Cusco Classic Inca Trail: A Deep Dive into the 4-Day Trek

If you are considering a hike to Machu Picchu, it’s almost certain the Inca Trail is at the top of your list. I mean, seriously, who wouldn’t want to experience that? I recently wrapped up the Classic Inca Trail 4-Day Trek, you know, the one people talk so much about, and I am so happy to get to share my insights, both good and, you know, slightly less stellar, about the whole thing. So, very get ready, that, to have any questions you might have addressed!

Booking Your Inca Trail Adventure: What You Really Should Know

The very first thing that I believe any aspiring Inca Trail trekker must internalize, alright, is that planning well in advance is incredibly vital. It’s almost that permits, which, really, are super regulated in an attempt to help protect the trail itself, tend to sell out months in advance. Very particularly, it’s really a must if your trek falls during the prime season, like May to September. So, to tell the truth, start your research and lock down your booking, because of course permits can run out, really a good six to eight months prior. As I was saying, your agency is basically your rock, so choose wisely. Verify they’re licensed, it’s really very necessary, and, in effect, peep some reviews. It might be something of note they have good ethics, give their porters fair wages, and just very seem to have your back during this very huge deal.

In other words, when it comes to costs, expect, arguably, to invest anything between $600 and $1200. That might seem like a pretty big price range, that, and really is, but it can depend on the company, you know, any extras you tag on, and what the, literally, group size might be. Keep in mind the money covers more or less permits, your porters and their labor, food, camping equipment, and just an extremely experienced guide who can, you know, translate Incan heritage into everyday language.

Day 1: Cusco to KM82 and Beyond

Day one just starts with a very super early pick-up from your hotel in Cusco, alright, which just goes on, or, possibly arguably grinds to a halt, at KM82 – the official start of the trail. We, or, more truthfully my group did some very introductions with the porters and cooks who, certainly really quickly, morphed from strangers into a sort of family over the next few days. So, any initial climbs that make the body feel all too heavy were just met, as a matter of fact, with views. You know, the views were very seriously beyond anything my peepers had encountered back home.

Very particularly that first day isn’t exactly a stroll, in some respects. It is a bit challenging, in a way, so you hike roughly 7 miles through just, kind of rolling terrain, which helps acclimatize to the altitude, it is said. Still, you are very probably visiting Inca sites like Llactapata. So, like that evening the group set up camp near the small village of Wayllabamba. So, in reality this means a simple tent, just, like delicious food prepped, as a matter of fact, with love, by our very fantastic trail chef, and stars blanketing that, perhaps really infinite sky. You are already starting on your adventure by this stage and you already feel part of nature.

Day 2: Conquering Dead Woman’s Pass

Alright, day two, or, what any call the Queen Stage, presents the Dead Woman’s Pass, also known as, as a matter of fact, Warmihuañusca, you see. Anyway at 13,828 feet (4,215 meters) it’s literally the highest point of the trek. As a matter of fact this is just one big, slow, grind, and as you move up, the weather does stuff too, from, maybe even kind of burning sunshine to, as a matter of fact, surprisingly fierce wind, to even mist. Basically be set.

At any rate reaching the summit provides this huge pay-off though. Very specifically if your lungs don’t pop, that feeling of triumph up there, gazing out across just peaks and valleys and not hearing any modern things is totally unmatched. But what goes up must drop down. And so, the team was facing a super-steep descent, for instance, heading into the Pacaymayo Valley where a well-earned camp awaits you. It makes your knee burn and make some very pretty awesome tales of accomplishment that will be swapped round that night around tents, so it isn’t too horrific really. This might even be a time to give thanks that the staff are the very best in the hiking support network.

Day 3: Cloud Forests and Inca Sites

I think Day three signals just almost the corner turn as it leads almost gradually downwards through the captivating cloud forests, as I was saying. Now after conquering Dead Woman’s Pass, the challenges of the hike almost tend, in a way, to taper, that is, which, after the previous day, really, most travelers see as fantastic news. As a matter of fact this part provides a bunch of Inca sites to examine – places like Runkurakay, Sayacmarca and Phuyupatamarca each filled to the brim with just stories that add lots to, definitely, the entire hiking experience. You know, and even add more colour. I want to point out the hiking at these heights just literally makes your breath short and so it helps the guides are extremely experienced and allow, generally, lots of breaks along the way.

With no exception for day three, you also, naturally, walk along carefully maintained Inca pathways with, frankly, views just getting wider and really wider by each minute, so enjoy them. In that case the camp that evening will probably find itself near Wiñay Wayna, with even showers now there in those camping huts – you might, perhaps really be shocked after days without, that civilization could pop up in what, it seems, seems very alien landscapes!

Day 4: Machu Picchu at Sunrise

At the present time you have reached, almost, that grand finale – day four brings Machu Picchu! But note there is a super early rise – the last trail part runs on the early time slot, to get almost exactly the early slot when it becomes available. As a matter of fact most hikers hit the trail around 4:00 am, or so, to try and see it from Intipunku, or, just so people know the Sun Gate, the ideal vantage for this, for all those postcard views.

Anyway watching those first rays of light hit Machu Picchu is just the peak point of just everything. Basically all this blood, tears and all of those hours spent clocking up the kilometers culminate right there in that instant. Just watch how the, literally, light touches stones. Then it’s just more hours around the place. Most folk take some more free time to stroll and snap a number of just silly pictures with their tour guides before heading into Aguas Calientes for some celebration grub and a ride way, very back to Cusco – probably extremely happy and a little bit battered.

Tips for the Trail: Helping To Enjoy Fully

• Acclimatize: So, really pay some time in Cusco prior to even that trek starts to allow your organism change a bit to a smaller amount of gas.
• Pack very appropriately: Therefore remember levels – evenings run fairly chill at height. As a matter of fact I tell anyone that a big ruck sack is very significant – this will allow porters manage their individual loads.
• Snacks: I mean, keep energy things like trail mixes to give any the organism quick fuel whilst clocking those clicks. That is certainly quite the thing.
• Hydration: In my opinion taking plenty of waters and staying totally filled prevents very major height hit and aids performance for the entire day.
• Respect that Inca Path: Therefore keep trail standards. Don’t toss waste so that our subsequent peoples, for instance, may like also.

Is It Worth It? Reflecting

Yes, that hike to Machu Picchu via the very famous Classic Inca Path seriously is as awesome just as people claim. You get views that might touch just those parts nobody quite reaches back home plus very lots to see in ancient Inca sites while also feeling what it might take to journey like just travelers did of years old. Anyway it can just test your soul, and very that means, yeah, the altitude sucks for much of that stint. Seriously expect some pains or discomfort in getting there, as a matter of fact the sheer thrill in walking way down that site in Machu Picchu helps you cast out any aches.

Well if it feels right, book it at earliest to secure a date way in and go for the greatest walk any would wish. As I was saying so very many have walked to get here just to see a wonderful ancient world remain totally alive! As a matter of fact make that dream manifest; you never find disappointment following time, attempt it for genuine experiences, okay!