Is there honestly a 'fake' Inca Trail?
Oh really a fake Inca Trail!!! Each day naive travellers sign up for it and do it without even knowing they're not on the real trail. I'm here to tell you how to make sure you do the real Inca Trail, which let's be honest is what you want to do. You want four days of hiking and camping in the gorgeous valleys of Peru and then on the last morning a 6 kilometre descent down into Machu Picchu, Lost City of the Incas and the highlight of the four amazing days of hiking! First of all - if you are going to South America, I really recommend the Inca Trail. It is amazing. Second of all - make sure you do the Real Proper Inca Trail! I'm about to tell you about the fake ones that exist out there...
At the start of the proper Camino Inka / Inca Trail you will see (and probably be photographed with) a massive sign that says Inka Trail.
So how do you know if the Inca Trail you went on was a 'fake'?? (and how do you know you have done the real Inca Trail?)
1. You weren't required to show your passport on the entrance to the trail (at the start of the Real Inca Trail there is a mandatory passport check - you also have the option of getting a passport stamp)
The start of the Real Inca Trail means you need to show your passport and register at a checkpoint.
2. There wasn't a sign saying Inca Trail at the official entrance.
3. It cost you less than $150 US Dollars (the real Inca Trail just can't be done for less than that) - the real Inca Trail will cost you much more than $150 US Dollars (dependant on porters, type of tents, size of group, season etc.)
4. Your ticket doesn't have the silver hologram on it.
5. You didn't spend your 3rd night in Winay Wayna (a mountainous area with a huge campsite conveniently located just 6 kilometres from Machu Picchu - if you're doing the Real Inca Trail you'll stay here - or at least pass through it and spend a night nearby)
The visitor's centre in Winaywayna is right beside the campsite where you will probably spend your 3rd night.
6. You used a bicycle on any part of the trail (the real Inca Trail doesn't permit bicycles).
7. You arrived at Machu Picchu by bus (honestly, I met people who got a bus to Machu Picchu!! Now come on but if you get there by bus then you know it's not the real Inca Trail)
8. The night before you visited Machu Picchu you didn't stay in a tent (on the Inca Trail the only accomodation will be in tents - if you have stayed in a hotel or hostel, then it's not on the trail)
9. The night before visiting Machu Picchu you spent the night in a town called Aguas Calientes (if this happens, I feel a bit sorry for you, as you won't even have done any part of the real Inca Trail - and possibly done the Salkantay Trek instead. Sure you will love it - but remember you may have been given false information).
10. You arrived in Machu Picchu by climbing to the top of a hill (NB - When you arrive at Machu Picchu on the 4th day of the Inca Trail it will be a downward descent and you will get your first sighting of Machu Picchu on the way down in a place called Intipunku or Intipata.)
11. You finished the trip in 3 days (unless it's under special circumstances as the real hike from Qorihuayrachina to Machu Picchu will be four days - yes I know experienced hikers will do it faster, but this is the actual set route and timescale)
12. The hike you do is called the Salkantay Trek or Machu Picchu Trek (these are also great hikes by the way, but not the Real Inca Trail).
13. You've booked it the day before (There are just 400 places on the Real Inca Trail each day and it almost always sells out fast so booking the day means it's probably not the real Inca Trail.
In closing and not meaning to put a dampener on it, if any of you do another hike, that is also amazing. I'm just trying to let people know that if you want to do the proper real Inca Trail, it will be a four day hike through the hills and valleys of Peru which will end triumphantly at Machu Picchu. There are no settlements, no hotels and no transport at all during the four day hike.
So get to Cusco, get on the Inca Trail and just check it's the proper trail before you pay up and confirm everything.
Don't Stop Living!
Oh really a fake Inca Trail!!! Each day naive travellers sign up for it and do it without even knowing they're not on the real trail. I'm here to tell you how to make sure you do the real Inca Trail, which let's be honest is what you want to do. You want four days of hiking and camping in the gorgeous valleys of Peru and then on the last morning a 6 kilometre descent down into Machu Picchu, Lost City of the Incas and the highlight of the four amazing days of hiking! First of all - if you are going to South America, I really recommend the Inca Trail. It is amazing. Second of all - make sure you do the Real Proper Inca Trail! I'm about to tell you about the fake ones that exist out there...
At the start of the proper Camino Inka / Inca Trail you will see (and probably be photographed with) a massive sign that says Inka Trail.
So how do you know if the Inca Trail you went on was a 'fake'?? (and how do you know you have done the real Inca Trail?)
1. You weren't required to show your passport on the entrance to the trail (at the start of the Real Inca Trail there is a mandatory passport check - you also have the option of getting a passport stamp)
The start of the Real Inca Trail means you need to show your passport and register at a checkpoint.
2. There wasn't a sign saying Inca Trail at the official entrance.
3. It cost you less than $150 US Dollars (the real Inca Trail just can't be done for less than that) - the real Inca Trail will cost you much more than $150 US Dollars (dependant on porters, type of tents, size of group, season etc.)
4. Your ticket doesn't have the silver hologram on it.
5. You didn't spend your 3rd night in Winay Wayna (a mountainous area with a huge campsite conveniently located just 6 kilometres from Machu Picchu - if you're doing the Real Inca Trail you'll stay here - or at least pass through it and spend a night nearby)
The visitor's centre in Winaywayna is right beside the campsite where you will probably spend your 3rd night.
6. You used a bicycle on any part of the trail (the real Inca Trail doesn't permit bicycles).
7. You arrived at Machu Picchu by bus (honestly, I met people who got a bus to Machu Picchu!! Now come on but if you get there by bus then you know it's not the real Inca Trail)
8. The night before you visited Machu Picchu you didn't stay in a tent (on the Inca Trail the only accomodation will be in tents - if you have stayed in a hotel or hostel, then it's not on the trail)
9. The night before visiting Machu Picchu you spent the night in a town called Aguas Calientes (if this happens, I feel a bit sorry for you, as you won't even have done any part of the real Inca Trail - and possibly done the Salkantay Trek instead. Sure you will love it - but remember you may have been given false information).
10. You arrived in Machu Picchu by climbing to the top of a hill (NB - When you arrive at Machu Picchu on the 4th day of the Inca Trail it will be a downward descent and you will get your first sighting of Machu Picchu on the way down in a place called Intipunku or Intipata.)
11. You finished the trip in 3 days (unless it's under special circumstances as the real hike from Qorihuayrachina to Machu Picchu will be four days - yes I know experienced hikers will do it faster, but this is the actual set route and timescale)
12. The hike you do is called the Salkantay Trek or Machu Picchu Trek (these are also great hikes by the way, but not the Real Inca Trail).
13. You've booked it the day before (There are just 400 places on the Real Inca Trail each day and it almost always sells out fast so booking the day means it's probably not the real Inca Trail.
In closing and not meaning to put a dampener on it, if any of you do another hike, that is also amazing. I'm just trying to let people know that if you want to do the proper real Inca Trail, it will be a four day hike through the hills and valleys of Peru which will end triumphantly at Machu Picchu. There are no settlements, no hotels and no transport at all during the four day hike.
So get to Cusco, get on the Inca Trail and just check it's the proper trail before you pay up and confirm everything.
Don't Stop Living!
About the Author:
To find out more about the fake Inca Trail and other travel myths, tales and advice head to Jonny Blair's resourceful work, travel and lifestyle site Dont Stop Living.
