Cusco Inca Trail

Cusco: routes of the Inca Trail and what you should know about Machu Picchu and its surroundings.

We reopened the accesses to our wonder and therefore we offer a wide range of practical tips that will help you to better plan your next foray into these beautiful Andean landscapes.

Raúl Alarcón

In its moment of maximum splendor, the Inca Empire extended its power over several countries in the region and therefore established a gigantic network of roads known as Qhapac Ñan (royal road or the Inca, in Quechua), which came to unite Quito (Ecuador ) with Tucumán (Argentina) through the Cordillera de los Andes. Our Inca Trail is just a small part of this wide circuit, which stands out for its incredible landscapes, important archaeological complexes, as well as for its great diversity of flora and fauna.

Ancestral Routes

The Inca Trail has different routes. The most requested is the 45 km (most operators do it in 4 days / 3 nights) that starts in Piscacucho (km 82), near Ollantaytambo, which is reached by train or bus. From this point begins the walk through the creek of the Cusichaca River to the heights of the town of Huayllambamba. Then climb up to the Huarmihuañusca pass (at 4,200 masl), considered the highest point of the entire road. In this section we also visit the circular ruins of Runkuracay, as well as an impressive Inca tunnel carved in rock to a pass where you can see snowy mountains such as Salkantay and Veronica until you reach Puyupatamarca (city of clouds), the Inca ruin most impressive of the journey. Finally, you will go through a cloud forest with a diversity of flora and fauna until you reach the 50 steps that lead to the Intipunku (gateway to the sun or entrance to Machu Picchu).
 

For those who have less time, there is a stretch of 2 days and a night known as the Camino Real de los Incas, which starts at km 104 (Chachabamba) and consists of a four-hour walk to Wiñay Wayna (2,700 meters above sea level). ) to then pass through the cloud forest before entering Machu Picchu.
 

Another route demanded by visitors is the one that starts at Qoriwayrachina (km 88), as well as the one that starts at Salkantay.

Practical Tips

Because only 500 people per day are allowed to enter, it is advisable to make a reservation 4 or 5 months in advance with an authorized agency. Also visit the web www.machupicchu.gob.pe to know the availability day by day.
 

The ideal month to travel the Inca Trail is May, since there is little rain and the vegetation is exuberant.
 

Although the Inca Trail is considered to be a moderate difficulty trek, there are routes that exceed 4,000 m.s., so it is important to take into account a previous acclimatization. ^{FUENTE EL COMERCIO}