South America’s most famous hiking route, the Inca Trail, attracts thousands of tourists every year who want to visit the legendary city of Machu Picchu. The ancient inhabitants of modern Peru used the road for religious purposes. Today’s travelers can repeat their journey as part of tours of this part of Latin America.
General information about the Inca Trail
Today the Inka Trail consists of several trails. Depending on the chosen path to pass the way of the ancients can be in time from 4 hours to 5 days.
History of the Inca Road
At its height, the Inca Empire was active not only in building cities, but also in building roads to connect the main centers of the country. Before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, the ancient inhabitants of Peru built 30,000 kilometers of stone roads.
By our time, there was still a section of the road that connected the capital Cuzco and the religious center of Machu Picchu. The length of the preserved road is 43 km.
Legends of the Inca Trail
Local porters and professional guides tell many legends and historical facts about places on the trail. Some of them are just inventions made up by impressionable Peruvians who want to lure tourists with beautiful stories.
The Inca Trail on the map
Today there are several hiking trails of different lengths on the map, designed for different walking times:
- The 2 main ones, which can be overcome in 2 and 5 days;
- 2 short ones (they take 4-6 hours).
Attractions on the route
The world-famous hiking route has many monuments that tell the history of the ancient Incas. They are available to visit as part of guided tours.
The City of Steps Lyaktapata
The town on the slope of Mount Llaktapata, or Patialakta, is one of the first stops along the way. During the Inca civilization, the settlement served as an agricultural center, supplying the army and Machu Picchu with provisions. The city was destroyed by conquistadors in the 16th century. Travelers can see the ancient ruins of the walls.
There are remnants of rock terraces and houses that have survived since Llactapata was burned by order of the Inca supreme ruler during the conquest of Manco Inca Yupanqui during the retreat from Cusco in 1536.
The nobility lived in stone houses, while the “rabble” lived in miserable earthen huts. The large round tower of Pulpituukh on a large rock may have been an altar or a prison. Its name is derived both from the Spanish pulpito (“pulpit”) and from the Quechua word for “altar seat.
Villabamba Village
The village of Huaylabamba is considered the last bastion of civilization before the journey to Machu Picchu. Locals grow maize and potatoes at an altitude of 3,000 meters above sea level.
Abra de Varmivanjuska Pass
The pass is located at the highest point of the route, at an altitude of 4,200 meters. When passing it, it is customary to stack stones in small pyramids at the top as an offering to the god Pachamama, or Mother Earth.
Runkurakai Pass
The next transfer is located at a precipitous precipice. The ancient Inca astronomers are believed to have observed celestial objects here.
Sajakmarca complex of buildings
From Runkurakai, steps carved in the rock lead to the fortresses of Saiyakmark. The area is still poorly explored, so we must judge the purpose of certain buildings from the testimony of the Spanish conquerors.
Viña-Vayna Complex
The name of the town of Viña Vaina translates as “Forever Young. And another point on the Inca Trail justifies it: orchids bloom all year round here. There are ancient terraces built by the Incas, as well as a water basin.
City in the Clouds Puyupatamarka
Puyupatamarka, or “City in the Clouds,” is located at an altitude of 3,500 meters above sea level. The ruins of medieval pre-Columbian structures have survived to this day.
Intipunku Solar Gate
The Intipunku Solar Gate is one of the last points before entering the mysterious Machu Picchu.
The small fortress at the top of the ridge offers spectacular views of the surrounding architecture and mountains.
The legendary and mysterious city of Machu Picchu
The ancient religious center of the Inca civilization was built in the 15th century and is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. Its architectural features reflect the centuries-old history of the place.
One of the most striking features of Machu Picchu’s architecture is its integration with the natural landscape. Buildings and squares were built up to 2,430 meters above sea level, using natural formations such as rocks and trees as support walls. They were also positioned to make the most of the landscape and provide better access to water and other resources.
