SALKANTAY INFORMATION
Tourist Information
The Inca Trail is a traditional route and one of the most beautiful in the world. Here you will find all the Inca Trail information you need about the walk. The most frequently asked questions about this trek are: What is the difficulty level? Do I have to be in perfect health? Where is it? All these questions and more will be answered.
The trek itself take 4 days and 3 nights, covering a distance of around 39 kilometers from its starting point in Pisacucho. We also have a short Inca Trail version that takes 2 days and one night, totaling 12 kilometers.
The Inca Trail is located in the Cusco region, Urubamba province, to the north of the city of Cusco. The main starting point for the full Inca Trail is in Piscacucho and for the shorter route, at kilometer 104, a little further up the railroad track close to Salkantay Trail Trek Mountains.
All of these start points are well sign-posted and have checkpoints run by the Ministry of Culture. Past that point, the trails themselves are regulated by the National Service for Protected Areas (SERNANP).
To get to the start-point of the famous trail, we take a bus for Ollantaytambo to the north, with the final stop at Pisacucho on the railroad track.
Here we will cross over a suspension bridge, but not before passing through the control point where we must have all of our passes ready, including all our travelers as well as the whole support team.
he trail in general has a moderate climate, due to being in the jungle region, with the temperature varying between 7 C° (44.6 F°) to 23 C° (73.4 F°). In the Andean region of Cusco there are two well-defined seasons: winter, from April to November, which is predominantly dry, with higher temperatures during the day and very low at night and summer, between November and March.
This is known as the rainy season with frequent short torrential downpours, between which are long of periods of sunshine. In addition, in February the trail is closed to the public while maintenance is carried out.
One can do the Inca Trail in the other months of the rainy season (December, January and March) during which time it is in good condition. We use modern camping equipment and eat inside a tent.
The Inca Trail has a maximum altitude of 4,200 metres above sea-level (Warmiwañuska), which can be a problem for some people, for which reason we recommend that you have been in Cusco for at least 48 hours before beginning the trek drinking plenty of water, avoiding alcohol and getting plenty of rest.
The lowest point is at 2,400m above sea-level (Machu picchu). You can also bring altitude sickness tablets if you wish. Remember, there is no rush to finish the trek, take your time and enjoy the marvelous landscapes and allow your body to adapt little by little.
If you run into any difficulties breathing and feel your extremities becoming heavy, this means you are climbing too quickly. It is always better to take a slower pace but without losing the rhythm and take breaks at regular intervals.
You won’t have any problems completing this route so long as you are of good health, in reasonably good shape and accustomed to walking. If you are not a regular walker it is suggested that you do some training before your trip to Peru.
On the first day the trek is relatively easy and the second more difficult, but both are at lower altitudes. There are a few stretches that run close to some very pronounced cliff edges. The Inca Trail is very well sign-posted and kept in a very good state of maintenance, even during the rainy season.
This trip is suitable for any age, so long as you are in reasonable shape and don’t have problems walking. Children aged 10 who take part in the Inca Trail are under the responsibility of their parents.
The following are the grades of difficulty:
Taking into account the above difficulty levels, Inca Trail to Machu picchu is between Easy and Moderate.
The availability of the Inca Trail is under the control of the Ministry of Culture, which at the start of the year opens the trail with 500 places per day. To reserve a place one must contact a tour agency, provide the Salkantay & Inca Trail Information and dates of the trip and wait for a reply.
Due to the high demand for this beautiful route, the 500 places per day are not enough, for which reason we recommend reserving your place from 6 to 8 months in advance.
On the other hand, it is possible to view availability through this link, www.machupicchu.gob.pe, which is the government webpage with all the information.
There are different security protocols that we have to follow in Inca Trail and Machu picchu:
After being closed for almost 1 year, the Inca Trail is enabled and ready to receive the visit of all our visitors. This year 2022 we have the opportunity to visit such a beautiful place, come and enjoy this unique experience.
Tourist Information
5 Days | 4 Nights
5 Days | 4 Nights
