With these facts about the Inca Trail you will have a quick overview of what you should know about one of the most famous and amazing pre-Hispanic trekking routes in the world. Discover 10 quick facts about the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu with Auri in the following post.
Here are 10 facts about Inca Trail you must know:
What is the Inca Trail?
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is one of the most beautiful and best-preserved sections of what was the great pre-Hispanic road network of the Qhapac Ñan. The most popular version of this Inca Trail is the so-called Classic Inca Trail. The route includes a tour of 4 days and 3 nights. There is also a version of 5 days and 4 nights and another much shorter version of 2 days and one night.
On the other hand, there are alternative routes that connect them with the Inca Trail. For example, the one that crosses the slopes of the snowy Salkantay, the one from Cacchicata (Inca Quarry), the one that comes from Lares, all of them connecting the Andes of the area.
Another fact about Inca Trail that you should know is that it is one of the most famous treks in the world. It is widely mentioned in prestigious magazines such as National Geographic or lovely planet. It is also one of the most popular and sought after treks in virtual travel platforms and travel agencies.
Where is the Inca Trail?
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is located between the Peruvian Andes and the rainforest area of the Cusco region in Peru. Inca trail is exactly located between kilometers 82 and 110 of the Cusco – Machu Picchu railway and within the district of Urubamba. The Inca Trail is located on the right bank of the Urubamba River, in the Vilcanota mountain range. Its route ends at the Inca citadel or llacta of Machu Picchu, within the protected area called Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary.
Where does the Inca Trail start?
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu begins at kilometer 82 of the Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes railway. In this place is the community of Piscacucho. This small village is located in the district of Ollantaytambo, within the province of Urubamba in the Cusco region.
Piscacucho is about 2 hours and 40 minutes from the city of Cusco. Piscacucho has wonderful Andean landscapes and snow-capped mountains nearby. This community is located on the right bank of the Urubamba River.
At what altitude is the Inca Trail?
Piscacucho, the starting point of the Inca Trail, is at an altitude of 2729 meters above sea level (8953 feet). The highest point of the trail is at 4200 meters above sea level (13779 feet), at the Warmiwañusca mountain pass. The Inca Trail ends at 2430 meters altitude (7972 feet) at Machu Picchu.
So, the Inca Trail has very variable altitudes with a minimum altitude of 2400 meters (7972 feet) and a maximum altitude of 4200 meters (13779 feet).
Where does the Inca Trail end?
After two, four or five days of trekking, the Inca Trail ends at the sacred llacta or Inca city of Machu Picchu at 2430m/7972f in the Peruvian rainforest zone. Machu Picchu can be seen from the place called Intipunku.
How can I know the Inca Trail availability?
Since 2000 the Inca Trail has been regulated by Peruvian authorities. This has brought many benefits to the Inca Trail, clean trails and marked campsites. However, in this order, it has also limited the amount of people on the Inca Trail to avoid negative impacts. Currently only 500 people are allowed on the trail each day, including hikers, guides, porters and cooks.
You can check the availability of the Inca Trail at the following link:
If your date is not available, you can venture to explore other wonderful treks to Machu Picchu, excellent alternatives that thousands of travelers certify as ideal trips to reach the Inca llacta of Machu Picchu.
- SHORT INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU
- HUCHUY QOSQO TREK
- LARES TREK TO MACHU PICCHU
- SALKANTAY TREK TO MACHU PICCHU
Do I need to book the Inca Trail in advance?
Permits for the Inca Trail are very limited, there are only 500 entries per day. Of these 500 spaces, more than half (300) are for cooks, porters and guides. This fact limits the number of spaces on the Inca Trail and means that visitor reservations must be made many months in advance.
If you want to secure a place, we recommend that you do so at least six months in advance and if you come during the high season in Cusco, from May to October, you should make your reservation more than 8 months in advance.
How long is the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu?
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is 33 kilometers/21 miles long and runs through beautiful cobblestone roads, cobblestone stairways, beautiful natural landscapes, great biological diversity of flora and fauna, Inca archaeological sites and a series of different Inca archaeological units. This distance is divided into the number of days to hike the Inca Trail, either the classic four-day version or the five-day version.
When to do the Inca trail best time?
The best season or time to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is during the dry season, between the months of April to October. These months are recommended because the presence of rain in the Cusco region is minimal. However, nothing prevents you from making the trek between December and January, in these months the mountains are brimming with intense green and the vegetation is full of life showing the Inca Trail painted in more intense shades of green.
Other facts about Inca Trail you should know are the following: during the dry season, the Cusco sky is a spectacular light blue and the days are sunny. It is necessary to protect yourself from the sun by using hats and sunscreen. However, in the mornings and evenings, it feels intensely cold; it is necessary to wear appropriate clothing to adapt to the cold of Cusco.
We must mention that during February, one of the rainiest months, the Inca Trail is closed. March and November are transition months between Cusco’s two seasons (dry and rainy).
Otherwise, the dry season is the best time to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
What is the maximum altitude of the Inca Trail?
The maximum altitude will depend a lot on the type of trek you hire, as there are 2, 4, 5 trek.
- In the 02 Days Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu trek, the maximum altitude is 2730 m.a.s.l/8956 ft. The level of activity for this trek is easy and can be done privately or in groups.
- In the 04 Days Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu trek, the maximum altitude is 4200m.a.s.l/13 779 ft. The level of activity for this trek is moderate and can also be done privately or in groups.
- The maximum altitude on the 05 Days Inca Trail to Machu Picchu trek is 4200m.a.s.l/13779 ft. The level of activity for this route is moderate.
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