Where does the Inca Trail star?
When you have made the decision to hike the Inca Trail, you will have many questions about the trek and one of the most common is where our adventure will begin. In this article we will explain the places that you will see at the beginning of your journey.
Kilometer 82 – Piskacucho
The Inca Trail starts at kilometer 82 of the Cusco-Quillabamba railway, in the town of Piskacucho, also known as km 82. The trailhead is located about 82 kilometers (51 miles) from the city of Cusco, which is the starting point for most people who hike the Inca Trail. It’s possible to reach km 82 by bus or train from Cusco, the journey takes around 4 hours by bus or around 3 hours by train.
Entrance at Kilometer 82
At km 82, when you arrive at this entrance point, you will be asked for certain documents: your permit and to show your passport to the park guards to start your hike along the Inca Trail.
In this part of the trail, you will also be inspected for the weight that your team of porters will be carrying. After checking the documents, you will be ready to start your trek.
After checking the documents, we can start our adventure through Andean landscapes, such as mountains, cloud forests and subtropical jungle.
The trail crosses different ecological levels, passes through three high mountain passes and will take you to the Sun Gate, which is located above Machu Picchu, this is where hikers will have the first glimpse of Machu Picchu and finally the final destination of our adventure.
