How Difficult is the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu?
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is one of the most well-known hikes in the world, and the most famous trek in South America; there are many compelling reasons to embark on this adventure - the breathtaking landscapes, the rich cultural immersion, the diverse wildlife (especially the alpacas and llamas you encounter along the way), all of which culminate in one of the Seven Wonders of the World “Machu Picchu”
These are just some of the extraordinary experiences awaiting you on this once-in-a-lifetime journey. It is truly a must-add to your bucket list!
In saying this, a multi-day high-altitude trek may seem intimidating for a less experienced hiker, but, with the right preparation and team, it can be an achievable, accessible, and exhilarating challenge.
If you are wondering whether you are up for the challenge, we have some information and tips that could make the decision-making process a lot easier.
What is the Inca trail?
Located in the Cusco region in Southern Peru, the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu trek is a 4-day-3-night high-altitude hike through the Andes Mountain Range. The altitude varies anywhere from 2,600 metres (8,530 feet), all the way up to 4,200 metres (13,780 feet) at the highest point.
During the 43-kilometer (26-mile) journey, you will be guided through a variety of incredible landscapes, including ancient Incan ruins, cloud forests, river valleys, and local villages. A team of local experts, including guides, porters, and cooks, will be there to support you every step of the way, ensuring a seamless and unforgettable experience.
Due to its historical and cultural significance, the trail is highly protected and regulated. These regulations ensure every trekker has secured a permit and is escorted through the trail by an authorized tour company. In addition, there is a limit of 500 people allowed on the Inca Trail per day, which includes hikers, porters, guides, and support staff. As a result, only around 200 hiking permits are made available each day, so it is important to book as far in advance as possible, especially if you are planning on going during the high season.
Notwithstanding this, spots on these treks are highly in demand, so again, the earlier you book, the better.
Is the Inca Trail Safe?
Every year, approximately 25,000 tourists hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, making it the busiest multi-day trail in South America. With so much foot traffic, it is essential that the trail is well maintained and certain precautions are put into place to ensure the best experience and optimal safety for tourists, guides, and support staff.
The Peruvian government does a spectacular job of maintaining high safety standards for the trail. The Inca Trail Permit System, which limits the number of permits given to 500 a day, is a preventative measure that was put in place to protect the historical trail from overcrowding and erosion that might be caused by over-tourism.
Throughout February when the trail is closed, a variety of maintenance activities take place, including cleaning and conditioning work, restoration of deteriorated paths, upkeep of the camping areas and toilet facilities, and flora upkeep. These measures are essential for maximizing the safety of trekkers, keeping the path as beautiful as possible and enhancing the overall comfort during the hike for everyone.
The most crucial factor for hiking the Inca Trail is to exercise common sense.
Here are a few things you should consider to be safe on this trek:
Communication with your guide and team
While on the trail, you must listen closely to and follow your guide’s instructions, and refrain from touching any foreign plants or animals without consulting your guide.
Communication is very important for a successful trek. If you feel unwell, make sure to communicate with your guide and be open and honest about what you are feeling to ensure your safety and the safety of your team.
Share your plan with family and loved ones
One often overlooked point is that for most of the trek, there will be no internet or phone service available. Make sure you plan and communicate with friends or family if you will be in contact with them during the hike.
Talk to your doctor
It is crucial to start considering your health well before you arrive in Peru.
You should consult your doctor at home about embarking on the trek if you have any health concerns. This is vital if you have pre-existing health conditions or if you are on any medications.
If you are planning on taking high-altitude medication, be sure to talk to your doctor and only take prescribed medication by your doctor.
Disclosing and discussing any pre-existing health conditions that you have with your tour company beforehand is also extremely important.
Take training seriously
You should also take into account your current fitness level and any training you will need to do in the lead-up to the trek to achieve an adequate level of fitness to complete it.
Training before the trek will make your time on the mountain much more pleasant.
