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Part
of the 23,000 kilometers (approximately
14,000 miles) of roads built
by the Incas in South America,
this is Peru's most famous trekking
route and possibly one of the
most spectacular in the Americas.
Every year; some 25,000 hikers
from around the world walk along
the extraordinary 43 kilometers
of this stone-paved road built
by the Incas leading to the
unassailable citadel of
Machu Picchu located in
the depth of the Cusco jungle.
The journey starts in the village
of Qorihuayrachina, at kilometer
88 of the Cusco - Quillabamba
railway and takes three or four
days of strenuous walking. The
route includes an impressive
variety of altitudes, climates
and ecosystems that range from
the high Andean plain to the
cloud forest. Travelers will
cross two high altitude passes
(the highest being Warmiwañuska
at 4,200 m.a.s.l.) to culminate
the hike with a magical entrance
to Machu Picchu through the
Inti Punko or Gateway of the
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One
of the main attractions along the route
is the web of ancient settlements built
in granite rock by the Incas like Wiñay
Wayna and Phuyupatamarca immersed in
an overpowering natural scenery. Hundreds
of species of orchids, multicolored
birds and dreamlike landscapes provide
the ideal backstage for a route that
every hiker should walk at least once.
Description
of the rout
Based on a 4 days -3 nights tour.
The
total distance of the trail is approximately
39.6 Km. and begins at Km.88 at a place
called Q'oriwayrachina. To begin the
trail, you must cross the Kusichaca
bridge, (an important Inca bridge which
using Inca techniques, has been built
with steel cables which allow visitors
to cross the Urubamba River). Then you
head over to the left bank through a
Eucalyptus grove and , start the day
calmly.
Almost
immediately, you will come across the
archaeological complexes of Q'ente,
Pulpituyoc, Kusichaca and Patallaca.
From this last spot, follow the trail
along the left side of the Kusichaca
River in the area with the same name
where you will not only see the bridge
but also you will find tombs, aqueducts,
terraces. roads and a canyon. Continue
until you reach the small peasant village
of Wayllabamba and Inca aqueducts. It
takes around four hours to cover the
9 Km up to this spot. One can camp here
for the first night, but for comfort
we recommend staying in Llullucha 1.6
Km further on.
The
second day is more difficult as the
hiker will have to climb up to 4,200
meters, crossing the Warmiwañusqa pass,
the first and the highest. If you suffer
from "soroche" (altitude sickness) it
is best not to stop and descend quickly
to the valley of the Pakaymayu River,
where you can camp. This spot is 7 Km
away and an approximate eight-hour walk.
The
third day is the longest but most interesting.
You will be able to visit impressive
archaeological complexes such as Runkuraqay,
the second pass, at 3,800 meters above
sea level. This is a walled complex
with interior niches that perhaps was
a small place for rest, guardpost and
worship place. After crossing the second
pass, descend to Yanacocha (the black
lagoon), to then climb up a path with
stone steps until you reach another
cluster of buildings which attracts
the attention of visitors. This spot
is called Sayaqmarka a pre Hispanic
complex with narrow streets, buildings
erected on different levels; shrines,
patios, canals and a protecting outer
wall. At the top of the buttress one
can see many constructions which lead
one to suppose they once were a temple
and an astronomic observatory which
had a permanent supply of water and
excellent food storehouses.
Sayaqmarka
is a place filled with mystery and enchantment.
The approximate distance to Runkuraqay
is 5 Km, which takes 2 hours. This complex
lies at 3,600 meters above sea level.
There are excellent paths and a tunnel
through this complex. We recommend you
camp near the Phuyupatamarca ruins or
3 Km further on at the Wiñay Wayna Visitors
Center, where one can buy food and drinks
or use the bathrooms. The Phuyupatamarca
ruins are better preserved than those
seen before now.
