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The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

The Inca Trail (also called “Inca Trail” or “Inca Trail”) is one of the most important walking routes in South America. This is influenced by its original Inca architecture, the archaeological remains along the route and the natural mixture of jungle and cloud forest along the route. It is also the most spectacular way to get to the Inca Sanctuary of Machu Picchu.

The Inca Trail: a bit of history

The Inca Trail, Inca Trail or Capaq Nan, is one of the most classic treks in the world. It was built by the Inca emperor Pachacuti to connect Cusco -capital of the Inca empire or Tawantinsuyo- with the sacred citadel of Machu Picchu. Hiram Bingham, archaeologist and Yale professor who discovered Machu Picchu in 1911, was also the one who discovered the Inca Trail, as well as all the archaeological sites along its length. This route opened for trekking in 1970, by the Peruvian archaeologist Victor Ángeles. Every year, thousands of visitors from all over the world arrive in Peru to travel this famous road.

The Inca Trail: what is the best time to do the trekking?

The best time to hike in this part of Peru is from May to December, the dry season. Especially between June and August, as can be seen in the image on the right. The period from January to March should be avoided at all costs, as it is quite rainy: not only is it unpleasant to walk on a path that becomes a slippery quagmire, it also increases the danger of landslides or falling stones.

During the day it is usually sunny with an average temperature around 23 ° C and at night values close to 0 ° C are recorded. During the hike, it is dry in the first two days and humid in the third and fourth. And during the night the first two camps are usually cold, but the third camp is temperate.

The Inca Trail is very popular throughout the year, however, from May to September it is considered the “high” season. This means that permits can be sold months in advance, so it is essential to plan your reservation in advance. The cost of the Inca Trail ‘high season’ is slightly higher than the rest of the year, however, if the reservation is made before February, money can be saved by taking advantage of advance reservations.

The Inca Trail: day by day itinerary

The Inca Trail: DAY 1 – Km 82

The day starts very early, usually the groups pick up the passengers from their hotels. After a 3-hour bus ride and a 1-hour stop in the town of Urubamba to buy supplies, the bus arrives at kilometer 82 of the Cusco-Quillabamba railway. There all tourists have to register at the control to start the walk. This is the ideal place to hire the services of a porter. Then you cross the Cusichaca bridge over the Urubamba river. From there, only 42 kilometers of mountains, Andean valleys, rivers and tropical forests separate travelers from Machu Picchu.

Patallaqta, “Town in the Heights”

Archaeological complex located at the foot of a mountain on the left bank of the Cusichaca River, a tributary of the Urubamba River. This place has a large number of platforms that probably served to feed other cities and “Tambos” (warehouses) of the Inca Trail. This urban sector has more than one hundred structures. In addition, it has an Inca altar called “Pulpituyoq”.

The first section from the beginning to the Miskay camp, where lunch is usually taken, takes only 1 hour and is mostly flat with slight ascents. After lunch we continue with a descent to a canyon and its subsequent ascent. Once out of the canyon and at the top of a hill you can see the ruins of the Llactapata citadel. The road continues with a descent to enter the Kusichaca river valley, from there the road continues a slight ascent to the Wayllabamba camp (last populated center), where it is reached after about 2 to 3 hours of walking from lunch. The camp is at an altitude of 3,000 meters and it is usually cold at night.

After dinner and before going to the sleeping bag, you can take advantage of the stargazing. On clear nights it is possible to see the Milky Way, some constellations, as well as the Orion belt, and if you are lucky, a shooting star.

Huayllabamba

Small indigenous town located on the slopes of a mountain and surrounded by fields of corn, potatoes, etc. On sunny days, you can see snow covering the summit of the Urubamba Mountain Range (Verónica). Many groups camp in this town the first night, because there is a public bath and there is plenty of water. In a nearby area, called Patawasi, there are Inca grandstands and some old buildings.

The Inca Trail: DAY 2 – Wayllabamba

Porters wake travelers up very early (around 6:00 am) to pack and have breakfast. This day is the most difficult, since you have to ascend 1,200 meters to the highest point of the entire path, the Warmiwañusca pass or “dead woman’s pass” at an altitude of 4200 m. This is the only point on the Inca Trail where symptoms of puna (or soroche) can occur. Because the ascent is gradual, possibly a good time has already been spent in Cuzco (3400 masl) and little time is spent at this point, it is unlikely to have problems. Anyway, it may be advisable to read the recommendations for altitude

Abra de Warmiwañusca “Where the Woman Dies”

This is the highest point of the Inca Trail. The walk is hard and tedious due to the constant ascent up a steep slope to the pass. Along the way you can see the change in the natural environment, which ranges from the reasonably mild temperature of the valleys to the barren grasslands of the cold puna. In this place the “ichu” is sown, which is found in the high areas of the pasture.

