Seeing Machu Picchu has been on my bucket list ever since I learned about it in high school history class. There’s a brief window in the year when it’s the dry season and the weather is just right, so when we happened to be in South America for a wedding, I jumped at the chance to visit Peru.
The majority of people who see Machu Picchu will arrive by train and bus. However, we figured that if we were going to see one of the seven modern wonders of the world we had to do it justice by going big!
There are several multi-day hikes to Machu Picchu, but being inexperienced hikers and campers we felt the 4 day/3 night classic Inca Trail hike would be the best fit for us. During my research, I came across Alpaca Expeditions as one of the best trekking companies in Cusco. Aside from the great reviews, I loved the fact that it was a 100% locally-owned company that was committed to social and sustainable projects that gave back to the Andean communities and villages around Peru.
If you’re curious about what the Inca Trail experience is like, or are dreaming of making the trek yourself, read on for a brief overview on how to plan, what to pack, what to expect, and our experience with Alpaca Expeditions!
What’s so special about the Inca Trail?
On the “Classic Inca Trail,” you will cover 26 miles (41.8km) over the course of 4 days. The hike will take you through the famous cloud jungles of Peru, up steep Andean mountain paths, past centuries-old Incan ruins, and over breathtaking valley views. On the morning of Day 4, you will arrive in time for sunrise at the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) where you will get the first magical sighting of Machu Picchu below as the clouds break away. You can only access the Sun Gate and get this special view if you arrive via the Inca Trail, which was what made the trek so enticing to us.
What do you need for the Inca Trail?
The first and most important things you’ll need before you hike the Inca Trail is a permit and a guide, both of which are required by Peru’s Ministry of Tourism. This is to limit the number of people on the trek each day to keep the trails clean and well-maintained. I actually preferred this because at times there was no one else on the trail but our group so we felt like we had the place to ourselves.
Alpaca Expeditions provided most of the essential supplies for us, from our tent to food and drinking water, and we rented a sleeping bag and mattress pad from them (you can choose to bring your own). Aside from camping supplies, here is a list of what else you should bring and how to pack your daypacks:
Essentials:
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- Passport
- Daypack (25-35L)
- Water storage (Camelbak or water bottle, at least 2-3L)
- Comfortable hiking boots
Clothing:
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- Quick-drying hiking shirts
- Hiking pants/shorts
- Pajamas
- Undergarments
- Hiking socks
- Rain jacket/windbreaker
- Fleece or down jacket for warmth
- Beanie hat
- Sun hat
- Comfortable shoes for camp
Supplies:
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- Headlamp (essential!)
- Battery charger
- Plastic bags to separate dirty clothes
- Sunscreen
- Toiletries
- Hand sanitizer
- Bug spray
- Body wipes/wet wipes
- Toilet paper
- Personal medication and first aid kit
- Camera
- Ear plugs
- Snacks
Depending on your temperature preference, you may want to bring a mix of warm and cool clothes for both hiking and sleeping. The weather in the mountains fluctuates throughout the day – it’s cool in the mornings and evenings but gets really hot once the sun comes out midday. Layering is key!
If you’ll be traveling on a longer trip or only with a carry-on like we were, don’t worry about bringing all the hiking supplies. You’ll be able to rent things like hiking backpacks, poles, and even clothes at many stores in Cusco (there are signs everywhere). You can also buy anything you forgot like a Camelbak, socks, etc.
Inca Trail Itinerary
Each tour operator does the Inca Trail a little differently, but I really liked how Alpaca Expeditions broke up our hiking days to ensure we had the proper time to rest each day. The route we did is outlined below:
Day One:
Pickup in Cusco, travel to Ollantaytambo and Km. 82, hike to campsite at Ayapata
Distance | 8.7 miles/14 km (6-7 hours)
Elevation Gain | 1,905 ft
Campsite Altitude | 10829 ft / 3300 m
Difficulty | Moderate day, starting out flat with a steep uphill climb for the last half of the day
Day Two:
Summiting Dead Woman’s Pass and Runcuracay, descent to campsite at Chaquicocha
Distance | 16 km / 10 m (8-9 hrs)
Elevation Gain | 2,950 ft
Campsite Altitude | 11,800 ft / 3600 m
Difficulty | Most difficult day, 4 hours of stairs to Dead Woman’s Pass, 2 hour straight downhill, another 2 hours uphill ascent to Runcuracay, 2 hours down to campsite
Day Three:
Hiking through cloud forest to Phuyupatamarca archaeological site for the best views, settling down at the campsite for lunch, short side hike to Wiñay Wayna archaeological site
Distance | 10 miles/6.2 km (6-7 hours)
Elevation Gain | Minus 2000 ft
Campsite Altitude | 10827 ft / 3300 m
Difficulty | Moderate day, gradual up and down in the mornings followed up a constant descent for a few hours to the campsite.
Day Four:
Early rise (3am) to Machu Picchu entry checkpoint, hiking in the dark to Sun Gate and Machu Picchu for sunrise, then bus down to Aguas Calientes after exploring for the afternoon
Distance | 3.11 miles/5 km (5-6 hours)
Difficulty | Easy day if you can ignore your sore muscles at this point! Hiking in the dark to the Sun Gate with just your headlamp and watching the sky gradually get lighter, then a final steep staircase to the Sun Gate to see Machu Picchu in all its glory.
Trekking with Alpaca Expeditions
I am so glad we chose Alpaca Expeditions because they made the whole process super easy, informative, and fun! I read many reviews before choosing the partner with Alpaca Expeditions for this trek, and while there are raving reviews from travelers what truly caught my attention was their commitment to sustainability, the local communities, and their porters.
Alpaca Expeditions was founded by Raul Ccolque, an indigenous Incan who grew up near the Sacred Valley and worked as a porter and guide for many years. Because of his connection to the land and people, he wanted to build a company that was committed to sustainable tourism and the well-being of the porters and local communities. You can read more here about how Alpaca Expeditions embodies the Four Pillars of Sustainable Tourism per the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Below are some of their initiatives and practices:
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- Ensuring the well-being and health of the porters by providing proper gear and equipment, nutritious meals, medical care, language training, and more
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- The first local company to hire women to fulfill various roles within the company, such as chefs, managers, porters, guides, office staff, and more.
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- Providing free healthcare to villages, including traveling doctors and dentists
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- Donating books, computers, and school supplies to remote villages schools
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- Cultural training for guides and children to learn about their Inca heritage
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- Organizing free paid trips to Machu Picchu for their staff and families
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- Only using biodegradable cleaners for all camp kitchens
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- Reforestation efforts of native trees in the Andes
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- Organizing annual trail cleanup campaigns along the Inca Trail
As tourists and travelers, where and how we spend our money goes a long way in rectifying some of the negative impact we leave when we travel.
This whole experience will definitely go down in the books as one of my top trips of all time. When I’m gray and old, I’ll always remember the days I was able to hike through the ancient mountains of the Inca Trail.
