INCA TRAIL HIKING TOURS
INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU TOURS
The Inca Trail hiking Tours is one of the most popular hikes in South America. This trail takes you on a journey through Incan territory, including sacred sites of indigenous life and death. Hikers will see cloud forests, snow-capped peaks, and the Ruins of Machu Picchu at the end of their Inca Trail trek.
Also, see When is The Best Time To Visit Machu Picchu
Today’s Travel Page will look at some principal trips for hikers who are planning to take the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. If you are thinking about taking this hike, then continue reading for some information that will make your trip better!
Understanding The Inca Trail hike
Good Vibes are key to avoiding being disappointed. The Inca Trail has become incredibly popular over the past several decades, with the result that there are various agencies and Tour guides which will organize an Inca Trail tour for you; however, not all of them may meet your needs and expectations. read our blog How Long it Takes to Hike The Inca Trail?
Choosing a Guide and Travel Agent
Make sure that you choose a Travel guide that is registered with the Ministry of Tourism and insist on seeing their license and identification. You should also ensure that the tour agency you book with has insurance and good reviews (it’s best to check these things beforehand). It’s important for your safety, as well as feeling happy and supported during what may be an intense trip through ancient Incan territory. Also, See Best Hiking Trips To Machu Picchu
The Inca Trail Experience
The hike to Machu Picchu is a four-day hike through ancient Incan territory. The trail starts at 2700 m above sea level in KM 82 (Piscakucho) and quickly rises to 4,200 m above sea level (Dead Woman Pass) as it crosses the Cordillera de Vilcanota. Along the way, hikers pass snow-capped peaks, lush cloud forests, and deep gorges as they walk through sacred Inca sites of indigenous life and death. At the end of the trail is Machu Picchu, a citadel built in 1430 by the Incan emperor Pachacuti and hidden in the Andes Mountains. The citadel remained hidden for centuries and was only discovered in 1911.
Inca Trail Hikes are Not Easy?
So it’s important to be prepared. The hike is recommended for fit people who regularly walk at least 7-8 hours a day, but this has never stopped determined hikers from attempting the Inca Trail, even if they’re older or have knee problems. Here we have a related Travel Article How To Travel to Machu Picchu
– There are four days of hiking with an average time of at least seven hours each day, so you will need to have the necessary levels of stamina and endurance.
– The hike is difficult due to the high altitude. Please note that there is no opportunity for acclimatization on this kind of trip, as there is nowhere to go down the mountain until you have completed the hike.
– The Inca Trail is traditionally walked from right to left, or west to east as it enters into Machu Picchu site.
– You will be walking on a trail that was used by the Incas 500 years ago, so please keep this in mind when choosing your footwear (Proper Inca Trail Shoes). If you have any ankle or knee problems, it is advisable to bring along a walking stick. The Inca Trail hike itself is not especially dangerous, but altitude sickness can be fatal if you climb too quickly and don’t have the time to acclimatize.
The most famous hike in Peru, the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a must for any traveler. With four days of hiking along original pathways and archeological sites that are fascinating on each step you take; it’s not hard at all why this classic trip has made its place amongst those things everyone should do once they travel internationally! And good news: Peruvian government announced new permits will be released October 11th, 2022 so make sure to book early with one of our trusted partners TLP before tickets sell out!”
Private Inca Trail 3 Night / 4 Days
There are many reasons to choose the Private Inca Trail over the standard 3-night / 4-day trek. For starters, you’ll have the entire Inca trail crew to yourselves – no more worrying about pesky crowds getting in the way of your perfect photo ops we will manage and avoid the crowds. You’ll also be able to move at your own pace, whether that means taking your time to soak in the stunning views or power-walking to the summit. And of course, there’s the safety factor: with a private guide and support team, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that help is always close at hand. Whether you’re planning a family vacation or a trip with friends, the Private Inca Trail is the perfect way to experience one of the world’s most amazing sights.
Hiking the 2 Days Inca Trail is an unforgettable experience, so do not hesitate to join our group!
The scenic Short Inca Trail Hike 2-Days With Hotel will allow you time at Machu Picchu on your last day. You’ll have more freedom for exploring Cusco and its surroundings after saving time by doing this shorter route – take advantage of these extra days off in order to see what Peru has waiting beyond its stunning landscapes. We offer many different packages that include traveling around South America’s doorstep; think Peruvian cuisine or visiting Arequipa province before heading down south into Lima and Nazca Lines.
