When you sign up for the Inca Trail Tours, not only are you going to be hiking in one of the most naturally beautiful parts of the world, but you will also be able to explore remnants of the great Inca civilization throughout the entire Inca Trial Tours. For multiple days in a row, trekkers of the Inca Trail Tour will be passing through ancient military check points along the Inca Tail, as well as be able to explore Inca temples and ceremonial locations. The Inca Trail Tours are a truly unique chance to trek as well as be able to get a glimpse into the lives of the Inca people.
Llaqtapata
On the first day of your Classic 4 Days Inca Trail you will pass by the Inca site of Llaqtapata. In the traditional language of Quechua, Llaqta means place, and Pata means elevated or above. The view of this location from your Inca Trail Tour is spectacular. After you begin your Inca Trail journey you will come walking to this location after the first few hours, and you will get your first glimpse from high above Llaqtapata so you will get a really good perspective of this Inca location.
Runkuraqay
After you conquer the first mountain pass of the Inca Trail Tour on the second day, half way up the second pass you will come across the Inca location of Runkuraqay. The meaning of the name comes from the Quechua words, runku which translates to the word basket, and raqay which translates to the word shed. The oval shape of this inca location is very unique and noticable from a distance. Trekkers have nicknamed this location the Egg Hut. The views that one can experience from Runkuraqay are breath taking and one of the most beautiful places to take pictures on your Inca Trail Tours.
Sayaqmarka
The Inca location of Sayaqmarka, which can translate to Dominant Town, is one of the bigger Inca sites you will have chance to explore on your Inca Trail Tour. You come to this place later on the second day of hiking The Classic 4 Days Inca Trail One of the most noticable features of this location is the Temple of the Sun. A huge rounded room built in complete alignment like most Inca sites, with the movements of the Sun and the stars. Sayaqmarka has been called a fortress, and as you start to explore around this site you will have a chance to understand why. On your Inca Trail Tours, the Inca ruins of Sayaqmarka will be a highlight of your trek.
Phuyupatamarka
Just after you get over the third pass on your Inca Trail Tour, you will come to very impressive Inca site of Phuyupatamarka. Known as the Cloud-level Town, this location has some pretty interesting features to its architecture. This location has the typical Inca terraces as most sites have, but what sticks out about this location is the waterways, channels and five ceremonial baths that can be seen still to this day circulating freshwater from the mountains. In ancient times people on their pilgrimage to the holy sanctuary of Machu Picchu would have to pass through this location to cleanse themselves before entering into the great city of Machu Picchu.
Intipata
While on the Inca Trail Tour you will be trekking through many Inca sites. Most of all the sites found on the Inca Trail Tour however are ceremonial locations or military checkpoints. The Inca site of Intipata, or the Sun Place, is one of the only Inca sites along the Inca Trail that seems to have had a focus on agriculture. The huge Inca terraces were most likely used to supply food to the nearby Machu Picchu. This site is also a really good location to see a very rare orchid growing in its natural enviroment.
Wiñawayna
One of the bigger Inca sites you will get a chance to explore on your Inca Trail Tour. Wiñawayna which translates to Forever Young in Quechua was only recently discovered in the 1940´s. The entire mountainside seems to have been built for agriculture with a few temples located towards the top of the site. With many waterways and over 15 ceremonial baths, it is very likely this location was a religious and ceremonial location for water. Wiñawayna is considered Machu Picchu´s neighbor as the holy city is very close by.
Inti Punku
The Inca Trail Tours concludes on the fourth day of the trek. Hikes will wake up very early in the morning before the sun has come up so they can get to Inti Punku or the Sun Gate, right as the first rays of sunlight hit Machu Picchu. When you arrive at the Sun Gate, this will be your first glimpse of the holy sanctuary of Machu Picchu. Inti Punku also has a section of the Inca Trail that has been nicknamed by trekkers and travelers, the Gringo Killer. This is a section of stairs that are border line vertical and more like a ladder than a staircase. Once you climb the Gringo Killer however you will be rewarded with the most beautiful view of the surrounding mountains, the river below, and the sacred Inca site of Machu Picchu. From Inti Punku its about an hour hike down to Machu Picchu
