peru-8-cuzco-sacred-valley

views of the snowcapped Nevado Verónica
(5750m).
Wayllabamba is situated near the fork
of Ríos Llullucha and Cusichaca. The trail
crosses the Río Llullucha, then climbs steeply
up along the river. This area is known as
Tres Piedras (Three White Stones/3300m),
though these boulders are no longer visible.
From here it is a long, very steep 3km climb
through humid woodlands.
The trail eventually emerges on the high,
bare mountainside of Llulluchupampa
(3750m), where water is available and the
flats are dotted with campsites, which get
very cold at night. This is as far as you can
reasonably expect to get on your first day,
though many groups will actually spend
their second night here.
From Llulluchupampa, a good path up
the left-hand side of the valley climbs for
a two- to three-hour ascent to the pass of
Warmiwañusca, also colorfully known as
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‘Dead Woman’s Pass.’ At 4200m above sea
level, this is the highest point of the trek,
and leaves many a seasoned hiker gasping.
From Warmiwañusca, you can see the Río
Pacamayo (Río Escondido) far below, as well
as the ruin of Runkurakay halfway up the
next hill, above the river.
The trail continues down a long and kneejarringly
steep descent to the river, where
there are large campsites at Paq’amayo. At
an altitude of about 3600m, the trail crosses
the river over a small footbridge and climbs
toward Runkurakay (3750m; Egg-Shaped
Building), a round ruin with superb views.
It’s about an hour’s walk away.
Above Runkurakay, the trail climbs to a
false summit before continuing past two
small lakes to the top of the second pass
at 3950m, which has views of the snowladen
Cordillera Vilcabamba. You’ll notice
a change in ecology as you descend from
this pass – you’re now on the eastern, Amazon
slope of the Andes and things immediately
get greener. The trail descends to the
ruin of Sayaqmarka (Dominant Town), a
tightly constructed complex perched on a
small mountain spur, which offers incredible
views. The trail continues downward
and crosses an upper tributary of the Río
Aobamba (Wavy Plain).
The trail then leads on across an Inca
causeway and up a gentle climb through
some beautiful cloud forest and an Inca
Inca Trail
æ Sights
1 Inca Tunnel ............................................B3
2 Intipata ...................................................A2
3 Intipunku................................................ B1
4 Llactapata..............................................D3
5 Machu Picchu........................................ A1
6 Phuyupatamarka ..................................A2
7 Q'ente .....................................................D3
8 Runkurakay............................................B3
9 Sayaqmarka ..........................................B3
10 Wiñay Wayna.........................................B2
ÿ Sleeping
11 Llulluchupampa Campground............C3
12 Machu Picchu Sanctuary
Lodge................................................... A1
13 Paq'amayo Campground.....................B3
14 Phuyupatamarka Campground..........B2
15 Sayaqmarka Campground..................B3
16 Wiñay Wayna Campground.................A2
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Cuzco & the Sacred Valley M T H AC E H I N U I K C P E A I C T C R H A I U L & T H E I N C A T R A I L