Peru: The Inca Trail
The Inca Trail is a 39km trek in Peru’s Sacred Valley that leads into the Lost City of the Incas: Machu Picchu. Starting at Kilometer 82 of the railway between Ollantaytambo and Aguascalientes, the Inca Trail takes around four days to walk. The trail passes through cloud forests, alpine tundra, and lush jungles. The high point is Dead Woman’s Pass, located at an elevation of 4,200m. There are also a number of terraced ruins along the way including Intipata and Wiñay Wayna. The trail ends at the Sun Gate, which provides the first view breathtaking view of Machu Picchu.
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Inca Trail Day One: Ollantaytambo to Ayapata
Day one on the Inca Trail started early for Debbie and I. But not as early as it did for the rest of our Alpaca Expeditions group. Back when I first started to research the ins and outs of the Inca Trail one of the first things I learned was that the overwhelming majority of tour groups will pick up their people in Cusco. Located in Peru’s Sacred Valley, Cusco is one of the oldest, continuously inhabited cities in the Western Hemisphere. It is also the ancient capital of the Incas. As such it is the starting point for anyone looking to visit the Lost City of Machu Picchu. …
