Some interesting facts about the Inca Trail
Machu Picchu is also known by the name 'The Lost City of the Incas' because it remained lost for many years
It is believed that the city of Machu Picchu was built in approximately 1450 AD at the height of the Incan Empire
Why Machu Picchu was built still remains a mystery - religious reasons, mountain retreat ?
It is believed that small pox introduced by the Spanish wiped out the inhabitants of MP
The walls were constructed in ashlar masonry, a typical style used by the Incan Empire. The stones were polished, shaped and fitted together without the need for mortar
140 buildings still remain at MP including sanctuaries, temples, houses
There are complex sundials located at MP
The Inca Trail was discovered by Hiram Bingham when performing cleaning work between 1,913 and 1,915
The trail starts from Kilometre 82 (82km along the railway line from Cuzco to Aguas Calientes) and is 26 miles (43km) long
500 Inca Trail permits are issued per day; roughly 300 of these are used by cooks, porters and guides, leaving 200 permits a day for trekkers
You can only get a permit one year in advance
Permits do sell out
The highest point on the Inca Trail is Dead Woman’s Pass at 4,215m
The Spanish conquistadors arrived in Cusco when they were amazed at the perfection and finish of the roads
Roads were built by men on foot
The roads were useless for the Spanish, as the horses fell on the stairs
Over the course of the 4-day trek, the trail passes through mist-shrouded cloud forest, open meadows and rainforest
Today you can travel by tour bus and trail to MP without the trek
Machu Picchu attracts tourism from all over the world. It is Peru's biggest tourist spot
All photos taken with my iPhone 6