Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (4 Days)

The best time for experiencing good weather on the trail is between the months of April – October when there is minimal rainfall and clear skies. The driest months are June – August, which is winter in the Andes. Nights and early mornings are chilly during this time. November can still be good to hike but, as the season progresses, there is a fair chance of getting wet. Rainy season peaks over the Peruvian summer (December- March). The Inca Trail runs through tropical cloud forests and is especially wet over this time. The trail is closed over February for maintenance.

See above for inclusions and exclusions.

Your body needs time to acclimatise to high-altitude conditions with lower oxygen levels. We recommend arriving in Cusco at least 2 days prior to your trek (3 days for guests over 60). There is no way of knowing how your body will react to the change in altitude. The more days you can take to acclimatise, the better.

The most important thing on this trail is to pack light! Pack animals are not allowed on the Classic Inca Trail, so your belongings will be split between yourself and your personal porter. Your portered luggage is limited to 5kg per Guest (including your sleeping bag and mattress). You will need to carry anything more than this, plus your water, snacks, and essentials for the day in your daypack. Below you will find a link to a useful article on what to pack for the Inca Trail (links visible after booking).

This is a moderately difficult, multi-day hike through rough mountain terrain. You need to be in relatively good physical condition and able to hike for several hours each day. During the final months leading up to your trek, we suggest a regular exercise routine including cardio and strength to improve endurance and stamina. We wish for you to have the best experience possible!

To have the best chance of getting a permit, It's best to book your trial 6 MONTHS+ in advance. Inca Trail permits are limited to only 200 hikers a day. For this reason, we urge you to book as far in advance as possible. Note that your booking becomes non-refundable as soon as we've purchased your permit.

Of course, without any additional costs! When you make your reservation, please inform us of any dietary requirements, including allergies. We provide vegetarian options and can cater to lactose-intolerant or gluten-intolerant diets. Most of our main meals are buffet-style, so you can pick and choose. If you have preferences( for example, strongly dislike onions, tomatoes, or mushrooms) we will ask our chef to leave out or separate these items. Please note, we cannot accept individuals with life-threatening allergic reactions.

Absolutely! Solo travellers are most welcome. There does, however, need to be at least two people booked on a date to confirm departure. If you are travelling solo, please drop us a message beforehand to confirm existing groups. If you are traveling alone, you will need to pay for a single supplement (USD $30.00). This gets you a private tent during the tour. This is payable in cash USD once you arrive in Cusco.

For this trip, we do need at least two people booked on a date to confirm departure. If you are travelling solo, you're welcome to book, but please drop us a message beforehand to confirm existing groups.

There are many outhouses along the Inca trail and at the campsites. Although the sanitation standards have improved over the years, you should keep your expectations low. Bring your own sanitiser and a roll of toilet paper. We will provide you with hot water and soap for washing your hands at mealtimes. - Wayllabamba (1st campsite): There are bathrooms that belong to the local people who rent them to trekkers. They cost S/ 1.00 to S/ 2.00. There are showers, but you pay extra to access these. - Pacaymayu (2nd campsite): There are bathrooms and showers with cold water. These are property of SERNANP and are free. - Wiñayhuayna (3rd campsite): There are free restrooms but no showers. There is a shower a distance away from the campsite. However, it costs from S/ 15.00 to S/ 20.00 and there are usually long queues to use it. Besides what's available on the trail, we also provide a private portable toilet at every campsite. This is a small tent that the team sets up at each camp with a basic portable loo in it.

This tour includes a personal porter to carry your things up to 5 kg / 11.02 lb. Before the start, we will provide you with a duffle bag, where you can pack your basic necessities such as: - a sleeping bag & mattress (average 2,5 kg) - extra clothing (average 2,5 kg) Note that your porter will not be hiking at your side during the trek. So, you need to carry a daypack with the things you need throughout the day, including your water, snacks, camera, extra layers, and a raincoat. You will also be carrying your own inflatable pillow (provided).

