The+Inca+Trail

=The Inca Trail=

The Inca Trail is a long trail that leads to Machu Picchu, with many other archaeological sites on the way. It is known as the most famous trail in South America, and in some travel guides and magazines, it is in the top five trekking trails in the world. The total length of the trail is 54 miles, and usually takes around four days to hike. There is a high altitude with very little oxygen which means you have to train and get in shape to successfully climb the trail. There is also the concern of altitude sickness. Your first concern though, is Inca Trail permits.

Trail Options
There are a couple of options for hiking the Inca Trail. The hardest is the four day trek. It is 54 miles. It covers the entire trail, and ends at Machu Picchu. Another option would be the two day hike, which is about six miles, but doesn't include as much as the 4 day hike. It is much better for people that aren't looking for a huge challenge, or families with younger kids. The first day is the hike, and the second day is a tour of Machu Picchu. Then, there's the one day option where you hike for the day, and then get on the train to Machu Picchu. All the options have up-sides and down-sides, it all depends on peoples needs.

Altitude Sickness
The Inca Trail goes high up into the mountains, and this results in a huge oxygen change that the body isn't used to. This is called altitude sickness, or acute mountain sickness (AMS). Some signs of AMS are headaches, nausea, a lost appetite, difficulty sleeping, shortness of breath, or lack of energy. Sometimes, AMS can lead to high altitude pulmonary edema or high altitude cerebral edema, which are both deadly. In order to avoid this, hikers usually stay in the town Aguas Calientes, which translates to "Hot Springs" in English. It got its name from the natural hot springs that were in the area, but were destroyed by a flood. Now they have been rebuilt. Staying in the town, or staying in Cusco, for a few days before the hike is a great way to get acclimated to the altitude. Both towns are at very high altitudes.

Features of the Inca Trail
The Inca Trail is much more than just the destination. It has so many other Incan ruins. Some of them include Llactapata, Runkurakay, Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca, and Winay Wayna. Llactapata sits on a series of dirt terraces. Once at the top of the terraces, there are the ruins with a rocky mountain behind them. Runkurakay is a circular building sitting at the edge of a cliff, and looks somewhat like Stonehenge. The next site is Sayacmara, a large ruin with two parts. The first one is a Temple of the Sun, and the second is where the Incans lived. Phuyupatamarca, like Llactapate, is at the top of a series of stair-like platforms. It is known as "The Place of the Clouds" because of the clouds that gather around it. The Last ruin, Winay Wayna, is also located by platforms, but unlike Llacyapate and Phuyupatamarca, which are located above the terraces, Winay Wayna is located in the middle of the stairs. It is located above the Urubamba River. There are also subtropical jungles and cloud forests along the way, which are a really cool experience.

Inca Trail Permits
In order to hike the Inca Trail, you must have an Inca Trail Permit. There are only 500 given out each day, and this includes all the guides that are on the trail. The permits were legalized because of the trail's popularity. The government in Peru didn't want the trail to be harmed by humans. The permits start selling in January, but cannot be reserved; they are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Also, each group has to have a government certified guide. Each permit is paired with a passport, and the government watches the trail very closely. This keeps the trail intact and travelers safe.

By: Brianne Phillips