My experience on... The Inca Trail
by The Adventure People on 11th March 2019
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I did the Inca Trail, back in the Summer of 2017. I was already in Peru, on a 6 month South America adventure. But I had always wanted to do the Inca Trail as it's so iconic, probably the most iconic trek, at least one of. For me the massive selling point was Machu Picchu, it's what you always see in pictures growing up, the massive mountain and the ruins. I had always wondered about it so I just really wanted to go.
Getting there
To get there I had to go to Cusco. It's where all the Inca Trail tours start. I didn't have much money at the time so I took an overnight coach to Cusco from Lima. You can of course also fly there.
The best part
The best part was between one or two, first was when you get to Dead Woman's Pass, the highest point of the trek. It's a great view from there, and you feel like, ok the hardest part is over, from here it's pretty much downhill at a steady pace until Machu Picchu. Now you get the chance to just enjoy it. But then of course when you get to Machu Picchu is the best part. Actually, when we first arrived it was a bit underwhelming because it was so early in the morning. You start the morning at 4 am and when you get to Machu Picchu it's just thick fog. You couldn't see a thing! And I thought, after all that I'm going to spend the next few hours here and not see anything! But honestly, after 5-10 minutes the fog just cleared. Apparently, it's what it does almost every morning, the fog clears, and it's like a curtain opening, revealing Machu Picchu right before your eyes.
Training and packing for The Inca Trail
I didn't do much training in preparation for the trek because I'd already been travelling and walking some distances every day, for about 2-3 months so I felt physically ready. What I was a bit apprehensive about was the altitude as I'd never been up that high. I spoke to my tour leader about it who said as long as I acclimatise and spend two days in Cusco before, I should be fine, and I was. I did feel the altitude though, it grips you at time. But it's nothing to worry about, the leaders are great at helping you should you feel it more than I did. I didn't pack specifically for the trek. But I did have a big backpack with all my belongings as I was travelling for months, but it was fine I had a smaller bag and the tour leader took my big one back to their local office, or you could leave it at the hotel. So you only bring the essentials. The main thing to remember is to take good walking shoes. I wouldn't do it in flip-flops! And remember to walk them in before. Other than that you'll need some t-shirts, a sweater and I wore jeans and was absolutely fine. I never felt like I needed anything else. The tour leader has hiking poles you can hire and are very cheap if you fancy using those. The accommodation is camping. It's quite basic, more often than not you'll be sharing with someone. It's all set up so you don't have to worry about setting it up or taking it down at the end of the day. You arrive and it's all ready for you. All you have to do it get comfy while the guides kindly cook your food for you!
Overall impression of The Inca Trail
I never felt unsafe on the Inca Trail. You're with loads of people all the time, maybe 10-15 people around you, leaders and porters. They close the trail in February for safety reasons, so the trail itself is safe. It's open the rest of the year. You won't be allowed on the trail if it's not safe. My overall impression of the Inca Trails was that it's a once in a lifetime trip that's stuck with me forever. I love remembering it. The moment you reach Machu Picchu is just incredible and you get to spend a few hours there just wandering around by yourself (if you like). It sounds corny but running your hands along the ruins who were built by an ancient civilisation, worlds apart from your own is just fascinating. You can walk in and out of the houses, see the systems they used, the drainage system they had, and areas they used to gather and speak, where they used to do sports. And the views they had, what an incredible place to live! Top tip though, bring your camera! Don't just snap away but after you've arrived and taken it all in, take a picture that you can put on your wall, and remember forever.
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