Now, the important thing to note here is that your bog-standard, one-size-fits-all travel insurance will almost certainly not cover you getting unwell at significant altitude - youll need to buy an add-on which specially covers hiking at high altitude. The hike is beautiful and difficult both physically and mentally. Marci Vaughn Kolt. POV: You've reached Warmi Wausqa, the highest point of the Inca Trail Make sure to let loved ones know that you will be without service for four days. But before you do, there are a few important factors you need to consider, such as the best time to trek, weather conditions, and how far in advance to book. Theyve been doing it since 2002 protecting, connecting, and inspiring independent travellers just like you. Being in decent shape, acclimatising, carrying out a few practice hikes at home, keeping yourself hydrated, wearing in your hiking boots, and taking out the correct travel insurance are essential to staying safe and healthy on this hike; if youve made it this far down in our Inca Trail Guide and taken our advice on board, then you should have very few issues once you hit the Trail. [3] Highest point of the Inca Trail. Design of the site closely follows the natural contours, and includes five fountains and an altar, which was probably used for llama sacrifice. It consists of a 1500-meter descent into the subtropical cloud forests and through the Amazon basin. You wont be able to enter the Inca Trail nor Machu Picchu without it. Nights are warmer compared to the dry season. You are expected to bring and carry your own snacks, although our tour did provide us each with a snack bag on Day One of the trail (we finished ours on the last day, others finished it by Day Two). It makes sense to buy them in Cusco or Ollantaytambo, although on Days One and Two of the trail you will find women along the Trail with makeshift stalls selling drinks, biscuits, and sweets. The less you have to carry, the more enjoyable the experience. Only 500 Inca Trail permits are available per day, Booking Inca Trail tickets in advance is a must, Inca Trail is closed for the month of February. You can either bring your own sleeping bag or rent one for an additional fee. 2023 Machu Picchu Trek | A Mountain IQ Guide. Along the way, you will visit Runkurakay, a circular complex that scholars believe Inca messengers used as a refueling and resting station. Your guide will take you on a 2.5-hour tour of the citadel, where you will learn about its fascinating history. The elevation of the Inca Trail varies, with the highest point rising to 13,828 feet (4200 m) above sea level. Ive hiked some of the best national parks in the U.S.and this Inca Trail hike is still my favorite in terms of scenery and complete awesomeness. The trails in Machu Picchu have a limited number of permits per day. The Classic 4-day Inca Trail trek begins in the Sacred Valley and navigates varied terrain. Whether you're getting ready to hike, bike, trail run, or explore other outdoor activities, AllTrails has 22 scenic trails in the Jakarta area. Trekking on the High Inca Trail | Exodus Travels The highest point is Dead Womans Pass at 13,828 ft (4,215 m) and the lowest point is Machu Picchu at 7,972 ft (2,430 m). The Inca Trail follows a route through Perus Andean mountains. Inca trail preparation: a complete guide [updated 2020] - Career Gappers Personally, we wouldnt recommend anyone under the age of 14 to do the trek due to group dynamics. Day Two of the hike, which leads you from your campsite all the way upto the Dead Womans Pass at 4,200 metres (13,776 ft) is widely regarded as the most difficult day of hiking - once youre passed that, youll be laughing (or crying). Cons | Hiking and camping in the rain for four days is never fun, so you are increasing the chances of that. Take a break to catch your breath and enjoy the spectacular views of the Urubamba River below the sites green terraces. Get used to walking long distances before embarking. Difficulty | Youre almost at the end and Machu Picchu, you should be hopping, skipping, and jumping all the way there! Home Blog The ULTIMATE Guide to Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. You will also benefit from training your legs to walk/hike on stairways or steep slopes. This aint no walk in the park unless you like your walk in the parks accompanied by blood-tingling cliff-drops and ruins of ancient South American empires. Firstly, you are going to leave the bulk of your luggage securely in a luggage storage room back at the hotel in Cusco; dont leave valuables here though as thats just silly. Theres even a marathon!). A small spur of the trail leads directly to Wiay Wayna, while the main route continues to Intipata. Take some time to relish in your accomplishment before accompanying your guide to the Machu Picchu bus stop for your transfer down the mountain to Aguas Calientes. 