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Inca Trail Luxury Peru Trekking

By Selena Chery


Peru trekking tours on the Inca Trail are probably the only such tours where customers willing to pay are actually turned away because it's already heavily booked. This 26-mile hike through the cloud forests and the Andes, with Inca ruins and relics littered all over the place, counts as one of the world's top five treks. A last minute booking is almost impossible because permits have to be obtained and only 500 people are allowed to enter the trail each day.

The only way to ensure a memorable adventure is to book a luxury tour well in advance. These tour operators are licensed by the government to take people on guided treks on the Inca Trail. In fact, around 300 people on the trail each day are guides, porters and other staff. This means the actual number of tourists entering the trail on any given day is around 200.

It may be a bit of a reach to equate hiking through a South American jungle with luxury, but the relative difference is kind of a big deal. This means having access to chemical toilets and portable hot water showers, which the rest of the crowd will start missing dearly after a day or so. Not to mention porters to carry all the supplies, and cooks to provide lip-smacking cuisine and fine wines. There may even be a masseuse at hand, along with musicians to provide live entertainment.

None of this makes the trek any less authentic or challenging, but it does help reduce the discomforts of life in the outdoors. The luxury travel begins as soon as passengers land at the international airport in Lima. There will be stays in five star hotels and fine dining in upscale restaurants, along with a flight-class seat on a domestic flight from Lima to Cuzco.

The expedition gets underway at Qorihuayrachina, at the 88 km mark on the Cuzco-Quillabamba railway. This is the Inca Trail's starting point, with a four day hike from here to Machu Picchu. Trekkers will find themselves going through changing landscapes, as the Urubamba River banks in Cuzco give way to the sub-tropical forest and then to the incredible scenery high up in the Andes.

There are many options and variations that can be adopted to match a trekker's comfort level. The Classic Inca Trail can begin from one of many different points, including at the 82 km, 88 km and 104 km marks. This last one brings the experience down to a much easier two-day trek.

Taking the longer Mollepata route requires a more challenging seven-day trek high up in the Andes past the beautiful and snow-capped peaks of Salkantay Mountain. It's also possible to choose tours based on preferred interests. For instance, the trek could include a cultural discovery of the Sacred Valley and its numerous Inca architectural landmarks, settlements and tunnels.

The Inca Trail is bound to be the best Peru trekking experience available, regardless of whether it is the short trail, the classic one or Mollepata. It does help to smooth the harsh edges off with some luxury, so that hikers can meet the challenge of the trail without having to worry about daily needs. Those who do complete the trek and reach the Gateway of the Sun will have the grand prize of Machu Picchu awaiting them.




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