The+Inca+Trail+2

= The Inca Trails  = The Inca Trail is by far the most famous trail in South America and is rated by many to be in the top 5 trails in the world. In just 26 miles it manages to combine beautiful mountain scenery, lush cloud forest, subtropical jungle and a mix of Inca paving stones, ruins and tunnels. The final destination of the trail is Machu Picchu, and the mysterious "Lost City of the Incas". The Inca Trail consists of three overlapping trails including Mollepata, Classic, and One Day. Mollepata is the longest of the three routes with the highest mountain pass. Mollepata intersects with the Classic route before crossing Warmiwañusqa "dead woman". Located in the Andes mountain range the trail passes through several types of Andean environments including cloud forest and alpine tundra. The trails are very popular so the Peruvian government instituted controls to reduce human impact on the trial. A quota system was introduced in 2001 only allowing a set amount of people on the trail each day. Any person wishing to hike the trail must obtain a permit beforehand. Advance booking is mandatory because a maximum of 500 people are allowed on the trail each day. As a result the high season books out very quickly. The Inca Trail is closed in February for maintenance to clean up and because the rain makes it too dangerous to open up to the public.

By: Kayla Valluzzi