Hiking the Inca Trail

There are a few different ways to visit Machu Picchu. One of them is hiking the Inca Trail. This is a bucket list adventure for some people, and I definitely think it’s worth it. Here we’ll talk about our experience visiting Machu Picchu and what it’s like to hike the Inca trail. You can visit our One Month in Peru blog for more information about Peru.

Visiting Machu Picchu

So visiting Machu Picchu is often the main reason people visit Cusco, Peru. Cusco happens to be the biggest city closest to the site. When Sean and I decided to go to Peru, Machu Picchu was a must-see. During that time, I found out about the popular Inca Trail hike and decided that was how I wanted to visit one of the world’s seven wonders. After researching, I chose the 5 day/4 night trek with Alpaca Expeditions.

Alpaca Expedition has ridiculous reviews on various websites. They’re a bit expensive but well worth the price. They’re a locally operated company that prioritizes sustainability and the care of their porters. I also decided to do the 5-day trek instead of the traditional 4-day because I was concerned about my physical capabilities after all I had read about the hike. I also heard that the 5-day hike allowed you more time at the other Inca sites. So the more relaxed pace is what appealed to me.

Sean, on the other hand, was not interested in trekking. I decided to go alone, and our plan was to try to join up at Machu Picchu. So he opted for a day trip. Book your tickets well in advance if you decide to go to Machu Picchu. They do tend to sell out very quickly. If you go with a tour operator, they are usually responsible for getting the tickets for you; just make sure to book them with enough notice.

My Experience Hiking the Inca Trail

I booked my tour in June for October 15th. Thankfully, since we were staying for a month, I had some flexibility since the first date I chose was unavailable. The process was super easy. I sent the request to Alpaca’s website, and they got back to me in under 24 hours. They were super responsive to any questions or emails I sent. I paid the deposit, sent them my passport information, and that was it!

The thing I was most concerned about was being able to complete the hike. I listened to several podcasts about the Inca Trail, where they discussed how difficult the hike is and that some people had to turn around because they could not complete it. I am in decent physical shape but have never completed a multi-day hike, nor was I prepared for a high-elevation hike.

At the time, I was back at home in the US, but living in Pennsylvania did not allow me to prepare for high-elevation hikes. So I prepared my legs the best I could by working out for 40 minutes every morning and then walking in my hiking boots for an hour every evening. I don’t know if doing this made any difference, but I’d like to think so.

Day One

I attended a meeting at the Alpaca Expeditions office in Cusco the night before the hike. This is where you will meet your hiking group and guide. They provide you with your duffel bags and information about the trek. The hike starts early. I was up around 4 AM to be picked up by Alpaca Expeditions around 5 AM. We’re taken to the porter’s residence for a delicious breakfast and then provided with our sleeping bags, pads, pillows, and hiking poles (if you reserve those).

After a pretty relaxed and delicious breakfast, our van drove us to the start of the trail, and we were off. The start of the hike is pretty flat, but it doesn’t stay that way. On the first day, we stopped along the mountain to see the archeological ruins of Patallacta, with its ascending terraces, which had been a ceremonial and agricultural site. The total hike time on the first day was about 4 hours. We stopped for lunch about halfway through and then set up our tents at a local village for the night.

Day Two

The second day is the most challenging of the hike. The total hiking time is around 6 hours, but it is 4 hours climbing elevation to the highest point, Dead Woman’s Pass. This is where we ascended an elevation of 4,215 m (13,821 ft). The remaining 2 hours or so was then downhill. For those not used to high elevation, this often makes the hike extra difficult. Now, I had plenty of time to acclimate in Cusco before my hike since Sean and I were there for 2 weeks before I even went on the hike. But it was still a struggle.

However, Alpaca Expeditions is great at ensuring all group members are cared for. Just go at your own pace; the tour guide will hang out with whoever is the last in the group. My other recommendation while climbing the elevation is to stop and take in the scenery. It’s an opportunity to catch your breath while admiring the amazing landscape.

Along the way, we stopped at Llulluchapampa for lunch. This campsite has a few tables where women sell essentials and other items. We also got to see some wild llamas walk through our campsite. After lunch, we continued up the Pass and spent the remainder of the day hiking downhill to our campsite for the night.

Day Three Hiking the Inca Trail

Day 3 is the longest day of hiking, with around 9 hours. This is also the day we crested the second pass. Thankfully, this pass was not as high in elevation as Dead Woman’s Pass. Along the way, we stopped at the ancient Inca watchtower of Runcu Raccay.

After about an hour of descending the second pass into a cloud forest, we arrived at the archeological site of Sayacmarca. Like most ancient Inca sites, Sayacmarca has large, sprawling terraces.

The final campsite offered incredible views of the Vilcabamba mountain and Urubamba river. Unfortunately, when we arrived, the visibility was limited. But as the clouds moved, we got snippets of the breathtaking view. While we waited for dinner to be prepared, our guide, Ricardo, had us walk up to an overlook that was an older part of the Inca trail that was no longer in use. At this point, it had started to rain. The hike to this viewpoint was rugged and muddy, with some thin trails in the edge. This is not a trail I would normally be able to do as I’m terribly afraid of heights. So I was particularly proud of myself for completing this extra hike. I think it helped that I couldn’t see the drop off the trail because of all the clouds.

Anyway, at the top of this overlook, one of our porters did a prayer for our group in Quechua (the indigenous language of those living in the Peruvian andes). He and Ricardo also showed us how the Incas used the dry grass in the area to create thick ropes for bridges.

This was the only night we had rain, which made it a bit miserable as it was also the coldest night. But the views in the morning were unforgettable.

Day Four

Day 4 was all about archeological sites and hiking to Machu Picchu. This day was about 5 hours of total hiking. Along the way, we also saw several other amazing archeological sites, including Phuyupatamarca and Wiñay Wayna. These sites are incredibly well preserved and can only be seen hiking the Inca trail.

After our last lunch with the porters, we continued until we reached the Sun Gate. This is where we got our first views of Machu Picchu. The hike to the Sun Gate was along a trail of flat stones through the jungle. It was actually a bit difficult as the stones were very uneven. This made it difficult to step without rolling your ankle or getting your toes squished against your boots.

We walked from the Sun Gate to the main platform overlooking Machu Picchu. I can’t even describe the feeling of seeing such an incredible site. And thankfully, we had amazing weather. It had rained most of our hike to the Sun Gate, but cleared when we arrived at the platform. This area is where you go to get the famous view of Machu Picchu.

After spending time on the platform, we walked to the bus station and got the bus to the town of Aguas Calientes for the night, where we finally got to enjoy a shower and a night in a bed.

Day Five of Hiking the Inca Trail

The final day involved a quick breakfast at the hotel before taking the bus back to Machu Picchu. This time we had a tour of the citadel. Ricardo walked us around and provided us with information. This was not a very long time, maybe around an hour.

Afterward, those in the group who paid for the Huayna Picchu hike could do that. I did not pay the extra as I heard it was incredibly steep and narrow. It was not recommended for those afraid of heights. So at that point, another member of the group and I went back to Aguas Calientes to do some shopping and wait to meet our group for lunch. After lunch, we got the train back to Cusco, ending our amazing adventure hiking the Inca trail.