After hiking the Inca Trail for 4 days, I could not recommend a better way to get to Machu Picchu. Exploring all of the ruins along the way, the gorgeous views of the Andes, and the star gazing at night alone are huge selling points. That being said, there are a few key things everyone should know before tackling on this challenging hike.
1. Research the operator you hike with.
When hiking the Inca Trail there are many operators you can choose from to provide the guides and porters. Until I was in Peru hiking the Inca Trail, I did not know how important this decision was. Until recently, there were no regulations regarding the weight porters carry or how much they get paid. Today, the established federal minimum wage is s/180 and porters can only carry 40 lbs.
Even with these steps, many of the operators do not provide porters with proper equipment like hiking boots or a proper backpack. Several companies, including G-Adventures, do provide these items to their porters. In addition, they opt to pay their porters above the minimum wage, at s/240. The wage is comparable to approximately $70 for each 4-day hiking trip. It is encourage to tip s/150 per person for the porters on the last night of the hike.
2. The distance each day depends on your assigned campsite!
The total distance hiked from km 82 to Machu Picchu is approximately 26 miles. When booking the trip the hiking distances each day were listed as:
- Day 1 – 8 miles
- Day 2 – 5.5 miles
- Day 3 – 10 miles
- Day 4 – 2.5 miles
What many of the operators hiking the Inca Trail don’t tell you: the distance per day is unknown until they pick up your permits. The advertised distances are based on the campsites G-Adventures, and many of the operators, prefer. However, there are different campsites which can be assigned, particularly on Day 3. In leiu of the preferred campsite, the higher elevation campsite, where many of the larger groups are assigned, makes Day 3 around 6 miles and Day 4 around 6.5 miles. The department of the government that regulates the Inca Trail assigns the campsites based on factors such as group size.
Many astro-photographers prefer the higher elevation campsite because of its location. Many of the guides and porters prefer the lower elevation campsite. At the end of the day everything works out and we all get to Machu Picchu. The third night of camping is not the only night with various campsite options, it is the night with the most distance between the potential campsites. Just be aware that the distances per day can, and likely will, vary from what you are told when booking your trip.
3. Regardless of campsite, Day 4 is an EARLY wake-up.
It doesn’t matter what campsite you are assigned for the third night of camping, you will be waking up around 2:30 AM. The reason: your porters, who have been with you the entire trip carrying all of your tents and camping gear, have to catch an early train back to Ollantaytambo. If they miss the early train, tickets are significantly more expensive.
If you get assigned the “preferred” campsite, after waking up you wait at the checkpoint until 5:30 AM before finishing the last 2.5 miles hiking the Inca Trail to the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu. For those that camp at the higher elevation campsite, be prepared for a long descent in the dark. That’s right, you start hiking around 3:00 AM because you have a 6.5 mile hike to Machu Picchu.
4. How to pack for the Inca Trail
I completed the hike during the peak tourist season for the Inca Trail. The weather cooperated the entire time and I found myself not needing a lot of the extra things I packed. An additional consideration is the weight of what you bring. While porters carry most of the items, they are limited on the weight they can carry. This limits how much weight in personal items you can give them. G-Adventures limits each person to 6 kilograms, and provides you a duffel to pack in. The weight INCLUDES your sleeping bag and ground pad, which if you rent weigh approximately 2.5 KG.
Simple Packing List
- Sturdy hiking boots that have been well broken in are a must!
- Light rain jacket – just in case! It is the dry season if you go between May and August, but the occasional rain shower in the mountains is not uncommon.
- Fleece and thermals – for the cooler nights sleeping in the tents and around camp.
- Light daytime jacket and a “puffy” for layering at camp – all my jackets came off within the first 30 minutes of hiking but I was grateful the have them around camp and when we stopped moving.
- 2 or 3 long sleeve fishing shirts or similar – the sun can be brutal at higher elevations. The key here is light weight and breathable.
- 2 pair of hiking pants and/or workout leggings – again light weight and breathable.
- Warm socks, gloves, and hat – highly recommend a beany for at night and something for the sun during the day like a ball cap.
- Headlamp – for getting around at night and when you wake up in the early mornings.
- Toiletries and undergarments for each day.
- 3 liter camelbak – you have to carry your water!
Most of the reputable companies have sleeping bags, ground pads, and hiking poles for rent. You can bring your own if you have space in your luggage, but renting can take some of the stress out of packing all that stuff down to Peru. An important note about the hiking poles – they have to have the rubber tips on them!
5. The truth about elevation sickness
While there are many people who do suffer from elevation sickness, it is not as common as many internet sources might lead you to believe. Some of the key ways to combat elevation sickness include:
- Drinking lots of water! Seriously, hydrating leading up to and during your hike helps significantly to prevent elevation sickness.
- Coca Tea/Leaves – the local Peruvian remedy! I drank Coca Tea with every meal on the trip.
- Medication – I only really recommend this option if you have had elevation sickness (or similar) before.
Check out more of my Peru blogs here, and visit the archives page to see what else Winter and I have been up to in 2019!