Inca Trail Family Tours 4 Night / 5 Days
Lares Trek and Short Inca Trail 3 Night / 4 Days
The Andes are home to a diverse culture that is rich in tradition. Lares Trek and Short Inca Trail 5 days packages allow you the privilege of experiencing their lifestyle and customs with minimal travel time spent on campgrounds or hotels, while still seeing some amazing scenery like snow-capped mountainside views from high up inside your tent at night!
Peruvian porters will carry all equipment needed for this Lares trek; only one day packers need to bring along any additional belongings during mountain passes where there is no shelter available – which means less weight on our shoulders if it has been raining season before we begin our journey into new lands!
Salkantay Trek & Inca Trail 6 Night / 7 Days
WHY YOU SHOULD HIKE WITH TOUR LEADERS PERU
The Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4,5,7,2 days route is along hand-hewn stone stairs and trails through sumptuous mountain scenery and amazing cloud forest, past rushing rivers, and dozens of Inca ruin. The zone is inhabited by rare orchids, 419 species of birds, and even the indigenous spectacled bear. Experience the best attractions and destinations in Peru with a custom Peru tour specially designed just for you by the travel experts TRAVEL GUIDES.
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- REI Camping Equipment
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Extraordinary Chefs!.
Don’t get stressed about food and forget your power bar. We serve you a 5-star outdoor restaurant with delicious organic gourmet food in your dining tent
100% Operated by Tour Leaders Peru.
We never mix nor send you with other tour operators.
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Storage aguas Calientes while you are hiking and visiting Machu Picchu
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Other companies offer you only 6 kg
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F&Qs
How Much Cos The Inca Trail?
The price tag for hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu depends largely on the tour company, package, and guide you choose. Here are some of the general costs, plus actual specifics from our own recent treks on 2021.
Doing the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu independently is not an option. The Peruvian government limits the number of hikers on the trails each day. Everyone must have a permit and be accompanied by a Licensed Guide. And yes, through a series of checkpoints on the trail, they actually enforce it.
The general cost for Inca Trail trek: $600
The Inca Trail is a classic hike through the Andes, and at $700-900 per person this service will get you to where all of your friends have been. You’ll start with pickup from hotel then take off for an amazing adventure in Peru!
But besides the advertised sticker price, there are a few other things to consider when choosing a tour company: How many hikers are in each group? How often and how much food is provided during the trek? And finally, what’s the reputation for the company’s treatment of its porters?
Even though we tend to focus on budget traveling, it’s good to remember that sometimes the cheapest option isn’t always the best option. Cheaper companies for the Inca Trail often have larger groups (15-25 people), provide smaller meals, and/or no snacks. Some even have a bad reputation for inadequately providing their porters (i.e. lacking rain ponchos, jackets, or even proper hiking shoes). I was surprised by how many people online included snacks as a necessary item to pack and bring along because some companies don’t provide enough food pro by other companies.
The Bathroom Situation on The Inca Trail
This is where the bad news begins. Inca Trail toilets are not the most hygienic, clean or private affairs. You’ll be lucky if your toilet has a lock. On the first day the toilets are usually fairly decent and clean. However, as you venture further along the trail the quality rapidly decreases.
Our Inca Trail toilets – Portable option
As a tour operato, the best option on the Inca Trail is to hire a tour company that provides a portable toilet all the way up. These are known as ‘toilet tents’.
Although not as common, this is probably one of the most important things we would recommend when deciding on what tour operator to use. You’ll probably have to book with a western operator and it may cost slightly more, but it’s definitely worth it! The toilet tent is carried up with you by porters.
Our Toilete sit and tent are clean and only used by your group. You’ll be able to sit on a toilet drum within the privacy of a tent, and if there are any issues, we will solve immediately.
Is The Inca Trail Worth it?
How Many Miles is The Inca Trail From km 82?
We’ve outlined our own route on the Inca Trail below and, in broad terms, this is the sort of itinerary you can expect (note that this relates solely to the days spent on the hike, not the days of traveling to/from Cusco and Ollantaytambo):
Day One: Travel from Ollantaytambo to km.82 in the morning and hike to the campsite
Distance | Approx. 6.8 miles/ 11 km
Elevation Gain | 350 meters
Difficulty | Moderate, with a steep tiring section towards the end.
