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Enjoy Your Trip Before You Arrive
Machu Picchu is a breathtaking wonder to behold, sure, but between that ancient citadel and where you stand is an entire world of adventure. Especially if you’re arriving from outside of Peru, there is a great deal of wonderful experiences along the way. Don’t get so hung up on the destination that you forget to enjoy the journey.
The last leg of your journey to Machu Picchu may involve hiking the Inca Trail. It’s not the only path to Machu Picchu, but it is one of the most popular ones.
For this reason, please be sure to contact TOUR IN PERU well in advance to book your place in Machu Picchu and on the Inca trail.
The Journey in a Nutshell: Overview
There’s a wide path that passes through the Sacred Valley, and this is where the trail starts alongside the beautiful Urubamba River. It meanders through trees and scrub brush and slowly gains altitude.
Before you know it, you’re above the tree line. This is where it’s worth noting that acclimating yourself to higher altitudes will pay off.
You go past Dead Woman’s Pass and come to the other side that drops 600 meters. Down below is a beautiful stone pathway that cuts through the valley.
Another 400 meter climb awaits before dropping into another valley that feels like a rich, dense jungle. You will sight ruins besides the glory of nature here.
From this point, you get a break from all the climbing with a great deal of descending. The amount of jungle-like landscape might explain why Machu Picchu was so well-hidden for so long. But don’t fret. The Sun Gate is getting close!
Upon arrival, you’ve been primed by the wilderness for the revelation of the citadel. The size of the place is breathtaking. The hike described lasts four days, so this description is merely a gloss. Contacting TOUR IN PERU can allow you to experience the whole thing for yourself.
A four-day hike calls for some preparation. Here are some good tips for making sure that your hike along the Inca Trail is an enjoyable one.
Inca Trail Tips
- Be an early bird: If you can arrive in Cusco 3-5 days before your hike, you can get used to the high altitude.
- Break in your boots: Buy your boots a couple of months in advance to get them properly broken in. You don’t want to spend your hike thinking about your feet.
- Remember sunscreen and insect repellent: There’s plenty of hungry mosquitoes along the trail, and a sunburnt mosquito bite isn’t a travel memory worth having.
- Practice walking long distances at home: A four-day hike will call for extra stamina. You can help yourself a lot by taking up walking at home. Don’t train for a marathon. Just get used to a long stroll.
- Bring snacks: It will be a huge mood and energy boost when you reach challenging parts of the trail.
- Bring extra batteries: Or at least an external power source for your phone. Our phones are our cameras these days, so you’ll want to be able to take pictures.
- Consider hiking the Salkantay: It’s more affordable, it generally has fewer hikers, and the views are just as amazing. Depending on who you ask, some say it’s even more beautiful than the Inca Trail. But we’ll let you decide that.
- Bring toilet money: There’s only a few bathrooms along the way and lightening your load will cost a few soles.
Chew coca leaves: It’s the local remedy for sickness due to the altitude. It’s available as a gum also.
Does this post whip up your appetite for adventure? Contact TOUR IN PERU to move towards making it a reality!
