Hike the Best: The Inca Trail

The Inca Trail is one of the most famous treks in the world. Created by the Incas during the peak of their empire, the maze of trails ran all the way from Ecuador down to Santiago Chile. It consists of nearly 24,900 miles of trails, so there are really many "Inca Trail treks." However, what most people think of when they think of the Inca Trail is the four day span that starts in the Sacred Valley and ends at Machu Picchu.

The portion of the Inca Trail that leads to Machu Picchu was part of the trail reserved only for spiritual leaders and Inca elite. They were the only ones allowed to walk on it, and only did so during spiritual journeys and pilgrimages. This four day adventure is the highlight of many people's trips to Peru. There is also a two day option that follows the same path, but requires less time and effort.

Only people with official guides are allowed to hike the Inca Trail. It starts in the Sacred Valley town of Ollantaytambo and winds through valleys and past scenic farmland before heading uphill to a peak at 4,200 feet above sea level, called Dead Woman's Pass.

Preparing ahead of time for the Inca Trail is very important. The trail often sells out months in advance and visitors need to be aware of seasonal differences between the dry and the rainy season. The dry season lasts June to August and is the coldest and driest time of year. This is the peak season usually because it corresponds with summer holidays in the northern hemisphere. The wet season goes from November to March. You can expect the path to be muddy and for it to be raining during these months. The trail is actually closed in February. Perhaps the best time to visit is in the seasons between these two extremes, such as during October or May.

When you hike the Inca Trail, you'll be anticipating the finale at Machu Picchu, but you will also see many Inca ruins along the way. Patallacta is a complex hikers see on their first day. Runkurakay is a circular complex seen on the third day of the standard trek and is special because circular designs were not common in Inca architecture. Sayacmarca is a very impressive site and is also called the Inaccessible Town because it is surrounded by steep drop offs.

This article about the Inca Trail was written by a Peru travel expert at Peru For Less, specializing in Machu Picchu tours.

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