Alternative treks to the Inca Trail to reach Machu Picchu

Since 2005, the Peruvian government has put a maximum of 500 tourists per day whom are allowed to begin the Inca Trail, to reach the no less famous Machu Picchu. An experience that inside 4 days takes us from Cusco (the starting point) to the lost city of the Incas.

The actual amount of travelers who can take the trail each day does not exceed 200, since the rest of the quota is taken up by the necessary personnel including guides, cooks and porters.

For the summer which begins shortly, the quota has already been covered. Travelers who had plans to take this route during summer will have to look at other options, or wait until the new spring season (austral) that begins in September.

A little more effort is needed on this as the road begins with the arrival to the villa of Lucmapampa and from there by a road paved through coffee plantations. You can visit the archaeological complex of Llactapata (2700 masl), which for the most part is covered by giant trees. You can see how the roots of the trees have been invaded the original Incan walls, which gives us an idea how the first explorers found it.

Here we have our first views of the great city of the Incas: Machu Picchu and the impressive Urubamba Canyon. Going down to the station you must continue by train to Aguas Calientes (2000 m). In  general people spend the night here, and take advantage of the hot springs.

From here, the route is similar to that of the Inca Trail since the transfer to Machu Picchu is done in conjunction, usually by bus.