Peru – a Trekker Mecca!

The Inca Trail – Still a Classic!

Marketing’s Louisa Richardson remembers the magic of trekking on The Inca Trail...

Whether your dream has always been to walk the classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu or to surround yourself with the highest concentration of snow-capped peaks in the Andes, Peru can deliver. We take a look at Peru’s two biggest draws for people who like to explore on foot...

There’s a reason why the Inca Trail has been one of the most iconic and popular treks in the world for years; it’s just simply fantastic! At four days long, it’s within the capabilities of most reasonably fit weekend walkers (even ones like me who sit in an office all day long Monday-Friday). The trek is physically challenging, especially on the long climb up the infamous ‘Dead Woman’s Pass’ where the altitude really starts to make a difference, but not to the point where you feel like giving up. The scenery alone is reason to keep going; the undulating lower slopes and the steeper high ones provide a feast for the eyes at all times. And then there are the Inca ruins you come across along the trail which provide an excellent excuse to stop and rest while the guide explains their significance and meaning. You can even see some which are still covered in jungle, just waiting to be excavated. You end each evening on the trail with the sight of your tents already erected by the hard-working trek support team. A warm bowl of water and a welcome coffee also await and the smells of that night’s tasty dinner already being cooked.

Of course, the other reason to dig into your physical reserves and ignore any aching muscles is the lure of Machu Picchu on the last day. As you pick your way up and down the last sets of uneven Inca paving, you finally see the Sun Gate ahead, the sign that your first sight of Machu Picchu is moments away. As you pass through the gate, it’s suddenly just there below you; the ruins of the famous Inca citadel nestled in the mountains.

No words can quite describe the feeling you get when you first see it; that’s why the only way to find out what it’s like is to trek the Inca Trail yourself.

Inca Trail Permits – you must book early!

In order to preserve the Inca Trail, the Peruvian government strictly limits the number of people trekking on it to 500 a day. This number includes all the guides and porters. To ensure this number isn’t exceeded, each trekker must be in possession of a trekking permit before they are allowed on the trail. Permits often run out many months before the trek date. In order to  guarantee your place on the trail, we strongly advise you to book well in advance of your intended departure date. Exodus will organise getting the permits for you.

Moonstone trek option – no permit required

If all the permits to trek the classic Inca Trail have run out, don’t despair! Exodus has an alternative trek on offer which can be substituted for the standard route. Our four-day Moonstone Trek follows a higher, more isolated Inca route past Inca and pre-Inca ruins, remote Andean villages and with stunning views of snowy peaks.

You will meet up with any group members who are doing the classic Inca Trail near Machu Picchu and go on to explore the site as per the itinerary.