Inca Trail

A section of the Inca trail (Photo: James Heilman, CC BY-SA 3.0)

The Inca trail to Machu Picchu, the "Lost City of the Incas", is a world-famous 45 km (28 mi) trek in Peru. It's the best known part of the Inca road system, which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2014. The hike takes you past staggering mountain scenery and many impressive Inca ruins, through ecosystems ranging from mossy forests to stark peaks. For much of the trail, you're walking on the very stone paths laid by the Incas hundreds of years ago. The distance is deceptive, you gain and lose hundreds of meters of altitude multiple times, and much of the trek is above 3,000 meters where oxygen is noticeably thinner. The journey winds through the valleys and hills of the surrounding area, taking you through the scenic landscape, from high alpine to cloud forests.

Treks vary significantly in style, from budget backpacking to high-end glamping, but typically consist of 4 days and 3 nights on the trail itself. While the main route is fixed, timing and campsites vary. The trail requires reservations months in advance, and all trekkers must be part of a tour group, which includes porters and a guide. In addition to keeping you safe, organized, and on schedule, guides have extensive knowledge of the ruins, their history, and the variety of plants and animals that can be found along the trail.

Visits generally start from Cusco, the capital of the Incas. Due to the need to acclimatize to the altitude for a few days, the trek itself must be part of a longer trip, usually a few days in Cusco and the Sacred Valley; see Inca Highlands.

Understand

Animals seen along the Salkantay / Inca trail (Photo: James Heilman, CC BY-SA 3.0)

Many countries have mountain ranges with beautiful scenery and Peru itself is richly blessed in this respect with many other areas for hiking. However the scenery is only one of the elements responsible for the magic of the Inca Trail. Can there be any walk anywhere in the world with such a combination of natural beauty, history and sheer mystery and with such an awe-inspiring destination? The various Inca ruins along the way serve to heighten the hiker's sense of anticipation as he or she approaches what would surely find a place in any new list of archaeological wonders of the world - Machu Picchu. The ruins on the trail are all many times less crowded than Machu Picchu, and most are open for exploration without the ropes and blocked-off areas at your final destination. If you're lucky, you'll also see colorful flowers and birds, and possibly even other animals on the trail.

At the height of the Inca Empire, their road system was the most extensive transportation system in South America, stretching from what is now Colombia all the way to central Chile. The branching network of roads, many of them paved with stones, totaled close to 40,000 kilometers. Unfortunately, with the conquest of the Inca Empire by the Spanish in the 1500s, most of the roads have been destroyed or left to deteriorate. Many of the surviving portions are unmapped and little explored, but a few sections have been cleaned up and restored. The most famous of these is the Inca Trail, which allows you to walk in the footsteps of the Incas, on the same stone paths that they laid and used to get to Machu Picchu hundreds of years ago.

Porters

Porters at the beginning of the Inca Trail (Photo: Chris Feser from Seattle, USA, CC BY 2.0)

The Inca Trail is hard enough without hauling a tent and spare clothes, so most trekkers use porters for camping gear and heavier belongings and carry only a day pack themselves. Pack animals are not allowed because their hooves damage the trail, which means the work is done by local porters, many from Quechua-speaking farming communities. A few words of Quechua will be appreciated; see Quechua phrasebook.

Hiring a porter is optional, though a licensed guide is required, and you can carry all your own gear if you prefer. With the altitude, steep climbs and long days, however, travelling light makes the trek considerably easier. You'll soon see just how much ground the porters cover: they may pack up camp after you leave, overtake you on the trail, and still reach the next campsite in time to have everything ready when you arrive. Give them room to pass, especially on narrow stretches.

Peruvian law limits how much porters may carry and requires operators to provide food, equipment and insurance, but conditions still vary between companies. When choosing a trek, don't look at price alone: a good operator should pay its porters fairly and provide proper equipment, food and shelter. For a closer look at the people behind the job, the documentary Mi Chacra follows an Inca Trail porter and his family over the course of a year; it won the Grand Prize at the 2010 Banff Mountain Film Festival.

(Photo: Madeleine Deaton, CC BY 2.0)

Outline of the Inca Trail (Photo: The original uploader was Steve Pastor at English Wikipedia ., CC BY 3.0)

Which tour?