Another interesting feature of the architecture of Machu Picchu is the high quality of construction. The Incas used stone masonry without mortar, which allowed them to create very strong structures that lasted for centuries. Thanks to their strength, the buildings have withstood many earthquakes and other natural disasters.
The architecture of the city was designed with the cultural and religious traditions of the Incas in mind. They believed that buildings should be built with cosmic cycles in mind and used complex astronomical calculations in the design of their structures.
Another interesting feature of the architecture of Machu Picchu is the use of water and sewage systems. Most of the buildings were equipped with drainage ditches and rainwater harvesting systems to provide water to residents despite the high mountainous terrain.
The Temple of the Condor, the Pyramid of the Sun, the Horse-horse of the Sun, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Temple of the Solar Maidens are just some of the architectural monuments over which archeologists and historians are still battling to unravel the mysteries.
Popular routes on the Inca Trail
Tourists are offered several routes, designed for different lengths. You can make the trip in a few hours, or you can stretch the pleasure for a week.
Classic itineraries for 4 or 5 days
The most popular trail starts from the 82nd km of the railroad connecting Cusco and Machu Picchu. During the trip tourists are waiting for a height difference of 4.2 km, so you should acclimatize before hiking. More often than not, the group reaches the religious center, which used to be the city, at the dawn of the 4th day.
The 5-day trip is notable because guests visit the ruins of Yaktapat, where they stay overnight.
A short two-day itinerary
The short route, designed for 2 days, begins much closer to the final point of the tour – at the 104th km of the railroad. Travelers get to the hotel near Machu Picchu in just 1 day, and the next morning they visit the main attraction of Peru.
Mixed tour Salkantay – Inca Trail
The most difficult route involves climbing the Salkantai Glacier. The entire trip takes up to 7 days, but experienced trekkers can manage in 6. This route allows you not only to touch the history of ancient civilization, but also to enjoy the beauty of the majestic Andes.
Conditions for Visiting the Inca Trail: What Tourists Need to Know
You can visit the Trail only if you plan your trip in advance. You can not just come to the country and enjoy the ancient history: local trekking has its own characteristics.
Before hiking hikers must acclimatize to the mountain environment. At this time you should not subject yourself to excessive physical exertion or eat heavy food. To make the process easier, locals advise chewing coca leaves.
The best time to pass the route
Travel on the Inca Trail is organized all year round. The best time to visit the region is from April to October. During these months, Peru maintains a dry climate and the likelihood of rain decreases. The air temperature during these days is +19 … +26°C during the day, -1 … +12°C at night.
In January and March, the rainy season reigns in the region. When planning a trip, you should take into account the peculiarities of the weather during this period.
Access to the object: which travel agency to choose
Trying to preserve the historical landmark, the country’s government has limited the simultaneous stay on the route to 500 people. At the same time, only 200 people can be tourists. The rest are support staff: guides, porters, and cooks.
In February, the route is closed for cleaning and restoration work.
Choosing a travel agency or a personal guide, you should ask in advance about the availability of a license to conduct such a trip. There are several checkpoints on the route, and conductors without certification are not allowed on it.
Peculiarities of tours booking and their average cost
Tours must be booked no later than 5 months before your planned trip. This is especially true in the height of the season. Prices of tours, depending on the route and the chosen options stay from $2 thousand to $3,500. Hire a porter on the spot will cost from $10/day.
What equipment to bring
To travel with maximum comfort, you should take the most necessary things and equipment from home:
- roomy backpack with a capacity of 50 liters or more;
- comfortable shoes;
- Light clothing and thermal underwear in case it gets cold;
- insect repellent;
- water tank and water purification tablets;
- flashlight, batteries, etc;
- a passport and money for unexpected expenses;
- first aid kit.
Interesting facts about the Inca Trail
Because of government-imposed restrictions on the number of visitors to the Inca Trail, the annual flow of tourists barely exceeds 70,000 people.
The Inca Trail was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
