Inca Trail Peru
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu consists of three overlapping trails, The 4 Day Inca Trail, 2 Day Inca Trail and Salkantay Trek. This last trail is from Mollepata is the longest of the three routes with the highest mountain pass and intersects with the Classic route before crossing Warmiwañusqa ("dead woman"). Located in Andes mountain range, the trail passes through several types of Andean environments including Cloud_forest, Alpine_tundra Settlements, tunnels, and many Incan ruins are located along the trail before ending the terminus at the Sun Gate on Machu Picchu mountain. The two longer routes require an ascent to beyond 4,200 metres (13,800ft) above sea level, which can result in altitude sickness. Concern about overuse leading to erosion has led the Peruvian government to place a limit on the number of people who may hike this trail per season, and to sharply limit the companies that can provide guides. As a result, advance booking is mandatory. A maximum of 500 people are allowed on the trail each day, of which only 200 are trekkers, the rest being guides and porters. As a result, the high season books out very quickly. The trail is closed every February for maintenance and cleaning by offical organisations.
4 Day Classic Inca Trail
Trekkers normally take four or five days to complete the "Classic Inca Trail" but a two day trek from Km 104 is also possible (Short Inca Trail). It starts from one of two points: 88 km (55 miles) or 82 km (51 miles) from Cusco on the Urubamba River at approximately 2,800 metres (9,200 ft) or 2,600 metres (8,500 ft) altitude, respectively. Both of these trail segments meet above the Inca ruins of Patallaqta (sometimes called Llaqtapata), a site used for religious and ceremonial functions, crop production, and housing for soldiers from the nearby hilltop site of Willkaraqay, an ancient pre-Inca site first inhabited around 500 BC. The trail undulates, but overall ascends along the Kusichaka River. At the small village Wayllapampa ("grassy plain", Wayllabamba) the trail intersects with the "Mollepata Trail" at 3,000 metres (9,800 ft). Small, permanent settlements are located adjacent to the trail, and Wayllapampa has approximately 400 inhabitants (130 families) spread along this portion of the trail. Pack animals—horses, mules, donkeys, and llamas—are allowed. At Wayllapampa the trail to Machu Picchu turns west and begins ascending along a tributary of the Kusichaka. Because of previous damage caused by hooves, pack animals are not allowed on the remainder of the trail. As the trail ascends toward Warmi Wañusqa, or "Dead Woman's Pass",it passes through differing habitats, one of which is a cloud forest containing Polylepis trees. The campsite at Llulluch'apampa (Llulluchapampa) is located on this stretch of trail at 3,800 metres (12,500 ft). The pass itself is located at 4,215 m (13,829 ft) above sea level, and is the highest point on the "Classic" trail. After crossing the pass the trail drops steeply into the Pakaymayu drainage. At a distance of 2.1km and 600m below the pass is the campground Pakaymayu.
The Tambo Runkuraqay
After passing Pakaymayu the trail begins steeply ascending the other side of the valley. One kilometre along the trail, at an altitude of 3,750 metres (12,300 ft) is the Incan Tampu Runkuraqay, ruins which overlook the valley. The site was heavily restored in the late 1990s. The trail continues to ascend, passing a small lake named Quchapata (Cochapata) in an area that is recognized as deer habitat. This site had been used as a camp site. As with other sites that were being degraded due to overuse, camping is no longer allowed. The trail reaches the pass at an altitude of 3950m. The trail continues through high cloud forest, undulating, sometimes steeply while affording increasingly dramatic viewpoints of mountains and dropoffs. Next, the Sayaqmarka ("steep-place town") is reached followed by the tampu Qunchamarka. A long Inca tunnel and a viewpoint overlooking two valleys: the Urubamba and Aobamba (a broken word), are passed.
Phuyupatamarka ruins
Another high point at altitude of 3650 m is crossed, followed by a campground, and then after a short descent, a site with extensive ruins. The name Phuyupatamarka ("cloud-level town") is applied to both the campground, and the ruins. Hiram Bingham III discovered the site, but left most of it covered with vegetation. The Fejos team named the site, and uncovered the remainder. Design of the site closely follows the natural contours, and includes five fountains and an altar, which was probably used for llama sacrifice. The trail then descends approximately 1000 metres including an irregular staircase of approximately 1500 steps, some of which were carved into solid granite. Vegetation becomes more dense, lush, and "jungle" like with an accompanying increase in butterflies and birds. A second Incan tunnel is along this section of trail.Intipata
Even before passing through the tunnel there are views down to the Willkanuta River, the first since leaving the river at Patallaqta. The number of these views increases. After the tunnel, the small town near Machu Picchu Ruins(Aguas Calientes) can be seen, and trains running along the river can be heard. As the trail nears Intipata, it affords views of the "Two Day" Inca Trail (aka "Camino Real de los Inkas" or "One Day Inca Trail"). A small spur of the trail leads directly to Wiñay Wayna, while the main route continues to Intipata. Intipata is a recently uncovered extensive set of agricultural terraces which follow the convex shape of the terrain. Potatoes, maize, fruit, and sweet potato were grown here.Wiñay Wayna
whose name means forever young, is used to refer to both a hostel–restaurant–camp site and a set of Inca ruins. Two groups of major architectural structures, a lower and upper, are set among multiple agricultural terraces at this concave mountainside site. A long flight of fountains or ritual baths utilizing as many as 19 springs runs between the two groups of buildings. From Wiñay Wayna the trail undulates along below the crest of the east slope of the mountain named Machu Picchu. The steep stairs leading to Inti Punku ("sun gate") are reached after approximately 3 km. Reaching the crest of this ridge reveals the grandeur of the ruins of Machu Picchu, which lie below. A short downhill walk is the final section of the trail.