Trekking poles are recommended for this trail, especially for those with existing knee problems. The poles will assist your balance and reduce knee impact on the steep sections and Inca steps. Trekking poles are available for rent at $15 per pair. If you would like to rent poles, message us after making your booking. Note: As per the Ministry of Culture, you may not use metal-tipped poles that damage the trail.*

Any baggage that you do not need for the trek may be stored in your hotel in Cusco (most hotels offer this service free of charge). If your hotel does not provide this service, we will store your belongings safely in our office at no extra cost.

1 porter per person is included in this tour price. We require all trekkers age 60 or above to hire an additional porter for their convenience. Additional porters cost $80 for 5kg of luggage. If you would like to hire another porter, please message us after making your booking.

We provide you with boiled water to refill your bottles after each meal-time, starting with lunch on the second day. Before this, you may bring your own or purchase bottled water from small ‘shops’ at local homes on the trail. If you have a filter bottle or purification tablets, you can refill at the many small streams and taps along the trail. This is a better environmental option than buying disposable plastic bottles. For safety's sake (from experience), we discourage drinking unpurified water straight from the source.

We will pick you up from your hotel to begin your trek and drop you back there after the tour.

Here are the approx. daily hiking distances and elevations: Day 1: Walking Distance – 12km / 7.45 miles Starting Elevation – 2720 m. / 8923 ft. Highest Elevation – 3000 m. / 9842 ft. Campsite Elevation – 3000 m. / 9842 ft. Difficulty: Moderate Day 2: Walking Distance – 11km / 6.83 miles Starting Elevation – 3000 m. / 9842 ft. Highest Elevation – 4200 m. / 13779 ft. Campsite Elevation – 3580 m. / 11700 ft. Difficulty: Challenging Day3: Walking Distance – 16km / 9.94 miles Starting Elevation –3580 m. / 11700 ft. Highest Elevation – 4000 m. / 13123 ft. Campsite Elevation – 2680 m. / 8792 ft. Difficulty: Challenging Day 4: Walking Distance – 5km / 3.10 miles Starting Elevation – 2680 m. / 8792 ft. Highest Elevation – 2730 m. / 8956 ft. Difficulty: Easy

Our groups are limited to a maximum of 8 people.

There are NO government restrictions regarding the age limit for classic Inca Trail. However, as a responsible Tour Agency, we prefer to take children 7 years or older. For families with children, we highly recommend booking a private tour to make your experience more comfortable. All children below the age of 18 years must be accompanied by an adult. Trekkers age 65 + must consult with their physician before booking and also before traveling to verify health conditions for participating in a high-altitude multi-day trek. We will require a medical file confirming a good state of health and NO cardiac problems. All clients 60 years of age or above should arrive in Cusco at least 3 days before your trekking date to adjust to the altitude. Please also ensure that your travel insurance covers this type of trek.

After you have made your booking, we will get on the system to buy your permit. Note that permits are controlled by state authorities, and availability can change in minutes. Because of this, we can only confirm your trip once we have secured the permit. Once this happens, we will send a confirmation message (at this point, your booking becomes non-refundable). If we are unable to get a permit for your date, we will recommend an alternative date or refund your booking in full.

Hiking up the neighbouring Huayna Picchu mountain is an extremely popular add-on to this tour. This mountain has an additional cost of $85 USD per person and needs to be booked in advance. If you would like to add this to your Machu Picchu visit, please let us know once you have confirmed your booking (use the button on your tour dashboard; MESSAGE THE GUIDE). This extra activity is subject to availability. You will need to pay this balance at our offices once you arrive in Cusco. Note: Due to schedule time restrictions, climbing the alternative, Machu Picchu Mountain, is not usually possible as part of this itinerary.

Yes! If you would like to add extra days to your stay in Cusco and visit Rainbow Mountain, please 'Message Your Guide' from your Skyhook Dashboard after making the booking. Any activities that are not included in the itinerary of this trip will need to be arranged directly with the local operator and paid for in the country.

We happily receive clients with food allergies (nuts, wheat, dairy etc.) Please inform us in detail of your condition upon making your reservation. If in doubt, ask us. We kindly ask that you declare the severity of your reaction and any medication that you take in case of an emergency. If your allergy is severe, you need to be accompanied by someone who will take responsibility for your situation and carries the necessary medication. WE CAN NOT ACCEPT CLIENTS WITH LIFE-THREATENING ALLERGIES