The Inca Trail (Spanish: camino inca) is the king of Peru's hiking trails. This 4-day trekking leads along Andean Cordilleras, over high passes, through scenic forests and finally down into the mountain rainforest, where the trekkers walk through the sun gate "Inti Punku" and look at Machu Picchu on the last day. As a section of the "Qhapac ñan", the Inca Trail largely follows the original paths of the Incas, which makes it so unique. "Qhapac ñan" refers to the Inca road network, which covers a total of 30,000 kilometers and stretches across the countries of Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. In 2014, the IncaTrail Network was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is due to the engineering feat of the Incas and the need to preserve the condition of the trails and their surrounding landscapes.
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| Inca trail treks |
The Inca Trail
I finally walked the Inca Trail myself! I
look back on four eventful days of uphill and downhill, along scenic valleys,
over Andean passes and thousands of Inca steps and through tropical cloud
forests to Machu Picchu. The Inca Trail was a wild mix of nature and culture,
rain and sunshine, tears of effort and tears of joy, wonderful friendships and
moments of reflection.
All information about the Inca Trail
Is the Inca Trail challenging and
suitable for me?
The Inca Trail takes between 4 and 8 hours
to hike every day. The days always start very early, so that every hiker can go
at their own pace. Some high mountain passes of up to 4,200 meters are
overcome. The unusually thin mountain air in particular quickly blows many
hikers out of breath. See here, 7 tips against altitude sickness. Every hiker
has to decide for themselves whether they dare to do the Inca Trail. The travel
agencies accept no responsibility for this. You don't necessarily need to be a
professional hiker for the Inca Trail, but a certain level of physical fitness
is advisable. Regardless, after arriving in Cusco, it's a good idea to
acclimatize to the altitude for a few days and make sure you don't catch a cold
(extreme temperature swings) or an upset stomach from eating contaminated food.
That would affect the long-awaited trekking.
How does the Inca Trail ?
Briefing: Before the trekking even starts,
there will be a briefing with the tour guide the evening before. Here we talk
about the course of the next few days, the guide explains which pieces of
luggage you should think about and you have the opportunity to ask open
questions and, if necessary, to rent a sleeping bag and hiking sticks (you
should also buy rubber knobs!).
Day 1: The first day of the Inca Trail
starts very early. The hiking group takes the bus to Ollantaytambo in the
Sacred Valley of the Incas, where the last trekking accessories as well as
water and snacks can be bought. Then we continue to the starting point of the
hike (railway kilometer 82), where the group meets the trekking team. This
includes the guide, assistant, cook and porters. The first day is about 4 hours
of hiking, passing archaeological sites and small villages, until you finally
reach Wayllabamba at 3,000 meters.
Day 2: The second day is the hardest. Today
the 4,200 meter high Warmiwañiusca pass has to be conquered. Hiking time is
between 7 and 8 hours.
Day 3: A pass of 4,000 meters has to be
overcome on the second day as well. After that the worst is over. Visit the
Inca ruins of Runkurakay and Puyupatamarca and the citadel of Winay Wayna.
Day 4: The last day starts when it is still
dark. After all, all hikers want to experience Machu Picchu at sunrise. When
you reach the "Inti Punku" sun gate, it is just under an hour to the
entrance of Machu Picchu, where you can hand in your hiking backpack and have a
Machu Picchu stamp stamped in your passport. This is followed by a two-hour
tour of the facility and then you have time to explore the facility on your
own.
Anyone who has booked the Huayna Picchu
separates from the group and hikes up the panoramic mountain (takes 2 - 3
hours). Note: If you are interested in the Montaña mountain, you should plan an
extra day for Machu Picchu, as it is not possible to do the Montaña on the
fourth day of the Inca Trail in time.
In the late afternoon, return to Cusco by
train from Aguas Calientes.
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| Inca Trail Cost |
Where do I leave my main luggage while trekking?
The main luggage is always left at the
accommodation in Cusco. All hotels and hostels are geared towards hikers and
have secure storage rooms. Valuables such as laptops, credit cards, jewelry,
etc. should be locked in safes. Remember to take your passport with you on the
trek, as it must be presented upon entry to Machu Picchu. A second light travel
bag, which can also get dirty, is suitable for the trekking luggage. So-called
“duffle bags” can also be rented in Cusco. A comfortable daypack is used for
personal items such as a camera, money, rain jacket, snacks and water.
Do you have to carry your own luggage on
the Inca Trail?
Horses or donkeys are not allowed to carry
luggage on the Inca Trail due to security measures. Therefore, hikers either
carry their luggage themselves or hire the service of a porter. This service
costs around $100 and can also be shared between two participants of the trek.
Keep in mind that the porters work a tough back-breaking job and that the
travel agencies don't always adequately pay for it. The porters are even
happier when they get an additional tip from the hikers.
The Huayna Picchu should also be booked in
advance. Find out more about the two panoramic mountains in this article.
Where can I book the Inca Trail?
There are numerous agencies offering the
Inca Trail. It makes sense to inquire about the Inca Trail at different
agencies and to compare the prices and services. Here you will find an overview
of travel agencies.
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| Inka trail to Machu Picchu |
How much does the Inca Trail cost and
what is included?
Inca Trail prices vary from $500 to $1000.
Services included are the Inca Trail admission, entry to Machu Picchu, English
speaking guide, meals for 4 days, camping equipment and the train journey from
Aguas Calientes back to Cusco. How high the price is in the end depends above
all on the reputation of the travel agency and whether they carry out the
trekking tour themselves. Some agencies such as Explorandes and Llama Path have
established themselves as good trekking providers over the years, the
organization of the treks works smoothly, the guides, cooks and porters are
paid appropriately and the quality of the camping equipment is not skimped on
either.
Is vegetarian food available on request?
Yes this is not a problem. Most travel
agencies also ask for it. And if not, it should be pointed out beforehand.
What do I have to include in tips?
A joint group tip is usually paid at the
end of the trek. How much everyone then gives depends on the size of the group
and, of course, on the service provided by the team. But you can be sure that
the guides, cooks and porters do a great job and that you are willing to pay
financial recognition. Only one guideline can be given here:
Porters: 20 – 30 soles per person
Cook: 10 – 20 soles per person
Guide: 20-40 soles per person
Assistant Guide: 10 – 20 soles per person
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| Inca Trail Hike Tour |
Is there an alternative to the Inca Trail?
If the Inca Trail is too expensive for you
or if you couldn't find a place for the Inca Trail, one of the many alternative
treks is an option. The most popular alternative is the 5-day Salkantaytrekking. The main difference is that on the last day you don't arrive directly
in Machu Picchu, but in Aguas Calientes. Spend one night here and visit Machu
Picchu the next day. The Inca Jungle Trail (including a biking tour, zip-lining
and river rafting) and the Lares Trek are also popular. Off the beaten path,
you can hike the Ausangate Trek.
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