Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Classic 4-Day Inca Trail

• Included
  • A local English-speaking professional guide
  • 4 days of guided hiking to Machu Picchu
  • Accommodation — 3 nights in two-person tents in campsites (duffel bag and foam mattress included)
  • Campsite setup — kitchen and dining tent, tables and chairs
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner as indicated in the itinerary (from lunch on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 4) — meals that incorporate elements of the western diet and traditional Peruvian cuisine, communicate with your chef if you have any preferences, and notify us of your dietary requirements upon booking
  • Local chef
  • Permits and campsite fees
  • Entrance tickets
  • Porters to transfer tents, food, and cooking equipment
  • Transfers as indicated in the itinerary (transfers to and from your hotel, transfer to starting point KM82, bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes, train to Ollantaytambo)
  • Boiled water after Day 2
  • First-aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle

• Not included
  • Flights to Cusco
  • Accommodation prior to and after the trip
  • Huayna Picchu entrance fee ($80 per person)
  • Accommodation after the tour if you choose the Rainbow Mountain add-on
  • Entrance to thermal springs
  • Some meals (breakfast on Day 1, lunch and dinner on Day 4)
  • Sleeping bag ($20 per person, available to rent)
  • Inflatable mattress ($20 per person, available to rent)
  • Personal snacks
  • Tips for guides
  • Travel and medical insurance — optional

Short 2-Day Inca Trail

• Included
  • A local English-speaking professional guide
  • Pre-departure briefing at your hotel 1 or 2 days before the trek
  • 2 days of guided hiking to Machu Picchu
  • Permits
  • Entrance tickets
  • Lunch box on Day 1
  • Transfers as indicated in the itinerary (transfers to and from your hotel, transfer from Cusco to Ollantaytambo train station, train from Ollantaytambo to KM104, bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calentes on Day 1, round-trip bus from Aguas Calentes to Machu Picchu on Day 2, train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo)
  • First-aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle

• Not included
  • Flights to Cusco
  • Accommodation (you’ll spend 1 night in Aguas Calientes)
  • Huayna Picchu entrance fee ($80 per person)
  • Accommodation after the tour if you choose the Rainbow Mountain add-on
  • Entrance to thermal springs
  • All meals apart from lunch box on Day 1
  • Personal snacks
  • Tips for porters, chefs and trek guides
  • Travel and medical insurance — optional

While previous hiking experience is not necessary for hiking the Inca Trail, excellent fitness is, for both the Short 2-Day Inca Trail and the Classic 4-Day Inca Trail. The days are long and hiking is quite intense.

If you choose the Classic 4-Day Inca Trail, the most you’ll hike within a day is 10 miles (16 km) and up to 10 hours.

The quicker option is the Short 2-Day Inca Trail, and the most you’ll hike within a day is 8 miles (13 km), up to 7 hours.

Check out the itinerary to learn about day-by-day distances and changes in elevations. Keep in mind that there are no flat areas on the entirety of the trail—it’s either uphill or downhill. Prior to your trip, you can prepare by exercising on steep inclines or even stairs.

Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring for hiking to Machu Picchu:

• • Backpack large enough to carry all the items listed
  • Hiking poles — optional
  • Water storage for 2-3 liters
  • Sleeping bag for the Classic 4-Day Inca Trail (can be rented)
  • Inflatable mattress for the Classic 4-Day Inca Trail (can be rented)
  • Quick-dry towel
  • Battery charger (there is no place to plug in while trekking!)
  • Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
  • Sunglasses
  • Camera — optional (but recommended)

Clothing and gear list:

• • Hiking boots (lightweight with good soles)
  • Shoes for camp
  • Dry-wicking t-shirts
  • Hiking pants
  • Undergarments
  • Hiking socks
  • Fleece jacket
  • Warm down jacket
  • Rain jacket and pants
  • Sun hat
  • Wool hat
  • Headlamp
  • Waterproof gloves
  • Waterproof jacket/rain poncho
  • High quality sunglasses
  • Trekking poles (can be rented for $30)

Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

There is no other way to experience the legendary Inca trail than with a guide. To keep the history intact, not even horses are allowed on this one-of-a-kind thru-trek. Due to strict government regulations, a guide must be present on all Inca Trail trips. For you, this is a guarantee that you’ll get the most out of your hike. Not only will you learn all about the history behind the sites you’ll pass along the way, but in case of inclement weather, your guide will know just what to do.

