the inca trail to machu picchu is one of the most important treks in the world!

1. The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, from a tour guide perspective
Through at times crowded, the hike to Machu Picchu is an unforgettable experience, a selfchallenge trip as a pilgrimage to the incas academic religious city (Machu Picchu). There are a lot
of ways to do this hike. The most important and famous one is the 4 days with a tour operator
company or just a guiding service. The inca trail is in the Machu Picchu Sanctuary park
administered by the Ministry of Culture.
The reservation for this trek should be made at least one month in advance for the low season
(November, December, January, March and April), and 04 month in advance for: (May, June , July,
August and September). Its mandatory to book under a tour operator company or a guide with
permit to, this ensures that everyone is safe and keep clean trail, also you should know that there
is same rules for: short Inca trail or 02 days Inca trail, Salkantay trek connecting to the traditional
inca trail of 06 or 07 days.
Day 01: The traditional inca trail starts in cusco city with the usual Pick from every participants
hotel, some companies depart at 04.30 and the latest ones are departing at 07:00 hours, the bus
ride takes about 2.5 hours’ drive north west of Cusco, at the KM 82 passport must be shown to the
controllers, from the beginning to end the trail is fantastic. From the control you pass Willcamayu
(Holly River, Milky Way), on the trail you will be amazed by the numerous amount and beauty of
the inca sites such as: WillcaRaccay (Holly Enclosure), a numerous dwellings that once hosted
probably the inca army, from this site at about one kilometer distance you see Llactapata (up
town or town on the terraces), impressive own that has a urban design with streets, a plaza right
in the middle and main trails leading on stairways that connect from each valley direction. From
here to the 1st camp there about 2.5 hours walk, the camp is located at Wayllabamba, a little
settlement at 3.000 meter above sea level. A moderate hard trail is expected for this first day in its
10 Kilometers of walk.
The second day starts with dogs barking, always a good breakfast wait, you must eat double
portion if possible because you will need extra energy to end up the day. WarmyWañusca Pass
(Dead woman’s pass), Is the highest point in the Inca trail, and it stays at 7,215 meter above sea
level, from bottom to top the until is he end of the day the trail is all stairs, along the way there is
opportunity to sea same deer’s, goads, Andean foxes and very lucky some condors, from the
summit to the bottom well preserved trail takes to Pacasmayu(hidden river) which is the coldest
campsite at 3650 meter above sea level. The trail is only about 09 kilometers, considered as the
hardest section in incatrail.
The 03:This Day is be considered as the most scenic , and will show more inca buildings, before the
second pass there is Runcuracay (Rounded Enclosure), a unique and lonely building along the
train, non for sure can say what this was, but the building is fantastic like in dream just right on the
cloud forest, from the second pass at distance you can see incredible mountains and valleys, on
the way down just before cloud forest you will find a little Inca village named SayacMarca
(standing up town), from here the trail is more gentle leading to the usual lunch spot
Chaquicocha(dry lagoon), from where the trail is even more impressive, it lead in to a tunnel an

2. obligatory stop for photos, after photos and enjoying orchids you arrive to PhuyupataMarca (Town
on the clouds), in my opinion the camp at phuyupatamarca is the best , it´s just scenic, but if you
are doing the inca trail in 04 days you should walk down to WiñayHuayna Camp, from
Phuyu_Patamarka to Wiñay_Huayna the trail is about 01 kilometer vertical descent, and the total
distance of this day is about 16 kilometers. After hard downhill the camp area temperature is the
award, if arriving early there is possibility to visit one of the nicest inca building on the trail
(Wiñayhuayna).
Day 04: Early wake up, a quick breakfast and about one hour waiting is the previous for machu
picchu, the remaining 06 kilometers are a sort of warm-up section, everyone is excited to arrive
the gate of sun and see machu picchu, this is a celebration point, same people will shout, other
will smile and the most romantics will cry, does not matter how you react when you see machu
picchu, the point is that finally you can see your goal done. Well there is still about 45 minutes
gentle down to arrive to the terraces on machu picchu from where you can take photos and check
out the Inca Trail In order to enter to the citadel and visit all sectors of machu picchu. In the
afternoon depending you train schedule you may arrive Cusco at 18:00 hours or later.
It is juts hard to describe the magnificent of the trail with single words, As a guide I have done it
many times, and I always enjoy it. What I advise people coming to Peru is planning to hike the inca
trail is to make the booking on advance, if you already have your booking go in to training hikes, if
you are prepared for the inca trail you will enjoy it as I do, Other ways it is going to be a painful
experience. Do never arrive cusco and immediately start the trek, go for day hikes and training
treks in nearby Cusco, that will help you.
By: B Wilbert
“Native Peruvian Tour Guide”