Fishing Frenzy

What do you mean there is 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 do you know if the Inca Trail you went on was a 'fake'?? (and how do you know you have done the real Inca Trail?)

1. You weren't required to show your passport on the entrance to the trail (at the start of the Real Inca Trail there is a mandatory passport check - you also have the option of getting a passport stamp)

The start of the Real Inca Trail means you need to show your passport and register at a checkpoint.

2. You missed 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 doesn't have the silver hologram on it.

5. You didn't spend your 3rd night in Winay Wayna (a mountainous area with a huge campsite conveniently located just 6 kilometres from Machu Picchu - if you're doing the Real Inca Trail you'll stay here - or at least pass through it and spend a night 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. If you took a bus to Machu Picchu (seriously, I met people who went on a bus to Machu Picchu!! Now come on but if you get a bus then you know it's can't be the real Inca Trail)

8. On the night before visiting Machu Picchu you don't even stay in a tent (on the Inca Trail the only accomodation is camping in tents - if you stayed in a hotel or hostel, you weren't on the trail)

9. The night before visiting Machu Picchu you spent the night in a town called Aguas Calientes (if this happens, I feel a bit sorry for you, as you won't even have done any part of the real Inca Trail - and possibly done the Salkantay Trek instead. Sure you will love it - but remember you may have been 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 finished the trip in 3 days (unless it's under special circumstances as the real hike from Qorihuayrachina to Machu Picchu will be four days - yes I know experienced hikers will do it faster, but this is the actual 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).

To finalise and not to put a downer on it, if any of you did actually do another hike, that's also amazing I'm sure. I'm just trying to let others know that if you want to do the Original Real Inca Trail, it's a four day hike through the hills and valleys which comes to an end at Machu Picchu. No settlements in between, no hotels or no transport at all during the four day hike.

So get to Cusco, get on the Inca Trail and just check it's the proper trail before you pay up and confirm everything.

Don't Stop Living!