One of the best in the world
The Inca Trail is probably one of the most famous trails in the whole world. The 43km trail follows the ancient road of the Incas from Ollantaytambo all the way to Machu Picchu, one of the seven wonders of the world. In this Ultimate Guide to the Inca Trail we will explore all the information you need before going on this fantastic adventure!
History
The Incas built over 23 000km of trails, from Colombia in the North all the way down to Chile and Northern Argentina. The Inca Trail is only a small portion of that gigantic network of roads that connected the whole Inca Empire, and is located close to the Capital of that Empire, Cusco.
Built by the Emperor in the 15th century, the vast network of roads throughout the Empire was built for several reasons. Trade, transport and for moving big armies were important parts of the expansion of the roads.
A small part of that, the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu was more of a religious and ceremonial trail, and many believe it was exclusively used by the Emperor and his court. For that reason it is also known as the Royal Road.
Today, because of its popularity, the Inca Trail only permits 500 people to walk along the trail per day. Because each tourist requires to travel with a guide, a chef and porters, this means that there are only about 200 permits per day for tourists wanting to do the classic trail. As a result, permits for the most popular times of the year can be sold out many months in advance, and you will have to plan your trip up to six months ahead in some cases.
If you are more flexible with your dates, and travel outside of the touristic season, you can probably get hold of a permit a month or a few weeks before going. In some cases even days. Keep in mind that each year, the Inca Trail is closed the whole month of February for maintenance.
Cost
Inca Trail is not the cheapest experience in the world, but so worth it. The views, the history, the feeling you have walking in the footsteps of the Incas, and then of course the grand finale of arriving at dawn through the Sun Gate and down to Machu Picchu. It’s just breathtaking!
Prices will of course depend on the company you choose. Some companies have more “stuff” included in the price, but in general it should include all of food, water, permits and camping equipment. Also you will have a guide for the group as well as a chef and two porters per person carrying the needed equipment.
Most companies offer the same experience. I did my hike with Alpaca Expeditions, and I couldn’t be happier. Their price as of 2024 is $795, which includes everything already mentioned with an amazing crew that goes above and beyond to make it the best experience ever!
Preparations
In terms of preparations before doing the hike, make sure you spend a few days in Cusco beforehand to acclimatise to the elevation. This will go along way, especially on the second day. In terms of fitness, you should be in decent shape as there are several challenging parts along the way. That being said, you have plenty of time each day to reach the camp so if you do go a little slower you should be fine.
In terms of equipment the company brings everything you need to survive on the trail. All you need to do is bring a small backpack with clothes, water bottle, snacks, camera and other electronics like a power bank. Bring warm clothes as it can get cold at night and at the highest points. Also bring layers as the sun can be strong during the day and you will get hot! And of course good hiking shoes is a good idea.
Day 1
The first day is very much a warm up. An early pick-up before breakfast and getting to know the crew you’ll spend the next days with. After posing for the big Inca Trail sign, you will start walking between beautiful mountains and follow the river. The beginning is mostly flat and a great warm up for the next days ahead of you.
On day one you start seeing the first signs of the Incas with Patallacta being the biggest highlight. One of the small Inca towns that were built next to the famous road to Machu Picchu.
If the weather is nice, it is a beautiful little walk next to the river, and in beautiful surroundings with the mountains. After passing through some local communities, you’ll reach the campsite for the first night at the bottom of next days challenge.
Day 2
The second day is commonly known as the toughest day of the trail. On this day you will wake up super early in the dark to start ascending. Slowly but steady making your way up to the Dead Woman’s Pass at 4215 meters above sea level. Reaching the highest peak of the trail is a challenge both for your legs but also your lungs as the air gets thinner. Take your time and listen to your body in these altitudes if you’re not used to them.
After enjoying the views, start descending the stairs for a few hours before reaching the campsite. This part might be a challenge for your knees, so using poles is a good thing. Enjoy the afternoon relaxing with your new friends, before heading to bed early for another summit on day three.
Day 3
Rise and shine once again in the middle of the night. After breakfast and some tea, start ascending again to another peak that is a little smaller than the Dead Woman’s Pass. Stop along the way at Runkurakay, a beautiful place to look at the mountain ranges and the Inca Trail as the sun slowly starts to light up your surroundings.
Continue on through Inca Flat terrain, meaning slightly up and down. Make stops at various Inca sites along the way for a small break for a snack and explanations from the guide.
Continue down until you reach Intipata, a stunning Inca site that really makes you feel like you’re getting closer to Machu Picchu! This is a hidden gem on the Inca Trail, and is thought to have been an agricultural site, where the Incas grew all kinds of vegetables on the terraces.
From here you can see the river and also the train that takes the tourists, the ones not so brave, to Machu Picchu. Head down to the final campsite for a relaxing afternoon and an early night before the most important day on the trail.
Day 4
The last day has the earliest start of them all. Pack your stuff and get a breakfast to go and head over to the entrance to make sure you will be one of the first ones on the way when the gate opens.
From the gate, sprint up to the sun gate so you can arrive while the sun is rising for a magical moment. Lay your eyes on Machu Picchu for the first time in the distance.
Machu Picchu
From the Sun Gate continue down a bit before arriving at the top of Machu Picchu! Enjoy a first class view at the spot reserved for those completing the Inca Trail, and take a moment to eternalise the feat with a bunch of photos! The feeling standing there and seeing Machu Picchu in all its glory among the mountains is one of the coolest moments in all my travels. As hyped up as Machu Picchu is, this one exceeded my expectations!
When the group is finished taking pictures and mental images of this magical place and moment, you will head down and get ready for a guided tour. Walk through the site as you hear about the history from your guide. For those brave enough, make your way to the top of Huayna Picchu, the big peak behind the site for a unique view! As it is an additional entrance, it costs an extra $75.
After spending a few hours walking the site among lamas, the group will slowly head back to the entrance and catch a bus back to Agua Calientes. Here you will go to a restaurant to celebrate an amazing experience with your fellow hikers and the crew!
After lunch hop on the iconic train back to Ollantaytambo and enjoy the beautiful views from the train. Then follow your guides to your transportation back to Cusco for a well deserved rest!
So what are you waiting for?
Hiking the Inca Trail is a must do for anyone, even if you don’t really like hiking. It’s an iconic bucket list item that makes the arrival at Machu Picchu even more special. It gives you an insight into human history and makes seeing one of the wonders of the world so much more special. It makes you reflect while you walk through this magical landscape, and gives you the feeling that you truly deserve to lay your eyes on the wonder and mystery that is Machu Picchu.
Resources
So, are you ready for an adventure to Machu Picchu? Here are some of the resources I personally use when I travel. Great value and support, in addition to the best deals out there!
BOOKING – The best place to book accommodation. In my experience the site with the best prices, deals and selection. Perfect for a budget traveller.
HOSTELWORLD – The best place to find hostels, and also has group chats for all your bookings and places you’re going to make it easier to meet people. Perfect for solo travellers!
SKYSCANNER – When I need to find the cheapest days and ways to fly somewhere, Skyscanner is always the first place I go.
GET YOUR GUIDE – A massive marketplace for inspiration and booking of tours and activities for each place you visit.
AIRALO – What I use to stay connected on the road. A slightly more expensive option than buying local sim cards, but nothing beats having e-sim installed and ready to go as soon as you cross the border.
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