Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Tours over the mountains, on a path of landscapes of indescribable Andean beauty that runs, throughout the days that this adventure lasts, archaeological centers that can only be reached by it; that’s the Inca Trail. With a controlled capacity of visitors, per month and per year, there is no visitor who does not want to visit it.
Machu Picchu was communicated with the city of Cusco and with the rest of the Inca empire through roads of excellent structure, with ergonomic design, they were built in strict harmony with the natural environment and have great aesthetics in their construction. Many of the paths are ledges on the edge of the abyss and are surrounded by beautiful landscapes with lush and varied vegetation. In some sections the path is carved directly into the rock. The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is considered one of the most spectacular trekking routes on the planet and is the best known of the Inca trails.
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Tours has been divided into several routes and several sections, most of them start from: Km 82, and Km 104 of the Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Machu Picchu Pueblo railway route.
The most important sections of the Inca trail run through slopes, peaks and banks of the Vilcanota river basin.
What is the Inca Trail and what is its history?
The Inca Trail is one of the oldest pilgrimages and one of the 10 most beautiful walks in the world. To date, scientists do not agree on the role of Machu Picchu. Some say it was a defense fortress of the Inca Empire, while other scientists assume it was a refuge for the kings. What we do know for sure is that the Inca Trail leads to the city of Machu Picchu, built around 1440. Today, the Inca Trail is one of the most popular treks in the world, at least the most popular in Peru. Every year Machu Picchu attracts about 400,000 tourists. Each day a maximum of 2,500 people can enter Machu Picchu, of which a total of 500 are authorized to walk the classic Inca Trail. These 500 are divided into 200 tourists who walk the Inca Trail with the support of 300 porters.
Can you do the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Tours by yourself?
First of all, let’s get rid of this question. No it can not be done. The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Tours can only be traveled on foot and with an authorized guide who knows the way. To be able to do the Inca Trail, a permit granted by the Ministry of Culture of Peru and the accompaniment of a professional guide is necessary. The archaeological site of Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail are two treasures of Peru and they take great pains to preserve it in the best possible way, that is why they do not allow tourists to go unaccompanied along the routes.
Inca Trail Permits
Inca Trail Permits will be available in October. However, trekking companies are already making reservations. If you want to do the Inca Trail in 2020, you can reserve a date of your preference and inform your trekking company about a second option. Trekking companies will always try to get the permits for the preferred date, but as there are only a limited number of permits available, it is good to have a second option in mind. There are 500 Inca Trail Permits available per day. Because this number is divided between tourists and staff (guides, porters, and cooks), there are only 200 Inca Trail Permits available for tourists, as the other 300 are for staff. There is a shortage of permits especially in the months of May to September. As summer approaches in the northern hemisphere, thousands of people prepare to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
Are you one of them or do you prefer the short Inca Trail? For the short Inca Trail (two days), there are 250 permits available per day.
Itinerary:
The following itinerary of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4 days hike is the most classic. In 4 days and 3 nights, you can get to Machu Picchu, following the most beautiful path that exists, crossing the dead woman’s pass and passing through Inti Punku, known as the door of the sun.
It includes:
- Information Talk: One day before the start of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4 days hike we give you an information talk about this walk.
- Pick up from your hotel: We pick you up from your hotel in Cusco (If you are located in a place where our mobility cannot reach, our guide will go to your hotel and take you to where our mobility is).
- Transportation: Transportation for our group from Cusco to Piscacuchu (Km 82) (2 and a half hours), this will be a private car only for our passengers and support staff.
- Camping Equipment: 4 Seasons Tents. Dining and kitchen tents, tables, chairs and inflatable mats.
- Food: 03 Breakfasts, 03 Lunches, 03 Dinners + Coca tea every morning in the camps (Vegetarian and vegan options at no additional cost)
- Professional Tour Guide: All our guide staff speak English.
- First Aid Kit: Our guides carry basic medication with an oxygen bottle as a precaution.
- Support Personnel: Auxiliary Guide when we go more than 12 people, Cook and Assistant.
- Porters: They are people who carry the Camping Equipment and food supplements.
- Admission Ticket to the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu: We reserve and have ready the income for this important trek, this will also serve to enter Machu Picchu.
- Return Train Tickets: From Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
- Return Transportation: From Ollantaytambo to Cusco.
- Taxes: All taxes are included.
Does not include:
- Entrance to the Mountain of Waynapicchu: This is an extra 2 and a half hour hike from the citadel of Machu Picchu. This has an extra cost of US $ 70.00.
- Entrance to the Machu Picchu Mountain: This is an extra 3 and a half hour hike from the Machu Picchu citadel. This has an extra cost of US $ 70.00.
- Bus ticket to descend from Machupicchu to Aguas Calientes: The whole group is walking. If you want to take one, you can buy your ticket there (US $ 12.00).
- Sleeping Bag: US $ 20 Rent for the entire tour.
- Walking sticks: US $ 20 Rent for one pair.
- Food not mentioned: First breakfast, last Lunch and special snacks.
- Travel insurance.
- Tipping: They are very well received.