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"). For those that would prefer more privacy, you can also pay extra for your own one-man tent. This is one area where the tour companies could provide a better solution, although we appreciate our situation as travel photographers and bloggers who carry a lot of technology is a little unique. The ULTIMATE Guide to Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, I consent to my personal information being processed in accordance with The Broke Backpackers. A significant chunk of that 40 kms is up steep, narrow Andean mountain paths at altitude. Pack lightweight pants, short- and long-sleeve shirts, warm fleece jackets, underwear, and socks. As the above has hopefully made clear, the Inca Trail is not as difficult or challenging as you may think, but every persons own hike experience will be very subjective based on your fitness, hiking experience, your groups approach, attitude, the weather conditions on the route, and a bunch of other factors. If youre fit enough to handle the constant incline, there is a good chance the high altitude will zap your energy and perhaps give you dizziness. The 2-day Inca Trail begins at the Chachabamba archaeological complex which is located at 6,725 ft (2,050 m), the lowest point of the hike. Remember the part where youre trekking through mountains at 13,000 feet? Alternatively, the 2-day Inca Trail is recommended for travelers who cannot or do not wish to devote four days of trekking to their trip, but would still like to experience the Inca Trail. We'll give you time in Cusco to acclimatize before the trek, but altitude sickness can be a problem for some. For adventurous travelers seeking a challenge, the Classic 4-day Inca Trail is an excellent choice that is sure to be a highlight of any trip. Up mountain passes and down into humid cloud forest valleys, the final destination is majestic Machu Picchu. The outline of the mountains at one point resembles a woman lying on her back. The highest point of the trail is Dead Women's Pass at just over 4200m. A: The Inca Trail reaches an altitude of 2,700 meters (9300 feet) at its highest point. After the tour, trekkers who pre-purchased Huayna Picchu tickets will continue hiking, while the rest of the group will take the 25-minute shuttle bus to Aguas Calientes. Youll still be able to access Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate (a really special moment), and you have the added bonus of seeing this incredible Wonder of the World at both sunset and sunrise! Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}131529S 721548W / 13.25806S 72.26333W / -13.25806; -72.26333, "Inca Trail" redirects here. At the top, the pass is rocky, with little vegetation. Starting at 2,600 metres, the trail ascends to 3,300 metres on the first day. No, there is no waiting list for permits. Hiking the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Day-by-Day Itinerary for Trekking the Inca Trail (4 Days/3 Nights), Finding the Best Inca Trail Tour Operator. Yep, the cost of entry is included in the tour price and its the responsibility of the tour company to take care of all that and provide you with the ticket on the day youre entering the site. Your guide will be fluent in English and Spanish. Do note that if you see a tour with fewer days offered, then you are only going to be hiking a small section of the route. Lowest Elevation: Quarry Trail FAQ: The 'other' route to Machu Picchu It is best to book directly through a local tour operator instead of a foreign travel agency since the travel agencies may charge you double the price. To visit Machu Picchu at any time, whether you plan to hike for the day or for several nights, will require booking a permit. As with any trek, you should take proper precautions and make sure that you bring the correct gear and clothing. Make sure to bring your own toilet paper and hand-sanitiser, and just hold your nose (and maybe close your eyes too) when you need to go. Abra Warmihuausca, at 4,224 meters, is the trail's highest point (13,860 ft). 3. A second Inca tunnel is along this section of trail.[10]. Its worth noting that not all standard off-the-shelf travel insurance policies will cover you for activities at altitude (including the Inca Trail), so you need to ensure that this is covered when buying your single or multi-trip policy. Its a nice build-up to the granddaddy of them all that follows on day 4. Below are some suggestions on how much to tip the trekking team. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). Well, the elevation of the Inca Trail is over 13,000 feet so if you have altitude problems make sure to think twice before committing. In addition, the temperatures on Mount Kilimanjaro can be much colder than on the Inca Trail and can reach below 20 F (-7C). In our group of 10, three people were feeling the altitude on the first day of the tour due to lack of acclimitisation, but with more time, water, and a healthy dose of coca tea (the age-old Peruvian cure!) Likewise, if you would prefer not to carry your sleeping bag from home to Peru, you can rent one from your trekking company with advance notice. Hiking poles to help ease impact on knees on downhills. Intipata (aka Yunkapata)[8] is a recently uncovered extensive set of agricultural terraces which follow the convex shape of the terrain. In addition to all the equipment, pots and pans, food, and trash that they had to carry, they also now had a grown adult on their backs. Since 2002, access to the Inca Trail has been limited to 500 people per day (roughly split between 200 tourists and 300 accompanying guides and porters), no matter the time of year. Youll have to carry your pack for 4 days so only take the lightweight essentials. The route was constructed by the Incas over 500 years ago. The Classic 4-day Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu is arguably the most famous trail in all of South America. Highest point (Warmiwanusca Pass /Dead Womans Pass). This site had been used as a camp site. This is one of Perus highest major cities with an altitude of 3400m (11,152ft). I wouldnt be surprised if we were the last group to make it into the historic site.
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October 2nd - 4th, 2020