What is the Inca Trail?
By Shriyaa Narayanan
What is the Inca Trail?
The 40 km (25 mi) Inca Trail traverses the entirety of Peru, passing through the steep Andes Mountains and the lush, green Amazon Jungle. Because of the breathtaking scenery it passes through, this is one of the best-known hikes in the world. The entire path consists of an extremely strenuous 70,866 steps, though it is certainly worthwhile to accomplish. It’s also known for the sun shining through it during the summer solstices. Finishing it usually takes about four days and three nights with rigorous effort. This is because most of the pathway's steep elevation is about 13,828 feet. A small portion of current-day southwest Colombia, along with parts of what is now Peru, Ecuador, western and south-central Bolivia, northwest Argentina, and north and central Chile, made up the Inca Empire at its peak.
The notoriously treacherous mountain passes and the historic sites are frequently traversed by hikers. However, the best part of the trail is often found at its end, when tourists pass through the Sun Gate at the trail's finish and get their first view of Machu Picchu. Not only is it celebrated for its architecture, but also for the variety of birds, plants, and animals that reside there. Along with llamas and alpacas, you might also observe colorful polypus, orchids, other brightly colored flora, and animals. Some of the birds you might see on the walk include the Royal Cinclodes, the Condor, and the Giant Conebill. The Condor is known for being a sacred bird to the Inca people in South America, which represents the region beautifully.
The 40 km (25 mi) Inca Trail traverses the entirety of Peru, passing through the steep Andes Mountains and the lush, green Amazon Jungle. Because of the breathtaking scenery it passes through, this is one of the best-known hikes in the world. The entire path consists of an extremely strenuous 70,866 steps, though it is certainly worthwhile to accomplish. It’s also known for the sun shining through it during the summer solstices. Finishing it usually takes about four days and three nights with rigorous effort. This is because most of the pathway's steep elevation is about 13,828 feet. A small portion of current-day southwest Colombia, along with parts of what is now Peru, Ecuador, western and south-central Bolivia, northwest Argentina, and north and central Chile, made up the Inca Empire at its peak.
The notoriously treacherous mountain passes and the historic sites are frequently traversed by hikers. However, the best part of the trail is often found at its end, when tourists pass through the Sun Gate at the trail's finish and get their first view of Machu Picchu. Not only is it celebrated for its architecture, but also for the variety of birds, plants, and animals that reside there. Along with llamas and alpacas, you might also observe colorful polypus, orchids, other brightly colored flora, and animals. Some of the birds you might see on the walk include the Royal Cinclodes, the Condor, and the Giant Conebill. The Condor is known for being a sacred bird to the Inca people in South America, which represents the region beautifully.
When to visit the Inca Trail?
Peru has two seasons. Depending on when hikers decide to go, the dry season and the wet season each offer very distinct experiences. For example, there is little to no rain throughout the dry season, which is from May to October. As a result, the afternoons and mornings are often extremely hot and dry, while the nights are very cold. In spite of that, since rain is not an issue, this is the busiest time for many visitors, so it’s quite crowded. During this time of year, a trekking pass must be ordered well in advance. Yet, it is entirely different from November to April. During the wet season, there is lots of rain, which lowers the number of tourists. Since there are less of them during this time, the tours are usually cheaper and easier to book. The bright side is that the nights aren't as cold during the wet season, but deciding which season to hike in can be difficult because of the rain, which can make or break a hiker's experience. However, it is important to note that the Inca Trail is closed to all visitors during the entire month of February for maintenance to ensure everyone’s safety.
Peru has two seasons. Depending on when hikers decide to go, the dry season and the wet season each offer very distinct experiences. For example, there is little to no rain throughout the dry season, which is from May to October. As a result, the afternoons and mornings are often extremely hot and dry, while the nights are very cold. In spite of that, since rain is not an issue, this is the busiest time for many visitors, so it’s quite crowded. During this time of year, a trekking pass must be ordered well in advance. Yet, it is entirely different from November to April. During the wet season, there is lots of rain, which lowers the number of tourists. Since there are less of them during this time, the tours are usually cheaper and easier to book. The bright side is that the nights aren't as cold during the wet season, but deciding which season to hike in can be difficult because of the rain, which can make or break a hiker's experience. However, it is important to note that the Inca Trail is closed to all visitors during the entire month of February for maintenance to ensure everyone’s safety.
