Intruduction
Located in the department of Cuzco, the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is
Peru's most popular trekking route and possibly one of the most
spectacular walks in the Americas. It 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 Cuzco cloud forest.
The trail sets out from Qorihuayrachina, at Kilometer 88 of the Cuzco-Quillabamba
railway, and takes three to four days of tough hiking. The 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 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
trail 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.
Machu Picchu was connected with the city of Cusco and the rest of the
Inca empire by amazing trails, specifically designed for the use of the
Inkas in a perfect harmony with the flora and fauna of the area. It has
to be said that they had an absolutely wonderful knowledge of
architecture and construction. Throughout the whole trail you can locate
some shelters surrounded by gorgeous country sites and great views, some
of the trails lead you to a few archeologycal rests. The Inca Trail to
Machu Picchu is known as the most famous and tough hiking circuit all
over South America,
because of the conjuntion of different elements that it offers to its
visitors.
The Inca Trail is approximately 32 km long . Starts at Km 88, off the
railway line. It passes several archeological ruins along the route. At
the same time, it crosses 9 different ecological areas which are located
between 2000 and 6000 metres above the sea level.The trail is occupied
by more than 400 species of orchids, begonias, trees and bushes such as
the Queña (Polylepis racemosa), the Pisonay (Eritrina falcata), the Muña
(Minthostachys glabrecens) and some more. It also hosts a huge fauna.
Many of the 400 birds registered in the sanctuary can be found in the
forests, like the Rocky Cock (Rupícola peruviana) and the Mountain
Turkey ( Penelope montagnii). Along the rivers,
the "river duck" (Merganetta armata) can be found , the majesctic cóndor
(vultur gryphus) can be seen flying over this unique area. The
cucarachero inka (Thryothorus eisenmanni) is the representative bird of
this area.Inca trail hikes to Machu
Picchu
Weather and Altitud
Cusco has a temperate climate with year round temperatures fluctuating
between 14º - 16ºC, with warm days and cold nights. The rainy season in
Cusco is from December to March.
Machu Picchu has a semi-tropical climate, with warm and humid days and
cold nights.
The rainy season in Machu Picchu is from November to March, so be
prepared.
The wet months are January to April, when roads are often closed by
landslides or flooding.
The best months for visiting Machu Picchu are from April to October.
The Inca Trail begins on a zone called "Quechua": This zone is between
2300 - 3500 m (7,500-11,500 ft) and its weather is temperate and dry
with temperatures that range from 0 -21C (32 -70F). The rainy season is
from December to March. The rest of the year is dry or even parched from
May through September. This region is widely cultivated and essentially,
there is no natural plants left.
Above Wayllabamba, there's the zone called "Suni" or "Jalca": This is
the zone between 3500 - 4000 m (11,500 - 13,000 ft). There is still some
agriculture possible at this altitude. Above that lies the "Puna" which
is a zone from 4000 - 4800 m (13,000 - 15,750 ft). Its weather is very
cold with frequent frost. It is mostly grassland with a type of grass
called "Ichu" and the area
is used for grazing camelids like Llamas and Alpacas.
Going down from the "Puna" through the "Suni" is the "Yunga Fluvial":
which are inter-Andean valleys on the east of the Andes between 1000 -
2300 m (7,500 - 3,300 ft). These valleys have a moderate, moist climate
and abundant vegetation.
HEIGHTS
Cusco City: 3,360 m.a.s.l.
Machu Picchu: 2,400 m.a.s.l.
Urubamba Valley: 2,850 m.a.s.l.
Inca Trail highest point: 4,200 m.a.s.l.
What To Bring
NECESSARY EQUIPMENT: Tent, sleeping bag, torch, gas cooker, plastic
ponchos, matches, a saucepan, water (there are a few creeks along the
trail so purification tablets are recommended), light-weight shoes and
boots, a
hat, a set of clothes, a pocket knife, spoons and food. If you are
travelling with a tour company it is their responsability to provide the
necessary equipment and meals.
WE RECOMMEND YOU TO:
- Use boots during treks and sneakers during long walks.
- Drinking lots of liquids on long excursions, specially during the Inca
Trail
- Always taking an umbrella or rainwear.
YOU SHOULD BRING
- Personal sleeping bag and mattress
- Back pack, trekking shoes
- Water bottle, flash light, hat
- Personal clothing for trek
- Insect repellent
- Water treating tablets/liquids
Essential are walking boots (and I mean boots, no track or basketball
substitutes as the trail sometimes is slippery and your feet and legs
will be tired), warm and weatherproof cloth (like 2 synthetic underwear/shirt,
a skiingshirt, a sweater and a Goretex-Jacket), thin and thick socks (I
always wear a thin sock and then over it a hicking sock, both cotton and
both preworn, not fresh from the store or the washing) and a cap or hat.
You won't necessarily need lipstick, but sunprotection and something
against mosquitos you become handy.
A good, comfortable backpack with hipbelt and rainproof cover. Good
sleeping bag. Water treating tablets/liquids. Some first aid stuff,
toilet paper, a flashlight, Leatherman or Swiss Army knife. Camera (UVA/UVB
filter for lens), spotting glasses Films 400ASA speed.
Everything you don't need should be left behind. Many hostels and hotels
in Cuzco will let you leave stuff with them.
REMEMBER : Your pack will already be uncomfortably heavy with just the
essentials.
