Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu was hands down the highlight of our three months in South America. Going into our RTW trip, we knew that joining a classic four day trek to Machu Picchu would be the one excursion that we would splurge on while abroad.
We booked our hike out a couple months in advance and eagerly counted down the days to our March 28th trek as we travelled through Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru.
There will be more articles on our Machu Picchu adventures to come… but for now, I would like to share with you the five discoveries that we stumbled across while on our legendary trek.
For anyone looking to hike to Machu Picchu in the future, I advise you to read closely!
Hiking The Inca Trail Is Harder Than We Thought
I am not sure what we expected going into our trek, but it sure was a harder four days than we initially imagined. When talking with other backpackers who already hiked the Inca Trail, everybody talked about how great the sights were, but NOBODY talked about the hike itself.
Like a woman having just given birth to a child, previous hikers were too overwhelmed by the beauty of Machu Picchu that they seemed to forget about the labor itself to get to the end.
Well people, I am here to tell you that the four day hike to get to Machu Picchu is HARD. Be sure to hit the gym and get in shape before starting your trek…
The girls finishing off the climb strong
… And when your freakishly fit tour guide tells you that the next portion of your hike is “Inca flat”, prepare to die.
Every Difficult Part Of The Trail Is WORTH IT
Yes, the hike was hard and I often wanted to shoot myself when hiking up a mountain by using those steep Inca stairs. But ending at Machu Picchu, exploring ancient ruins, and continually stumbling across stunning landscapes made every treacherous twist and turn along the way worth it.
At the top of the Day 2 hike feeling badass
When It Comes To The Weather, Expect The Unexpected
I know some backpackers that hiked the entire four days in a torrential downpour… So I like to think that our group lucked out by having three days of great weather. But the fourth day (the day we would finally be arriving to Machu Picchu) was foggy, rainy, cold, and just plain miserable.
Cold and miserable... But it was all worth it!
In addition, the nights are cold and the jungle is damp. My recommendation for you future MP hikers would be to bring a poncho (or two), have a proper rain cover for your backpack, pack a variety of clothing so you have layers to work with, and cross your fingers for sunshine!
Make Sure You Choose A Good Trekking Company
We did our classic Inca Trail hike with the company Peru Treks. Let me just say that they ROCKED.
The most amazing men on the planet... Love the porters!
Peru Treks rocked so much that I have decided to write an entirely separate article on how awesome they were on our hike… But for now, let me just say that you often get what you pay for. Do your research, read reviews, and talk with previous trekkers on the best companies out there. Hiking the Inca Trail with the right crew can mean the difference between a magnificent four days and an absolute nightmare.
Get Comfortable With The Concept Of “Inca Toilets”
Forget the luxuries of toilet paper. Forget the luxuries of a toilet seat. Forget the luxury of… a toilet. On the hike, the best bathroom you will find is a rickety hut with a small hole in the ground to do your biz…
And that’s it.
So bring a couple rolls of TP to have on hand, keep hand sanitizer on you at all times, and be sure to roll your pant legs up when approaching these poop-ridden palaces… And remember, the good ol’ outdoors also makes for a great bano.
This post was written by
Exhausted from traveling every week as a Business Management Consultant, I took a year off to travel at my own pace. I am a high-energy girl that loves being active, eating food, drinking wine, and exploring the world with my partner-in-crime (and husband), Tony!
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks Meg – good info to know as we get ready to head to Cusco in July. Especially the tips about the Inca toilets – that’s going to be a good one to socialize with the kids!
Glad you two found it helpful! We had an amazing time… Just be sure to bring lots of TP for the “toilets”. Are you booked through a group yet? I would HIGHLY recommend Peru Treks. They were amazing!
Glad you guys had fun! I thought the classic Inca Trail was totally worth it.
P.S. Like the site redesign.
Thanks Linda for following! By the way I just checked out your blog – It’s amazing! Oh and thanks for the Peru Treks recommendation. They were such a great company to trek with…. and yes, totally worth it!
Meg –
Thanks for the advice! We are going in July and I am as equally excited as I am terrified. Any packing recommendations? I want to pack as light as possible, but want to avoid having a “I forgot to bring any pants” moment.
Thanks!