Rest before the trek
You should also ensure you have had an adequate amount of rest before the trek, and that you adjust to any time zone differences as soon as possible. It is recommended that, before starting the trek, you make an effort to acclimate your body to the sleeping pattern you will experience during the trek.
Acclimatize properly
As mentioned earlier, the Inca Trail is a high-altitude trek, and you must spend a few days in a location of similar elevation before embarking on the journey. The city of Lima is at sea level, so spending a few days there and arriving in Cusco the night before the trek is not sufficient.
This is why our group tours start with 3 days filled with activities and hiking before starting the Inca Trail.
If you fail to adjust to the high elevation, altitude sickness could dampen the whole experience, or at worst, leave you unable to complete the trek.
Even with all the preparation in the world, you still may experience altitude sickness when you get there. Some of the main symptoms of altitude sickness include:
nausea,
headaches
vomiting
difficulty sleeping
reduced coordination and performance.
Try some coca
One of the most traditional and popular ways to help alleviate altitude sickness symptoms is to ingest coca leaves. The practice of coca chewing is a widely accepted cultural tradition in Peru. Locals ingest these leaves in many forms; eating candy made from them, drinking them in a tea, or simply chewing on the leaves by themselves.
Tourists often consider coca leaves to have a very bitter taste, so we recommend consuming them in a way that masks their flavor if possible. It is also advisable to spit out the leaf remnants after you feel better and do not swallow them.
Be careful though, if you do buy coca leaves, make sure you dispose of them before you leave Peru as they are illegal to possess in most countries.
Use Trekking poles
This trek is not a flat, even path; you will be ascending and descending multiple sets of steep steps and encountering a lot of uneven pathways.
A significant amount of the Inca trail is laid with the original cobblestones put down by the Incas more than five centuries ago. Although very pretty to look at, these can be slippery. This is especially the case during and after rainfall, so having a set of trekking poles can give you the extra support and stability you will need, and reduce the risk of you slipping.
Even on the less challenging segments of the hike, the poles can help spread your weight more evenly throughout your body and alleviate some of the pressure that is being placed on your lower back and legs by redistributing some weight to your upper body.
With our groups, there will always be a guide in the front and at the back, meaning there is no risk of being left behind or getting lost. Ultimately, if you are well prepared and follow the advice of your guides, you should have no issues with safety throughout the journey.
How to Prepare for the Inca Trail?
If you are planning to undertake the Inca Trail trek, you should have at least some level of hiking experience. With this being said, if you are healthy, in good shape, and willing to put in the work to train your body and prepare yourself for this challenge, then the Inca Trail should be achievable for you. The difficulty level can be classified as moderate-to-hard. It is indeed challenging, but it is significantly less difficult than some other well-known high-altitude treks, such as Mount Everest Base Camp or Kilimanjaro.
Preparation is the key to having the best experience on the Inca Trail.
The first thing you need to consider is your current state of physical health, how far away the trek is, and whether you will be capable of preparing your body in time. As stated earlier, it is highly advisable to have discussions with both your doctor and the tour company before booking, if you have pre-existing health conditions.
You will need to get your body used to high levels of physical activity. It is a physically demanding hike and you should start getting your body prepared between 3 to 6 months in advance.
You should train not only cardio but also strength and endurance by assimilating the conditions as much as possible.
We understand this is not always possible, but the closer you can get, and the more you prepare, the better. Going for long hikes (5-6 hours) carrying the same weight in the same backpack that you will be wearing during the trail is ideal. If there are mountains close to where you live - that would be even better! While training at the gym, alternating between walking on an incline on the treadmill and climbing the Stairmaster (if there is one available), is a great combination.
The goal is to get yourself ready to have an enjoyable experience - you want to be able to spend your time taking in the spectacular views and enjoying the company of your fellow hikers, not spend the entire time out of breath and struggling.
How to Get to the Inca Trail?
The majority of international flights fly into Lima, Peru’s capital city. From Lima, you can then
take a short domestic flight to the ancient city of Cusco, which takes around 90 minutes.
