inca trail highest point
Save $$$ Save the Planet Save Your Stomach! [1] As a result, the high season books out very quickly. A reusable water bottle or hydration pack works well for this. We have previously taken a three-week overland trip in Africa with G Adventures, where we were responsible for setting up and taking down our tent each day (not so fun in the rain or after a long day). If you arent in tip-top shape, this day will either make you or break you. High probability of rain on any given day. After the ruins, the trail continues its ascent to the top of the pass at 3975m (13,035ft). The outline of the mountains at one point resembles a woman lying on her back. Marci Vaughn Kolt. Remember to pack smart and pack light for the Inca Trail - find out exactly what you need to bring and leave behind in our Inca Trail Packing List. You are expected to bring and carry your own snacks, although our tour did provide us each with a snack bag on Day One of the trail (we finished ours on the last day, others finished it by Day Two). When to book: a minimum of 6 months in advance. Note in the sectional view of the trail map that Abra de Warmiwanusca is the highest point in the trek with an elevation of 13,795 feet (4,205 meters). 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. The meals are quite exquisite considering that all of the ingredients and cooking supplies are carried from the Sacred Valley. they soon adjusted and had no issues by day one of the hike itself. The lowest point on the trail at Llactapata ruins is roughly 2250m (7,382ft). Climb out of the Sacred Valley towards Warmiwanusca, or Dead Woman's Pass, on the second day of the classic Inca Trail 4-day. 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. After our own hike, we wanted to share our hard-earned insights, advice, and tips to help you plan and prepare for your own successful Trail experience - all neatly whittled down into this comprehensive guide. You can spend those days sightseeing in and around Cusco as there are plenty of archaeological sites like Nazca. Pack lightweight pants, short- and long-sleeve shirts, warm fleece jackets, underwear, and socks. Single-use plastic bottles are a MASSIVE threat to marine life. The Inca road system, originally called Qhapaq an in Quechua, an indigenous Peruvian language, was used for general transportation, trade, religious, and military purposes. The first 30 minutes of the trek is uphill, while the remainder of the trail is largely a descent. [7], Another high point at elevation of 3650m is crossed, followed by a campground, and then after a short descent, a site with extensive ruins. It is not possible to hike the trail independently. In addition, the temperatures on Mount Kilimanjaro can be much colder than on the Inca Trail and can reach below 20 F (-7C). Temperatures really drop at higher elevation when the sun sets. Rain gear for the trek and thermal layers to wear at night are recommended. Intipata (aka Yunkapata)[8] is a recently uncovered extensive set of agricultural terraces which follow the convex shape of the terrain. Protip:Thats exactly how I like my walks in the park. So whats the Inca Trail hikes difficulty like? That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). Machu Picchu: 7,972 ft (2,430 m) Start planning your Machu Picchu hiking holiday. Weve mentioned this earlier, but with the understanding that this is such an important purchase before you step foot in Peru, we thought it only correct to mention it again here. These local porters, from fresh-faced 18 year olds to gnarled mountain men, are the unsung heroes of every Inca Trail experience and they will each carry up to 25 kgs on their backs for the group (yep, and you were worried about how hard the Trail would be for you!). Trekkers head for the snow-capped mountains of the Vilcabamba Mountain Range. This pass has the highest elevation on the Inca Trail at 4,215m (13,829ft). Keep that in mind as you will need good long-range planning to make sure your spot is reserved. Each evening, water is collected from nearby streams, boiled, and left to cool overnight. 10 The Highest Point On The Inca Trail. As the above has hopefully made clear, the Inca Trail is not as difficult or challenging as you may think, but every persons own hike experience will be very subjective based on your fitness, hiking experience, your groups approach, attitude, the weather conditions on the route, and a bunch of other factors. During the trek, days are planned so that you have plenty of time to get from one point to the next. Your main luggage will be left in a secure hotel luggage storage room in Cusco, however we do not advise leaving any important or valuable items there - instead, its better to take them with you and keep them in your own daypack. The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu can be hiked all year round, except for February when the trail is closed for maintenance. Since 2002, access to the Inca Trail has been limited to 500 people per day (roughly split between 200 tourists and 300 accompanying guides and