Hiking
Peru - Trekking Peru
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Trek
Located in the department of Cusco, the
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is Peru's most
popular trekking route and possibly one of the most spectacular
walks in the Americas. This Inca Trail forms
part of the more than 23,000 km of roads built by the Incas
across South America. Each year, some 25,000 hikers from all
over the world walk the 43 km stone-paved trail, built by
the Incas to get to the impregnable citadel of Machu
Picchu, deep in the Cusco cloud forest.
The Inca Trail sets out from Qorihuayrachina,
at Kilometer 88 of the Cusco-Quillabamba
railway, and takes three to four days of tough hiking. The
Inca Trail route runs through an impressive range of altitudes,
where climates and eco-systems range from the high Andean
plain down to the cloud forests. The Inca Trail
climbs up through two highland passes (the higher of the two,
Warmiwañuska, lies at 4,200 masl) before reaching Machu
Picchu through the Inti Punku or Gateway of the Sun.
One of the attractions of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is
that it winds past carved granite Inca settlements (Wiñay
Wayna, Phuyupatamarca), and is surrounded by breath-taking
natural scenery.
The forests abound in hundreds of species of orchids, brightly-colored
birds and dream-like landscapes, the ideal complement to this
indispensable hikers' route. day
day hike machu picchu trip.
Climate in Cusco and Machu
Picchu: Rainy during summer in the Southern
Hemisphere (December-March). Sunny from May-September. Maximum
temperatures reach 27° C, but rarely drop below 11°
C.
Access to the Inca Trail:
The route starts out at Kilometer 88 of the railway. Organized
groups set out from Chilca at Kilometer 76 of the same route.
Services: Many
tour operators sell all-in package deals for the Inca Trail
Trek. For those wishing to organize their own trip, porters
from the communities of Chillca and Wayllabamba
charge reasonable rates for carrying luggage.
Hikers will need to carry drinking water and food, in addition
to full camping equipment.
Remember to read our "Recommendations"
for your trip to Peru, as well as other important issues in
our "Tips"
section.
If you need any details or want more information, please
use our "Contact
us" orange
form.
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