The Inca Trail and three alternative climbs to Machu Picchu

“Intihuatana”- Stein

In the detailed view of a map of Peru, common sense quickly raises the question of why the Incas did not simply travel along the Urubamba River to Machu Pcchu. Recent historical research has an interesting answer: the trip to Machu Picchu could have been more than a practical route to a desired destination. Much more likely it was a ceremonial pilgrimage.

Some researchers believe that the Inca Trail was supposed to trace the legendary “celestial” journey of the first Inca after leaving the “Isla del Sol” on Lake Titicaca. Other scientists believe that the inconvenience, but also the dazzling beauty of the Inca Trail, should adequately prepare travelers for the sight and entrance of Machu Picchu. Both interpretations agree that this part of the Inca road system was designed with special attention to dramatic moments; Similar to a good script, the road offers many unexpected twists and vistas before finding its happy ending at the top of Machu Picchu. As a highlight, the final section of the pilgrimage could have ended with climbing the steps to Intihuatana Stone, the highest point within the ruins of Machu Picchu.

In fact, the historic Inka Trail, built more than 500 years ago, is much longer than the famous hiking trail of the same name. It is a trail system of approximately 22,500 km long in the northwest and south of America, connecting the main cities of the once powerful Inca empire. This original Inca Trail started north of the capital of Ecuador, Quito, then passed through Peru and Bolivia and continued south of Santiago, the capital of Chile. At the height of the still traceable road it extends up to 5,000 m above sea level. In some places, suspension bridges led to valleys and rivers.

Chaski

The purpose of the connection was to ensure a smooth communication between the locations of the Inca Empire. Therefore, the Inca Trail was used mainly by the so-called Chasquis or Chaskis, the messengers of the Incas who were able to deliver messages and objects quickly and efficiently. Historians assume that the chaskis could travel tens of miles per day. This is an even unimaginable feat for the Peruvians of today, not to mention the Central European walker, who first has to get used to altitude differences. At the same time, the Inca Trail was also covered in charged llamas that could travel more than 25 kilometers per day.

Runners and travelers along the Inca Trail found the so-called “Tambos”, shelters and rest areas, which were also used by soldiers and merchants, and which were far from the residential areas.

Tambo-Ruine mit offener Herdstelle

Sometimes they were just small houses with a kitchen facility (the so-called Haskiwaski), sometimes whole residential complexes with maize and dry-warehouses, stables to spend the night for animals and nearby aqueducts for water supply. Some tambos also had bureaucratic aims and were permanently provided with Inca “officials” who controlled and recorded the flow of goods and storage. Along the Inca Trail, the Incas have also cultivated fruit trees to provide travelers with fresh fruits.

(Today, tourists no longer depend on the tambos for their trek to Machu Picchu, and there are always one or two chefs on the tours, most of them preparing delicious Peruvian specialties).

As the Incas did not yet know the writing system, the messengers delivered their messages verbally or by “Quipus”, cables with a complex system of knots of different colors. Each combination of color and knot had its own fixed meaning; They were easy to transport and resistant to the weather. Even in case of an attack, the quibus could provide information about the location and type of conflict.

The cornerstone of the Inca Trail was the city of Cuzco, which played a similar role for the Inca Empire as Rome in the Roman Empire. Tragically, it was the perfect infrastructure, which finally brought the Spanish conquerors from one Inca site to another, despite the inhospitable Andes. It is surprising that Machu Picchu, obviously, remained intact despite its participation in the public highway system. Most likely Machu Picchu was a retreat of the Inca elite and, therefore, generally less frequented, unlike what happens today, when the Peruvian government pays employees to keep the Inca Trail free of overgrowth and tourists free for Machu Picchu.

Now known as the Inca Trail, the route from Cuzco to Machu Picchu is one of the most famous climbing routes in the world, where the route and destination are equally impressive. It lasts four to five days, with much time being preferred for the longest and the shortest. From the snowy Andes, the trail meanders through the fertile Amazon jungle through immaculate and impressive terrain. Even if the
The new Inca Trail is just under 43 kilometers long, characterized by extreme elevation differences, but also dozens of Inca ruins, a fascinatingly diverse flora and fauna and unique views of the Andes mountains.

