inca trail highest point

For more information on altitude sickness, the symptoms, and how to deal with them in Peru, read this post. Note that its often necessary to pay a deposit in advance to secure your Inca Trail permit, so if you go with a new, non-established, or cheaper provider, make sure you have done enough research into them before paying anything. The first pass is Runquraqay at 3,950m (13,113 ft) where, on a clear day, hikers can catch a glimpse of the snow-capped Cordillera Vilcabamba. It is customary on the last night of the trek to tip the trekking team (guides, porters, chef) as a thank you for their terrific service and support. Given our own independent travel plans, we had actually spent the previous week in Cusco and the surrounding region - for everyone planning on the Inca Trail, wed recommend arriving into Cusco at least two days before your tour starts so that you can acclimatise to the altitude (its at 3,339 metres above sea level) and enjoy what the city has to offer without aching limbs. Your campsite is located just a few minutes from this archaeological site, famed for its steep and towering agricultural terraces that overlook the Urubamba River. Everything You Need To Know Before Hiking the Inca Trail, 13 Wonderful Things To Do in Drake Bay | The Wild Side of Costa Rica, this highly rated four-day Inca Trail tour, these excellent lightweight travel hiking poles in the UK, three-week overland trip in Africa with G Adventures, these excellent lightweight sleeping bags. There are no ATMs along the Inca Trail. Cusco, in the south-east of Peru, thankfully doubles up as one of the countrys most popular destinations due to its history and position as an access point to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, so every Peru itinerary is guaranteed to include at least a few nights here. The maximum trekking group size generally varies between 8 to 12 trekkers plus the trekking team. However, you also need to have a small daypack to carry your snacks, camera, water, suncream, and any medication, on the Trail itself - this will be carried by you and only you throughout the trip. Pictures just dont do it justice. Peru has two seasons - dry and wet - and it is possible to do the Inca Trail in either. The highest point on the Inca Trail is Dead Woman's Pass. All companies operating the Inca Trail must be registered and have a special operators license, which is renewed annually. full details on whats included in G Adventures Inca Trail Tour here, 11 Things To Know Before You Visit Rainbow Mountain in Peru, 13 Wonderful Things To Do in Cusco | The Gateway to the Sacred Valley, A Guide to Visiting to Pisac, Peru | The Ruins + Market, The Boleto Turistico | Everything You Need To Know About Cusco's Tourist Ticket, The Inca Trail Packing List | What You Need to Bring in 2023, A Short Guide to Ollantaytambo | Peru's Train Ride Town, (Updated 2022) A Guide to Huaraz | Peru's Hiking Capital, Seven of the Best Day Trips From Cusco | Ruins, Mountains and Pretty Little Towns. Its required to begin the Inca Trail and to visit Machu Picchu. After all, you dont want the upfront savings to mean inadequate equipment, poor quality food, or a less memorable experience. Get a quote below or read our in-depth review! Hiring a personal porter to carry your belongings and sleeping bag will make your trekking experience more enjoyable. . Even with daily tourism limits, there are still many, many tour groups and you will constantly be surrounded by other hikers, guides, and porters throughout the 4 days. Explorers will glimpse archaeological sites and a remarkable diversity of Andean landscapes, all building up to the final grand entrance to Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. In fact, not approaching altitude correctly is one of the biggest mistakes of travellers in South America. For the past 5 years, I have had the goal of visiting each of the 7 Wonders of the world. The most visitors the park allows is 500 a day and that includes guides and porters which make up over half that number. The 4-day Inca Trail is 30 miles (49 km) in length. Along the hike, at the epicenter of the old Incan Empire, you will experience majestic mountains, cloud forests, a subtropical jungle, and a little bit of wildlife. Its is certainly possible to find one but your options on tour companies and dates will be severely limited. On the last day, you will wake up before dawn at an absurdly early hour (our wake up call was 3 A.M.) in order to reach the Sun Gate overlooking Machu Picchu just in time for sunrise. The Inca Trail is a well-established and iconic 4-day, 3-night hike which leads travellers from km.82 (the start point 40 minutes outside the town of Ollantaytambo) all the way to Machu Picchu via its exclusive Sun Gate (also called Inti Punku). Many of the most popular places in Peru, such as Cusco and Arequipa, are at high altitude; this means that for anyone planning a trip to Peru understanding altitude sickness (and how to avoid it) is incredibly important. Bring cash with you for tipping. I made sure to mentally prepare our small team of six for the adventure and kept up a weekly progress report of how everyone was training. Because of its popularity, the Peruvian Government instituted several controls to reduce human impact upon the trail and within