Because of mysticism, Peru remains as a dream for many travelers. People simply want to visit and see the home of destroyed but one of the most powerful and glorious Inca Civilization. But Peru as country also offers plenty of natural views that will simply take your breath away, and there is normally more that only one way to experience and travel through Peru and most important site as Machu Picchu.
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is one of the South America´s and possibly of the World´s most famous hikes and journeys. If you are thinking of joining the Inca Trail hike for a full body experience of the journey to Machu Picchu, here are 7 facts about the Inca Trail you and all travelers need to know as you can effectively prepare for it.
1. How long is the Inca Trail?
The traditional or Classic Inca Trail trek is 82 km. long and it will take you four days to complete the trek. There are also other options to hike the Inca Trail if you have less time, or you are not sure if you can do all 4 days trek. If you have never hiked before, it is recommended that you train and prepare yourself in advance the trek. In this 82 km. hike you will go up to the mountains passing constantly changing landscapes, historical places before finally reaching your final destination-Machu Picchu.
2. How high do you climb on the Inca Trek?
The second facts come to The Inca Trail which is considered as a challenge not just for the fact that you are hiking for 4 days but also because of the high altitude region. All travellers are advised to give themselves at least two days in Cusco to acclimatize and reduce the chances of altitude sickness.(guide to the page with packing list for the Inca Trail, with info about how to keep healthy while traveling). The highest point that you reach on the Inca Trek is at 4,224.53 meters (13,860 feet).
3. Can anyone do the Inca Trail?
Fact is that the entrance to the legendary Inca road is tightly controlled by Peruvian tourist authorities to protect the traditional unpaved trail and protect the surrounding environment so despite the popularity of the Inca Trail, it remains a privilege to take this journey to Machu Picchu. You must to pre-purchase an Inca Trail permit (normally your tour company will take care of it) and permits are limited. 500 people per day, which 300 is the crew of cooks, porters and guides that will travel with you, so basically there are 200 permits for tourists each day.
4. Is the Inca Trail open all year round?
No, the Inca Trail is closed only in February every year as this period is part of the rainy season for the maintenance and reconstructions. That can make the trails difficult to access.
5. What is the best time to travel the Inca Trail?
As long as Peru has two mainly seasons, the wet season November-March and the dry season between April and October. The dry season is better and obviously more popular for majority of tourists but it is winter for many other parts of South America, and generally less travellers around this time.
6. Does the trek have to be 4 days long?
Because of limited spaces for the Inca trail, there are many alternative treks to reach Machu Picchu, however Inca Trail is the only one trek to reach ruins through the Sun Gate. There is a shorter version for the Classic Inca Trail trek and it takes 2 days, instead of camping you spend the night in a hotel. The shorter version is ideal for travelers who are short on time or don´t want to camp.
7. When should I book to travel on the Inca Trail?
Seeing the popularity of travelling to Peru and Machu Picchu and some of the restrictions of numbers on the Inca Trail, it is recommended to book in advance at least few months before you planning the Inca Trail, booking as early as possible gives you more chances to book the trek as tours may be sold out really fast. Often permits for the trek sell out up to 6 months in advance so if you don’t want to miss out, start booking your holiday early, and check the availability for Inca Trail here.
