You want to read about a 'fake' Inca Trail?
I'm here to tell you that there is a fake Inca Trail!! And every day hikers will do it unaware that's it's not the real deal. I'll tell you how to make sure you book the real Inca Trail, which is what you want to do. The real Inca Trail is 4 days trekking and then on the last morning a short descent down into Machu Picchu, the amazing Lost Inca City and the highlight of your 4 amazing days of hiking! Firstly - if you are going to South America, do the Inca Trail! It is incredible. Secondly - ensure you do the Real Proper Inca Trail! I could be exposing a travel scam here, but I really want to highlight this point to all future Inca Trail enthusiasts.
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 can you tell if the Inca Trail you have done was a 'fake'?? (and what proves you have done the real Inca Trail?)
1. You didn't have to show your passport on the entrance to the trail (at the start of the Real Inca Trail there is a compulsory passport check - you also have the option of getting a passport stamp, which I took)
At the start of the legitimate Inca Trail you will need to show your passport and register at a checkpoint.
2. You didn't see the sign saying Inca Trail at the official entrance.
3. If you paid under $150 in US Dollars (the real Inca Trail simply cannot be done for less than that) - the real Inca Trail will cost you a lot more than $150 US Dollars (depends on porters, quality of tents, number in group, time of year etc.)
4. Your ticket didn't have a shiny silver hologram on it.
5. You didn't spend your third night in Winay Wayna (a mountain area with a massive campsite deliberately located only 6 kilometres from Machu Picchu - if you're on the Real Inca Trail you will stay here - or at least pass through it and stay 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 got a bus to Machu Picchu (seriously, I met people who got a bus to Machu Picchu!! Now come on but if you get a 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 were staying night in a town called Aguas Calientes (if this happens to you, I feel a bit sorry and upset for you, as you probably didn't do any part of the real Inca Trail - you possibly done the Salkantay Hike instead. Yes you will love it - but it's probably that you were 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 did the trip in 3 days (unless under special circumstances as the proper hike from Qorihuayrachina to Machu Picchu is four days - yes of course experienced hikers can do it faster, but this is the 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 organised it the day before (There are only four hundred spaces on the Real Inca Trail each day and it usually fills up fast so booking the day before is unlikely and sounds suspicious to me).
On a final note and not to put a dampener on it, if any of you did another hike, that's also amazing. I'm just trying to highlight that if you want to do the Original Real Inca Trail, it's a four day hike through the hills and valleys which ends at Machu Picchu. No settlements, hotels or transport at all during the four days.
So get yourself to Cusco, book the Inca Trail and just be sure it's the proper trail before you pay for it and confirm everything.
Don't Stop Living!
I'm here to tell you that there is a fake Inca Trail!! And every day hikers will do it unaware that's it's not the real deal. I'll tell you how to make sure you book the real Inca Trail, which is what you want to do. The real Inca Trail is 4 days trekking and then on the last morning a short descent down into Machu Picchu, the amazing Lost Inca City and the highlight of your 4 amazing days of hiking! Firstly - if you are going to South America, do the Inca Trail! It is incredible. Secondly - ensure you do the Real Proper Inca Trail! I could be exposing a travel scam here, but I really want to highlight this point to all future Inca Trail enthusiasts.
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 can you tell if the Inca Trail you have done was a 'fake'?? (and what proves you have done the real Inca Trail?)
1. You didn't have to show your passport on the entrance to the trail (at the start of the Real Inca Trail there is a compulsory passport check - you also have the option of getting a passport stamp, which I took)
At the start of the legitimate Inca Trail you will need to show your passport and register at a checkpoint.
2. You didn't see the sign saying Inca Trail at the official entrance.
3. If you paid under $150 in US Dollars (the real Inca Trail simply cannot be done for less than that) - the real Inca Trail will cost you a lot more than $150 US Dollars (depends on porters, quality of tents, number in group, time of year etc.)
4. Your ticket didn't have a shiny silver hologram on it.
5. You didn't spend your third night in Winay Wayna (a mountain area with a massive campsite deliberately located only 6 kilometres from Machu Picchu - if you're on the Real Inca Trail you will stay here - or at least pass through it and stay 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 got a bus to Machu Picchu (seriously, I met people who got a bus to Machu Picchu!! Now come on but if you get a 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 were staying night in a town called Aguas Calientes (if this happens to you, I feel a bit sorry and upset for you, as you probably didn't do any part of the real Inca Trail - you possibly done the Salkantay Hike instead. Yes you will love it - but it's probably that you were 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 did the trip in 3 days (unless under special circumstances as the proper hike from Qorihuayrachina to Machu Picchu is four days - yes of course experienced hikers can do it faster, but this is the 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 organised it the day before (There are only four hundred spaces on the Real Inca Trail each day and it usually fills up fast so booking the day before is unlikely and sounds suspicious to me).
On a final note and not to put a dampener on it, if any of you did another hike, that's also amazing. I'm just trying to highlight that if you want to do the Original Real Inca Trail, it's a four day hike through the hills and valleys which ends at Machu Picchu. No settlements, hotels or transport at all during the four days.
So get yourself to Cusco, book the Inca Trail and just be sure it's the proper trail before you pay for it and confirm everything.
Don't Stop Living!
About the Author:
To find out more about the fake Inca Trail and other travel myths, stories and tips head to Jonny Blair's excellent work, travel and lifestyle website Dont Stop Living.