Ecuador, your premier adventure destination
Ecuador - Inca Trek
June 2, 2010 | Permalink
On our recent trip to Ecuador in May, we went on a stunning trek on an ancient Inca Road, which of course is not an actual road, but faint tracks along the river, through grasslands, and along the side of mountains. Sometimes it is hard to see the actual route. We were glad that we picked up the appropriate topo maps in Quito. Trekking in the wilderness of Ecuador requires good topo maps, a compass and good navigational skills. We took the bus from Cuenca to the picturesque town of Alausi (4 .5 hours ). We bought some water in a little shop run by a young couple and asked where we could pick up a ride to Achupallas, we ended up hiring the young man from the shop to take us there. The small Indian village of Achupallas sits nestled in the Central Andes at over 10,000 ft. This is where our trek begins. The locals (most are descendants of the Incas) were very friendly and helpful directing us to the beginning of the trek. It wasn't long before we were on our own, we spotted a traditional Yurt high above us as we were trekking. We found a good camp site by the river, after setting up camp and making dinner, we snuggled into our sleeping bags for a restful sleep. Eventually, you have to leave your cozy, warm sleeping bag to answer the call of nature.........the clear star filled night sky was so bright that a head lamp was not necessary, absolutely stunning. The next day we continued on our way along an ancient Inca road which originally extended over 5,000 kilometres from Quito, Ecuador to Talca, Chile. The scenery in this area is captivating. Once a day we would see a native woman in her traditional dress, herding her, cows, sheep, and pigs along the grasslands above us. It was the end of the rainy season, so the colours of the grasslands and the wild flowers were breath taking. The every changing scenery was spectacular. We are looking forward to sharing this beautiful trek with our clients.