Inca Trail Faqs

Are you planning to hike the Inca Trail? Read our Inca Trail FAQs for answers to all your questions about permits, preparation, altitude sickness, gear, and more!

Everything You Need to Know Before Trekking

The Inca Trail is one of the most popular treks in the world, offering a breathtaking journey through ancient Incan ruins, stunning mountain scenery, and diverse ecosystems. Trekking the Inca Trail requires proper planning, preparation, and knowledge to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. This article aims to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the Inca Trail, from obtaining permits to dealing with altitude sickness.

Details of Inca Trail

Location: The Inca Trail is located in the Andes Mountains of Peru, near the city of Cusco.
Length: The trail is approximately 26 miles (43 km) long.
Historical significance: The Inca Trail was a major route used by the Inca empire for trade and communication.
Machu Picchu destination: The trail leads to Machu Picchu, a 15th-century Inca citadel that is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Altitude: The trail reaches a maximum altitude of over 13,000 feet (4,000 meters) above sea level.
Preservation: The trail is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is carefully managed to minimize its impact on the surrounding environment.
Popularity: The Inca Trail is one of the most popular hiking trails in South America and attracts thousands of visitors every year.
Difficulty: The trail is considered strenuous and requires a good level of physical fitness. Hikers should be prepared for long days of hiking at high altitudes.
Guided tours: Most people hike the Inca Trail as part of a guided tour, which includes camping equipment and food.
Permits: Visitors are required to obtain a permit in advance to hike the Inca Trail, and the number of permits is limited to protect the trail and preserve the environment.

1. Best time to do the Inca Trail

A very important detail before making this type of excursion is to know what is the best time to travel. We tell you that Peru is one of those mega-diverse countries, that has different geographies and therefore different climates, then determining an ideal time of travel is very difficult. But if we focus on this particular excursion we consider that the best time to travel the Inca Trail is from April to October, the dry season in this region, without rain, we believe that this type of trekking is more pleasant to do in sunny and cold days than in days when the rain is persistent.

It should also be noted that in February this route is closed for maintenance work, but if we talk about Machu Picchu it is open every month of the year.

2. Make your reservation in advance

If you decide to do this excursion, it is advisable to make your reservation many months in advance, from 6 to 10 months in high season (May to September) and from 2 to 4 months in low season (later months), because there is a limit of spaces per day, the Peruvian government only allows access to 500 people of which 300 will be used by the campaign teams, cooks, porters, and guides.

3. Hire a good travel agency

Many consider that this excursion is of free access, we tell you that it can only be done with an authorized travel agency, in order to know which companies are able to operate this route you can access the official website www.machupicchu.gob.pe.

We also tell you that Peru Grand Travel, has the license to operate the Inca Trail, we provide a quality service and service, which will allow you to complete your trip to the fullest and without any setback, so make the decision and hire the services of Peru Grand Travel we assure you that you will not regret it.

4. Conditions of the route

Knowing what awaits you on this route is fundamental, that is why Peru Grand Travel tells you in a few brief words what is involved in traveling the Inca Trail.

We must know that the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is considered the best hike in South America and perhaps the world, currently, thousands of tourists strive to make it because it is the route that the ancient Incas made to reach Machu Picchu.

The tour involves 4 days of walking, approximately 43 kilometers to reach the enigmatic lost city of the Incas “Machu Picchu”, along the way you will experience fatigue and low temperatures, as well as you can appreciate Inca constructions, fabulous landscapes, and lots of vegetation.

5. Acclimatization

The issue of acclimatization is not a game, if we want to successfully complete this route we have to give much value to this point, therefore it is recommended to acclimatize 1 to 2 days before the tour, rest as much as possible, eat lightly and drink plenty of water, preferably drinking coca tea. Remember that this trek will take you to altitudes over 4000 meters above sea level, so to avoid altitude sickness follow our advice.

6. What to bring for the Inca Trail

It is recommended to take only what is necessary to avoid weight and fatigue during the trek, remember that you will have to walk several kilometers to reach Machu Picchu and a gram more will affect your performance, so here is a list of items to consider in your journey along the Inca Trail.

Passport
Cash, preferably in small denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100 soles.
Camera and video camera
Backpack cover
Windproof waterproof jacket.
Small towel and bathing suit
4 shirts/t-shirts
Sun hat
1 pair of shorts
2 pairs of long pants
Hiking boots / strong and comfortable shoes
Sport Sandals
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
Toiletries (biodegradable)
Bottle of water
Flashlight
First aid kit.

7. Enjoy the ride

And as a final tip enjoy the tour to the fullest, do not take it as a race of who gets to Machu Picchu first, but take your time and live it, because this trekking along its route guarantees a lot of adrenaline and fun, a lot of nature, amazing landscapes, archaeological sites and new experiences, a combination that other tours could not give you.

8. The Inca Trail is a 26-mile trek that takes 4 days and 3 nights to complete.

The Inca Trail is a 26-mile trek that typically takes four days and three nights to complete. It is essential to note that the trail’s length and difficulty require a certain level of physical fitness, and it is advisable to train before embarking on this adventure.

9. You must hike the Inca Trail with a licensed tour operator.

To protect the trail’s integrity and ensure hikers’ safety, you must hike the Inca Trail with a licensed tour operator. These operators provide experienced guides, porters, camping equipment, and meals throughout the trek.

10. The Inca Trail is a challenging trek that requires a certain level of physical fitness.

The Inca Trail is a challenging trek that requires a certain level of physical fitness. The trail includes steep inclines, high altitudes, and unpredictable weather conditions, which can make the journey more challenging. It is essential to prepare for the hike physical