Best Time To Travel
Most visitors do not come to the country just for Machu Picchu, but combine the visit with a longer vacation in Peru or a tour of several South American countries. However, the climatic conditions on site must be taken into account, because depending on the season, the climate and the vegetation of Machu Picchu are presented in a different light. The Inca city is said to be at its most beautiful between the end of March and mid-May. The city is also in full splendor from the beginning of October to the end of November. The climate is then particularly pleasant and the vegetation blooms at these times - from green Andean meadows to colorful orchids.
The trip to Machu Picchu can then be combined with a round trip through the coastal desert or to Lake Titicaca. Overall, the rain risk between May and September in Machu Picchu is only 20 percent and is therefore the lowest.
On the other hand, the worst travel time is January and February, when the rainy season prevails and the journey can be difficult. In addition, the risk of rain increases to 80 percent and fog can obscure the view over the city. Depending on your individual taste, this can also be a fascinating spectacle. At best, you also avoid the Peruvian vacations or public holidays, because then it can get comparatively crowded in Machu Picchu and the tickets are booked out early.
Machu Picchu Hike
During you visit Machu Picchu you can choose between different tours. These range from a full-day excursion to Inca Trail tours through the Urubamba Valley of the Cusco region. On the one-day trip, you travel by train and make your way from Aguas Calientes to the paths that lead you through Machu Picchu. The multi-day tours can be combined with climbing the mountains Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu, but you can also walk along the Urubamba River, follow in the footsteps of the Inca Trail on their original paths, visit other archaeological sites such as Wiñay Huayna and you can combine with the Laguna Humantay marvel at a lake shimmering in deep turquoise between the over 5,000 meter high and snow-capped mountains, the second option is the Rainbow Mountain. In case the Inca Trail is sold out, you can choose the alternative hike, the most popular hike is the Salkantay Trek or Lares Trek. There are no limits to your thirst for adventure around Machu Picchu!
Machu Picchu Tickets 2022
Since millions of visitors come to Machu Picchu every year, the Peruvian Ministry of Tourism has set an upper limit of two million people who are allowed to visit the ruined city, i.e. a maximum of 6,000 people per day. This number was identified by a study as the maximum resilience. UNESCO even calls for a reduction to just 800 people a day in order to remain recognized as a World Heritage Site. The reason for this is that nature suffers from the lively visit, after all Machu Picchu with the surrounding mountain ranges and cloud forests comprises 22 percent of the entire flora of Peru and ten percent of the animal life. Around 400 bird, 300 butterfly and 19 reptile species are at home here. Since 2019, visitors have therefore only been allowed to Machu Picchu between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m., with a maximum length of stay and a limit on the number of visitors. So it is only allowed to stay in Machu Picchu for four hours. It is important that you buy your ticket before you arrive and have your passport with you, otherwise you will be refused entry, so it is best to prepare a little for your trip to Machu Picchu.
You can buy the Machu Picchu tickets for the visit to the Inca City online. You have the choice between four different types of tickets, either only for Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu Tickets, the Machu Picchu mountain or Huchuy Picchu tickets. The purchase is recommended as early as possible and saves you annoying queues. However, Machu Picchu may only be entered with a licensed guide and a maximum group size of 10 people. Strict admission times and a maximum stay of six hours also apply to the ascent to the summit as part of the combination tickets.
How to get by train to Machu Picchu?
If you don´t want to walk to the Inca Trail or alternative hike to Machu Picchu. I recommend the Machu Picchu by train.
There are neither roads into the city of the Incas nor an airport nearby. The only way to visit the Inca City is therefore by rail. To do this, you go to Cusco, the former Inca capital, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is therefore worth a trip anyway. If you want to continue from Cusco to Machu Picchu, you can take the narrow-gauge railway to Aguas Calientes, the so-called Ferrocarril del Sur. The train journey to Aguas Calientes takes around 3.5 hours. This time flies by quickly, however, as the train chugs along a spectacular route through the grandiose mountainous world of the Andes. By European standards, this is a really breathtaking route. On the 100-kilometer journey through the Urubamba Valley, you will also experience a lot of wild nature and see colorful birds and cheeky monkeys. When you arrive in Aguas Calientes, you either take a shuttle bus or you climb the last few meters on your own. This means some effort for you, but it will be rewarded by the breathtaking nature of the Peruvian Andes. Nevertheless, only experienced hikers who are used to the corresponding heights should decide to climb on foot.
Machu picchu tours from Lima: You can take the early flight to Cusco and from there you can go to the train station and cacth the train to Machu Picchu. the minimun 2 day, if you would like to do this trip