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The Traditional or Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is one of the most famous treks in the world and is synonmous with Peru and a visit to the "Lost City of the Incas."

As the Classic Inca Trail books up months in advance, if you have missed out on a spot, remember thatApus Peru offer a range of less touristed and equally fascinating alternative hikes (see Traditional and True Adventure).

We recommend you check out the Inca Porter Project which provides alist of suggested questions for when you are booking your Classic Inca Trail from your home country.

Check out also our porter welfare information.

Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (4 days/ 3 nights)

Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (2 days/ 1 night)

Salkantay & Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (6 days/5nights)

Inca Trail Marathon (3 days/2 nights)

Apus Peru Adventure Trekking Specialists are registered to operate the Inca Trail by INC (Institute National of Culture) (Number AG0043)

INCA TRAIL VS ALTERNATIVE TREKS - which trek should I do? Some thoughts/advice...

What makes the Inca Trail so great?

• Its one of the most famous treks in the world
• Hikes right into Machu Picchu using the Royal Road of the Incas - no other trek does this.
• Has a wonderful array of stunning ruins every day
• Breathtaking scenery - from snowcapped mountains to dense lush cloud forest and jungle.
• Good facilities and toilets at campsites
• Despite large amounts of people, still moments for solitude in the mountains.

Whats not so good about the Inca Trail?

• 500 people depart every day
• You need to book about 4 months in advance for high season and you MUST make the date you booked for. No changes allowed.
• Many groups are as large as 25 people (Apus Peru maximum group size is just 10 people)
• Campsites very full, with full facilities - its not exactly a wilderness or adventure camping experience.
• Its a bit like a highway with many people on the trek
• Locals can be a bit tired of seeing tourists.

Good aspects of the alternative treks

• On some of the treks (ie Vilcabamba) you might be the only group departing that day
• Sense of adventure and isolation.
• Real wilderness camping.
• Sense of adventure
• What is lacking in ruins is usually made up by cultural interaction, meeting the locals.

SHOULD I STAY AN EXTRA NIGHT IN AGUAS CALIENTES? with our Inca trail and Alternative treks we offer you the option to stay an extra night in Aguas Calientes - this is further information:

• For the vast majority of people the time that we schedule for Machu Picchu (ie arrival at dawn, a guided tour of two hours followed by their own exploration) is usually enough, especially if you are on a 4pm or 6pm train back to Cusco.
• As you arrive at dawn at Machu Picchu, many people are also very tired by the middle of the day. (it’s a long day).
• For those people who like to reflect, soak in the atmosphere, have a particular interest in ruins or archaeology or history, then you might consider spending the extra time. For example, the ruins are often nearly empty around 3pm as everyone will have descended to Aguas Calientes to go back to Cusco.
• Aguas Calientes village is not particularly inspiring, whereas Cusco city is very enjoyable to spend time in.
• If you decide to spend an extra day at Machu Picchu, you have to buy the entry ticket again ($45) and also the bus up and down ($14). Although, if you are spending longer at the ruins you might consider walking down, which takes about 1.5 hours and is highly recommended.
• A climb of Huayna Picchu is very recommended but things are further complicated by a ticketing (free) system that was introduced in late 2008. You need to make sure your guide gets you the pass earlier rather than later.

We offer a 5% discount on trek to members of the South American Explorers Club . For useful information check out the Cusco page

Following, are some other interesting sites which may help you when you are choosing to make your Inca Trail reservation.

Biodiversity in Peru - The Inca Trail for the Ecologically Inclined

Good overview of the trek is found at Go 2 Peru

Lots of good Peru information - found at www.peru.com/peruinfo

The Inca Trail and the Royal Trail (Rumbos Magazine) - In addition to advice on hiking the Inca Trail this site contains information on a recently discovered shorter trail to Machu Picchu, the Royal Inca Trail, which starts at Km 104 of the railway very close to the archeological ruins of Chachabamba, where the Incas worshipped many Andean deities.

The Inca Trail from Salkantay (Barry Lipton) - Spectacular images of the Salkantay pass and Machu Picchu

Peru acts to protect Inca Trail - An article about the impact of the new regulations. The Observer, April 28, 2002

The Inca Trail El Camino Inca by Vince Stevenson - A very detailed account with photographs, of a trek undertaken in January 1996.

Inca Trail and Peru Travel Information (David Gualtieri) - based on a visit there in September 1997.

Hiking the Inca Trail (Ric Finch) - A good description with links to high-quality photographs of the places mentioned in the text.

The Inca Trail, King of Trails (Ulf Carlsso) - A description with emphasis on the environment and what needs to be done to preserve this magnificent national park for future generations.

APUS PERU Adventure Travel Specialists - we support sustainable, responsible and ethical tourism...

366 Cuichipunco, Centro Historico, Cusco, Peru- Email: apusperu@westnet.com.au

© A.Svenson 2005 -2009. The design, content and photographs (except where noted) are 100% original. The majority of our treks were designed by Apus Peru.