Great news Katie! Are you hiring a Porter? They can carry a bag for you if you decide to go down that route. It will allow you to pack more and not have to carry much during the days. We actually carried all our stuff (along with the sleeping bags and mats) and were fine. It all managed to fit in a 32L bag and wasn’t that heavy. Here was my packing list:
3 pairs undies, 1 sports bra, 2 quick-dry/no stink shirts,1 pair leggings,1 pair hiking pans, 1 pair heavy socks, 1 pair regular socks, 1 zip up hoodie, 1 fleece, 1 alpaca sweater, 1 rain coat, 1 alpaca hat, 1 alpaca gloves.
We didn’t really have access to any warm showers on the hike so you can forget bringing too many toiletries besides toothbrush/toothpaste/deodorant but baby wipes proved very helpful during our hike… and lots of hand sani!
I hope this helps. What company are you going with?
Thanks for the tips Meg. My husband and I are planning on going in October and looking for a tour company to take us – what made you pick Peru Treks over other tour groups?
We had so many recommendations from other backpackers to try them out and after doing some research, we found that they were amongst the best tour companies – with incredibly reasonable prices for the trek. We had such a great experience with them. Excellent equipment, guides, food and customer care…. They even brought you hot coffee and hot chocolate to your tents for your morning wake up call…. How can you top that?!
This was so helpful! We’re using PeruTreks for our trek in November, and I’m so glad to hear about how much you liked them. Also–thanks for your comments on what you brought on the hike. And the toilets! No one seems to talk about the toilets at all, I’ve found, in my research on trek reports. Thanks again!
You’re welcome Lana! I am glad you found the article helpful and I am so excited you are going with PeruTreks. They are a great company! Are you hiring a Porter? With my packing list, I was able to carry my own stuff and it was pretty manageable. It’s definitely do-able if you are on a tight budget! Gahhh the toilets. Just bring a lot of TP, hand sanitizer, and roll up your pant legs upon entering!
We are going to use a porter. While we could probably carry everything ourselves, we realized that less weight means we’ll probably be less grumpy and enjoy it more. The pant legs tip is a great one too.
I will be doing the trek in a few weeks. We are a group of 4, age range 58 to 63. We are all healthy and physically fit. I don’t see too many people in the trek photos who look to be our age, and that makes me a bit nervous. Our group hired 2 porters and we will be carrying day packs (50 l). Can you give me any further advice (I have heard that day two is the worst) Your tips have been the best I have read so far. Thanks, Meg!!
Hi Lorraine… I am glad to hear that my tips have been helpful in your planning process. Hiring a porter is definitely helpful, so you made a great decision there. There were 4 people on our trip that were in their 50′s and 60′s and they completed all 4 days just fine. People are advised to go at their own speed, so even if it means getting to the campsite later than most of the group, just go at your own pace and take it slow… The hiking guides will always hang back with people too, so do not worry about losing your way if you fall back from the main crowd. Yes, day two is the hardest – but a gorgeous hike! It is a pretty steep climb, but if you switchback up the mountain/steps, you will have a much easier time with it. Also, plan on arriving in Cusco at least several days before your hike… The altitude on the Inca Trail takes getting used to, so acclimating beforehand is a MUST! Anyways, I hope this helps! What company are you working with?
Thanks for your helpful response, Meg. We are hiking with SAS tours(recommended by a family member). We plan on being in Cusco for 3 days before the trek commences. Did you find the coca tea/leaves to be helpful in alleviating altitude symptoms? I have heard that ibuprofen helps as well. On another subject, what did you wear at night to stay warm? My husband and I invested in merino wool under garments and figured they would suffice as sleepwear. What was the evening routine like? I’m envisioning dinner and then dropping off to sleep b/c of exhaustion. I appreciate your info @ toilets. Do you think one roll of TP per person is enough? that’s the only part of this trek that I am really dreading. You are the only one to address this issue. Thanks again for all your help!!
Thank you, I have recently been looking for info approximately this subject for a long time and yours is the
greatest I’ve came upon till now. However, what about the bottom line? Are you positive about the supply?
Hi Meg,
Did you pack or did you buy extra warm clothes over there? I wasn’t sure if you took those with you for SE Asia.
Thanks
Hi Maria,
We brought warm gear for Peru but traveled to Europe the month following where we met up with family who brought back our heavy clothes to Boston on their flight home and in exchange brought us summer clothes for Europe at SE Asia. In Peru they also have REALLY cheap alpaca gear (hats, mittens, sweaters, etc.) that are great for the Inca Trail, so you can buy a lot there if space in your luggage is an issue.
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