THE INCA ROAD TO MACHU PICCHU: AN ADVENTURE WALK

Inca Trail or Lares Trek? Tierras Vivas acquires the classic theme. Follow this amazing post and be surprised where it will take you!

Of those who work for Tierras Vivas worldwide, few are better able to answer that question than Alistair Butchers, innovation manager for active and family trips. Then we asked him and he answered us.

Wine or beer? Cats or Dogs? Sea or mountain? Beatles or Stones? These are the difficult questions in life for which there is no unambiguous answer (except the last one: Stones, of course). And the same goes for a question that we are asked all the time: "I want to see Machu Picchu. Should I go on the Inca Trail or the Lares trek?" Well, both classic walks lead to the same incredible destination and both are a wonderful way to get there

The Inca Trail is undoubtedly the most famous of the two. It opened years before Lares Trek and is extremely popular with travelers from all over the world. It begins at km 82 at an altitude of 2,700 m (8,858 ft) and its highest point is 4,215 m (13,828 ft) at the Warmiwañusca Pass ("Dead Woman").

Meanwhile, due to high demand, only a maximum of 500 trekking permits are issued daily for the Inca Trail. Although there are also times when you are practically alone on the road, but in the busiest sections and camps, it can sometimes be full.

The Lares Trek is much less crowded, so it will sometimes seem like you have the mountains for you. The Lares Trek starts at 3,200 m (10,499 ft) and takes it to a maximum of 4,600 m (15,092 ft). However, the upper layers also mean thinner air. Therefore, you should pay attention to the signs of altitude sickness. Unfortunately, there is no way to know in advance if you will be affected, but as long as you follow your own pace and drink enough fluid, you generally should not have any problems. Unlike the Inca Trail, the Lares Trek has no permit limit, but not many hikers at the moment.

It is difficult to say which of the two routes is more difficult. The Inca Trail has more ascents and descents, but you follow the Lares trek at a higher altitude. Both pose their own challenges.

Other Inca Trail Options

• Inca Trail Tours 2020

• Short Inca Trail

• Inca Trail With Camping

Campsites

Inca Trail Due to the permit system, the Inca Trail is more regulated. This also applies to campsites, where there are designated places where tents can be placed. The good news is that some of these places have bathrooms and showers, cold showers, no doubt, but still an opportunity to wash and cool off.

Lares trek. Camping in Lares Trek is much less regulated, which means that after the first night in a campground sponsored by Planeterra there are almost no sanitary facilities available. But here you can enjoy the atmosphere of staying near small settlements, where locals hope to see you and give you an idea of ​​life in their village.

Inca Trail Both routes have their own perspectives. The Inca Trail offers you a historic route to Machu Picchu, where you will pass numerous ancient Inca ruins on the slopes to your left and right, discovering a fascinating history every day.

Lares trek. Although you can find ruins in Lares Trek, they are much less numerous and are not a great hike. Instead, you get plenty of fresh mountain air, deep lakes and steep peaks. Although occasionally you will see farms and villages, here a sense of isolation predominates. Lares Trek feels more like life in Peru today, while the Inca Trail takes you through the ancient history of the region.

Lares Trek and Inca Trail

• Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

• Salkantay and Inca Trail

Conclusion

So what route would I take now if I had to choose? This is more difficult to answer than the question of the best English band of the 60s. I would say that it is impossible to answer because both routes address me in very different ways. The first view of Machu Picchu from the Sonnentor (on the Inca Trail) is unbeatable, but you should not miss the view of the high Andean peaks of Lares Trek. At the end of the day, you must decide for yourself what you prefer.