Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu

At Vidal Expeditions, we try to make the booking system as easy as possible for you. Once you decide to do the 4-day Inca Trail trek, we will send you a booking form where you need to complete all the required details, which can’t be changed once they are confirmed. We also need a previous deposit of $200 USD per person. As soon as you pay, we immediately book a spot on the Inca Trail. Once we are done with it, we will send you your invoice and confirmation that all the booking processes have been set up satisfactorily.

To book the Inca Trail permit, you should do it in advance because there are limitations on how many people can hike this trail every day; the capacity is 230 tourists per day. Once your permit is confirmed, the start dates and your name cannot be changed under any circumstance. According to government rules, the only information we can change is the passport number, which you should take care of before confirming the booking form.

The government will only allow us to change passport numbers if we have a copy of the new and old passports. If you no longer have your old passport, any government-issued ID will be accepted, as long as the name is the same. Also, make sure your passport does not expire six months or less after your trip.

Cusco is a big enough city to find different categories of hotels, from 2 stars to 5 stars. There are also Airbnb places where you can stay without any problem. Cusco streets are narrow, especially near the main square, and some streets are pedestrian with some stairs. We will send you a notification for the pick-up if it is not possible to access them with our car and arrange another place to pick you up and drop you off. Also, it is possible to stay in the Sacred Valley near Urubamba City or Ollantaytambo, where we can pick you up in 1.20 hours, rather than in Cusco. If you want some recommendations, please ask the Vidal Expeditions sales team.

In case you have extra luggage that you do not need to bring to the Inca Trail, all the hotels in Cusco have storage where you can leave your luggage completely free. If you change hotels after the trek, we have storage available in the Vidal Expeditions office. Get more information from our office team.

The Inca Trail is one of the most famous hikes in South America. For many years, it has been among the top treks in the world. It starts in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, crosses the Andes, and ends in Machu Picchu. This is the only hike that goes directly to Machu Picchu.

This famous trail is located in the Cusco region of the southern part of Peru, and it crosses from the high Andes to the cloud forest area near the high jungle.

Yes, you will find some basic cabins along the trail; on the first and second days, they have proper squat toilets. Most Inca Trail toilets have flooded flushing mechanisms; as you go farther, the toilets degrade and become unclean due to the demand of people.

The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is not dangerous; the strenuous terrain makes it difficult for those unexperienced hiking in this kind of terrain. However, the trail has some difficult sections where you must be careful and pay attention to where you take the next step. The Inca Trail is full of stairs, and for someone who does have experience hiking in these conditions, it can be a bit dangerous. It is also important to prepare very well, especially with the altitude.

Yes. It is possible, if you are ok with taking the same train out of Aguas Calientes that is part of your original itinerary, which is typically at 14:30 or 14:55 that afternoon, that there is no additional charge to move the train back a day. If you need us to secure your hotel or another visit to Machu Picchu, this will be an additional cost. If you do choose to spend one more night in Aguas Calientes, make sure you tell the Vidal Expeditions office at least one month in advance so your train ticket is purchased for the right day.

Not. The Inca Trail is located in remote places where there is not access to electricity. You should bring an extra battery or power bank for 4 days; you can have change to buy one in Cusco. There is also no cellphone service, so we recommend telling your family you are going to the trail where there is no phone signal.

While you don't need any specific training to do the 4-Day Inca Trail, being fit will help. Along the years, many people have asked, "How dangerous is the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu? The best preparation for the trek is treadmill exercise with steep inclines and stairs. With some days of acclimatization in Cusco, you will be fine along the trail. The second day will be your toughest day, as you will climb up to the highest peak, which is called Death Woman Pass (4215 m/13779 ft).

The toughest part along the Inca Trail is the second day, where you'll climb to 4,215 meters (13,828 feet). which is called Death Woman Pass. The climbing normally takes about 4–5 hours, depending on your physical condition. The last two hours are quite challenging because the trail has more stairs of different sizes.

The answer is very simple; just imagine hiking on an ancient path that the Incas had used for many years to connect Cusco's Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. After many years, this section of the Inca Trail is still well preserved and protected by Peruvian regulations. This is the only trek that will take you directly to Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. The Inca Trail is a cultural, historical, and religious hike where you will connect with nature and discover incredible biodiversity. Hiking on this trail, you will disconnect from life with no cellphone connection, no electricity, no cars, or any other technology.

The Dead Woman's Pass is also called Warmiwañusqa in the local language because the mountain has a silhouette that looks like a woman laying on top of the mountain. It is located at 4,215 meters and can be reached on the second day hiking along the Inca Trail. For many other locals, this silhouette is of the Pachamama, who protects the access to Machu Picchu.

The Inca Trail starts at km 82 near Ollantaytambo and ends in Machu Picchu. The hike distance during the four days is 42km (26 miles). However, some other people can also do it as a five-day trek..

To hike on the Inca Trail, you will need a small backpack that is light and comfortable. We recommend bringing one of the 30 or 35 litters with an adjustable strap, hip belts, a chest strap, and a water bottle pocket.

Definitely, it is always recommended to wear light hiking boots if possible. Ones with ankle support are extra helpful, especially for the inexperienced hiker. Because you will be climbing and going down so many steps created by the Incas, some of them become slippery as time goes on. Now that they are uneven and at varying heights, the extra support helps prevent twisting your ankles.

Walking sticks are always helpful to trekkers, but particularly on this trek. There are so many stairs that you will walk down, all made by the Incas 600 years ago. They vary in height and are not all straight. Using walking sticks can help take the pressure off your knees while doing this portion of the trail. Plus, they will help you get up the mountain as well. For those who are bringing their own, make sure you have rubber tips, or the rangers will not allow you to use them. Rubber tips can be purchased in Cusco if you forget before you leave, as well as at the beginning of the trail..

The weather in Cusco and parts of the Andes is unpredictable, even if the weather forecast says it’s sunny. We can’t trust it. It is an impossible question for us to answer. Historically, April through September is the dry season; November through February is the rainy season; and March and October are bridge months—a mixture of both. But the clouds have not followed these rules in the last few years. Prepare for sun and rain, no matter when you come. As far as temperatures go, that is consistent throughout the year. Mornings and evenings are always cold. Make sure to bring a fleece jacket for the mornings and a down jacket for the evenings. Once the sun is up, you should be comfortable hiking and touring Machu Picchu in short sleeves. Long pants (for yoga or hiking) are encouraged to protect against the mosquitoes, which can be a nuisance in Aguas Calientes.