There are two tour lengths: 4 days and 5 days. They both sleep 3 nights on the trail, and follow the same path, but have different schedules, and stop at different camp sites. It is also possible to take a short 2-day trek on a slightly different route, or visit Machu Picchu without the Inca Trail.

The 4 day/3 night trek is the classic: on the last day you get into Machu Picchu early, see the sun rise, visit Machu Picchu, then go back to Cusco. The 5 day/4 night version is more leisurely, getting into Machu Picchu late on the fourth day for a brief look after most tourists have left; then you spend the night at Aguas Calientes and see Machu Picchu the next day.

If you're tight on time or money, or you're a fast hiker, do the 4-day, otherwise do the 5-day: it's less rushed and crowded.

The classic 4-day tour takes less time and is a bit faster and more demanding, particularly days 3 and 4: you have long days and relatively less sleep. It means you see the sun rise when you first get to Machu Picchu (assuming clear weather), but you'll likely be a bit tired, and may not be up to Huayna Picchu. You also may have a rushed day at Machu Picchu, and will need to plan your train back carefully if you want a full day at Machu Picchu, particularly to avoid the crowds. If you want, you can do the 4-day (arriving early) and then spend the night in Aguas Calientes, and see as much of Machu Picchu as you like, basically doing a fast-paced 5-day (with sunrise, and rest at the end).

The 5-day tour is more leisurely: it misses the sunrise, and takes an extra day, but is otherwise more pleasant: you see Machu Picchu after the crowds have left (on the first day) and before most crowds arrive (on the second day), with nice dusk/dawn light (golden hour, good for photos), you can be rested for Huayna Picchu, and the campsites are less crowded, because most people are on the 4-day schedule.

Prepare

The trail is physically demanding, but doable by any fit person, barring specific health problems. If you have any concerns, check with a doctor. If you can walk and use stairs easily, you should be able to do it, and no hiking experience is necessary, though the more used to hiking you are, the easier it will be. Much of the difficulty comes from the many stairs, most of them built by the Incas, with rough, uneven rocks that can become very slippery when wet. It is easy to sprain an ankle, particularly on the descent, so tread carefully and use trekking poles for balance and to reduce stress on your knees; shock-absorbing poles can further reduce strain. Rubber tips are required to protect the steps, and duct-taping them on is highly recommended, as they can otherwise come off easily in mud or from impact. You can bring your own poles, rent good ones cheaply in town, or buy inexpensive broomsticks, which are adequate but less effective. Many find that the physical demands make the trip more rewarding through the exertion and sense of accomplishment. If you are physically unable or concerned about your ability, you can instead do a shorter 1-day or 2-day trek to Machu Picchu, take an easier trek such as the valley trek, or go directly to Machu Picchu by rail.

Independent trekking is not permitted on the Inca Trail, so you must book through an authorized local tour operator. The operator will use your passport details to arrange the required trail permit and will normally include Machu Picchu admission and transport in the trek package. You must present the original passport used for the booking when entering the trail—copies are not accepted—so keep it safely in your day pack. If your passport is due for renewal or you plan to change your name, do so before booking if possible.

Book your trek well in advance. Places are limited and can sell out months ahead, particularly during the dry season; for popular dates, it is wise to arrange the trek six months or more in advance. Book the trek before making non-refundable flight arrangements. If your preferred dates are unavailable, consider rescheduling your trip or taking one of the alternative treks in the area, which generally do not require booking as far ahead. Do not count on picking up a last-minute cancellation: permits are issued using individual passport details and are checked at control points along the trail.

Permits are released according to a schedule announced by Peru's Ministry of Culture and must be obtained through an authorized tour operator. Ask your operator when reservations for your intended dates open. Availability and ticketing information is published on the Ministry's official platform at tuboleto.cultura.pe.

Daily capacity is limited. Routes 1, 2 and 3 allow 500 people per day and Route 5 allows 250. Those totals include guides, porters and other support staff, so the actual number of trekkers is substantially lower than the headline figures.

An Inca Trail permit includes admission to Machu Picchu on the route assigned to Inca Trail visitors; Circuit 3, Route 3-B. If you also want to climb Waynapicchu (Huayna Picchu), you need a separate ticket for Route 3-A. Places are limited, so arrange this with your tour operator well in advance.

