The walk to Llullucha Pampa begins with a long ascent through beautiful patches of cloud forest until you reach the high camp to spend the night in Llulluchapampa, at 3,650 meters above sea level.
There were excellent views of the impressive Huayanay Mountain during this part of the trek and I am also sure that we saw many species of orchids during our travels. There are more than 250 varieties of hummingbirds in the Machu Picchu National Park.
You will arrive at Llullucha Pampa on the third day of the Inca Trail passing through the Abra de Huarmiwanusca / Warmiwañusca (4,200 m / 13,780 ft), also known as Dead Woman's Pass, the highest point of the trek. The condition of the trail and the acclimatization to Huayhuash make the 550m ascent from the Llullucha Pampa camp easy.
Fantastic views from the pass, both towards the valley that we had ascended and towards the Pacaymayo valley, then it reaches the Pacaymayo layer (3,595 m). Then it was time to start climbing again, with the small Inca circular tambo (inn) at Runkurakay / Runccuracay (3,760 m), and then higher to reach Runkuraqay / Runccuracay Pass (3,985 m), at which point the views were a little less good, as the clouds clung to the peaks of the Vilcabamba range.
Llullucha Pampa camp on the Inca Trail
The Classic Inca Trail Tour to Machu Picchu 4 days 3 nights is undoubtedly a unique experience that a tourist can have in his life, exploring the fantastic nature, the beauty of the landscape and the archaeological sites that surround the Inca Trail. And in this magical place there are camping areas, duly marked, coded, indicated and delimited.
They are the Meskay, Hatunchaca, Wallabamba, Ayapata, Llulluchapampa, Pacaymayu, Choquicocha, Phuyupatamarca and Wiñay Huayna camps. Each of these is controlled and distributed by the Peruvian Government through its entities, and for this reason the camping sites may vary. But in Inka Trail Backpacker we frequent these camping points:
Rules on the Llullucha Pampa campsite
- During the journey, there are basic hygienic services for public use and are duly marked.
- In the last camp you can find basic showers.
- In the camping areas, there is no electricity or cell phone network, so it is recommended to take precautions.
- Bring a personal flashlight, charge your batteries in advance
- Do not leave food residues scattered on the floor, to avoid dirtying the place and altering the natural diet of wildlife.
- If any debris is found, left by someone else, please pick it up and turn it in to agency staff.
- Do not make bonfires on the Inca Trail.
The Inca Trail tour
The Inca Trail is considered the best trek in South America. It is a 43-kilometer route through ancient Inca trails to Machu Picchu. The duration of the tour is 4 days and 3 nights. Tourists have the opportunity to appreciate the scenic beauty with Inca archaeological sites including the Wonder of the World.
The ways of the Inca (Qhapac Ñan)
The Incas covered much of the South American continent. To maintain communication in such a vast territory, it was necessary to build a network of roads. Thus, the Inca ordered to build a network of roads called Qhapac Ñan (Inca Trail).
The Qhapac Ñan managed to cover up to 30 thousand kilometers from the current countries of Peru, Ecuador and part of Bolivia, Chile, Argentina and Colombia. The trekking route from the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is only a small part of the extensive network of roads of the Qhapac Ñan.
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
The Inca Trail was revealed to the world in 1915 when it was being excavated in the Inca City. Three decades later, the route was traced by the Viking expedition in 1942. Today, thousands of visitors decide to travel the 43 kilometers to the 'Puerta del Sol' in Machu Picchu.
However, Machu Picchu is not the only archaeological site that you will see on the Inca Trail. On the tour you will also appreciate the ruins of Llactapata, the archaeological site of Runkurakay, Saycamarca, Phuyupatamarca and Wiñaywayna.
Versions of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Not all people have the days necessary to travel the Inca Trail (4 days and 3 nights). That is why there are 2 versions depending on the time you have:
- Classic 4 day Inca Trail Tour: 4 days and 3 nights (43 kilometers of walking).
- Short 2 day Inca Trail: 2 days and 1 night (12 kilometer walk).
- Machu Picchu 3 day hike
- 2 day Inca Trail with camping
- One day Inca Trail
How is the tour of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu?
The Inca Trail shows rugged geographies with ascents and descents next to cliffs. The mountains reach great heights with rugged stretches. In the jungle areas you will see the variety of shades of green tropical forests.
Day 1: Cusco - Wayllabamba (13 kilometers)
The Inca Trail begins at kilometer 82 of the railway that leads to Machu Picchu (2 hours and 30 minutes by bus from the city of Cusco). Then the ascent to the Cusichaca valley will begin. The visitor will go through the Llactapata ruins (2,840 masl) until reaching the town of Huayllabamba (3,057 masl).
Day 2: Wayllabamba - Pacaymayo (11 kilometers)
The second day is the most difficult due to physical demand. The tourist will ascend to the Warmiwañuska ('Dead Woman's Pass'). This is the highest point of the route (4,215 m.a.s.l.). From this point it is possible to see the Runkurakay archaeological site (3,760 masl).
Day 3: Pacaymayo - Wiñay Huayna (16 kilometers)
On the third day, the descent will be vertiginous to the Pacaymayo river valley. The section goes down a steep slope of almost 1,600 meters to the Sayaqmarca compound (3,625 masl). Here the view is extraordinary.
Day 4: Wiñay Huayna - Machu Picchu (3 kilometers)
The last day hides some of the best Inca samples: Phuyupatamarka, Wiñaywayna. Upon leaving these ruins, a gradual descent will be undertaken which will become more complicated in the end. Finally, you will arrive at Intipunku or Puerta del Sol. From there you will walk for another 30 minutes to the Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu.
After visiting Machu Picchu, the visitor returns to Cusco through a train and bus service. The duration of the trip is approximately 3 hours. These services are included in the tours to the Inca Trail.
About tickets to enter the Inca Trail
Due to the high demand for tickets, you must get the entrance tickets to the Inca Trail well in advance (6 months). The purchase is made only online through the website of an authorized tourism agency.
In total 500 people enter the trails of the Inca Trail every day. Of these, only 200 are tourists. The rest are support staff such as cooks, porters, guides. The ticket to enter the Inca Trail includes support staff.
Did not find availability to do the Inca Trail? The only way to enter the Wonder of the World is by train through the Sacred Valley of the Incas or by the alternative route from Santa María to Machu Picchu. Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu must also be reserved in advance.
