The Inca Trail as the most famous trek in the world

IT IS one of the most famous treks in the world – a four-day hike tracing the relics of a remarkable civilisation to the extraordinary Machu Picchu. which has just reopened after being closed by a mudslide earlier this year.
The Inca Trail is not for the faint-hearted – with a seemingly endless series of climbs and descents, altitude sickness, and the occasional downpour to weather – but the rewards are more than worth it.

Our group included a mix of Americans and Poles, one New Zealander and one Briton. Relatively young and fit, we took to the trail with gusto, typically completing each stage in half the allotted time.

At each break we would stop for a breather and lunch, and marvel at yet another 500-year-old ruin from an empire that stretched up and down the west side of the Andes mountain range, into modern day Chile, Bolivia and Argentina.

The trail links the holy city of Machu Picchu with the formal capital of Cusco. In the days of the Inca, scouts would have raced along this route in less than a day to pass a message from one city to the next, warning of an attack or passing on information about farming.

Watching our own porters happily skip from rock to rock, carrying almost their own bodyweight in food and camping equipment as we trudged along at half the pace and with half the weight, it was not difficult to picture their ancestors making equally light of their surroundings.

The first day was a relatively straightforward six hours, largely uphill, but on a gentle gradient. The second day – we had been warned – was the killer. Dead Woman's Pass, at 4,200ft, is the highest point on the trail. When we arrived after a two-hour climb it was easy to feel optimistic about the day ahead; surely it was all downhill from there.

Well, not exactly – we actually went downhill, then uphill again, and then downhill once more. After eight hours of alternating ascent and descent, there was a final, mammoth staircase of rocks to take us up to Sayacmarca, an old Inca base and watchtower.

Some members took one look at the steep staircase and headed on to camp. A glutton for punishment, I climbed on up and, despite my weary body, blistered hands and throbbing knees, tried to enjoy exploring a series of former rooms from where Inca soldiers would have kept watch for signs of invading armies.

One of the glories of the Inca Trail is that the altitude and distance from any major city creates the clearest skies you will ever see. Like the ancient Cambodians who built Angkor Wat, the Incas were able astronomers and the Intiwatana observatory stands at the highest point of Machu Picchu, from where they would have gazed at the stars.

The third day was mercifully shorter. The six-hour hike took us past ruins, including the former Inca village of Winay Wayna, the largest and most complete Inca site on the way to Machu Picchu.

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President Garcia encourages tourists to visit Cusco and enjoy its festivals

Peru’s president Alan Garcia Thursday encouraged world tourists to visit Cusco and be part of its religious festivals, such as the Inti Raymi.

“We want to confirm Cusco's national identity and rescue its huge historic value, we also want the whole world to continue admiring Cusco,” he said.

Garcia said he was very pleased that once again Cusco authorities chose the Government Palace to launch this initiative.

“This house is honored with the presence of you all to attend the Inty Raymi, Qoyllurit’y and the Mamacha Carmen,” he stated.

During the ceremony held at the Honor Yard of the Government Palace, Garcia stressed on the need to continue promoting Cusco's religious festivals.

credit:andina.com.pe

Inca Trail Perimits were sold out until the ends of August

Besides some inconvenients provoked the rainings in the beginning of 2010 to the whole city of Cusco Now The INC cusco give the information that the cupons for Inca Trail 4 days and 3 nights and Inca Trail 2 days and 1 Night as well were sold out For May,June,July and August

This show that the Inca Trail is one of the high demands in Peru

However there are some Treks Alternatives to Go To Machu Picchu

Salkantay trail

Inca Jungle Trail

Lares Trek as well

Below you can chek the Inca Trail Permits join to this interesting group in Facebook that show the inca trail Cupons

Inca Trail Permit

PERU AMONG TOP 10 TOURISM  COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD

ANDINA.- Peru has been included as one of the top 10 best countries in the world under five tourism categories including culture, art, natural beauty, and archeology, reported Peru’s Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister Martin Perez.

"There are different tourism categories including culture, art, natural beauty, archaeology, among others, and we rank among the top 10 countries in the world, no doubt this is a challenge," he said.

Peru ranks third worldwide in art and culture, and also occupies a leading position in natural beauty.

"We are among the best in the world under five separate categories," he emphasized.