Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4 Days / 3 Nights

The day before the trek starts your guide will meet you at your chosen hotel in Cusco at 5:30 pm for a pre-trek talk, so we recommend you book a hotel in the downtown area of Cusco and if you are staying in the Sacred Valley before the trek, advise us.

The trek is rated as moderate to challenging and covers approximately 45 km / 28 miles on uneven, rocky terrain with steep uphill and downhill sections and lots and lots of steps. Day 2 is the most challenging for most people because of the uphill and elevation; you will walk 1,215 meters / 4,000 feet in a span of 7 km / 4.3 miles to reach a maximum altitude of 4,215 meters / 13,828 feet. Prior hiking experience is recommended.

The Inca Trail spots should be booked in advance, especially if you are lloking to permits from April to August, as this is the busy season. From September to January, there are usually spots left. We recommend you book your spot for high season before December ends.

The Peruvian Ministry of Culture administers control of the Inca Trail. They are the only ones able to authorize access to the Inca Trail.

Access to the Inca Trail is limited to 500 people per day, which includes tourists, guides, porters, and cooks. Over 60% of this number is normally personnel.

Reservations for the Inca Trail can only be made from March to January. During February, the Trail is closed for maintenance.

The availability applies to the Inca Trail itself and not to any tour operators. For this reason, any agency you may contact will have the same availability of permits for the Inca Trail.

Weather in the region is extremely variable, and you should pack for a variety of conditions. In addition, our trek passes through ten bio-zones ranging from high-altitude alpine conditions to high jungle. During a sunny day, you can expect temperatures of about 18–25°C (65–77°F); however, on the second day, the weather is very unpredictable, and temperatures can drop to 6°C (42°F) during the day at the pass (but you won’t spend a lot of time up there).

The Machu Picchu area has a humid climate and tends to be warmer since it is located at a lower altitude and near the Amazon Jungle. The average temperatures at Machu Picchu are between 23°C to 25°C (73°F and 77°F), with the minimum temperature around 18°C (64°F). The Cusco area has only 2 well-defined seasons: the wet season and the dry season. The wet season starts in November and ends in March. During this period, it rains almost every day for three or four hours, but there are also several sunny days. The dry season begins around March and lasts until October. June and July are the coldest months. Paradoxically, at noon, the temperatures can reach 23 °C (77°F), the annual highest temperature.

You only carry a day-pack with everything you may need for a day’s hike (water bottle, rain gear, cameras, snacks). Porters carrying your extra bag will not walk together with you. Your extra bag will meet you upon arrival at the next stop. You will be allowed to put up to 8 kilos / 17 pounds, which may include a sleeping bag (1.5 kilos / 3.3 pounds), sleeping pad (1 kilo / 2 pounds), and extra clothes for the night, such as long warm underwear and warm fleece. If you don’t have any extra bag for your belongings, we will provide you with a duffle bag, and you can return it at the end of your trek in Cusco.

In cases of emergencies or medical problems, we follow a detailed medical protocol. All our guides have a “wilderness first aid certification” and carry a first aid kit, portable oxygen, and radios with them at all times. In case special medical attention is needed (the worst situations would be like breaking a leg, for example), the nearest medical centers are in Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes town, depending on how far away on the trek you are.

If you get sick, for example, with altitude sickness that prevents you from continuing, you may need to return with one of our porters to the beginning of the trek and take the train to Machu Picchu, where you can meet the rest of the group for the Machu Picchu tour, so you don’t miss the chance to see Machu Picchu.

There is no electricity while you are on the trek, which is why we recommend you bring extra batteries for your camera if you are considering taking lots of pictures or an extra power bank for your phone. All the camps are dark, so you will need to bring your headlights for organizing your stuff in your tent or going to the bathroom at night.

Our meals are based on organic food, and we pack fresh vegetables, fruits, and other nutritious food from the beginning.

Your lunch will be based on quinoa, pasta, vegetable soup, and the main course, usually in a small version of a buffet, including rice, potatoes, white or red meat, and salad, such as avocado.

Dinner is usually similar but comes with dessert.

Breakfast consists of eggs, omelets, pancakes, bread, cereals, oatmeal, and drinks. You will be very well-fed and may just want to pack very few snacks with you because we will even give you snacks such as fruit and cookies for the way.

Note: We have options for vegetarians or vegans too; please advise us at the time of your booking so we know what to prepare for you on the trek.

Our porters and guides are paid fairly according to Peruvian labor laws, which is why we don’t force our clients to tip the crew. However, most of our clients want to show appreciation for the work they do and the service they receive, so if you feel like giving them a tip, feel free to do so at the end of their work. It should be whatever you are comfortable with. (Poeple usually do with 15% of the total cost of the trip for the all the crew)

The main cause of altitude sickness is going too high too quickly. Given enough time, your body will adapt to the decrease in oxygen. This process is known as acclimatization and generally takes one to three days at any given altitude. Cusco is at an elevation of 3,400 meters / 11,154 feet, so spending at least 2 days before any trek will help you a lot. You may also consider taking altitude pills. We often recommend our clients take DIAMOX or Acetazolamide, which are used to prevent and reduce the symptoms of altitude sickness. This medication can decrease headaches, tiredness, nausea, dizziness, and shortness of breath that can occur when you climb quickly to high altitudes (generally above 10,000 feet / 3,048 meters). It is particularly useful in situations when you cannot make a slow ascent. The best ways to prevent altitude sickness are climbing slowly, stopping for 24 hours during the climb to allow the body to adjust to the new height, and taking it easy the first 1 to 2 days. (Regarding any specific medications, please check about side effects, precautions, interactions, or overdose or ask for advice from your doctor).

