Dead Woman’s Pass The Inca Trail
James Bustamante is Native to New York but born to Peruvian parents. He has been traveling throughout Latin America since early 2003 and finally made his home in Peru. James has made his way by eating and traveling through almost every country in Central and South America.
Last Updated on October 27, 2022 by James Bustamante
Dead woman’s pass on The Inca Trail is not only one of the most iconic parts of this Machu Picchu hike. It is also one of the most difficult as well as memorable sections of the entire trip. This area on the 4-day Inca trail tends to be the one that makes most of the thousands of hikers that travel to Peru, just a little bit nervous. Let’s go over some details regarding Dead Woman’s pass The Inca Trail.
What is Dead Woman’s Pass Inca Trail?
Dead woman’s pass is a section of the Inca Trail, which is actually a mountain pass that hiking groups cross on day 2 of the famous trek to Machu Picchu.
The impressive Andean scenery and ancient Incan ruins you see along the way keep this trail both exciting and varied.
The lush cloud forest also adds to the mystery of the hike as you walk the stone paths just as the Inca empire did hundreds of years ago. Dead woman’s pass on the Inca trail, “Warmiwañusca” in Quechua (the language of the Incas) is a notable feature on day 2 of the trek.
Warmiwañusca is traversed on day 2, which is considered the most difficult day over the course of the Inca trail to Machu Picchu.
The challenges to reach the Dead Woman’s pass on the Inca trail can add to the excitement of the hike. You can view this particular section of the trek as a summit marking a midway point of the adventure.
Why Is It Called Dead Woman’s Pass?
The name dead woman’s pass comes from the Quechua “Warmi Wañusqa” which means “warmi” = woman or wife and “Wañuy” = die, death or dead, translating to “dead woman”. It is called the dead woman’s pass because from this point the mountains up ahead on the hike resemble the profile of a woman laying down, staring at the sky.
Where Is Dead Woman’s Pass?
Dead woman’s pass is found on day 2 of the famous Inca trail to Machu Picchu. You can find it southwest of the Patallaqta ruins at an elevation of 13,780 ft (4,200 meters) above sea level in the Machu Picchu district.
Hiking the iconic Inca trail can be one of the most unique trekking experiences one can have. Every year you will find literally thousands of hikers ready to take the Inca trail challenge.
Imagine going into the Andes mountains for 4 days and 3 nights to finally reach the Incan city of Machu Picchu on the morning of the final day. It’s not the easiest challenge to undertake but the emotional rewards, as well as the amazing photographs obtained, will be well worth the difficulty.
Is Dead Woman’s Pass on The Inca Trail Difficult?
One of the key features that make Dead Woman’s pass is that you can find it at the highest point of the Inca trail. The elevation is 13,780 feet (4,200 meters) above sea level which makes it around 5,900 feet (1,800 meters) higher in elevation than the Incan citadel of Machu Picchu. This is so high up that the terrain begins to change and we find much less greenery, fewer trees, and a much rockier landscape.
The high elevation, lack of oxygen, and changing terrain can make it feel like you are on a different planet altogether. The weather can also play a big role at this height. The changing conditions that can go from rain, and snow to hot sunny days add to the challenge of the entire hike.
It will take around 5 hours of hiking to reach the summit. These 5 hours represent the biggest challenge in the hike, afterwards, we’ll descend for 1.5 hours before reaching the campsite to get a well-deserved dinner and rest.
Tips For Day 2 of The Inca Trail
The second day of the Inca trail to Machu Picchu marks the most difficult part of the hike. Reaching the Inca citadel is just around the mountain (literally) but first, we have to get past the highest peak of the hike at 13,780 feet above sea level (4,200 meters).
- Tip #1 is to make sure you have a good breakfast to start the day. Day 2 marks the most difficult uphill part of the entire Inca trail where we’ll walk for 8 hours. Calories are burned very quickly in the high Andean elevation so being properly nourished is key to a successful day.
- Tip #2 If there is a part of the hike where you might get sunburnt, it will be during the elevation of the dead woman’s pass. Make sure to wear sunblock, a hat, and sunglasses, and have chapstick or lip balm on standby.
- Tip #3 If you decide to take the Inca trail during one of the wetter months then this is where you will most appreciate the rain poncho. Make sure you have it readily available along with sunglasses in case the winds pick up and make it hard to see through the rain.
The second day of the Inca trail is indeed the most difficult part but with the right attitude and the appropriate gear, it will be a piece of cake for any traveler.
Dead Woman’s Pass Marks The Midway Point
Most tour groups will have a brief celebration once they have reached the pass. There is usually a storm of photographs that goes on as the mini-celebration is taking place. Many will try to take as many pictures of the mountains up ahead to get a glimpse of the woman that is looking up at the sky.
The rest of the landscape is not too shabby either, if you’ve made it this far make sure to take as many photographs as you can. It might be the only chance you ever get of being at this very important point.
Conclusion
Trekkers on the classic Inca trail will have different experiences over the course of the 4-day journey. Traversing through Dead Woman’s Pass will undoubtedly be one of the high points of the hike, even if it is the most famous or infamous of the trip. For more details on the Inca trail, Peru tour packages, or day trips to Machu Picchu, make sure to contact our travel advisers today.
