The Inca Trail wasn’t just meant to be a path to Machu Picchu. It was also meant to be a spiritual experience. If you’ve ever walked it for yourself, then you know why. If you haven’t walked it yet, well, it might be time to get in touch with TOUR IN PERU to book your place on one of the world’s most iconic tracks.
Before you start looking for your passport, take a minute to digest these fascinating facts about the Inca Trail.
1. It’s frequently stated that Inca Trail permits are limited to 500 per day. But what isn’t as widely known is that 300 of those permits are used by cooks, guides, and porters. So that leaves only 200 permits for tourists. The window into getting onto the Inca Trail is even narrower than most people believe.
2. The highest point on the Inca Trail is Dead Woman’s Pass. It stands at 4,215 m. It’s easy to get the impression that the name comes from some tragic story of someone that didn’t quite make it to where they were going.. But it’s nothing so dramatic. The outline of the mountains at one point resembles a woman lying on her back.
3. The Inca Trail is actually part of a network of Inca roads that link the entire empire to Cusco. The entire network makes up about 45,000 km.
4. If you’re thinking about booking your hike on the Inca Trail for next month, you’ll need to consider that you’ll have to purchase your permit 8 months in advance. The popularity of the trail and pandemic-related regulations keep the process slow.
5. Sure, you’ll rub shoulders with people along the Inca Trail, but you might also find yourself sharing space with llamas. They stand up to 1.8 m tall when fully grown and there are places they can be found grazing along your hike. They won’t hurt you, but they might pay you a visit in your tent if you don’t zip it up properly.
6. The day that Inca Trail permits go on sale are usually announced in advance. Take note of these dates because they sell out quickly, sometimes within days.
7. The classic Inca Trail starts from kilometer marker 82 and is 43 km, or 26 miles long.
8. The trail takes you through a variety of landscapes that sometimes feel like different worlds. Verdant, lush rainforest, open meadows, and mist-shrouded cloud forest.
9. The crown jewel of the Inca Trail is arriving at The Sun Gate and getting a view of Machu Picchu from a distance while perched on the spur of a mountain.
10. The last campsite on the classic Inca Trail has a name that is roughly translated as “cloud level town.” Waking up bright and early will reveal why.
TOUR IN PERU can get you on to the Inca Trail, but the sooner you’re able to get affairs in order, the better. Find out when Inca Trail permits go on sale and go through the process as early as possible — Early in the day on the day that they go on sale if you can.
Take care that your passport is valid for at least another 6 months beyond the end of your stay in Peru.
Devote some time to light exercise so when it comes time for the trek, you will be able to enjoy it rather than endure it.
If you need to make travel arrangements sooner than 8 months in advance, you can have a look at some of the other travel packages that TOUR IN PERU offers.