Day Two: Early rise to hike through cloud forest and up to Dead Woman’s Pass and the descent to campsite
Distance | Approx. 7.5 miles/ 12km
Elevation Gain | 1,115 metres
Difficulty | High, this is the hardest day of walking but after you reach DWP, it’s mostly downhill.
Day Three: Early rise to hike the most photogenic section of the Trail
Distance | Approx. 9.6 miles/ 15.5km
Elevation Gain | Minus 1,000 metres
Difficulty | Moderate to a little difficult as there are several steep sections.
Day Four: Very early rise (3 a.m.) to reach the entry check-point and hike 1-2 hours to the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu.
Distance | Approx. 3.1 miles/ 5 km
Difficulty | You’re almost at the end and Machu Picchu, you should be hopping, skipping, and jumping all the way there!
How to Get your Inca Trail Ticket?
Due to Coronavirus Inca Trail Tickets can be Changed?
Peruvian authorities are allowing visitors to change their Machu Picchu entry tickets. And tour operators can change Inca Trail permits. I’ve included a link to see information about the new rules at Machu Picchu, a link to the new Machu Picchu website, and other tips to help you navigate your way through the process of canceling or changing your trip to Peru.
This is an unprecedented opportunity to perhaps salvage some of your expenses if you canceled a trip to Machu Picchu. The borders of Peru are closed and train service to Machu Picchu is suspended since March 17, 2020, to limit the spread of Covid19. The Peru government has extended the border closing now until October 30, 2020. However, they announced that international flights to Peru will resume on January 1, 2021.
How Hard is the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu?
Hiking the Inca Trail is an experience that should inspire excitement, invoke a little bit of fear, stoke jealousy amongst your friends, and stir a sense of wonder in your soul.
One of the most popular things to do in South America – and one of the world’s most famous hikes – the Inca Trail is the sort of singular adventures for which we all travel. The hike itself, which brings you along ancient narrow paths deep into the Peruvian countryside and high into the Andean mountains, is gorgeous; perfect Incan ruins, cloud forest, and majestic valley views laid out like breadcrumbs along the way to perhaps the greatest end-point of any multi-day hike on earth, the iconic Machu Picchu.
After our own hike, we wanted to share our hard-earned insights, advice, and tips to help you plan and prepare for your own successful Trail experience – all neatly whittled down into this comprehensive guide.
So, whether you’re heading there in high or low season and want to understand the camping and accommodation situation better, have no idea what to pack or how to get a permit, are worrying about whether you’re fit enough, will get altitude sickness or if it’s too late to book a spot on a tour, then this post will provide you with all the necessary information answers from experienced fellow travelers (and, we hope, quite a bit of excitement and inspiration for the hike itself!).
Ready? Here’s everything you need to know before doing the Inca Trail hike.
When to book the Inca Trail trek 4 days?
The government has strictly limited the number of people permitted on the Inca Trail (permits are issued to about 200 trekkers per day plus 300 porters this 500 permits include 4 days inca trail). We recommend that you make a trek booking as early as posible we recommend 4 months in advance.
It is recommended to book the tour inca trail to Machu Picchu 2 days in advance, before booking flight tickets and hotels, because there are limited spots to reservation for Inca trail at INC and PERU RAIL (train Tickets).
The Inca Trail Route Flora & Fauna
Best time to hike the Inca Trail
Machu Picchu Hike Difficulty
First, the numbers: if you tackle the classic four-day Inca Trail you’ll have 24-26 miles to trek (depending on which trailhead you set out from), over 2,000 metres to haul yourself up and level yourself down, and over 3,000 steps to deal with in total.
In terms of fitness and technical challenge, this is considered to be a trek of moderate difficulty. The effort required, though, isn’t evenly distributed across the four days. Rather, the greatest lung-bursting effort is front-loaded into the first day and a half. The high point, Dead Woman’s Pass, is – at 4,198 metres – definitely the toughest of the three passes, both in terms of the potential effects of altitude and the sharpness of the elevation gain. There are, however, a number of campsites on the way to this first pass, and some groups opt to make the second day easier by staying at the highest campsite on the first night.
