| Apu | | | | This is one God that you will be praying that you |
| Apu is the God of the mountains, and it is | | | | don't see on an Inca trail trek to Machu Picchu. |
| customary to ask for his blessings before climbing | | | | Kon is the God of rain and whilst his presence |
| up the Inca trail to Machu Picchu. The spirit of Apu | | | | may not be entirely welcome, it is important to |
| is the most powerful of all nature spirits in Incan | | | | ensure plentiful crops and fertile lands for the year |
| mythology and the term was also used as a rank | | | | ahead. Kon was a fairly important Incan God, his |
| of seniority. Although Machu Picchu is considered | | | | mother was Quilla, the moon Goddess, and his |
| to be a sacred Apu, it is not of the same rank as | | | | father, was the second most important Incan |
| the 12 sacred Apus of Cusco. | | | | God of all, Inti. |
| Chasca | | | | Inti |
| Most Inca Trail guidebooks talk of the beauty of | | | | Machu Picchu was believed to be the most |
| Machu Picchu at first light, and the Incan Goddess | | | | important temple in the Incan civilisation for sun |
| Chasca is responsible for this. Chasca is the | | | | worship, so it seems relevant that the Sun God, |
| Goddess of the dawn and twilight and thought to | | | | Inti, should feature on your Inca trail trek. |
| be the Inca's personification of the planet Venus. | | | | Because the Incan religion revolved around nature, |
| Kuka Mama | | | | Inti was celebrated as he provided the warmth |
| You may want to ask for Kuka Mama's blessing | | | | and light needed to make things grow. Whilst at |
| before you start the Inca trail trek as she is the | | | | Machu Picchu you will come across the ancient |
| Goddess of health, and being in good health is | | | | Sun Clock, which the Incans famously created in |
| certainly crucial for completing the 25 mile walk. In | | | | such a manner that it was camouflaged against |
| Incan mythology, Kuka Mama had many lovers | | | | the mountain backdrop. The clock, which is also |
| who wreaked their revenge by cutting her body | | | | known as Intihuatana, was believed to be the |
| in half. These pieces grew into the first cocoa | | | | tethering post for Inti. The ancients believed the |
| plant, which Incan men were allowed to chew for | | | | Sun God was attached to this post in order to |
| happiness and health after satisfying their woman. | | | | keep himself connected to the local people. |
| Kon | | | | |