Choose your tour operator carefully. There are many authorized operators, but authorization by itself is no guarantee of quality. You can book directly with a local operator or through a travel agency in your home country; some higher-end operators work mainly through agencies. Research companies and recent reviews before committing, particularly if an offer is substantially cheaper than comparable tours.

Think about the style of trek you want. Operators range from basic group tours to high-end camping and private expeditions. Compare group size, itinerary length, the quality of camping equipment and food, transport to and from the trail, the train service used for the return journey, and exactly what is included in the quoted price. Four-day treks are the standard option, but some operators also offer two- or five-day itineraries.

Porter welfare is another important consideration. Working conditions vary considerably between companies, so check recent reviews and look for clear information about porter pay, equipment, load limits and working conditions. Claims of social responsibility are useful indicators but are not guarantees, and a high price does not necessarily mean that porters receive a larger share of what you pay.

Established companies serving the Inca Trail include:

• Peru Treks – primarily focuses on the Inca Trail, but also offers other treks.
• Llama Path – offers a range of trekking itineraries.
• Alpaca Expeditions – offers Inca Trail treks and broader tours of Peru.
• United Mice – adventure travel in the region with a social-development focus.
• Inca Trail Machu – Cusco-based operator specializing in the Inca Trail and other trekking itineraries.
• SAS – large operator offering the Inca Trail and other adventure activities.
• Wayki Trek
• Andina Travel Peru
• Adventure in Peru – offers day tours and multi-day trips in the Cusco region.
• TreXperience – local operator offering group and private Inca Trail treks.
• Fly Cusco Peru – Cusco-based travel agency.
• Inka Time Tours
• Climb Sunday – Peru-based operator offering cultural, trekking and adventure tours.

More upmarket operators include:

• Enigma – Good porter treatment
• Andean Great Treks – 5-day, South America-wide
• Explorandes – 5-day, large Peru-wide company, environmentally conscious
• G Adventures – Various offerings
• Amazonas Explorer – 5-day, expensive
• Apumayo Expediciones – Private/group tours only, luxury options, wheelchair/accessible tours, various other offerings
• Inkayni Peru Tours – Inca Trail tour operator
• Waman Adventures – Inca Trail experts
• True Mountain Traveler – Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
• Machu Picchut Travel – Tour operator promoting responsible travel on the Inca Trail

Allow for the full cost of the trek. As of 2026, budget around US$800–850 for a reputable four-day group Inca Trail trek. Before paying, confirm exactly what the quoted price includes, particularly the Inca Trail permit, Machu Picchu admission, transport to the trailhead and the return train. Train fares, including Vistadome services, can vary by date and operator.

Tipping is customary and can form a significant part of the income of guides, cooks and porters. Ask the operator in advance about the size of the crew, customary tip amounts and how tips are normally distributed. Bring enough cash in Peruvian soles, preferably in clean notes. On a four-day trek, tips are commonly given on the final night because many porters leave early the next morning; on a five-day trek, they may be given on the final morning on the trail. Soles are preferable to foreign currency, which porters would otherwise have to exchange themselves.

Stairs on the Inca Trail—tread carefully, especially if they're wet. (Photo: Jorge Arciniega, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Altitude on the Inca Trail. The highest point is Dead Woman's Pass at 4200 m. (Photo: Burnhamarlidge, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Acclimatize before starting the trek. The trail climbs to 4200 m above sea level at its highest point, so spend at least two days at altitude before beginning the trek. Altitude sickness can otherwise make the first days considerably tougher than they need to be.

Cusco itself is 3,360 m above sea level, so altitude sickness can occur there as well. If your itinerary allows, spending a day or two in the Sacred Valley (Urubamba Valley), at around 2,850 m, before staying in Cusco can provide a more gradual acclimatization—and a gentler introduction to the altitude. Machu Picchu, at about 2,400 m, is considerably lower than both Cusco and the highest parts of the trail. See Inca Highlands for ideas on what to do before the trek.

Eat

Meals on the trail are often impressively delicious! If you're an experienced wilderness backpacker, you may be surprised by how luxurious the food is. Some tour companies can accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other dietary restrictions.

It can be useful to carry a few small snacks of your own between meals.

Drink

The tap water in Peru is not potable. Do not drink it. You must either boil water for five full minutes or drink bottled water. Your tour operator will have plans for what to do about water during the trek, so ask what you should bring. In any case, it's a good idea to have water purification tablets on hand in case of emergency. Bring a reusable water bottle or hydration reservoir with a capacity of about 2L.

