Please do not forget the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu must be booked in fair advance, permits sell out months before. In this article, we compare the Classic 4-Day and the Short 2-Day, so people can easily make their choices for a wonderful 2024 trek!
Inca Trail 2024 – Distances and Heights
The Classic 4-Day (C4D) covers a total distance of 28.59 miles (46 km), making an average of 7.15 miles (11.5 km) per day. The Short 2-Day (S2D) in turn, includes an around 6-hour hike on day 1, covering some 6.65 miles (10.7 km).
Regarding heights, the C4D reaches a maximum at the Warmiwanuska pass: 13.800 feet or 4.200 meters. Now the S2D does not go to many high elevations, it’s an easier trek, reaching 8.850 feet (2.700 meters) at the amazing Inca site of Winaywayna.
Inca Trail 2024 – Packing List
For the S2D, the items you should bring are basic, remember, there are no camping nights, the only hike is on day 1 for about 6 hours and then you’ll get to a hotel in Aguas Calientes. For the C4D it’s different, hikers must prepare a proper backpack. If coming in the rainy season (November to March), bring a waterproof jacket just in case. Good hiking boots are always needed for both trails. Please browse this website for complete information on this subject.
Camping – Accommodations
The C4D Trail includes 3 amazing camp nights! Our staff will have it all ready when you arrive from the day’s hiking stretch. It’s a great connection with Andean nature, an adventure in the wilderness of these highlands. Now the S2D is the more classic tour, travelers will arrive at Aguas Calientes village on day 1 and spend the night at a very comfortable hotel there.
Weather Conditions
The climate in the Cusco region has two distinct seasons: dry and rainy. The former goes from early April until last October, while the latter spans from November to March. Of course, if your choice is the C4D in the rainy season, there is a chance you’ll experience showers, but they are brief and not daily. Likewise for the S2D Inca Trail. In the dry season rain is unlikely, we can say 95% of the time it won’t happen. However, don’t be discouraged, although the number of hikers lessens in the rainy season, it has many advantages like offers and discounts almost everywhere, fewer people on the paths and sites, and the weather on the highlands is warmer, among others.
Type of Experience
The C4D Trail is the most famous in Peru, it is a complete journey of immersion into Andean nature (both high mountains and the subtropical jungle border), plus visits to archaeological sites, camp nights, and finally the unforgettable Machu Picchu citadel. Now the S2D is faster and easier, people will have the hiking adventure of course, and the Machu Picchu tour but will quickly arrive at the comforts of urban Aguas Calientes hotels and attractions.
Speaking of enjoying Aguas Calientes, after any of the amazing treks there are some excellent additional choices for you to continue having an extraordinary vacation here in Peru. And finally, we always recommend our customers to consider travel insurance, it’s an extra measure which will have them completely covered for issues like loss of luggage, need for refunds, etc.
Make your choices and book an Inca Trail for 2024 at the earliest! The sooner you do it the better, talk to our professional staff!