Before the Abra there is a camp called “Llullupampa”, which is located on a small plain surrounded by two streams with crystal clear waters. There is a public toilet here; It is also a place where many hikers rest before the last hike to arrive at the Warmiwañusca Pass. In the pass it is cold and very windy. It is advisable not to stop along the way in order to avoid altitude sickness or “altitude sickness”. From the pass, a descent begins that makes the walk more restful.

This steep ascent usually takes between 4 and 5 hours. Once in the Warmiwañusca Pass, the view is excellent. There is usually wind and temperatures are much lower than on the rest of the route, so it is advisable to have shelter at hand. This recommendation is especially relevant if a porter has been hired, because in that case the clothes could be far away. After passing the pass, we continue with a descent to the Paqaymayo camp. The descent takes about 2 hours. In Paqaymayo you have lunch and spend the night, so you have most of the afternoon to rest.

The Inca Trail: DAY 3 – Wiñay Wayna

The third day is the most interesting of the Inca Trail, as well as the longest. It begins with an ascent of an hour and a half to the Runcuracay pass, 3,950 meters high. On the way you visit an old Inca checkpoint, as well as a lagoon where it is possible to see deer drinking water on some occasions.

“Sayaqmarka,” Dominant People “

It is an interesting Inca ruin, located on a clifftop mountain, with a panoramic view of the Acobamba Valley and the top of Pumasillo covered in snow. This construction is made up of a labyrinth of very narrow passageways, some with exits and others not. The only access path to the building is by a steep but solid stone staircase on the edge of the mountain. The chasm on one side is covered with exotic plants, such as orchids and lichens. The whole environment is something to always remember.

During the walk, you pass by Conchamarka, a recently discovered small Archaeological Complex and the Chakicocha camp, which is a spacious flat place that has a public bathroom and water. Then, the path is ascending again, and where the first tunnel of the path is found, which is 20 m long, and in decline, with steps carved in the same rock. You continue ascending until you reach the third and last opening of the road, the Phuyupatamarca Pass.

Once the pass is over, the rest of the way is essentially downhill. On the way, four other ruins are visited, the first is Sayacmarca, which was in the time of the Incas a checkpoint for the roads that led to Machu Picchu. After visiting these ruins, we continue to Phuyupatamarca, where groups usually have lunch before visiting the ruins of the same name. From here the descent is quite steep as well as tiring for being mostly steps. Finally, you come to the ruins of Intipata, a complex of terraces and platforms built in the middle of the side of a mountain covered with thick vegetation. The path finally leads to the Wiñaywayna camp where you camp and take a shower. Once installed, you can visit the ruins of Wiñaywayna, similar to Intipata but even more impressive.

“Phuyupatamarka,” Town on the Clouds “

It is, without a doubt, one of the most original citadels on the Inca Trail. It is almost always cloudy in its surroundings by the Cloud Forest. It is located on the edge of a ravine that overlooks the Urubamba Valley. This town is characterized by the number of platforms and its ceremonial fountains with fresh water. At the top there is a square from where you can see, on sunny days, the beautiful landscape of the Urubamba valley, as well as the adjacent snow-capped mountains. In the lower part there are circular constructions that seem to follow the geographical shape of the land.

Near the Phuyupatamarca Pass, the road plunges downwards, descending through massive steps in the shape of a snail and passing through a second tunnel. Then, the road runs along relatively flat ledges following the course of the Urubamba River, until it reaches Wiñay Wayna.

The Inca Trail: DAY 4: The Gate of the Sun, Machu Picchu

It starts earlier than normal since at 5:30 am the groups begin the walk towards Machu Picchu. (It is important to bring a flashlight as it is still dark at that time and the path is narrow). We descend to the Huíñayhuayna terraces. Then, along 8 kilometers, a path is followed at the level of the jungle, which reaches Inti puncu or “Puerta del Sol” from where it is possible to see for the first time the majestic Inca citadel of Achu Picchu. From this point it only takes a half hour to reach the ruins. It is important to take the time to visit the archaeological remains and appreciate the environment. It is a pity that a large number of walkers, concerned about reaching Machu Picchu quickly, do not stop to see the impressive places on the route.

Wiñay Wayna

So it is called by the typical orchids that dress the place with their red, yellow and purple colors throughout the year. This is possibly the most attractive citadel on the Inca Trail and the last urban center before Machu Picchu. The place was built on the steep side of the mountain on the left bank of the Urubamba River. It has four main sectors: the Urban sector, which is located in the lower part with more than 20 buildings, the Ritual Fountains sector, the Terraces for sowing sector and the Tower sector. This building has the finest architecture of the complex, so it is supposed to be a religious or royalty place. We leave Wiñay Wayna very early in the morning, 4:15 am, to arrive at Intipunku or Puerta del Sol, to see the sunrise over the citadel of Machu Picchu. At this point the traveler can contemplate in amazement the majesty and grandeur of Machu Picchu, the Sacred City of the Incas, under the first rays of dawn sun.

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