EVERYTHING YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW BEFORE INCA TRAIL HIKE TO MACHU PICCHU
Inca Trail hike is an experience that should inspire emotion, arouse a little fear, arouse jealousy among your friends and awaken a feeling of wandering in your soul.
One of the most popular activities in South America, and one of the most famous treks in the world, the Classic Inca Trail is the kind of singular adventure we all travel on. The hike itself, which takes you along ancient narrow trails deep into the Peruvian countryside and into the Andean mountains, is magnificent; Perfect Inca ruins, a cloud forest, and majestic views of the valley arranged like breadcrumbs along the path that leads to perhaps the greatest ending point of any multi-day trek on earth, the iconic Machu Picchu.
At Sunrise Peru Trek, we wanted to share our hard-earned ideas, tips, and tricks to help you plan and prepare for your own successful trail experience, all carefully written in this comprehensive guide.
So, whether you go there in high or low season and want to better understand the camp and accommodation situation, not sure what to pack or how to get a permit, you are concerned if you are quite fit, you will get elevation. illness or if it’s too late to reserve a spot for an excursion, this article will provide you with all the necessary answers from seasoned fellow travelers (and, hopefully, some excitement and inspiration for the trek itself!).
Ready? Here is everything you need to know before Hiking the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Let’s go!
WHAT IS THE INCA TRAIL HIKE?
The Inca Trail Hike is a well-established and iconic 4-day, 3-night trek that takes travelers from km 82 (the starting point 40 minutes from the town of Ollantaytambo) to Machu Picchu through its solar gate. Exclusive (also called Inti Punku).
The good news is that it is much shorter than you might expect at just 26 miles (45 km). The bad news? A significant part of these 40 km consists of narrow and steep Andean mountain trails in altitude.
The Inca Empire (which for the most part joined Peru, much of modern Ecuador, western and south-central Bolivia, northwestern Argentina, north and central Chile, and a small part of southwestern Colombia) has built 45 thousand of kilometers of trails to connect its important colonies and centers of civilization, but it is this specific 4-day route that is known as the only one » Classic Inca Trail«.
WHY IS IT SO POPULAR?
The path is Peru in a microcosm; lush green cloud forest full of birds, Andean peaks and steep passes, a landscape dotted with centuries-old ruins, accessible only to those who follow this most famous path.
However beautiful the walk is, the real reason for its popularity lies at the end of this four-day adventure; passing through the “Puerta del Sol” for this first magical observation of Machu Picchu in the distance. Only hikers of the Short Inca Trail and Classic Inca Trail can access the Gate at sunrise, and it is this crescendo, in one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, that makes this trek a feature of so many ‘wish lists’. South America».
Best Inca Trail Hikes & Tours
- Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 2 days
- Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4 Days
- Luxury Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 5D
- Inca Trail Tour 7 days
- Inca Trail Expeditions 10 days
- Inca Trail Peru 10 days