and stretched from Ecuador to Chile; most trails converged on Cuzco, capital of the empire. The stretch refered to as "the" Inka Trail today is in fact merely the final, dramatic and most popular stretch of the Incan road leading to Machu Picchu. A rite of passage for many visitors to Peru, the Inca Trail is a strenuous, 4-day trek from the Sacred Valley floor through cloud forest and jungle, traversing high mountain passes that test both mind and body. The end of the trail is the aptly-named Sun Gate, where a first misty glimpse of the lost city of Machu Picchu is made all the more meaningful when the journey was fueled by your own sweat and determination

Inka Trail

The Inka trail to Machu Picchu (also known as Camino Inca or Camino Inka) consists of three overlapping trails: Mollepata, Classic and One Day. Mollepata is the longest of the three routes with the highest mountain pass and intersects with the Classic route before crossing "Dead Woman's Pass". Located in the Andes mountain range, the trail passes through several types of Andean environments including cloud forest and alpine tundra. Settlements, tunnels, and many Incan ruins are located along the trail before ending the terminus at the Sun Gate on Machu Picchu mountain. The two longer routes require an ascent to beyond 3,660 metres (12,010 ft) above sea level, which can result in altitude sickness.

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. As a result, advance booking is mandatory. A maximum of 500 people, including guides and porters, are permitted to begin the trail every day. As a result, the high season books out very quickly.

The Inca road system was the most extensive and highly advanced transportation system in pre-Columbian South America. The network was based on two north-south roads, with numerous branches. The best known portion of the road system is the Inka Trail to Machu Picchu.

The eastern route ran high in the puna and mountain valleys from Quito, Ecuador to Mendoza, Argentina. The western route followed the coastal plain except in coastal deserts where it hugged the foothills. More than twenty routes ran over the western mountains, while others traversed the eastern cordillera in the mountains and lowlands. Some of these roads reach heights of over 5,000 metres (16,000 ft) above sea level. The trails connected the regions of the Inca empire from the northern provincial capital in Quito, Ecuador past the modern city of Santiago, Chile in the south. The Inca road system linked together about 40,000 kilometres (25,000 mi) of roadway and provided access to over 3,000,000 square kilometres (1,200,000 sq mi) of territory.

Situated between 500 to 800 metres (1,600 to 2,600 ft) above sea level, this monumental road, which could reach 20 metres (66 ft) in width, connected populated areas, administrative centers, agricultural and mining zones as well as ceremonial centers and sacred spaces.

These roads provided easy, reliable and quick routes for the Empire's civilian and military communications, personnel movement, and logistical support. The prime users were imperial soldiers, porters and llma caravans, along with the nobility and individuals on official duty. Permission was required before others could walk along the roads, and tolls were charged at some bridges. Although the Inca roads varied greatly in scale, construction, and appearance, for the most part they varied between about 1 to 4 metres (3.3 to 13 ft) in width.

Relay messengers, or chasqui, stationed at intervals of 6 to 9 kilometres (3.7 to 5.6 mi), carried both messages and objects such as fresh marine fish for the rulers in the sierra. Messages consisted of knotted-cord records known as quipu along with a spoken message. Chasquis could cover an estimated 250 kilometres (160 mi) per day.

There were at least 1,000 and perhaps 2,000 way stations or tambos, placed at even intervals along the trails. These structures were intended to lodge and provision itinerant state personnel. Another structure found along Inca roads at precise interval is called qolqa or qollqa. These structures were closer together and held clothing, weapons, and various types of food.

Trekkers take three or four days to complete the "Classic Inca Trail". It starts from one of two points: km 88 or km 82 from Cuzco on the Urubamba River at approximately 2,800 m altitude. Both of these trail segments meet above the Inca ruins of Patallacta (aka Llaqtapata), a site used for religious and ceremonial functions, crop production, and housing for soldiers from the nearby hilltop site of Willkaraqay, an ancient pre-Inca site first inhabited around 500 BC. The trail undulates, but overall ascends along Rio Cusichca (aka River Kusichca aka "happy river"). At the small village of Wayllabamba the trail intersects with the "Mollepata Trail" at 3,000 metres (9,800 ft).

At Wayllabamba the trail to Machu Picchu turns west and begins ascending along a tributary of the Cusichca. Because of previous damage caused by hooves, pack animals are not allowed on the remainder of the trail. For the same reason, metal-tipped trekking poles are not allowed on the trail.

After crossing the pass the trail drops steeply into the Pacaymayu River drainage. At a distance of 2.1 km and 600 m below the pass is the campground Pacaymayu. After passing Pacaymayu the trail begins steeply ascending the other side of the valley. One kilometre along the trail, at an altitude of 3,750 metres (12,300 ft) is the Incan tambo of Runkuraqay, which overlooks the valley. The site was heavily restored in the late 1990s.

