Hike Inca Trails
At its largest, the Incan Empire stretched from Chile to Columbia in South America, leaving behind massive tombs, pyramids and trails that are still used to explore Incan history today. When you hike Inca trails, you are walking in the historic footsteps of one of the most impressive of all ancient peoples. Perhaps the most famous of the Incan trails lies in Peru, which is blessed with majestic landscapes of towering mountains and massive rain forests.
Most Popular Trails
The most popular hikes are those that last from three to four days, and run from Cusco to Machu Picchu. This hike is for anyone who is in fairly good physical shape, and can walk for up to ten hours per day. If you plan on taking this hike, then you can also prepare by becoming more physically active and beginning a regular exercise routine a few months before your trip is planned.
There are also longer hiking trips available, including eight day trips that being in Cusco and end in Machu Picchu. The longer hiking trips include more stops at historic Incan sites, and longer routes. The mountainous terrain provides awesome views of ancient Incan architecture, which has survived from the fourteenth century.
What To Bring
When you begin to hike Inca trails, you will need to have several things with you. Most tourist guides will give you a list, but there are several things that you can bring besides the basics that will help you have an enjoyable hike. For example, you should bring along some extra snacks if you are traveling with a group, since meal times are scheduled for certain times during the day. Since you will be walking for many miles each day, some extra snacks will help keep your energy up until the next meal.
You may also need to bring the essentials, such as plenty of extra socks and a sleeping bag. The hikes typically last several days, so you will need to have everything you want on hand. The rain forest can be very damp, and extra socks and shoes will help save your feet some trouble later in the hike.
Sights and Considerations
The amazing sights along the Inca trails are what brings thousands of visitors to Peru each and every year. The amazing thousand year old walls, cities and monuments built by the ancient Inca are all visible as you hike Inca trails in Peru.
If you choose the longer, eight day hikes, you will be able to see many of the main sights of the trail. The main problem for hikers is that you will be hiking into the mountains, which means that you will be in a higher climate than you are accustomed to. You may want to plan to spend a few days in the mountains before the hike, so that you won’t have any problems once the hike actually begins.