Sunday, April 21, 2013

Following The Inca Trail To Machu Picchu

By Clinton Gunia


One of the most complicated and intriguing ancient civilizations of all once hailed from the great South American continent. It left behind a legacy steeped in mystery and wonder including mesmerizing artwork, evidence of scientific advancement, unbelievable structures and a network of trails connecting their many cities. The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu has become one of the most sought after vacation destinations.

With over 40,000 kilometers of trails connecting the various points of their vast empire, the Inca were persistent planners. Their influence reached as far north as Ecuador, as far south as Chile and as far inland as Argentina. There were many important cities within this civilization with Cuzco being the main metropolis.

The extensive network of travel ways is interesting as a whole, but it is the 43 kilometers through Peru that has become increasingly popular as a vacation option. It connects a number of important archaeological locations as it winds over the great Andes mountains, ending at the historical site of Machu Picchu. The trek is literally one breathtaking view after another laden with historical significance.

Very popular with hikers and those with a keen interest in archeology and ancient civilizations, the requests for treks along this mountain stretch have continually increased over the last few decades. Traveling across the Peruvian Andes, visitors encounter numerous breathtaking views and experience tastes of both the wilds of the jungle and the majesty of the rain forest. These trips are in great demand though access to this area is strictly controlled.

The government of Peru is dedicated to preserving the integrity and beauty of these amazing archaeological landmarks and a large part of that is by strictly controlling the number of people allowed to enter the area at any given time. Anyone trekking the trail must be granted a permit and all guides are required to hold the appropriate licenses. Only a select few companies are actually authorized to offer this vacation option.

Preservation of this treasured trail and all the stops along it is paramount to the Peruvian government so they keep tight control on access to it. No more than 500 permits are issued on any given day and this number includes all tourists, guides and all support staff. Treks run fairly regularly all year, except the month of February which is when they tend to various conservation projects and take care of routine maintenance needs.

Treks are offered in two, four and seven day lengths though only a specified number of tours are allowed per month. Because of the imbalance between the high volume of people who are seeking this experience and the limited amount of positions that are available, interested parties have to begin their bid for permits many months in advance. The process by which they are obtained is a rather complicated one.

The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a by-permit-only vacation destination that is only obtainable through a highly regulated process. Even the trekking organizations have to compete in a lottery type of activity if they wish to be granted access to the site throughout the year. In order to gain permission to travel this journey, applicants will first need to meet strict passport requirements.




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