Hiking Machu Picchu

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

As mentioned before, most of the tourists hiking to Machu Picchu do the 4 days Inca trail. The trek starts at Piscacucho, a small town reached by road from Cusco or Ollantaytambo. From there the trek reaches an altitude of 4,200 meters (14,000 feet) above sea level at its highest point on the second day. From there on it is mainly downhill until Machu Picchu which is the lowest point at 2,430 meters (7,970 feet). The total lenght is around 42 kilometers (25 miles) but the real challenge is the altitude. You do not need to be in excellent shape to be able to complete the hike but it is adviced preparing yourself physically in advance. People with heart conditions or breathing limitations should consult a doctor before.

The 7 days Inca trail is not only longer but higher therefore it is only adviced for experience hikers. The short Inca trail is a 1-day walk in the mountains. It does not require any experience hiking but again it is adviced doing long walks at home before the hike and proper acclimatization to the altitude.

Alternative treks to Machu Picchu

The Inca trail has a limited capacity of 500 hikers a day including support staff (i.e. guides, cooks and porters). Thereby it is common that it gets full in advance but this should not be reason for despair because there is an alternative to the Inca trail which is the Salkantay trek. The later consists of 3 days hiking and 2 nights camping, plus an extra day to visit Machu Picchu. In total 4 days and 3 nights (the last night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes). This trail is more demanding though because it has longer daily walks and reaches higher altitudes (4,600 meters or 15,180 feet above sea level). Nevertheless, this is compesated by its breath-taking and diverse scenery.

The Lares trek is also offered as an alternative to the Inca trail nonetheless, this trail does not lead to Machu Picchu but instead it is combined with the train to the Inca ruins. The Lares trek is very high (4,450 meters or 14,600 feet) too and less crowded. Also, it includes the visit to rural communities on the mountains which are known by its handmade textiles with natural dyes. It includes 3 days hiking and 2 nights camping, plus an extra day and night to visit Machu Picchu.

In overall, it can be said that the highlight of the Inca trail is its history and archeological sites whereas the Salkantay trek stands out due to its beautiful scenery, and the Lares trek is characterized by the access to the lifestyle of the rural people of Cusco.