It
has a solid base built down to several
meters in some cases. The Wiñay Wayna
ruins were given the name possibly because
of the abundance of a beautiful type
of orchid which flowers nearly year-round
in the whole area. The Peruvian government
and the Viking Fund signed an agreement
in 1940 to investigate the area, and
sent the Wenner Gren expedition led
by Professor Paul Fejos. But despite
the expedition, there is no precise
information about the specific function
of six groups of dwellings near Machu
Picchu. They are divided up into four
well-defined sectors which are: the
agricultural sector with many terraces,
the religious sector, the fountain sector
and the residential sector where the
houses are located.
On
the fourth day, which starts around
8 A.M., the walker arrives at Machu
Picchu at around 11 A.M. after 8 Km
of hiking through the jungle. Follow
the signaled route and drink some water
at the Wiñay Wayna Visitors Center.
The path is clearly marked but try to
avoid getting too close to the cliff
edge.
It
is forbidden to camp in Inti Punko.
Leave your equipment at the control
gate and enjoy getting to know the most
important monument in this part of ;
the continent. You have time to walk
around Machu Picchu until mid-after-noon.
Check train timetables to return to
Cusco.
If
you plan to stay in the town of Machu
Picchu (Aguas Calientes), the distance
from the station of Puente Ruinas to
Machu Picchu is 2 Km. It takes around
20 minutes to walk down a narrow path
which runs parallel to the train line.
We
recommend you check for trains before
walking the path.
Climate
and Environment
The climate is relatively mild all
year- round, with heavy rains from
November to March, and dry and hot
weather from April to October, which
is a recommendable time to visit.
The annual minimal temperature runs
from 8° to 11.2°C. In the months of
June, July and August the temperature
can often fall below zero.
The annual maximum temperature varies
from 20.4° to 26.6°C. The terrain
is fairly jagged, with many gullies
and streams fed by glaciers which
eventually pour into the Urubamba
river, which crosses the area forming
a deep valley which runs through the
granite base of Vilcabamba for more
than 40 km through a variety of eco-systems.
Landscape
The natural surroundings are impressive
and the balance achieved between nature
and Inca architecture is striking.
The Vilcabamba mountain range boasts
peaks higher than 6,000 meters such
as Salcantay and Huamantay among others.
The blend of mountains, jungles and
valleys create a fantasy world where
the spectacular dawn and sunset are
shrouded in mystery.
Fauna
This is abundant and varied. The existence
of species in danger of extinction
such as the spectacled bear (Tremarctos
omatus), the Cock-of-the-Rocks
(Rupicola peruviana), the dwarf
deer (Pudu mephistopheles),
etc. was one of the reasons why the
government decided to declare it a
Conservation Unit.
The park includes
species like the puma, Andean fox,
river otter, Taruka (Huemul deer),
wildcat, ferret, etc. There are birds
like the Cara Cara, hummingbird, torrent
duck, parrot, wild turkey, and many
other colorful smaller birds. There
are also reptiles like the Jergon
Bothrops and the coral micrurus snake
(lethal for its venom), lizards, frogs,
and numerous Andean and jungle fauna
which inhabit the Sanctuary. This
abundant wildlife makes the Sanctuary
ideal for tourists and researchers
who wish to watch or study the animals.
Flora
The large natural areas are filled
with a variety of forest species which
vary according to the habitat. The
forest vegetation is represented by
trees such as cedar, romerillo or
intimpa, laurel, etc. There are also
species like Ocotea, Pedocarpus, Guarea,
Weinmania, Clusia, Cedropia, Cinchena,
Eritrina or Pisonay, and Ilex among
others. The decorative plants have
made the Sanctuary famous. Experts
have identified more than 90 species
of orchids, and many species of begonias
and puya cacti. Most of the area is
covered by herbaceous, shrub like
and arboreal plants. The varied conditions
have created an ideal environment
for the growth of diverse plant life
that runs from thick jungle like the
cloud forest to the sparsely covered
mountain tops.
Archaeology
Apart from everything that has
been mentioned, there is also the
Incas cultural heritage. The Inca
Trail which was well built, crosses
dense forests and deep canyons. There
are 18 archaeological complexes dotted
along the trail which can be seen
in all their splendor. These are made
up of housing, irrigation canals,
agricultural terracing, walls and
shrines, which are irrefutable proof
of the existence of important human
settlements.
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