Looking for an unforgettable adventure with your family or special group? The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is that and more! The Inca Trail adventure manages to combine beautiful mountain scenery, lush cloud-forest, subtropical jungle and, of course, a stunning mix of Inca paving stone-ruins, tunnels and the crowning jewel for your adventure, Machu Picchu.
At TOUR IN PERU, we want to share some Inca trail essentials, these tips were published by Lonely Planet. We are sure they are going to be really useful for you to start dreaming and organizing your next adventure to Machu Picchu.
Inca Trail essentials – Kathleen Munnelly
The Inca Trail hike is the most famous hike in South America – perhaps the world – and a must-do, life-changing experience. Hiking the Inca Trail through the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu is both arduous and awe-inspiring. Four days of cold, pain and exhaustion dissipate as the mist lifts to reveal the emerald peaks and terraced ruins of the mystical ancient city, Machu Picchu.
Itching to hike the Inca Trail? Here are a few tips:
The best time to visit the Inca Trail is May through September. Sure, it’s the busy season (especially June to August), but it’s also the dry season. And trust us, you don’t want to visit during rainy season! Note that the Inca Trail is closed February.
Make your Inca Trail reservations several months in advance – up to a year if you’re going during peak season. You can only visit with a licensed agency, and spots book up quickly. See our official Inca Trail permit availability here.
Choose your trekking agency carefully. Shop around and ask lots of questions: what you’ll have to carry, how many people to a tent, how many porters for the group, if there are arrangements for special diets. It’s worth paying more for a reputable agency that treats its porters well and respects the environment. We’ve recommended a tour we like at the end of this article.
No matter what time of year, the trail gets cold at night. Bring a warm sleeping bag and layer your clothes. Other must-brings: sturdy shoes, a flashlight (with fresh batteries), water-purification tablets, high-calorie snacks and a basic first-aid kit.
Take a stash of small Peruvian currency for buying bottled water and snacks along the way, as well as for tipping the guide, cook and porters.
If you can’t get an Inca Trail reservation, don’t despair. There’s always Kuélap as an excellent alternative or you check out the Valley Inca Trail, the Salkantay Trek, or the best alternative, the INCA JUNGLE which combines biking, hiking, rafting, zip-lining, and the grand tour of Machu Picchu on the 4th day. Contact our travel experts for more information on our tours.
Altitude sickness is serious and can ruin your trip. The biggest mistake you can make is to fly directly to Cuzco (3326m/10,910ft) and expect to hike the next day. Give yourself a few days to adjust to the altitude in Cusco first; you can choose some of our varied tours before your Inca Trail adventure; you can also ask for the Inca Trail with acclimatization package.
Make it happen. Ready to hit the road? Contact our Inca Trail experts who can recommend affordable and high-quality Inca Trail Tours which hit all the highlights, including Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Make your dreams come true with an local Tour Operator.