History of the Inca Trail
The Inca Trail has a very complex history. The Inca were a small tribe from a Peruvian region who eventually rose to power and had a great deal of influence during the 13th century. They conquered people from the Colombian coast to the edges of Argentina. They were well-known for their enormous roadways, as well as for their architecture and religion. The Inca Empire had a network of roads that covered between 23,000 and 45,000 kilometers at its height. The present Inca Trail was referred to as the Royal Road by inhabitants of the empire, notably the Qhapaq Ñan. Therefore, only the upper class was able to visit Machu Picchu. This was used solely for religious pilgrimages in order to honor mountains and peaks like Veronica and Wakaywilka. Therefore, only the elite were able to visit Machu Picchu.
The Inca Trail was completely hidden from view, but after Machu Picchu was found in 1911, Hiram Bingham started his cleaning work and research from 1912 to 1915, which led him to re-discover the Inca Trail. Johan Reinhard frequented the area during the late 1900s and learned that one purpose of the trail was that many Inca mummies were believed to have been sacrificed to the gods. In 1531, when Spanish adventurer Francisco Pizarro and his brothers arrived in what is present-day Peru, they discovered that Machu Picchu had been abandoned by the Incas at the time. The Spanish had no issue defeating the Incas because of the smallpox epidemic's swift and dangerous spread among their population. Following the illness that claimed Inca ruler Huayna Capac, there was no designated successor. Consequently, there was a civil war between the two half-brothers, and everyone left Machu Picchu, leaving it to become a complete shell of what it once was.
The Inca Trail has a very complex history. The Inca were a small tribe from a Peruvian region who eventually rose to power and had a great deal of influence during the 13th century. They conquered people from the Colombian coast to the edges of Argentina. They were well-known for their enormous roadways, as well as for their architecture and religion. The Inca Empire had a network of roads that covered between 23,000 and 45,000 kilometers at its height. The present Inca Trail was referred to as the Royal Road by inhabitants of the empire, notably the Qhapaq Ñan. Therefore, only the upper class was able to visit Machu Picchu. This was used solely for religious pilgrimages in order to honor mountains and peaks like Veronica and Wakaywilka. Therefore, only the elite were able to visit Machu Picchu.
The Inca Trail was completely hidden from view, but after Machu Picchu was found in 1911, Hiram Bingham started his cleaning work and research from 1912 to 1915, which led him to re-discover the Inca Trail. Johan Reinhard frequented the area during the late 1900s and learned that one purpose of the trail was that many Inca mummies were believed to have been sacrificed to the gods. In 1531, when Spanish adventurer Francisco Pizarro and his brothers arrived in what is present-day Peru, they discovered that Machu Picchu had been abandoned by the Incas at the time. The Spanish had no issue defeating the Incas because of the smallpox epidemic's swift and dangerous spread among their population. Following the illness that claimed Inca ruler Huayna Capac, there was no designated successor. Consequently, there was a civil war between the two half-brothers, and everyone left Machu Picchu, leaving it to become a complete shell of what it once was.
Other Important Information
- Age Limit: None, but certain companies have minimum age restrictions
- The youngest traveler on the Inca Trail was 12 years old
- The oldest hiker on the Inca Trail was 84 years old
- Cost:
- Inca Trail tours range in price from $699 to $1,900 per person In order to hike, one needs an Inca Trail Permit
- Recommendations:
- Being physically fit
- Accustomed to hot weather and steep trails
- Packing for the trail:
- Light, efficient, for two different temperatures
- Clothes
- Sleeping mat and a bag
- Toiletries
- Passport
- Waterproof jacket
- Thermal layers