Walking the Inca Trail – the route to Machu Picchu.

The Inca Trail The ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu is 2,430 metres above sea-level and located in a tropical mountain forest, within the Peruvian Andes. With giant walls, terraces and ramps that seem to have been cut naturally in the continuous rock, it is thought that this represented the Inca civilisation at the height of its power, a city favoured by the rich of the Inca civilisation.

The Inca Trail actually refers to the entire network of paths, roads and trails that were built by the Incas along the west side of South America. The most popular part today is the stretch that leads up to Machu Picchu from Kilometre 88 (or Km 88) on the Peru section.

This stretch of the trail is approximately 33 kilometres long, rising to about 13,700 feet above sea level at the highest point, but the nearest civilisation is in the city of Cusco.

A trek should take you four days and guides or tours can be arranged from Cusco (or in advance before you travel) to include tent, meals and return travel. Due to the height you will climb, a basic level of fitness is required and acclimatisation for a few days in Cusco is recommended if you are arriving straight from a sea level location. If you are not up to carrying your equipment then a porter can be hired to carry it for you.

Throughout the four days you will pass a number of Inca ruins, including Llactapata and climb to nearly 4,300 metres above sea level before you reach Machu Picchu. The ruins, rediscovered in 1911, are actually located at less than 8000 feet above sea level, and contain a large palace and other temples around a central courtyard.

Approximately 400,000 visitors travel the Inca Trail to the ‘Lost City of the Incas’ each year, making this one of the World’s ‘Great Treks’.