Don’t Fall For The Bogus Inca Trail says Jonny Blair, author of the excellent e-Book “The Backpackers Guide to the Inca Trail” which is available to buy ahead of hiking the Inca trail.

You want to read about a ‘fake’ Inca Trail?

Backpackers Guide to the Inca Trail

Oh really a fake Inca Trail!!! Each day naive travellers sign up for it and do it without even knowing they’re not on the real trail. I’m here to tell you how to make sure you do the real Inca Trail, which let’s be honest is what you want to do.

You want four days of hiking and camping in the gorgeous valleys of Peru and then on the last morning a 6 kilometre descent down into Machu Picchu, Lost City of the Incas and the highlight of the four amazing days of hiking! First up – if you are going to South America, please DON’T MISS THE INCA TRAIL.

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 weren’t required or even asked to show your passport on the entrance to the cool Inca 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) 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.

4. Have a look at your entrance ticket and you will find a hologram on it if it is real.

5. You have to love Winay Wayna on the final night. The visitor’s centre in Winaywayna is right beside the campsite where you will probably spend your 3rd night.

6. You were on a bicycle/bike on any part of the trail (the proper Inca Trail doesn’t permit bicycles).

7. You arrived at Machu Picchu by bus (honestly, I met people who got a bus to Machu Picchu!! Now come on but if you get there by 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 accommodation 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 rock n roll ice cool 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 and AC is a nice spot- but it’s probable 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 book it the day before (There are only 400 places on the Real Inca Trail each day and it normally fills up fast so booking the day before 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.

You will love the Inca Trail – head to Peru and get it done! But don’t fall for the fake one!!

Suss out the wonderful <a href=”http://tinyurl.com/ouwv9wx”>Backpacking Inca Trail guide</a> from this cool travel blog which shows you the best method to <a href=”http://tinyurl.com/opgmpkq”>hike the Inca Trail</a> Click here for other <a href=’http://www.uberarticles.com/home.php?id=11743825′>unique inca trail articles</a>.