Camino Inka, better known as the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, is by far the most popular trek in South America. The reasons for its deep and abiding popularity among trekkers from all over the world are not hard to fathom, considering the diverse landscapes and the historical significance of the Inca paving stones, relics and tunnels scattered along the way. Not to mention the motivational aspect of reaching Machu Picchu at the end.
The entry point into Peru for virtually all foreign travelers is Jorge Chavez Int'l Airport in Callao, just a few miles out from the Lima city center. From the capital, a domestic flight will take travelers to Cuzco. After an overnight hotel stay in Cuzco, a bus that leaves early in the morning will take a scenic 3-4 hour road through the Urubamba River Sacred Valley and drop passengers off at the starting point of the trail. This is the 82 kilometer mark on the rail link that connects Cuzco to Aguas Calientes.
After the porters' bags are weighed at the weigh station alongside the river, trekkers can cross the suspension bridge across the river and begin their quest. The first hour or so through the open valley is easy. After that, the path starts snaking upwards towards the looming snow-capped peaks of Veronika Mountain.
The first campsite for an overnight stay on the trail is at Wayllabamba, which is 3000 feet above sea level. At this point, it would be prudent to point out that trekkers can choose from amongst multiple routes. On top of that, choosing a different starting point can also make the trek easier and smaller.
There is an alternate route which begins from the Village of Mollepata. The main path described above, starting from the 82 km point, is the Classic route. This is a four day trek which goes through the cloud forest and climbs up into the Andes Mountains, passing many Inca ruins before ending up in Machu Picchu on the morning of the fourth day.
If this Classic trek seems too hard, then easier choices are available by starting off from points further ahead on the trail. The 88-km point and the 104-km point are two such available options. The 104 km point trek is the shortest one, and can be completed inside of two days.
Adventurers looking for a thrill can opt for the Mollepata route, which goes even higher up into the mountains and takes up to seven days to complete. In this case, trekkers must take an early morning bus from Cuzco to the Village of Mollepata. The path gets up-close to the majestic Salkantay Mountain, with trekkers required to hike through a mountain pass well above 4,000 feet.
Permits to enter the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu need to be applied for a long time beforehand. The normal way to do this is to book a guided tour and let the tour company handle all the paperwork. They will also provide porters and tour guides for groups of trekkers. Participants on these group tours do not need to carry all the heavy camping supplies or cook their own meals. They can instead devote all their energies to keeping one foot ahead of the other and reaching Machu Picchu without falling apart.
The entry point into Peru for virtually all foreign travelers is Jorge Chavez Int'l Airport in Callao, just a few miles out from the Lima city center. From the capital, a domestic flight will take travelers to Cuzco. After an overnight hotel stay in Cuzco, a bus that leaves early in the morning will take a scenic 3-4 hour road through the Urubamba River Sacred Valley and drop passengers off at the starting point of the trail. This is the 82 kilometer mark on the rail link that connects Cuzco to Aguas Calientes.
After the porters' bags are weighed at the weigh station alongside the river, trekkers can cross the suspension bridge across the river and begin their quest. The first hour or so through the open valley is easy. After that, the path starts snaking upwards towards the looming snow-capped peaks of Veronika Mountain.
The first campsite for an overnight stay on the trail is at Wayllabamba, which is 3000 feet above sea level. At this point, it would be prudent to point out that trekkers can choose from amongst multiple routes. On top of that, choosing a different starting point can also make the trek easier and smaller.
There is an alternate route which begins from the Village of Mollepata. The main path described above, starting from the 82 km point, is the Classic route. This is a four day trek which goes through the cloud forest and climbs up into the Andes Mountains, passing many Inca ruins before ending up in Machu Picchu on the morning of the fourth day.
If this Classic trek seems too hard, then easier choices are available by starting off from points further ahead on the trail. The 88-km point and the 104-km point are two such available options. The 104 km point trek is the shortest one, and can be completed inside of two days.
Adventurers looking for a thrill can opt for the Mollepata route, which goes even higher up into the mountains and takes up to seven days to complete. In this case, trekkers must take an early morning bus from Cuzco to the Village of Mollepata. The path gets up-close to the majestic Salkantay Mountain, with trekkers required to hike through a mountain pass well above 4,000 feet.
Permits to enter the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu need to be applied for a long time beforehand. The normal way to do this is to book a guided tour and let the tour company handle all the paperwork. They will also provide porters and tour guides for groups of trekkers. Participants on these group tours do not need to carry all the heavy camping supplies or cook their own meals. They can instead devote all their energies to keeping one foot ahead of the other and reaching Machu Picchu without falling apart.
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