Sleep

Trekkers sleep in tents at designated campsites along the trail; there are no hotels or lodges. Tour operators normally provide the tents and basic sleeping mats, while sleeping bags and thicker inflatable mats can often be rented. Nights can be cold, especially at higher elevations.

A warm sleeping bag is important, and an inflatable mat can make the basic sleeping mats considerably more comfortable. Bring a headlamp for moving around camp after dark. Warm socks, a hat and gloves are useful at night; earplugs may also be worthwhile if you're a light sleeper.

Climate

May is best – start of dry season, so dry, sunny, and lush vegetation from the rains, and before high season and depths of winter.

Weather is best May to September: fairly dry and sunny. June through August is high season (summer vacation in Northern Hemisphere), and hence books up far in advance, but is winter here (because Southern Hemisphere), so a bit cold at night. Thus, May and September are ideal. Fringe months of April and October are also OK, but more risk of rain. If hoping to see the sunrise, June and July are driest and best, but May and August (into early September) are often OK.

November to March are the rainy season, so avoid if possible: cloudy skies (worse views), and rain, which soaks you, makes the rocks slick, and runs the risk of landslides, both on the trail and on roads. Less crowded though. The wettest months are January to April, when roads are often closed by landslides or flooding.

The trail is closed in February to clean up the garbage left behind.

Weather on the trail year-round features warm, comfortable days (around 20℃) and cold nights (often 5℃ or below), dropping to below freezing in the winter (June, July, August). Sun during the day and clouds at night increase the effective heat and cold. Accordingly, dress in layers. Pack warm clothes in your duffel (alpaca hat, gloves, and socks are cozy), and make sure you have a warm sleeping bag. Also, flip-flops to rest your feet at the end of the day will leave you with cold feet: bring light, loose, closed sandals instead.

The high-altitude sun is very strong, so bring SPF 30+ sunscreen, UV-blocking sunglasses, sun-protective lip balm and a hat, ideally one that also shades your neck. Long sleeves and long trousers provide additional protection from both sun and insects, and insect repellent can be useful at lower elevations.

The air is dry, and drying: the low pressure means water evaporates more quickly. Drink plenty of water, and use moisturizer if desired.

Environment

The Inca Trail is part of the Machu Picchu Sanctuary, a protected area of 32,592 hectares, managed by the National State Protected Natural Areas Service, SERNANP. Every visitor must obey park regulations prohibiting littering, cutting or damaging trees, removing or damaging stones of ruins and the Trail, removing plants, killing animals, lighting open fires or camping in the archeological sites (Only authorized campsites can be used).

Toilets are found every couple of hours along the trail. On the first day they are sit-down toilets that cost S/1 to use; after that they are free squat toilets. They are filthy and lack toilet paper. Bring toilet paper and hand sanitizer or soap (benzalkonium chloride is best for the dry season, as it does not dry out your already-dry hands; soap is fine, though water may not always be available).

Get in

See Inca Highlands. You first need to spend a few nights in Cusco (and before that, preferably a night or two in the Sacred Valley) to acclimatize to the altitude. From Cusco, you can take a train, bus, or private car to the trailhead. This will likely be arranged by your tour group, so you just need to get to Cusco.

Some tour companies may also be able to pick you up from Ollantaytambo or Urubamba instead of Cusco. Since these are closer to the trailhead, this option lets you get a couple extra hours of sleep before starting the trail.

Walk

The following roughly describes a typical 4-day trip along the Inca Trail. Everyone takes the same route, but your timing and campsites will depend on your tour operator, the speed of your group, and other considerations. Your ability to tour and explore the ruins will also depend on your particular tour: the 5-day tours include plenty of time for all the ruins, but many 4-day tours end up rushing past some of them without a chance to look around. In particular, Runkuracay and Wiñay Wayna are likely to be skipped on some versions of the trek that put them close to the end of a long day of hiking.

Don’t rush, particularly on the 2nd day climbing up to Warmiwañusqa (Dead Woman’s Pass) – you have to climb down afterwards, after all. Slow and steady is better than rushing ahead and getting sweaty and winded. More subtly, climb down slowly, using poles – your knees will thank you.

