Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Closing this February

January 25, 2016 Pirwa

The 4-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is the most famous route to Machu Picchu for good reason- it takes intrepid hikers from the Sacred Valley of the Incas up through the cloud forest and into the jungle brow, passing stunning landscapes and small, ancient archaeological sites en route to one of the most legendary sites on earth. It’s popularity does cause stress to the environment, however, and thus the trail will be closing for maintenance work from February 1^st through February 29^th. During this time, 50 workers, with archaeologists and biologists among them, will dedicate themselves to undertaking conservation work.

Normally, 200 tourists and 300 porters receive passes daily to access the trail, but each February the trail is closed in order to counteract the effects of such heavy traffic. During this time, stone paving blocks or steps which have moved with the passage of people over time will be re-positioned. Any zone whose plant life has suffered will be reforested with native species from the nursery maintained by the local tourism commission (DIRCETUR).

The campgrounds located along the trails generally suffer the most impact, so ground which has been softened by the nailing down and removal of tent stakes will be tamped down, slopes will be repaired to ensure correct water drainage, and bathrooms will be repainted. There are some tasks which won’t be concluded in February, and thus will continue into March, but without inconveniencing visitors.

If you are interested in hiking the Inca Trail in March, you can book this through our agency already, as passes to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu are often purchased months in advance (especially for months during the touristic high season, May, June, July and August, which sell out quickly).

During the four weeks of February, Machu Picchu Citadel, the ruins themselves, will remain open as normal. You can reach the ruins of Machu Picchu by train or by a combination of buses and walking. Or, you can tackle one of the popular alternative treks to Machu Picchu. Our recommendations are:

The Lares Trek
If you want your hike to offer the best possible scenery, than the Lares Trek is for you. Local guides consider it to be more picturesque than the Inca Trail.

The Salkantay Trail
This trek is more difficult than the Inca Trail, and you can expect some cold nights, but in reward you’ll enjoy great views, a more off-the-beaten-track route, and a higher probability of spotting animal life.

Inca Jungle
This is not a trek per se, but a tour which begins with downhill mountain biking into a semi-tropical valley before ascending again by hiking up little-known but original Inca trails. You’ll also zip-line across the Sacsara Valley. This tour is perfect for someone who would prefer a high-adrenaline trip and would like to experience different ecological zones.