The trail continues to ascend, passing a small lake named Laguna Cochapata in an area that is recognized as deer habitat. This site had been used as a camp site. As with other sites that were being degraded due to overuse, camping is no longer allowed. The trail reaches the pass at an altitude of 3,950 m.

Once again the trail descends steeply, then more gently, passes another small lake and soon affords a view of Sayaqmarka, perched atop a sheer rocky spur. Sayaqmarka is at an altitude of 3,600 metres (11,800 ft). A steep, narrow staircase leads up to the extensive, heavily restored ruins, which include many buildings spread along approximately 80 m of ridge top. This site was named by a 1940s expedition by Paul Fejos and Sayaqmarka can be translated as "inaccessible town". Sayaqmarka overlooks both the "Classic Inca Trail" and another uncleared trail that leads down into the Aobamba River drainage, and was a signaling location. There are no agricultural terraces here, but the nearby site of Conchamarka (Shell Town), a small group of Incan buildings standing on rounded terraces, is clearly visible. After descending into a small drainage and Conchamarke, the trail begins an accent and within 0.6 km passes a campground at Chaquicocha.

The Trail continues through high cloud forest, undulating, sometimes steeply while affording increasingly dramatic viewpoints of mountains and dropoffs. A long Inca tunnel and a viewpoint overlooking two valleys: the Urubamba and Aobamba, are passed.

Another high point at altitude of 3,650 m is crossed, followed by a campground, and then after a short descent, a site with extensive ruins. The name Phuyupatmarka (Cloud-level Town)(poo-yoo-patta-marka) is applied to both the campground, and the ruins. Howard Bingham discovered the site, but left most of it covered with vegetation. The Fejos team named the site, and uncovered the remainder. Design of the site closely follows the natural contours, and includes five fountains and an altar, which was probably used for llama sacrifice.

The trail then descends approximately 1,000 meters including an irregular staircase of from 1,300 to 1,500 steps, some of which were carved into solid granite. Vegetation becomes more dense, lush, and "jungle" like with an accompanying increase in butterflies and birds. A second Incan tunnel is along this section of trail.

Even before passing through the tunnel there are views down to the Urubamba River, the first since leaving the river at Patallacta. The number of these views increases. After the tunnel the town of Aguas Calientes can be seen, and trains running along the river can be heard. As the trail nears Intipata, it affords views of the "Two Day" Inca Trail (aka "Camino Real de los Inkas" or "One Day Inca Trail").A small spur of the trail leads directly to Wiñay Wayna, while the main route continues to Intipata.

Intipata (sunny place aka Yunkapata) is a recently uncovered extensive set of agricultural terraces which follow the convex shape of the terrain. Potatoes, maize, fruit, and sweet potato were grown here.

Inka Trail to Machu Picchu

The name Wiñay Wayna (forever young) (win-yay-way-na) is used to refer to both a hostel–restaurant–camp site and a set of Inca ruins. Two groups of major architectural structures, a lower and upper, are set among multiple agricultural terraces at this concave mountainside site. A long flight of fountains or ritual baths utilizing as many as 19 springs runs between the two groups of buildings.

From Wiñay Wayna the trail undulates along below the crest of the east slope of the mountain named Machu Picchu. The steep stairs leading to Intipunku (sun gate) are reached after approximately 3 km. Reaching the crest of this ridge reveals the grandeur of the ruins of Machu Picchu, which lie below. A short downhill walk is the final section of the trail.

INCA TRAIL PROGRAMS:

PACKAGES INKA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU 8D/7N

TRADITIONAL INKA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU 4D/3N

SHORT INKA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU 2D/1N

CONTACT US

OUR PACKAGES

INCA TRAIL
SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS
MACHU PICCHU TOURS
INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU 8D/7N
TRADITIONAL INKA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU 4D/3N
BRIEF INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU 2D/1N
CHOQUEQUIRAO TO MACHU PICCHU TREK 8D/7N
CHOQUEQUIRAO TREK 4D/3N
SALKANTAY/ INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU TREK 6D/5N
SALKANTAY GLACIER TREK 5D/4N
HIGHLANDS OF PERU, AUSANGATE TREK 6D/5N
NATIVE COMMUNITIES, LARES VALLEY TREK 4D/3N
LAST STRONGHOLD OF THE INCAS, VILCABAMBA TREK 8D/7N
CHACHAPOYAS CULTURE
KUELAP FORTRESS
GOCTA WATERFALL TREK 5D/4N
AREQUIPA, COLCA CANYON 3D/2N
LIMA CITY TOUR, NAZCA LINES
PARACAS NATIONAL RESERVE
BALLESTAS ISLANDS (LITTLE GALAPAGOS)
PUNO AND TITICACA LAKE 3D/2N
MANU BIOSPHERE RESERVE 8D/7N
PERU RAFTING
URUBAMBA ONE DAY RAFTING
URUBAMBA TWO DAYS RAFTING
WHITEWATER RAFTING APURIMAC RIVER 3D/2N
TAMBOPATA RIVER, JUNGLE RAFTING 9D/8N