Day 1: Cusco to Wayllabamba

Llactapata (Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0)

Your operator will probably pick you up early in the morning at your hotel in Cusco for a drive to the trailhead. On the way, you might stop in

• Urubamba or Ollantaytambo for supplies or breakfast.

When you reach the trailhead at Piscachuco, you can buy a few last-minute supplies like toilet paper, coca leaves, and mosquito repellent. Then you'll go through a control checkpoint and set off by crossing a bridge across the river. From a distance, you'll see the ruins of Qhanabamba and then the former large Inca settlement of Llactapata (aka Patallacta), both in the valley below you. You should then get a chance to explore the Inca fort of Huillca Raccay, located on the trail overlooking Llactapata—this hill fort, which mostly consists of rows of small Inca buildings, is where many of the inhabitants of Llactapata worked.

If you're feeling like this day was easier than you expected, don't get cocky – day two is much harder. Settle in for the night at Wayllabamba and rest up for the hardest day of the trek.

Wayllabamba, by the way, is actually a village rather than just a campground, and you can buy drinks and snacks here. The kids who live here have to commute all the way along the trail you've just taken and then take a bus to Ollantaytambo just to go to school.

Day 2: Dead Woman's Pass

Dead Woman's Pass, so named because from this angle part of it is said to resemble a woman's face looking up (Photo: Mx._Granger, CC0)

Day 1 of the Inca Trail is said to be the easy day. Day 3 is the long day. Day 2? This is the hard day. You won't be spending your time touring ruins today—instead, your main goal is the difficult slog up and down the trail's highest mountain pass. Your guide may give you something to help with the altitude; even if not, some coca tea or leaves to chew can help.

After another early wake-up call, you'll pass the campsites of Ayapata and Llulluchapampa (your final opportunities to buy any last essentials, like water, snacks, toilet paper, or wine). Then comes the steep and difficult ascent to Dead Woman's Pass (Warmiwañusqa/Huarmihuañusca) at 4200m, the highest point of the trek. For most trekkers, the last chunk is especially tough because of the altitude, so take it slow. Take breaks as often as you need to, and don't try to compete with other hikers. When you do reach the pass, take in the breathtaking views while you celebrate your accomplishment—you've just completed the hardest section of the trail. Then descend to your campsite at Pacaymayu for some well-deserved rest.

Make sure to have a jacket on hand for this day—temperatures can drop drastically with altitude. The campsite is quite high up too, at about 3600m, and it gets cold at night.

Day 3: Phuyupatamarca and Wiñay Wayna

Phuyupatamarca (Photo: D. Gordon E. Robertson, CC BY-SA 3.0)

Set off early (are you sensing a pattern?) for another full day of hiking. Day 3 will take you past several impressive Inca ruins. Start by seeing the ruins of Runkuracay, a semicircular Inca watchtower where sentries once looked out over the valley below, and crossing the 4000m Runkuracay Pass. At this pass there are a couple of small side trails you can take for views of the valleys on either side. Then you'll pass the "inaccessible town" of Sayacmarka, a large set of ruins which despite its nickname is open for exploring. Sayacmarka is the biggest archeological site so far and includes both a residential area and a sun temple. Down below Sayacmarka is the much smaller site of Qonchamarka, which you'll see from afar and then walk past, but are not allowed to enter.

Now that you're past the second pass, you'll notice a striking difference in climate and wildlife – suddenly you're in a lush, moist forest with colorful plants. This area, known as a cloud forest, looks almost like a mountainside rainforest, and it's hard to believe it can exist so close to the austere peaks and grassy scrubland you've just passed.

Colorful orchids can be found along the trail. This one is seen in front of the ruins of Wiñay Wayna. (Photo: Marion & Christoph Aistleitner, CC0)

Then come three more ruins that you can explore, assuming your group walks fast enough to give you time! First is Phuyupatamarca—"Town in the Clouds", an appropriate name given how often it's shrouded in fog. Located at an altitude of 3600 m, this is an impressive and well-preserved set of ruins, including agricultural terraces and ceremonial baths. Look for the water channels that connect the baths, a surviving demonstration of high-quality Inca engineering. Next is Intipata, a truly huge set of agricultural terraces with amazing views of the mountains—if you're lucky you might have the time and energy to wear yourself out walking up and down the long flights of stairs between the terraces. Finally, make your way to Wiñay Wayna, the largest set of ruins on the trail (aside from Machu Picchu, of course). Wiñay Wayna includes ruins of residential buildings, several storehouses, and terraces where food was grown to be sent to Machu Picchu. For most tours, this is also near the location of your last campsite.