You should consider bringing money, as you may want to buy bottled water, snacks, Gatorade, or beer from locals who live along the way, especially on day one, as well as if you are thinking of giving tips for the porters and guides too.

The last lunch at Aguas Calientes is not included, so you will need money for that as well. We recommend you bring soles rather than dollars; there are banks and exchange offices in Cusco where you can change any type of currency.

Your guide will have a first aid kit with them at all times while you are on the trek, which includes some painkillers, bandages, small bandages to prevent blisters, an oxygen tank, and pills for diarrhea and similar ailments. At any time during the trek, please feel free to ask for anything you may need. However, if you need any special medication or have a specific medical condition, please contact your doctor for the best advice before the trek.

We rent sleeping bags that are specially designed for cold temperatures during the treks, offering sleeping bags for up to 5 ºF = -15 ºC. When booking your trek with us, you should request the sleeping bag if you need it, as it won’t be possible to rent it on-site.

If you have one, make sure it is down and suitable for temperatures up to 5 ºF = -15 ºC, or even better, made for colder temperatures than that; you don’t want to be cold.

We specialize in both small and large groups, but we often take small groups of between 2 and 8 guests. This way, our clients receive personalized service, especially when encountering various things on treks, such as Incan sites, flowers, flora, and fauna. Your guide will spend lots of time with you so you can learn more about our culture and history.

We limit the size of our groups on treks to up to 8 people.

Of course, if any situation requires more than 8 people in a group, that is not a problem for us at all. For example, a group of friends or family that is more than 8; we are happy to accommodate them in a single group.

On the Inca Trail, you will be provided with boiled drinking water from day 2 to the end of your trek. However, make sure you have enough water for the first day (you can also purchase it on the way to the beginning of your trek). People usually drink about one and a half liters of water per day, some even more, so you need to bring water bottles for the first day to refill. We recommend bringing Nalgene water bottles or camel bags to minimize garbage. You will encounter locals selling bottled water along the way, but not everyone is responsible, and many people litter, which is sad. We need to take care of our home and nature; that is why we recommend you refill your bottles when you can, and thank you for being part of our green home.

On the Inca Trail, there is no minimum age or limit; any person who is prepared for trekking can do it. The Inca Trail is a challenging trek, so there is a requirement of being fit. Everyone thinking about trekking the Inca Trail should have a certain level of fitness; you don’t want to give up in the middle of the trek, as the Inca Trail is not like walking in the park, but it is also not impossible.

One of the issues we always had on the Inca Trail is waking up early on the last day (by 3:30 am) and not leaving the campsite until 5:30 am. After you pack and have your last breakfast (until ?? am), you will walk to the checkpoint of the campsite, which is just 5 minutes from your tents, where you will line up for more than one hour until the gate opens at 5:30 am. All that is because our porters have the train that leaves early from the bottom of the valley; it is the only train during the day they can load the equipment back to Cusco, so we thank you for your understanding.

You will be back in Cusco around 5 pm after the trek. If for any reason you have to be back in Cusco earlier than that, please advise us at the time of your booking or at least over one month before your trek begins, as we have to buy you the train ticket for exactly the specified trains.

The Huayna Picchu mountain has a limit of permits up to 400 per day, which is divided into different groups. We recommend you book it in advance, especially for the dry season or high season that runs from April to August. Consider booking it 2 or 3 months in advance and email us for the availabilities.

We will provide you with a portable private toilet at every campsite that will be cleaned by our staff after being used. Each camp also has public squatting toilets that you can use.

Regarding toilet paper, you will need to bring your own. We recommend one roll for every two people, but if you need extra for any reason, your cook will have extra rolls for you. Please don’t hesitate to ask for it, as they are always prepared for any emergency.

Walking poles are recommended for everyone; they will help you a lot downhill and uphill. Our expert guides say that they can take up to 30% off the weight of your body, and a pair is recommended per person.

If you don’t have any but would like to use them on your treks, you can rent them from us as well; a pair costs US$ 15 for the four days.

A thirty-liter backpack will be big enough to carry your belongings, such as water, rain gear, and extra clothes since we will provide you with a personal porter who will carry up to 13 lbs of other equipment.

If you already have any backpacks between 20 and 40 liters, they will work well too.

Our tents are for 4 seasons and each one is designed for 3 people, but we use it for 2 (2.30 cm length / 0.90 inches, width 1.70 cm / 0.70 inches).

Please email us if you are a solo traveler about whether you want to share a tent or have your own tent to sleep in.

The Inca Trail has cold-free showers at the second and third campsites, so if you don’t mind cold showers, feel free to shower. Every morning, you will get a small bucket of warm water in your tent that you can use for washing your hands, face, or whatever you need. We also recommend you bring baby wet wipes that you can use for washing yourselves.

There is a signal on day one until noon and on day four from lunch.

We take the balance of the payment in cash, so you won’t need to pay extra fees. Of course, you can use a credit card, but you will just need to pay the VISA fees, which are usually over 4.5%.

On the day of your briefing, when your guide meets you, one of the representatives will also meet you to collect the rest of the balance for your trek.

The Peruvian sole is the currency of Peru and usually fluctuates between 3.3 to 3.8 Nuevo soles to 1 US Dollar.

Spanish is the national language of Peru, and about 20% of Peruvians speak Quechua (Inca language). Our guides are fluent in Spanish and English.