Very important: for the Inca Trail, you must be in good physical shape and rested, and have the proper trekking equipment. Even if the Inca Trail is constantly inspected and maintained, it is not easy to climb in all places. Between one and two meters wide, a part is secured with stones and provides a very solid surface; but in other places it is just a dusty dirt road, which can also climb uphill.

For environmental reasons, the Peruvian government only allows 500 people per day on the classic Inca Trail (for other more flexible alternatives, see below). Therefore, tours are often booked up to three months in advance. Therefore, A and O is a timely online booking with a provider of choice.

There are an impressive number of Inca sites along the Inca Trail.

For the most part, the first day leads comfortably along the Urubamba River to head in the early afternoon to the ruins of Patallacta. These terraced remains of a town were built at the same time as Machu Picchu and are an excellent resting place for the first night in a tent.

Those who still spend their leisure time in the twilight hours, left on a short tour of the ruins. Most tour guides have flashlights for this purpose. The excursion in the night has its meaning, the Incas built many of their buildings according to astronomical principles, as can be seen in Machu Picchu. In the solar temple of Patallacta, two east-facing windows at different times of the year repeatedly frame other stellar constellations (in June, for example, the Boreal Crown), which apparently had specific meanings within Inca mythology.

The second day on the Inca Trail follows Patallacta on the route already described by the scientific explorer of Machu Picchu, Hiram Bingham, in the National Geographic magazine: “The ruins of an ancient Inca road driven out of the valley towards Machu Picchu”. day, the physical challenge posed by the Inca Trail becomes clear: today more than a kilometer and a half elevation is achieved, with experienced guides always storing coca leaves, the remedies for diseases of the thousand-year-old Peruvian mountains.

The next, third day leads to Warmiwanusca, also known as Dead Woman’s Pass, at 4,200m, the highest point of the Inca Trail.

Here, after a long look towards the mountains, the subtropical forest also begins. Mysterious ruins, probably ceremonial sanctuaries or guard posts, begin to line the road. Rucu Raccay, one of the most famous structures, was also discovered by Hiram Bingham and seems to trace the outline of a butterfly.

During the third day of travel on the Inca Trail on the way to Machu Picchu, there are two other impressive Inca ruins waiting for travelers: Sayacmarca, which rises dramatically from the fog like a sailboat suddenly appearing in the covered ocean and Phuyupatamarca, famous for its cascading stone baths.

There is also usually a camp for the night, since here it offers the best view of the morning during the entire Inca Trail, before it goes to the final stretch of Machu Picchu. At dawn and, with a bit of luck, clear skies, there is an impressive view of the Salcantay in front of the traveler, one of the most sacred mountains of the Inca cosmology, which has also left many signs in Machu Picchu. In addition, you can marvel at other peaks around, some green, some with ice caps. For the Incas, the mountains were gods, sacred places and a similar plateau, the opportunity to stop in the midst of this sacred presence.

Machu Picchu is still hidden from view, but only separated by a peak. Now go back down about 900 meters. The road leads through a stone tunnel that the Incas have worked through a cliff without metal tools to the huge sinuous stone terraces of Wiñay Wayna.

Winay Wayna

If the traveler did not know that Machu Picchu is really close, he could easily hold Wiñay Wayna by the end of the trip. Translated, Wiñay Wayna means “always young”, probably in reference to the many pink orchids that populate the place and give it their own poetry.

The place itself is also magical due to its location: it overlooks the Urubamba River; On a hill above falls a waterfall. In general, the water, as in Machu Picchu, obviously played an important role in this Inca site. Fifteen dedicated baths, built in a special sequence, suggest Wiñay Wayna as a spiritual center, worshiping water as a sacred means, possibly a last chance for pilgrims heading to Machu Picchu to take a ritual cleansing bath.

Later that day, the traveler arrives at a stone staircase that leads to a dense section of tropical forest. Once you have climbed, the objective of the Inca Trail extends before your eyes: Machu Picchu, the ancient fortress of the Incas, is presented from this perspective and with the correct light as an impressive white stone city.