Note: your campsite for this day may be somewhat unpredictable—while the Wiñay Wayna campsite is the most popular because of its proximity to Machu Picchu, space considerations sometimes mean that groups are allocated space at the farther away Phuyupatamarca campsite instead, especially in the high season. Space is allocated by the government, so this is outside the tour operators' control. If your operator plans to camp at Wiñay Wayna, you probably will, but they can't guarantee it 100%.

Day 4: Machu Picchu

Sunrise at Machu Picchu (Photo: Allard Schmidt (The Netherlands), Public domain)

This is one of the world's most rewarding day-hikes. Wake up very early for a hike in darkness of just a few kilometers to reach your destination before sunrise. You will find that the Trail is fairly easy until you have to go up the steep "gringo killer" stairs. The final climb brings you to Inti Punku, the Sun Gate, where you achieve your first and most picturesque view of Machu Picchu. Now there's another hour or so of hiking, during which you'll pass a couple of smaller ruins and watch the main part of the ruins slowly get closer and closer.

Finally, you'll make it: one of the most famous sets of ruins in the world, and with good reason. It's spectacular, huge, and very well preserved and restored, full of Inca houses, temples, streets, terraces, and so on. The ruins you saw on the way were just a shadow of the impressive engineering on display here, in the form of systems of running water and temple walls composed of huge, perfectly cut boulders. It's true that Machu Picchu is crowded, especially compared to the sites you saw on the trail, but the crowds are worth it for an unparalleled look at what remains from the height of Inca civilization.

Depending on your exact itinerary, you'll be at Machu Picchu either in the morning (6AM–noon) or the afternoon (noon–5:30PM). If you have a morning ticket, you won't be kicked out at noon, but you won't be allowed to re-enter if you leave to use the toilets, which are outside the gate. Machu Picchu is most crowded at midday and clears out by 4PM, when the last train heads back to Cusco, so take your time finishing the hike. Late afternoon is the prettiest time to wander through the intricate stonework. The last bus down to Aguas Calientes, at the foot of Machu Picchu, departs shortly after the gates close in the afternoon.

After touring Machu Picchu, you can choose to take a hike to Huayna Picchu to see the beautiful views of the site. This may cost extra.

Stay safe

Statistics on hazards on the Inca trail are not available, and probably do not exist: injuries and petty crimes are not reported, so all information is anecdotal. With proper precautions, and a bit of luck, you'll be fine, and major problems are rare, but more minor problems are common. At the end of the trail, beware of falls at Machu Picchu, especially at Huayna Picchu.

The most common issues on the Inca trail are: altitude sickness, lack of potable water, filthy bathrooms, sprains and broken bones, and petty theft. More serious issues are heart attacks, falling off the trail, landslides, lack of medical facilities, difficulty in rescue and evacuation, and lack of police. Deaths are quite rare (a handful or fewer per year, out of tens of thousands of trekkers), and typically make news.

Because you are visiting Andean areas, don't forget to take precautions to avoid altitude sickness if you are prone to it. Be sure to try a hot tea or an infusion of coca leaves on arrival at altitude. During your first day move slowly and eat lightly, resting the first couple of hours. At night you may be woken by the screams of a panicking trekker who is suffering an acute case of altitude sickness, and requires oxygen (particularly at Paqaymayu, the largest and usually highest campsite). Don't be scared, but acclimatize properly so this isn't you.

Theft

Theft is common, primarily of unattended items at camp, and occurs particularly at meal time, when washing or using the toilet, and when sleeping: even experienced tour operators suffer theft. This is especially a problem at crowded campsites, notably Paqaymayu and Wiñay Wayna, which are crawling with people and virtually impossible to secure. More aggressive theft (armed robbery, tent slashing) is now rare, however. Prime targets include sunglasses, cell phones, cameras, lenses (camera and sunglasses), money, trekking poles, head lamps, and beer. Thieves are primarily porters (from your own group or another) or locals, who are very poor: there is no need to be overtly suspicious, but never let your guard down. You cannot realistically protect everything perfectly, but you can minimize risk.