the ancient city. Longer 5-day Inca Trail itineraries are also available for travelers with a bit more time for hiking to Machu Picchu. So, whatever you do, dont underestimate how much cash you will need - wed say at least 300 soles per person for the Trail-specific section. [12] The government also mandated that every trekker on the trail must be accompanied by a guide. There is a chance of rain even in the dry season, so its better to be prepared. In the late afternoon, you will arrive at Wiay Wayna. Being in decent shape, acclimatising, carrying out a few practice hikes at home, keeping yourself hydrated, wearing in your hiking boots, and taking out the correct travel insurance are essential to staying safe and healthy on this hike; if youve made it this far down in our Inca Trail Guide and taken our advice on board, then you should have very few issues once you hit the Trail. You can read more about altitude sickness in the Health + Safety section towards the bottom of this post. There is a bus which runs from Lima to Cusco, but it takes 24 hours and these days isnt worth taking as flights are so ubiquitous and affordable (trust us, we did this bus ride back in 2015!). Hike through the cloud forest on a gentle climb to the second pass of the day, walking through original Incan constructions. At Wayllapampa the trail to Machu Picchu turns west and begins ascending along a tributary of the Cusichaka. This pass has the highest elevation on the Inca Trail at 4,215m (13,829ft). They work hard, and based on your experience, you can even tip more. The trail reaches the pass at an elevation of 3950m. The trail continues through high cloud forest, undulating, sometimes steeply while affording increasingly dramatic viewpoints of mountains and dropoffs. Pack thermal undergarments, a warm hat, and gloves for evenings. The next step is to pick your dates and start the process of booking your Inca Trail permit. Despite her eagerness to carry on, she could barely hobble her way forward without needing assistance. The campsite at Llulluch'apampa (Llulluchapampa) is located on this stretch of trail at 3,800 metres (12,500ft). We also truly hope that most of your questions about the Inca Trail hike have now been answered and you are in the best position possible for your upcoming Peruvian adventure. Were both vegetarian and were catered for incredibly well - with each meal giving us a vegetarian version of the same dish the others were eating (another thing we did not expect at all). Let your guide know if you are struggling and especially if your symptoms get worse. TIP: Tell us the destinations you have in mind. Each morning and night you will also be provided a bowl of warm water with which to freshen up. Protip:Thats exactly how I like my walks in the park. As we were doing so many hikes in South America, we bought these excellent lightweight travel hiking poles in the UK. Dress in layers and adjust as necessary during the day. Day 2 is the most challenging day of the trek, as you will gain 3,988 ft (1,215 m) in elevation. You wont have access to what your porter carries until you reach the campsite each night, so you will need a small pack to carry water, snacks, rain jacket, extra layers of clothing, etc. Travelers who have pre-purchased Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain permits will continue on to their respective hikes after the tour. A second Inca tunnel is along this section of trail.[10]. Something as minor as a flight delay can have a significant financial impact, as can illness, bad weather or baggage delay. The Inca Trail is a well-established and iconic 4-day, 3-night hike which leads travellers from km.82 (the start point 40 minutes outside the town of Ollantaytambo) all the way to Machu Picchu via its exclusive Sun Gate (also called Inti Punku). Many trekkers also choose to hire a porter to carry personal belongings. Cuzco Region Machu Picchu Peru. Be prepared for all types of weather conditions. Check out the daily elevation increases and be better prepared for your trek. Besides dealing with high elevation, your general fitness and previous trekking experience will also contribute to your level of enjoyment. You wont be able to enter the Inca Trail nor Machu Picchu without it. Only government-authorized trekking companies can offer Inca Trail tours and your trekking team is trained in the case of emergency. Youll still be able to access Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate (a really special moment), and you have the added bonus of seeing this incredible Wonder of the World at both sunset and sunrise! Physically prepare by training at home in the months leading up to your trip. Note that the Inca Trail is closed in February for everyone in order to allow it to replenish. The Inca Trail follows a route through Perus Andean mountains. We told you that these guys were absolute heroes. Per Inca Trail and Machu Picchu regulations, hiking poles must have rubber tips. Its a nice starter to a much more difficult day ahead. Keep in mind, regardless of how much or how little you pay for your tour, the vast majority of that money does not go to the guys that do the heavy lifting. By staying there before your walk, you will give your body time to acclimate to the altitude of the .

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