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Arrive: Cusco, Peru
Depart: Cusco, Peru
We set out early to cross Warmiwañusqa (13,776') on Day 5 and Abra de Runkuraqay (12,860') on Day 6. Our days are challenging, yet full of rewards, and our final campsite (12,100') boasts one of the most impressive vistas imaginable. On our last day on the trail, we explore Phuyupatamarka, Intipata, and Wiñay Wayna, then pass through Intipunku, the “Gate of the Sun,” the original entrance to Machu Picchu, where the dazzling lost city is revealed below us. From the acclaimed Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, the only hotel right at the ruins, we'll head out and explore with our Trip Leader.
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
This trip is Level 5, Strenuous. Most hiking is between 8,000 and 13,000 feet. The maximum elevation we reach is 13,776 feet, and the highest place we camp is 11,965 feet. The total mileage hiked is about 30. There are several long ascents and descents of Days 5-7, and large, uneven stone stairs and walkways to navigate. For the most part, you can hike at your own speed. Our group will spread out along the trail during about six to seven hours of hiking each day (shorter on some days and slightly longer on one). On the trail, you will just carry your own daypack for the items that you want with you on the trail, such as a water bottle and a jacket. Our team of Inca Trail porters carries all your other gear from camp to camp. Altitude is always a factor, but our experience is that you should be sufficiently acclimatized and that a slow but steady pace is the key to success on the ascents.
The Inca Trail is mostly stone-paved (Inca stones!) and it undulates up and down across green mountains while crossing two high-altitude passes. Trails can be rugged, not the well-maintained trails you may be accustomed to in the United States.
Any fit, experienced hiker will enjoy this hike, but we recommend you make an extra effort to prepare by engaging in regular exercise well beyond your normal routine. To accelerate your conditioning, try walking faster than 1.5 miles per hour, walking on steeper inclines, using your gym’s stair-climbing machines, or going on long hikes (also a good way to break in your boots). Please be aware that there are a few sections of long, steep stone “staircases,” so we do suggest hiking poles to protect your knees. The trek takes place at altitudes between 8,700 feet and 13,776 feet.
Being so close to the equator, Peru has only two climate seasons: a dry season from April to October, and a wet season from December to March. Altitude is the main factor controlling the climate. In the mountains, you'll encounter sunny days with daytime temperatures ranging between 65°F and 70°F, dropping to the 40s and lower at night. The sun is very strong at high altitude and it can often be warm enough to hike in shorts and a t-shirt. However, it can also get extremely cold; if you're familiar with mountain weather, you know how suddenly it can get cold even in the daytime if the sun slips behind a cloud. Nighttime temperatures can drop to below freezing. Rain should not be a problem on our treks, but always keep in mind that mountain weather is unpredictable and sudden storms can occur, especially on high mountain passes.
Lima lies in a coastal desert where rainfall is rare and temperatures are usually warm (70s and 80s). Days are overcast most of the year due to the Humboldt current that comes up from Antarctica and meets the warm, tropical El Niño current from the north to create the garua, or coastal fog/mist.
The climate in the Amazon Basin is generally warm and humid throughout the year but can also be unexpectedly cool (usually 60s) due to the breezes that blow down from the Andes.
Hiking distances on trek are traditionally measured in hours, not miles, since distance at altitude feels quite different to the miles you might do at home. With rest stops and photo stops, few people walk faster than one mile an hour in a mountainous region. Some hiking days are shorter than others, and some days are more difficult than others due to altitude gain and loss.
On a typical trek day, you'll wake up to hot coffee, cocoa, and a choice of teas, brought right to your tent. This is followed by a freshly prepared breakfast of eggs, pancakes, French toast, oatmeal, and local breakfasts like quinoa and maca. We set off on the trail while the crew strikes camp and the porters shoulder their loads. There is always a guide in the lead, usually the Trip Leader or the camp manager, who supervises the crew, and someone who hikes behind the slowest hiker. On most days our hikers tend to spread out over the trail, taking photos, stopping to rest, and enjoying the scenery. We typically walk for three or four hours in the morning, depending on the day, then stop for a leisurely lunch at a scenic spot. After lunch, we walk for another three hours or so until we reach our next night's camp. The porters and crew pass us in mid-afternoon and set up our next camp. We do ask that on Day 5—the Challenge Day of this trek—that everyone make a point to not dally too long at points of interest along the trail, as we need to be assured everyone gets into camp well before dark.
Lunches consist of a wide variety of dishes, including delicious pasta salads, soup, casseroles, and other offerings. When we arrive at camp in the afternoon, snacks are available, including popcorn, cookies, crackers, and hot or cold drinks. Dinner begins with hearty soup followed by an entrée of fish, beef, or chicken (with vegetarian options), along with vegetable dishes, fruit, and a light dessert.
"As the trip evolved, it became evident why this trip was excellent: The time provided for altitude acclimation; the parts of the route less traveled and the timing in starting a day's hike to avoid large groups of other travelers; the top notch hotels; and the knowledge of the guides, the quality of the on-trail chefs, the organization and efficiency of other support staff."
David S.
Ridgewood, New Jersey
The Inca Trail can be hiked all year except in late January and February, the rainiest months, when the trail is closed for repairs. The trail reopens in March and April, when the rains lighten up and the mountains are still green. High season begins in May and extends through September, as these are the driest months. October through December are considered shoulder season, when occasional rain is possible, but keep in mind that the highlands of Peru are a temperate desert and it is not uncommon for it not to rain for weeks at a time even in the height of the rainy season. This is also the time with the fewest hikers on the trail, more flowers in bloom, and fewer tourists at Machu Picchu as well as in Cusco. Temperatures in the Cusco-Machu Picchu region range from the high 60s in the daytime to the low 40s at night, with some variation depending on the time of year you go.
To protect the Inca Trail's monuments and environment, Peruvian authorities only issue 200 permits each day for hikers (plus an additional 300 permits for the licensed porters and staff who carry the gear and work on the trips). Permits sell out extremely fast! We must obtain your permit for you when you sign up, so we urge you to book your trip at least six months in advance, especially if you are considering going between May and September.
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
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With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.