NOTE: Our Private Inca trail hikes include porters for your personal
items and drinking water too
Health
Participants need to be in good physical health and condition to be able
to enjoy the Inka Trail. The trekking will be difficult if you have not
exercised regularly before your trip. To fully enjoy an Inka Trail
adventure, we advise passengers to get into an exercise program for
their
own safety and enjoyment. If a passenger suffers from any medical
condition, we advise him/her to consult a physician about joining an
Inka Trail Expedition.
If you are pregnant, or have diabetes, high blood pressure, epilepsy,
migraine headaches, asthma, sickle cell anemia, emphysema, or other
circulatory or respiratory diseases, please talk to your doctor before
planning an altiplano trip.
The most common problem for the traveler in Peru is diarrhea (between
30% and 50% of travelers in a 2 week stay experience this) but the
majority of these problems will be relatively minor. But don't be
paranoid; to eat the local food is part of the experience of travel.
Tap water in Peru is not safe to drink. Always purify the water first by
boiling it or adding purification tablets such as Micropure which can be
acquired in most pharmacies throughout Peru. Bottled mineral water is
available everywhere.
Fruit in Peru is plentiful and delicious, but ensure that you wash it or
peel it yourself. Avoid undercooked and reheated foods.
Altitude Sickness
On reaching heights above 3000 m., heart pounding and shortness of
breath are a normal response to the lack of oxygen in the air. However,
for some visitors these symptoms can deteriorate into a conditions known
as Soroche (or acute mountain sickness) when one experiences headaches,
extreme tiredness, loss of appetite, insomnia and often nausea. Symptoms
usually develop during the first 24 hours at altitude, but may be
delayed up to 3 weeks. To prevent Soroche, on arrival don't over exert
yourself.
On arrival at your hotel have a rest for a while. Avoid alcohol,
cigarettes and heavy food. Drinking mate de coca (an infusion of coca
leaves - and perfectly legal in Peru) may help. If symptoms become more
severe and prolonged it is best to quickly seek medical attention and
make arrangements to descend to a lower altitude. On recovery one can
reascend slowly or in stages.
Park Regulation
The Inca Trail is part of the Machu Picchu Sanctuary,
administered by the Peru National Institute of Natural Resources, INRENA.
All tourists must comply park regulations prohibiting dump garbage,
damaging trees or plants, removing or damaging stones of ruins and the
Trail, removing plants, killing animals, lighting open fires or camping
in the archeological sites (only authorized campsites can be used).
This procedures must be followed:
1. Payment of entrance fees:
a. the ticket issued by the Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary Management
Unit (UGM) is the only valid document granting the right to walk the
Inca Trails Network (the Machupicchu Historical Sanctuary Network RED or
SHM). This ticket is personal and non transferable, and includes the
entrance fee to Machu Picchu.
b. Payment for the right to use the RED can only be done in the city of
Cusco. Its cost is US$50, included in the payment will make to an
authorized agency.
c. Under no circumstances, payment for the use of the RED will be
accepted at its registry and entry control points.
d. Payment for the right to use the RED must be made a minimum of five
(5) days before beginning the trip and the acquisition must be made
under your name.
e. The reimbursement of payment for the right to use the RED is not
possible under any circumstance.
f. In case of having done the corresponding payment for the right to use
the RED and having fixed the dates of the visit, these dates can be
postponed with four (4) days notice, providing an additional payment of
20%, and subject to place availability for the dates and routes required.
2. Reservations
a. Reservations will be made in the offices of the Departmental
Headquarters of the National Institute of Culture in the city of Cusco,
receiving confirmation with corresponding reservation code.
Note: Reservations will be subject to the daily capacity issued by the
UGM (500 people, including guides, porters, helpers and around 150
tourists), so we recommend you to reserve your place with as much notice
as possible.
b. The Tour Operator can ask for reservations up to sixty (60) days
before the trip begins, making a payment for the equivalent of fifty
percent (50%) of the entrance ticket.
c. To maintain the reservation, the Tour Operator must cancel the
balance due and provide full names, passport numbers, ages,
nationalities and passport photocopies of all those going on the trip,
to the relevant authorities. The traveler must send this information and
documentation to us from his or her home country.
d. Failure to confirm reservations will result in their cancellation,
and no reimbursement of fees will be made in this case.
e. Only people under 28 years old with valid International Student
Identification will be considered as a student, entitling them to a 50%
discount on the RED entrance fee.
Elements not allowed in the network of the Inca Trail
a. Air or firearms tablet, arcs and arrows, implements of hunting and
fish, axes, machetes, mount knives, tips, shovels or other tools.
b. Any type of trap for capture fauna specimen .
c. Fossil Fuels such as: kerosene, diesel petroleum, gasoline.
d. Stimulating, psicotropics, narcotics and other drugs not allowed by
the effective national legislation.
e. Equipment of sound and others generators of annoying noises.
f. Domestic animals and exotic species.
g. Canes with metallic end that no have rubber protector or wood canes
of native species.
h. Bottles, plastic packages and dispensable glasses.
Of the Remainders Solids
The travel agencies and tourism, guides of tourism and personnel of
support, are forced to select in organic and inorganic the solid
remainders generated and to retire them outside SHM during your
permanence in the network of the Inca Trail.
Of the Security of the Users And the Natural and Cultural Patrimony of
the SHM
It´s prohibited to move by the network of the Inca Trail between the
19:00 hours and 05:30 hours, except for verified acts of a greater force.
For more information about Machu Picchu and its regulations, visit the
following links:
http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=274
http://www.wcmc.org.uk/protected_areas/data/wh/macchu.html
Inca Trail Photos
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