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Located in the department of Cusco, the Inca Trail to Machu
Picchu is Peru's most popular trekking route and possibly
one of the most spectacular walks in the Americas. This Inca
Trail forms part of the more than 23,000 km of roads built
by the Incas across South America. Each year, some 25,000
hikers from all over the world walk the 43 km stone-paved
trail, built by the Incas to get to the impregnable citadel
of Machu Picchu, deep in the Cusco cloud forest.
The Inca Trail sets out from Qorihuayrachina, at Kilometer
88 of the Cusco-Quillabamba railway, and takes three to four
days of tough hiking. The Inca Trail route runs through an
impressive range of altitudes, where climates and eco-systems
range from the high Andean plain down to the cloud forests.
The Inca Trail climbs up through two highland passes (the
higher of the two, Warmiwañuska, lies at 4,200 masl)
before reaching Machu Picchu through the Inti Punku or Gateway
of the Sun. One of the attractions of the Inca Trail to Machu
Picchu is that it winds past carved granite Inca settlements
(Wiñay Wayna, Phuyupatamarca), and is surrounded by
breath-taking natural scenery.
The forests abound in hundreds of species of orchids, brightly-colored
birds and dream-like landscapes, the ideal complement to this
indispensable hikers' route.
Climate in Cusco and Machu Picchu:
Rainy during summer in the Southern Hemisphere (December-March).
Sunny from May-September. Maximum temperatures reach 27°
C, but rarely drop below 11° C.
Access to the Inca Trail: The
route starts out at Kilometer 88 of the railway. Organized
groups set out from Chilca at Kilometer 76 of the same route.
Services: Many tour operators
sell all-in package deals for the Inca Trail Trek. For those
wishing to organize their own trip, porters from the communities
of Chillca and Wayllabamba charge reasonable rates for carrying
luggage.
Hikers will need to carry drinking water and food, in addition
to full camping equipment. |
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