porters), no matter the time of year. are 500 permits available, approximately 200 allocated to tourists and 300 to guides, porters, and cooks. Throughout day 3 youll also see several mini Machu Picchu-like ruins spread throughout the trail. We dont know if all tours will offer the same level of food as G Adventures did, but even if its half as good youll be very happy. Longer 5-day Inca Trail itineraries are also available for travelers with a bit more time for hiking to Machu Picchu. Plan to spend two to three days staying in Cusco acclimatizing before beginning the trek. The trail is steep and challenging in places, but the views of the . We did the trek with G Adventures, a global company focused on sustainable small-group adventures (who have also been awarded Best Inca Trail Tour Operator by the Regional Direction of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Cusco in Peru) - you can check out the specific tour we did by clicking here. The bad news? The 2-day Inca Trail begins at the Chachabamba archaeological complex which is located at 6,725 ft (2,050 m), the lowest point of the hike. It consists of three overlapping trails: Mollepata, Classic, and One Day. It makes sense to buy them in Cusco or Ollantaytambo, although on Days One and Two of the trail you will find women along the Trail with makeshift stalls selling drinks, biscuits, and sweets. Inca Trail weather during the shoulder months is variable and it is common to experience all four seasons in one day. In fact, not approaching altitude correctly is one of the biggest mistakes of travellers in South America. You can either bring your own sleeping bag or rent one for an additional fee. Permits sell out quickly, particularly those for the high season. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Privacy | Terms | DMCA | Affiliate Disclosure | Site Map. We had always thought that hiking poles were only for old people and Austrians. Home Blog The ULTIMATE Guide to Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. We paid at the lower end as my wife is Colombian and we found a tour operator that catered more to the Spanish speaking South American clientele. To visit Machu Picchu at any time, whether you plan to hike for the day or for several nights, will require booking a permit. If hotels and tour companies offered lockers in Cusco which travellers could secure with their own padlock, then this would have allowed us to leave various cards, cash, and tech with confidence (and insurance coverage) in the city rather than carrying it all in our backpack on the trail (Andrew actually lugged 18 kgs on his back for the entirety of the trail because of this, so views himself as an honorary porter!). 2023 Best 10 Trails and Hikes in Jakarta | AllTrails 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). How long does it take to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu? For this reason, its recommendable to spend a few days in Cusco before hiking at high altitudes; this unforgettable experience. A common misconception about the Inca Trail is that it will allow you to be amongst the first people into Machu Picchu - this simply isnt true as its much easier to get through its gates just after opening if you stay in Aguas Calientes the night before and hike or take the bus up. This means that it is incredibly foolish to arrive in Cusco, which is at 3,339m (11,151 feet) above sea-level, and leave the next day to do a strenuous hike or even start the Inca Trail. Rise early for the first day of your trek. The final day of the Inca Trail is an easy and gentle slope towards the Sun gate at an elevation of 2700m (8850ft). During the rainy season, there is the possibility of landslides. The 2-day Inca Trail begins at the Chachabamba archaeological complex which is located at 6,725 ft (2,050 m), the lowest point of the hike. On the first day, you will also pass the lowest elevation on the Inca Trail known as the Llactapata/Patallacta Ruins at an elevation of 2,250m (7,382 ft). Secondly, for our G Adventures tour, we were each supplied with black duffel bags at the hotel. As you can see Cusco is one of Peru's highest cites. The entire 4-day Inca trail hike is 26 miles (42 km). This highest point of the trek at 4,215 m (3,828 ft) with stunning views at the summit. . Adams, Mark. 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. The trail undulates, but overall ascends along the Cusichaka River. The best time of year to hike the Inca Trail is during the dry season (MaySeptember). If you do have any pre-existing medical requirements, inform your tour company when booking and also remind the CEO before setting out. On the highest points of the Inca Trail, some hikers experience unpleasant symptoms. Each porter should be tipped around 30-40 soles (about $10-$15) for the entire group. If you dont invest in one of these excellent bottles, both of which weve tried and tested, then at least bring a refillable water bottle with you. Remember that batteries deplete faster at higher elevations.
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