There are overland options that connect the two cities but the journey can take up to 24 hours.
The easiest and most convenient way to get to Cusco from Lima is by taking a regional flight.
Another option if you have more time to spare is taking the Peru Hop bus.
If you’re connecting in Lima on your way to Cusco, don’t forget to collect your luggage at the airport in Lime to re-check it in for your flight from Lima to Cusco or check with flight attendants about where you should collect your luggage.
Cusco is the capital of the Incan Empire. It is located at 3,400 meters above sea level (11,200 feet). The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is bursting with history and culture, so you will not be short on things to do and see during this time.
Your tour company will be in charge of organizing your transport to the beginning of the Inca Trail.
Depending on the company you have booked with, you will either have a designated meeting point or be picked up directly from your hotel.
With Travel With Trekking Pals, the team spends the night before at Olaytantambo and is picked up in the morning to drive to Kilometer 82 (The official trailhead of the Inca Trail).
Best Time to Hike the Inca Trail
The best time to trek the Inca Trail is during the dry season, which is from April to November, with the peak months being June, July, and August. Due to the high demand during these months, it is important to book up to six months in advance to guarantee yourself a spot.
Each hiker is required to have a permit in their name. Because these months are in high demand, only a limited number of permits are available to hikers.
When you decide to book your spot, you should also provide a copy of your passport.
The trek can also be enjoyable during the wet season months of December, January and March. These months offer their advantages, primarily a lower tourist demand, meaning you don’t need to book as far in advance. Despite slightly more unpredictable weather, clear and sunny days are not uncommon during this time..
The only time the Inca Trail is completely off-limits is in February when the Peruvian government shuts down the trail for the entire month. This is due to two main reasons - first, February is the month with the heaviest rainfall, making hiking extremely dangerous, and second, the aforementioned trail maintenance takes place at this time, to prepare the trail for the next season of hikers to arrive in March.
What to Pack for the Inca Trail?
When packing for your Inca Trail adventure, the best piece of advice to stick to is “less is more”. Although it may be tempting to pack a lot of “just in case” items, you will thank yourself during the hike that you kept your items to a minimum.
The first thing you need to consider when you start to think about what to pack is your backpack:
Is it the right size for you?
Is it comfortable for you?
How much can you fit in it?
Every company has its own rules on how much you have to carry and how much porters can carry on your behalf.
With Travel With Trekking Pals, travelers carry only a day pack while hiking. The rest is packed in a duffle bag and carried by our team of porters.
The team of porters carries the essential items, such as tents, sleeping gear, food, kitchen supplies, water, etc.
All you need to carry are your essentials for the day (water, snacks, layers, rain protection, small emergency kit, sunscreen…)
Keep in mind that the porters also have their weight limit, and so will be limited in how much of your belongings they can carry. We provide 7 kilograms per hiker (5kg of your belongings + 2kg of sleeping bag).
When you book your spot, a detailed list of gear will be sent to you with everything you need to pack for the Inca Trail.
In Summary
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a breathtaking 4-day-3-night high-altitude trek
through the Andes Mountain Range.
During the 43-kilometer (26-mile) journey, you will be guided through beautiful ancient Incan ruins, cloud forests, river valleys, and local villages.
Tourists can hike the Inca Trail all year except February
Most tourists visit during the Dry Season between April to November but going during the wet season is perfectly fine as well.
The Inca Trail is very safe, but preparation is crucial
Annually, 25,000 tourists hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. It is a moderately challenging journey, but with the right preparation, it is manageable for hikers with even limited hiking experience.
It is important to pack the right gear
When packing for your hike, remember that less is more. Bring the essentials and keep in mind that you will be hiking for long periods at a time with your backpack on, so keep things light!
You are in good hands- you will be guided and led by experienced porters and tour guides who have taken the Inca Trail countless times. Ensure you listen to them and keep them informed along the journey.
Have fun! - The Inca Trail is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. With proper preparation, you will be well-placed to soak in the rich history of the Trail and capture memories for a lifetime.
