All You Need to Know About the Inca Trail

The Inca Trail is one of the world's great treks. Over four days and around 42km, it follows a stone road built more than 500 years ago, climbs over high Andean passes, winds through cloud forest past ruins you can only reach on foot, and ends at the Sun Gate with your first view of Machu Picchu.

It's a journey that rewards a little understanding before you go. This guide covers the story behind the trail, what you'll see along the route, what a day of trekking is really like, and how to prepare. For quick answers to practical questions, from hiking hours to what's in your porter bag, see our Inca Trail FAQs.

The story of the Inca Trail

The Inca Trail is a small part of something much bigger. At its height in the 15th and early 16th centuries, the Inca Empire stretched along the Andes from present-day Ecuador to Chile, held together by a road network known as the Qhapaq Ñan. Running for around 30,000km across mountains, deserts and forests, it carried armies, messengers and llama caravans across the empire. Today the network is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The section you walk on the Classic Inca Trail was a ceremonial route to Machu Picchu, a royal estate built in the mid-1400s for the emperor Pachacuti. Rather than a simple path, it was carefully engineered, with stone staircases, retaining walls, drainage channels and even a tunnel cut through the rock. Along it, the Incas built waystations, temples and agricultural terraces, many of which still stand.

Machu Picchu was abandoned within about a century of being built, around the time of the Spanish conquest, and the Spanish never found it. It was brought to international attention in 1911 by the explorer Hiram Bingham, though local farmers had known about it all along. In 1983 the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, including the Inca Trail, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in 2007 Machu Picchu was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Walking the trail today, you follow the same stones the Incas laid, and arrive at Machu Picchu the way its builders intended.

The route: what you'll see along the way

The Classic Inca Trail starts at Kilometre 82, a point on the railway line through the Sacred Valley, and climbs through three very different landscapes before reaching Machu Picchu. Campsites vary between operators, so the exact split of each day differs, but you'll pass the same highlights.

Day 1: the Urubamba valley

After crossing the Urubamba River, the trail follows the valley through dry, cactus-dotted hillsides. Before long you'll look down on Llactapata (also called Patallacta), a large Inca settlement of terraces and buildings that once supplied Machu Picchu with food. The walking is steady, giving you a chance to settle into the pace of the trek.

Day 2: Dead Woman's Pass

The big day. The trail climbs through woodland and open grassland to Warmiwañusca, or Dead Woman's Pass, at 4,215m, the highest point of the trek. The name comes from the shape of the ridge, which is said to resemble a woman lying on her back. After celebrating at the top, a steep descent on stone steps leads into the Pacaymayo valley.

Day 3: ruins and cloud forest

For many trekkers, this is the most beautiful day. You'll pass the round ruins of Runkurakay, cross a second pass, and reach Sayacmarca, a compact settlement perched on a rocky outcrop. Further on, the trail passes through an Inca tunnel and into cloud forest filled with orchids, bromeliads and hummingbirds. Phuyupatamarca, meaning "town above the clouds", has ceremonial baths and far-reaching views, and the day ends near Wiñay Wayna, a spectacular terraced site built into a steep hillside.

Day 4: the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu

An early start takes you along the final stretch of trail to Inti Punku, the Sun Gate. On a clear morning, Machu Picchu appears below, with Huayna Picchu rising behind it. From here it's a short walk down into the citadel for a guided tour.

A day on the trail

Life on the Inca Trail quickly settles into a rhythm. Most days begin early, often with a knock on your tent and a cup of hot coca tea, followed by a cooked breakfast before the team packs up camp.

You then walk at your own pace, with guides at the front and back of the group and regular stops to rest, take photos and learn about the ruins you pass. Your guide is your link to the history of the trail, so ask plenty of questions.

All the while, the porters are the quiet heroes of the trek. They carry the tents, kitchen and food, as well as your personal kit, and they'll race past you on the steepest climbs to have camp set up and lunch ready before you arrive. Many groups greet each other at camp with a round of applause, and on the last evening it's traditional for trekkers and crew to gather to thank one another.

