The Inca Trail is the path the Incas used to get to Machu Picchu when it was a living city. Machu Picchu is now a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. It is often referred to as the “Lost City of the Incas”, it was abandoned by the Incas during the Spanish conquest. Machu Picchu was never found by the Spanish, leaving it mostly untouched.
I completed the trek in June 2022, with G Adventures. Here are my top things you should know before starting the trek.
1. Book early
There are only a certain amount of permits for the Inca Trail each day, I recommend 4-6 months in advance to ensure a permit.
2. Do not book in February
The Inca Trail is closed during February for maintenance, so you will be very disappointed if you plan your trip to Peru for the Inca Trail in February.
3. Acclimatise to the altitude
Arrive early to acclimatise to the altitude prior to the trek, normally they recommend 3 days. You can do 2-3 depending on what you need (especially if you are from Australia like me!). I recommend speaking to a travel doctor or GP about this for safety.
4. Bring a power bank
There is no electricity the entire trek, nothing would be worse then getting to Machu Picchu at the end and not having enough battery for photos.
5. Have good hiking shoes/boots
The path is not paved or flat, a good pair of hiking shoes is essential for the uneven dirt/stone paths. I have Salomon hiking boots.
6. Hire two walking poles
They are super helpful along the way, especially with the hills and stairs. A few people in my group didn’t hire them, they regretted it and were using long tree branches by the end.
7. Bring wet wipes
There are some cold showers along the trek, but I only had 1 campsite which had a cold shower option. Each day we got a bowl of warm water and with the wet wipes this was enough.
8. Pack as lightly as possible
You really do not need a lot, and the less you pack the more your shoulders will thank you.
9. Bring a head lamp
This is super handy for nights, if you do a midnight bathroom run, or even playing card games with your group before bed.
10. Bring a travel pillow
You will need it to be comfortable for a good nights sleep. The other option is using clothes, but a light travel pillow is an easy option for a good benefit.
11. Wear layers
You will start the day and it is very cold, then during the day it may get quite warm. Be able to take off layers so you are more comfortable.
12. Wear sunscreen
This is my personal rule to apply every single day, but when you are hiking all day it is so important! I also topped up my sun screen throughout the day and could definitely feel the sun on my face.
13. Take insect repellent
There are insects along the trail, be prepared.
Planning a trip to Peru? If you would like to read more about my trip for more tips, you can see all my Peru blogs here.
