The Inca Trail among the world's top 5 walks

The human being since ancient times has sought to explore the world in which he lives, eager for knowledge, aware of how much there is to discover and this has resulted in every corner of the planet being explored, with virtually nothing left to discover. However, experienced travelers and explorers have made comparisons between the different trekking routes currently available, and here we present a detailed guide.

Location:

The Inca Trail is located in the Cusco region, south east of the Peruvian territory, in South America. This route is part of an immense communication network built over 500 years ago by the Inca civilization, which at the time of glory had an approximate length of 60.00 kilometers. The walk begins at kilometer 82 of the railway that connects the towns of Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes, and ends at the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, after four days of trek.

Attractions:

The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu is located in the middle of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, a natural park with more than 35.00 hectares that contains up to thirteen different climatic floors, each with its own flora and fauna, which is why you can appreciate numerous species of orchids, birds, bears, foxes, and many more. There are also numerous Inca remains along the route, such as observation towers, villages, cultivation platforms, walls and roads, among others.

Difficulty level:

It is considered as intermediate in its level of difficulty, because in the first days of the walk you must go through high passes, being the highest of them the so-called 'Pass of the Dead Woman' or Warmihuañuska in Quechua, located more than 4 200 m.a.s.l, however, with the proper acclimatization and preparation any traveler can take this route.

Weather:

The high season occurs during the months of May to October, these being the best months to take the walk. The rainy season is from December to March, and int February the route is closed for preventive maintenance.

Location:

The GR-20 or Grande Randonneé 20 (Great Walk) is an approximately a 15-day tour on the island of Corsica, located off the French coast in the Mediterranean Sea. This tour crosses this island from north to south and is composed of ten to fifteen stages or sections, in which you walk from seven to eight hours daily.

Attractions:

The island has a very particular geography because in it you can find high mountains, steep valleys and deep lakes. It is considered one of the most beautiful walking routes in Europe.

Difficulty level:

Due to its rugged geography, this ‘Grande Randonneé - 20’ hike is considered of high difficulty and suitable for expert walkers, however with proper preparation and acclimatization any traveler can do it.

Weather:

The climate of the island is very hot and humid in the coastal area, however it should be considered that in the center of the island there are mountains such as Monte Cinto (2 706 m.a.s.l) and other high mountains that can present rainy conditions or even snow in the middle of the summer season.

Location:

Mount Everest is located on the borders of China and Nepal, in the Himalayas mountain range. The highest mountain in the world has two base camps from which you can start the ascent to the summit. This hike does not seek to reach the top of the mountain but rather reach the southern base camp, located at an altitude of 5 364 m.a.s.l. To get to the southern base camp you must travel to the Nepalese city of Lukla and from this point start the walk.

You can also access the northern base camp, but you must first process a permit or visa before the authorities of the People's Republic of China, which makes this route the least traveled.

Attractions:

The Sagarmatha National Park, in Nepal, has an extension of 1 148 square km and within its attractions are four of the six highest mountains in the world: Mount Everest (8 848 m.a.s.l.), Mount Lhotse (8 516 m.a.s.l.), Mount Makalu (8 470 m.a.s.l.) and Mount Cho Oyu (8 201 m.a.s.l.).

Difficulty level:

This hike is considered an intermediate difficulty, usually you walk between four to eight hours per day for 13 days, and take an extra day or two to acclimatize to the altitude. The walk begins between valleys and gradually ascends more and more, being altitude sickness one of the main obstacles to consider. Many travelers do not reach the southern base camp, due to problems with soroche or altitude sickness.

Weather:

The best months of the year for this trek are given before the arrival of the Monsoon, that is, during the months of March, April and May or after the same, that is, from September to November. The weather in this part of the world can change unpredictably, so a very valuable recommendation would never be to rely on weather conditions.

Location:

Torres del Paine National Park is located at the southern tip of Chile, the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic region in Patagonia. It comprises an area of 1 814 Km².

Attractions:

The Patagonia region has is unique, due to its peculiar geography and location, in the southern tip of South America considered by some travelers as the end of the world. Here you can find beautiful lakes, such as Gray Lake and Gray Glacier, as well as having colorful valleys and impressive viewpoints. One of the most representative icons of this National Park is the Paine Massif also called Torres del Paine are the distinctive three granite peaks of the Paine mountain range, a granite rock formation of 48 000 years old.

Difficulty level:

This hike is considered intermediate-high level, however the area has an advanced tourist infrastructure that will allow you to access all the facilities to acclimatize as well as to perform the physical effort.

Weather:

The best months to visit Torres del Paine National Park are between the months of December to March, which is the high season, during which you have sunny days and good weather. However, you can also do the walk in the winter season, but with abundant presence of snow and very cold, common in this part of the planet.

Location:

Le Mont Blanc (in French) or Monte Bianco (in Italian) is a mountain located on the border boundaries of France, Italy and Switzerland, whose name in Spanish means ‘White Mountain’. Its official altitude is 4, 810 m.a.s.l. and there is a controversy as to which country the mountain summit belongs to, since the French authorities consider that the top is part of the French territory while the Italian government considers in turn that the top is part of the territory of their country.

Attractions:

Crossing the European Alps is a unique and attractive experience, crossing beautiful valleys and walking through the peaks of high mountains. During the route, the traveler rests in picturesque and beautiful Alpine villages, enjoying the best of French, Italian and Swiss cuisine. The tour is done through the lowlands of Mont Blanc counterclockwise.

Difficulty level:

It is considered intermediate level of difficulty but it must be taken into account that the tourist infrastructure in this part of Europe is very developed because in each existing shelter or cabin along the way, the traveler can find everything necessary to pass the night, not being necessary to carry everything in a backpack.

Weather:

The best months of the year to do the walk are between the first days of July until the end of September, being the high season where you have days with abundant sun and few clouds and / or snow. However, it is during this season that prices are higher and there are many visitors. During the rest of the year the presence of snow, cold, closed roads and closed businesses is common in this part of Europe.