The Inca Trail is considered the best hike in South America. It is a 43-kilometer route along ancient Inca trails to Machu Picchu. The duration of the tour is 4 days and 3 nights. Tourists have the opportunity to appreciate the scenic beauty with Inca archaeological sites including the Wonder of the World.
The Inca Trails (Qhapac Ñan)
The Incas covered a large part of the South American continent. To maintain communication in such a vast territory it was necessary to build a network of roads. Thus, the Inca ordered the construction of a network of roads called Qhapac Ñan (Inca Trail).
The Qhapac Ñan managed to cover up to 30 thousand kilometers of the current countries of Peru, Ecuador and part of Bolivia, Chile, Argentina and Colombia. The Inca Trail hiking route to Machu Picchu is only a small part of the extensive network of roads of the Qhapac Ñan.
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
The Inca Trail was revealed to the world in 1915 while excavations were being carried out in the Inca City. Three decades later, the route was traced by the Viking expedition in 1942. Today, thousands of visitors decide to walk the 43 kilometers to the ‘Sun Gate’ in Machu Picchu.
However, Machu Picchu is not the only archaeological site you will see on the Inca Trail. On the tour you will also see the ruins of Llactapata, the archaeological site of Runkurakay, Saycamarca, Phuyupatamarca and Wiñaywayna.
Versions of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Not everyone has the necessary days to walk the Inca Trail (4 days and 3 nights). That is why there are 2 versions depending on the time available:
Classic Inca Trail: 4 days and 3 nights (43 kilometers of walking).
Short Inca Trail: 2 days and 1 night (12 kilometers of walking).
Distance of the Inca Trail
The Inca Trail is a 43-kilometer route along ancient Inca trails to Machu Picchu.
What is the distance of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu?
The Inca Trail shows rugged geography with ascents and descents next to cliffs. The mountains reach great heights with rugged sections. In the jungle areas you will see the variety of shades of green of the tropical forests.
Day 1: Cusco – Wayllabamba (13 kilometers)
The Inca Trail begins at kilometer 82 of the railway line that leads to Machu Picchu (2 hours and 30 minutes by bus from the city of Cusco). Then you will begin the ascent towards the valley of Cusichaca. The visitor will walk through the ruins of Llactapata (2,840 m.a.s.l.) until reaching the town of Huayllabamba (3,057 m.a.s.l.).
Day 2: Wayllabamba – Pacaymayo (11 kilometers)
The second day is the most difficult due to the physical demands. The tourist will ascend towards Warmiwañuska (‘Dead Woman’s Pass’). This is the highest point of the route (4,215 m.a.s.l.). From this point it is possible to see the archaeological site of Runkurakay (3,760 m.a.s.l.).
Day 3: Pacaymayo – Wiñay Huayna (16 kilometers)
On the third day, the descent will be vertiginous to the valley of the Pacaymayo River. The section descends along a stepped slope of almost 1,600 meters to the Sayaqmarca enclosure (3,625 m.a.s.l.). Here the view is extraordinary.
Day 4: Wiñay Huayna – Machu Picchu (3 kilometers)
The last day hides some of the best Inca samples: Phuyupatamarka, Wiñaywayna. Upon leaving these ruins, a gradual descent will begin that will become more complicated at the end. Finally, you arrive at Intipunku or Puerta del Sol. From there you will walk for another 30 minutes to the Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu.
After visiting Machu Picchu, the visitor returns to Cusco via a train and bus service. The duration of the trip is approximately 3 hours. These services are included in the Inca Trail tours.
And what is the distance of the Short Inca Trail (2 days)?
The short Inca Trail is easy. The route is only approximately 11 kilometers long. The first part is uphill, which is the most difficult. Once you reach the Wiñay Huayna archaeological site, the path becomes easier. The entrance to Machu Picchu, like the Classic Inca Trail, is through the Puerta del Sol.
Day 1: Cusco – Km. 104 – Aguas Calientes (11 kilometers)
The Short Inca Trail begins at kilometer 104 of the Ollantaytambo – Machu Picchu railway (2 hours 45 minutes from the city of Cusco by car). From there you ascend through tropical landscapes (11 kilometers) until you reach the Wiñay Huayna archaeological site, from where you continue until you reach Machu Picchu.
Day 2: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu
Tourists will not visit Machu Picchu until day 2 when they depart by bus from their hotel in Aguas Calientes to the entrance gate to Machu Picchu. Finally, you will visit the Inca City with your tour guide. The return trip is by train and bus to the city of Cusco.
