The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is considered by many to be one of the most iconic, challenging and rewarding travel experiences in the world. There is little else that can compare with the sensation of arriving at Machu Picchu on foot and suddenly seeing this beautiful site at the end of this wonderful trek is an incomparable experience that will live with you forever.
The Inca Trail can also be daunting and we understand that information is important when researching or preparing for your trek. Accurate and reliable information on things such as the itinerary, altitude, permit availability and what to pack is important, particularly as much of the information available is often out of date, contradictory, and sometimes even incorrect. Our Inca Trail Information is designed to include all the information you should need.
Your journey on the Inca Trail is about to begin!...
Our Inca Trail Holidays
The Inca Trail can be included within any of our South America holidays, just enquire and we can include the trek for you.
Our recommended Inca Trail holidays can be found below.
What is the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu?
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is the only official trek along the Camino Inca trail, the ancient Inca road leading to Machu Picchu. The trek follows traditional Inca pathways, passes other Inca ruins along the journey and ends at the fabulous Inca UNESCO World Heritage Site of Machu Picchu.
There are two main Inca Trail trek itineraries that are operated: the full four-day "Camino Inca Trail", and the shorter two-day "Short Inca Trail".
Inca Trail Information
We get asked questions about the Inca Trail all the time, and we fully understand why this is the case as it can be a daunting experience to consider booking as part of a holiday – we welcome all questions and are here to help, but so you can do your own research we have put together the following information which covers the most frequently asked questions, and provides a one-stop-shop of information for anyone thinking about doing the Inca Trail and looking for further information before booking, or for our customers who have already booked who need a resource to help prepare for the trek.
More Information
Inca Trail Frequently Asked Questions
When setting forth on an adventure as exciting and daunting as the Official Inca Trail it is very common to have questions about the trip. Read our Inca Trail Frequently Asked Questions guide, and if you prefer please contact us to ask anything further.
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Inca Trail 4-Day Trek Itinerary
Although there are many "alternative" treks to Machu Picchu, the Camino Inca Trail is the only official Inca Trail Trek. The full 4-day itinerary starts near the town of Ollantaytambo and consists of three full days of trekking in the footsteps of the Inca, overnight camping, and arrival and a full tour of Machu Picchu on the final day.
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Inca Trail Permit Availability
The Peruvian government issues Official Inca Trail Permits to access the trail, which are mandatory for both the 4-day Inca Trail and the 2-day Short Inca Trail. Permits are offered on a first come first served basis, sell out quickly, and far in advance. Read our guide on Inca Trail permits for all the information you need to know.
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Inca Trail Suggested Packing List
Want to know what you'll need on your epic trek to Machu Picchu? Although your main luggage will be securely stored in your hotel in Cusco, you'll need to carry some items with you, including your passport (which is mandatory to access the trail). Read our Suggested Packing List for a comprehensive guide on what you'll need to take with you on this trek.
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What have our previous customers said about their Inca Trail experience?
Thank you for organising such a great trip, it was extremely well organised and if we go to South America again we will certainly come to Go Andes to organise it for us. We thoroughly enjoyed our one day Inca trek and could recommend it for anyone that doesn't have the time for the full trek. It gave you a great taster of the Inca Trail, and although it was hard work, it was such a huge sense of achievement when you got to the Sun Gate and could see Machu Picchu in the distance. That memory and feeling will stay with me for a long time. I would definitely recommend Go Andes to anyone travelling to South America.
Thank you for such a great holiday. It was an experience which the whole family enjoyed and whilst the Inca Trail was harder than we all thought, this challenge heightened the experience of seeing Machu Picchu on Day Four. Rosel was an exceptional guide who had a great knowledge of the Trail, the Incas, Machu Picchu and the various archaeological sites. We all felt very comfortable with him and he also kindly carried our daughter's daypack on day three and ran back at least a kilometre for our daughter's lost sunglasses. The food was fantastic and there was certainly no chance of us going hungry; the Chef actually cooked us a cake on the last night which was amazing given the facilities! The tents were also great and they were always exceptionally clean which we were delighted about after a hard day on the trail. We had an exceptional experience and we are struggling to provide you with feedback on anything that you could have done better. Thank you once again for such a fantastic holiday / experience.
The Inca Trail is controlled and managed by the Peruvian Ministerio de Cultura, and permit availability, permit prices, Inca Trail travel information, campsite access and other regulations may change without advanced notice. The information provided here was correct at the time of writing and will be updated ongoing.
