Where Is The Inca Trail? (+ How To Organize A Trip Here)
Are you wondering where is the Inca Trail, and how you can organise a trip here?
One of the world’s most famous hiking circuits, the Inca Trail is known for its beautiful Inca Ruins, spectacular Andean landscapes as well as the indigenous cultures found along the trail. However many are often confused exactly where the Inca Trail is, the starting and ending locations, as well as how easy it is to get here.
In this guide we’ll explore where is the Inca Trail, as well as how you can organize your own trip here when heading to Peru. We’ll also answer your most burning questions in our FAQ section later in this guide.
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Where Is The Inca Trail?
The ancient Inca Trail path, which is popular for hikers and adventurers alike, is located within the remote Andes near Cusco. The starting point for the classic 42km four day trek is a gateway marker called Piscacucho (also known as KM 82), which is situated roughly 2.5 hours away from the city of Cusco.
However it’s important to remember that this is only the hikeable part of the Inca Trail – and in fact the entire network of paved stone steps built by the Inca civilization is much larger. Known as Qhapaq Ñan, it spanned a total distance of over 30,000km and once reached as far as southern Colombia and Northern Argentina during the Inca’s most influential era.
Organising An Inca Trail Trip In Peru
Given the Inca Trail is located within the Peruvian Andes near Cusco, all treks begin from this popular city. It’s important to note that you can only head on the Inca Trail with a licensed tour guide or company, which security will verify at the entrance gates of the trail.
One of the most important parts of organising a trek is booking your trip well in advance. This is because there are only 500 permits per day, and in some months (especially during the dry season from May until September) they can sell-out quickly. We suggest booking your Inca Trail Tour and preferred camping locations at least 4-6 months in advance to guarantee your dream hike.
It’s also vital to know the different weather seasons, and how each gives us a different type of experience. The dry season (May until September) is the most popular time to hike, with clear blue skies, no rainfall and lots of other tourists. The wet season (October until April) is much quieter, with warmer weather and showers – however it also has more beautiful green landscapes along the way given the change in climate.
Frequently Asked Questions About Where Is The Inca Trail
Below we’ll now answer some of the frequent questions we get about where is the Inca Trail, as well as anything else important that you need to know.
Where Does The Inca Trail Start And Finish?
The clear finishing point of the Inca Trail is Machu Picchu, however the starting point can be one of two depending on which trek you choose. For the Classic Four Day Inca Trail Hike it will be at Piscacucho (KM 82), whilst on the Shorter Two Day Inca Trail Trek it will be at Chachabamba (KM 104).
What Is The Closest City To The Inca Trail?
The closest city to the Inca Trail is Cusco, which is located some 91 km away from the beginning of the full trail at Piscacucho. This city shares the same history as the Inca Trail given it was the beating heart of the Inca civilization, and as such we can see many other spectacular ruins nearby such as Sacsayhuamán, Moray and those of Pisac.
How Do I Get To The Start Of The Inca Trail?
There are only two ways to reach Piscacucho (which marks the start of the Inca Trail) from Cusco, which are by either heading in a private shuttle or taxi. It’s important to remember that you’ll need to head with a licensed tour operator to be able to enter the Inca Trail anyway – so they’ll include transport to the start of the Inca Trail from Cusco.
Overview Of Where Is The Inca Trail
And that’s all for this guide on where is the Inca Trail in Peru.
This unforgettable hike is arguably one of the very best in all of the South American continent, where we will experience incredible mountainous landscapes, crumbling ruins and endemic wildlife along the trail. Given its location within the Peruvian Andes, you will first need to head to Cusco – where all hiking expeditions depart from.
Are you ready for an unforgettable hiking experience? Book in your Four Day Inca Trail Trek with us today, where you will have all meals, camping tents and high quality equipment included, as well as an expert guide to lead the way.