Permits go fast, so it’s best to book well ahead of time to secure your preferred dates of choice. Some important considerations are:

• Permits for the Inca Trail are in your name and cannot be transferred to anyone else under any circumstances. Change of dates is also not possible once a permit has been purchased. 
• Permits are non-refundable and non-transferable. The deposit will be forfeited. Please note that this is a regulation of the Peruvian government and not the guiding company.

It is advisable and important that you arrive at Cusco at least 2 days prior the trek, in order to acclimatize to the altitude. The city of Cusco is located at 3,400 meters (11,150 ft) above sea level so you may feel slightly ill or dizzy due to altitude sickness, known as “soroche”.

A few tips on dos and don’ts for acclimatizing in Peru:

• • Do not eat heavy food the day before traveling to Cusco.
  • Make sure you drink between 6-8 glasses of water the days before your trip and during your stay in Cusco.
  • Once you arrive at your hotel, lie down a few minutes before going out to explore the city.
  • Once you are ready to go out and explore the city, try not to become agitated climbing stairs or walking fast. The best thing is to enjoy every corner of Cusco with calm and respect.

Indeed you can! It would be a sin to go hiking in Peru without paying a visit to the spectacular Rainbow Mountain. If you haven’t heard of it yet, the name tells you all about it—it’s this incredible multi-colored mountain that leaves everyone speechless with its rainbow-like appearance. These colors are created by the sediment of minerals, giving the mountain turquoise, lavender, gold, and other hues. Up until several years ago, it was a hidden gem completely covered in snow! Today you’ll find it in National Geographic’s “Top 100 Places To Visit Before You Die”.

So, your guides have prepared a choice between two one-day treks to the Rainbow Mountain as an extension to your trip. You can add it to your booking upon checkout, but here’s what you can expect.

You can choose between the Vinicunca and the Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain tour.

• • Vinicunca is the more difficult, steeper, more strenuous, and longer hike to the most famous viewpoint. Depending on the weather, you might even see the highest mountain in the Cusco region in the distance, Ausangate Mountain.
  • Palcoyo tour offers a more gentle climb at a slightly lower altitude, and it’s also a shorter hike, making it significantly more suitable for beginners. With this tour, you’ll get to see three different colorful mountains along the way! It’s also worth noting that it’s less crowded, and it’s the perfect opportunity to get a glimpse into the Andean culture and their way of life.
  • The price for Vinicunca is $100, while for Palcoyo it’s $120.

What’s included in these tours?

• • Professional bilingual English-speaking tour guide
  • Pre-departure briefing
  • Pick-up from your hotel and transportation to the trailhead
  • Return transportation
  • Breakfast and lunch at a local restaurant
  • Emergency oxygen bottle & medical kit
  • One trekking pole
  • Entrance fees to Rainbow Mountain

What’s not included?

• • Personal snacks
  • Accommodation prior to or after the tour
  • Guide gratuities — optional
  • Horses — available to hire one if you need them at the beginning of your trek

This tour is generally held on the last day of your adventure. Although accommodation is not included in the price of the tour, your guides can help you arrange accommodation for the night—just ask!

Group sizes and prices:

• • For this group adventure, groups usually consist of up to 16 people.
  • It takes at least 5 people for the tour to operate.
  • If you are traveling alone, you will be placed in a group of people with similar abilities and skill levels.
  • All pricing is per person. The cost does not decrease as the group grows. 

Hiking in Peru can be arranged for private groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

Min. age requirements:

• • If you are older than 17, you’re good to go.

To get to Cusco, most people fly into Cusco International Airport (CUZ). From there, head to your accommodation in the city.

Make sure to stay in Cusco at least two days prior to your trip, as it will help with acclimatization to the altitude, but you’re also starting your adventure very early in the morning of Day 1. Your guide will come pick you up early in the morning of Day 1 at your hotel.

Generally, Peru is safe to visit. Like all countries, it has some bad neighborhoods, crime and political instability. However, there is no need to be concerned about political unrest.

We had a chance to catch up with our local guide Roland Llave, co-founder of CrossoverPeru Tours, who shared a few thoughts on the current political climate in Peru: “At the core, these protests are a way for the people in South America to express themselves and fight for what they believe in. We recognize this might be unnerving for travelers, but this is part of our culture.”

Roland let us know that the protests have stopped for now. Roads, airports, and lives are back to normal. As always, there is potential for more unrest because, as he mentioned, protesting is part of their culture and how they honor their beliefs and rights. If you have any concerns about traveling to Peru or South America, please reach out and we will help you navigate the best option for your travels.

We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance.

With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more. Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.

If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!