As a precaution, avoid bringing valuables. Leave jewelry at home, and consider bringing a smaller, cheaper camera. Unfortunately, you must bring your passport and tip money on the trail, and much gear is expensive. Whatever valuable items you do bring should be kept on your person at all times. Your passport is the most serious, since this is disastrous if stolen. Fortunately, this and money are easy to secure, if awkward: use a money belt, even at night. Do not use a neck pouch at night, due to strangulation risk. Safest is to give these to someone when washing.

Leave nothing unattended, especially at meal time. Safest is to have multi-person tents, with someone always there, and either eat in your tent or bring your bags to meal. This is a bit paranoid, and you can generally leave bulky items (clothes, trail shoes) in your tent.

Don't leave anything outside the tent, even shoes or clothes, especially at night (not just to because of theft but also in case of rain and dew). Leave nothing valuable inside tent entrance or in easy-access pockets.

Hide bulkier items mixed with other items in bags inside of bags inside of deep pockets Backpack pockets, pant pockets, shirt pockets, etc. are easily searched. The more layers (bags, zippers, etc.), the less likely a rushed thief is to risk opening all of them or risk taking a large item. This provides added protection for items such as sunglasses, cameras, and lenses.

Hide valuables when approaching campsite, if possible.

Injuries, evacuation, and death

(Photo: Bcasterline at English Wikipedia, Public domain)

Serious injuries and death are very rare, but possible.

Medical emergencies are very dangerous, due to the remoteness. Medical facilities on the trail are limited, and evacuation and rescue are slow and difficult. The closest major facilities are in Cusco, many hours away. If you are at risk of a medical emergency that would need a hospital, you risk death.

Prior to Warmiwañusqa, you can turn back. Once you pass Warmiwañusqa, there’s no turning back: the fastest and safest way out is onward to Machu Picchu. If you are injured, you will need to walk out or be carried out (if you cannot walk); horse are available for the first day, but not afterwards. Helicopter evacuation is possible from Machu Picchu, but not from the trail itself. Usual evacuation proceeds via Aguas Calientes (if past Warmiwañusqa), Ullantaytampu, then to Cusco.

If you fall off the trail, you will likely be seriously injured or die: off a sheer drop you will likely die, while if you fall into vegetation you will likely not be able to climb back up (mountainsides are scree covered with thick vegetation), and need to be rescued by a team with machetes and a basket stretcher, which can take hours.

It is safest to not be alone on the trail: if something happens, it can be some time before you are found, and if you fall off out of sight, it may be hours or days before you are found.

Be aware of the language problem: English is often limited, and porters may only speak Quechua. Please document and learn to state any medical conditions in Spanish.

Go next

Beware: if you are not spending the night in Aguas Calientes (that is, if you are doing the 4-day/3-night trip), you will have only part of one day at Machu Picchu. Your return train time therefore has a major impact on how long you can stay and whether you have time to climb Huayna Picchu at all. If you are spending the night in Aguas Calientes, this is much less of an issue.

When booking an Inca Trail trip from home, the departure time of your return train may seem like a minor detail. You might assume that your tour operator will automatically leave you enough time at Machu Picchu. In practice, trains fill up, and an operator may book you on a train from Aguas Calientes as early as 1PM. To catch it, you would need to be at the station around 12:30, meaning you may have to leave Machu Picchu by noon.

That is unfortunate, because Machu Picchu is at its best just after opening and again during the last couple of hours before closing. Around 10AM it can be crowded, loud, and full of tour groups. After about 3PM, many visitors have left; the light is beautiful, the heat is gentler, and there is more room to explore at your own pace, sit on the grass, and linger among the resident chinchillas and llamas. If you want that experience, book a later train.

From Machu Picchu, most travellers return toward Cusco through the Sacred Valley. Possible next stops include:

Ollantaytambo, home to another major Inca archaeological site and a convenient stop on the train route back.

• Other sights in and around the Sacred Valley and Cusco.

Other treks

Several alternative treks in the region, some of them also ending at Machu Picchu, are operated by many of the same trekking companies.

• Continue hiking to Choquequirao, a large and much less-visited Inca site, followed by a roughly two-day descent to Cachora and a bus back to Cusco.
• Salkantay Trek, which passes beneath the spectacular Salkantay peak on the way to Machu Picchu.

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