Meals are a highlight. Cooks prepare surprisingly varied, freshly made dishes in the camp kitchen, from soups and Peruvian classics to pasta, rice and fresh fruit, served in a dining tent. Evenings are early: after dinner, most trekkers head to bed soon after dark, ready to do it all again the next morning.

For practical details such as tents, sleeping bags, toilets and what porters can carry for you, see our Inca Trail FAQs.

Planning your Inca Trail trek

When to go

The dry season, from around May to September, brings the clearest skies and most stable weather, along with the highest demand. April and October are good shoulder months, with fewer trekkers and generally mild conditions. The rainy season runs from roughly November to March, when trails can be muddy and views more often hidden by cloud. The trail closes every February for maintenance.

Permits and booking

Only a limited number of permits are issued for each day, and they're tied to your passport details, so the most popular dates sell out months ahead. Read why it's a good idea to book your Inca Trail trek early, and see our Inca Trail permits FAQs for how the process works.

Fitness and altitude

You don't need trekking experience, but you do need a moderate level of fitness and time to acclimatise. Plan to spend at least two or three days in Cusco or the Sacred Valley before you start. Our guide The Inca Trail: Am I Fit Enough? includes a 12-week training plan and advice on acclimatising, and you can read more about altitude sickness.

What to pack

Pack light, as porters carry a limited amount of your kit and you'll carry your own daypack. The essentials:

• Footwear: Well broken-in, waterproof walking boots, plus comfortable shoes or sandals for camp.
• Layers: Breathable T-shirts, a fleece, a warm insulated jacket for cold nights, and a waterproof jacket and trousers.
• Warm extras: A hat, gloves and thermal base layers for the higher campsites.
• Sleeping: A warm sleeping bag, either your own or hired in Cusco.
• Daypack: A comfortable pack with a rain cover, a reusable water bottle and snacks.
• Trekking poles: Helpful on the steep descents. Use rubber tips, as metal tips aren't allowed on the trail.
• Personal kit: A head torch, sunglasses, sun cream, insect repellent, hand sanitiser, toilet paper and wet wipes.
• Documents: The passport you used to book, as it's checked against your permit at the trail entrance.

Trekking responsibly

The Inca Trail is a protected historic sanctuary, and the daily permit limit, the February closure and the ban on metal-tipped poles all exist to protect it. A few simple habits help keep it special for the communities who work on it and the trekkers who follow you:

• Respect the stonework. Stay on the path, don't climb on walls or ruins, and never remove stones or plants.
• Leave no trace. Carry out everything you bring in, including wrappers and tissues, and use the toilets provided.
• Cut down on plastic. Bring a reusable bottle and refill it with the boiled water your crew provides.
• Support the crew. Porters' loads are weighed at checkpoints to keep them within legal limits, so stick to your kit allowance. Tipping your guides, cooks and porters at the end of the trek is customary and much appreciated.
• Be a considerate trekker. Step to the mountain side of the path to let porters pass, and keep noise down at campsites.

More Inca Trail reading

• Inca Trail FAQs: quick answers on difficulty, hiking hours, accommodation, porters and food.
• Inca Trail permits FAQs: how permits work and what details you'll need.
• Why it's a good idea to book your Inca Trail trek early: when permits sell out and how far ahead to book.
• The Inca Trail: Am I Fit Enough?: fitness levels, a 12-week training plan and acclimatisation advice.
• The different treks to Machu Picchu: how the Inca Trail compares with the Salkantay, Lares and Choquequirao treks.
• The Inca Trail or the Lost City Trek?: how Peru's most famous trek compares with Colombia's.

Ready to walk the Inca Trail?

Four days on an ancient road, a crew who'll look after you every step of the way, and a sunrise at the Sun Gate you'll never forget. Browse our Inca Trail tours, including the Classic Inca Trail & Machu Picchu - 4 Days, or call our team on 0208 004 8886 to check availability for your dates.