4-Day Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu with Sun Gate Arrival

Know Before You Go: Classic 4-Day Inca Trail Tour

Physical Preparation

• The Inca Trail is a physically demanding trek that requires good fitness. Daily hikes range from 6 to 9 hours, and you will reach altitudes of up to 4,215 meters (13,828 feet) at Dead Woman's Pass.
• We recommend training beforehand with regular cardio exercises, hiking, or long walks with a weighted backpack to prepare for the trek.
• The trail includes steep inclines, uneven stone steps, and varying weather conditions, so mental and physical readiness is essential.

Acclimatization

• Cusco is located at 3,400 meters (11,155 feet) above sea level, and altitude sickness can affect anyone. We recommend arriving in Cusco at least 2-3 days before your trek to properly acclimatize.
• Stay hydrated, eat light meals, and avoid alcohol to help with altitude adjustment. If needed, consult a doctor about altitude medication.

Permits and Booking

• Permits for the Inca Trail are strictly limited and must be booked several months in advance. They are non-refundable and non-transferable, as they are issued in your name for a specific date.
• Ensure your passport details are accurate when booking. If you renew your passport before the trek, bring both the old and new passports.

Packing Essentials

• Duffel Bag: A 7kg/14lb limit applies for the duffel bag carried by your personal porter. This includes your sleeping bag and sleeping mat.
• Daypack: You will carry your own daypack with essentials like water, snacks, sunscreen, and personal items.
• Clothing: Layered clothing is key for varying temperatures. Bring moisture-wicking shirts, warm layers, a waterproof jacket, and comfortable hiking pants.
• Footwear: Sturdy, broken-in hiking boots with good grip are essential. Bring extra socks and blister prevention supplies.
• Sleeping Bag: A sleeping bag rated for sub-freezing temperatures is required. Rentals are available if needed.
• Other Essentials: Sunscreen, insect repellent, a hat, gloves, trekking poles (optional but recommended), reusable water bottles or a hydration bladder (3 liters capacity), and toiletries.

Trail Highlights

• The Inca Trail includes stunning archeological sites such as Wiñay Wayna and Phuyupatamarca. Your guide will share historical and cultural insights along the way.
• The highlight of the trek is entering Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) at sunrise, offering breathtaking views of the citadel.

Weather Conditions

• The weather on the trail can vary greatly. Expect sunny mornings, rainy afternoons, and cold nights. The dry season runs from May to September, and the rainy season is from November to March.
• Rain ponchos and waterproof covers are provided for your comfort.

Meals and Dietary Restrictions

• All meals on the trek are prepared by our professional trekking chefs. Expect hearty, nutritious meals with fresh ingredients to keep you energized.
• Dietary restrictions (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc.) are fully accommodated - please inform us in advance.

Health and Safety

• All guides are trained in first aid and carry first-aid kits and oxygen tanks. Satellite phones are available for emergencies.
• Stay hydrated and pace yourself to avoid overexertion.

Camping and Facilities

• Tents are provided for double occupancy (single tents are available for an additional fee). Foam sleeping pads and pillows are included.
• Campsites have basic restroom facilities, but conditions are rustic. Hand sanitizer and toilet paper are essential.

Transportation and Logistics

• We provide hotel pick-up and drop-off in Cusco.
• Your return train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and bus transfer to Cusco are included.

Cultural Respect

• The Inca Trail is a sacred path with cultural and spiritual significance. Respect the environment, archeological sites, and local communities. Leave no trace by disposing of waste responsibly.

Tips for Porters and Guides

• Tipping is not mandatory but is greatly appreciated by the hardworking team. Tips are usually given as a group contribution on the final day of the trek.

This guide ensures you are well prepared for an unforgettable adventure on the iconic Inca Trail.

• Professional Guides: All of our guides studied English and tourism at Cusco National University. They all grew up in this region and have a true passion for teaching others about their heritage. They are fun yet professional and will ensure you are safe and happy.
• Permits and Machu Picchu: In order to hike the Inca Trail, you must have a permit to enter the trail. This can only be obtained by licensed Inca Trail tour operators, like Alpaca Expeditions. As soon as we receive your details and deposit, we will purchase your permits. These permits are issued for a specific date and in your name. They cannot be changed once they are confirmed. The only detail that can be updated is your passport number. The permit includes entrance to Machu Picchu.
• Briefing: The night before your trek, you will have a trek briefing at our office with your guide and the other trekkers in your group. At the briefing, you will receive your duffel bag, which will stay with the porters while you hike. This bag should not exceed 7kg/14 lbs and needs to include your sleeping bag and air mattress if you have chosen to rent or bring one. Remember, layering your clothes is key.
• A Porter for your Personal Belongings: We include a personal porter who is responsible for carrying your duffel bag. There is no additional fee for this. You will not have access to your duffel bag until your evening campsite. The duffel should not exceed 7kg, including 4kg of clothes and 3kg for your sleeping bag and sleeping mat.
• Green Machine Porters: The men and women who make up our porter team are among the most loyal and hardest working on the planet. They make magic happen, always with a smile and a helpful hand. They are responsible for carrying all the camping equipment and food, setting up and breaking down each campsite, and assisting the chef with food preparation. By law, they can carry up to 20 kg maximum, which is a rule we take very seriously. For example, with a group of 8 trekkers, there will be 15 porters.
• Trekking Chef and Food: Our porters are not the only ones making magic on the mountain. There is nothing comparable to what the Alpaca Expeditions chefs do on the mountainside. They prepare amazing meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, often starting with a nutritious soup and mostly serving family style. There will always be a protein, salad, assorted sides, and even amazing desserts. They cater to all food restrictions and make sure everyone has enough to make it up the mountain. Please make sure your Alpaca Expeditions booking agent knows about any food restrictions at the time of booking.
• Water: Water is the key to feeling good on the trek. Hydration helps battle the effects of altitude, so be prepared with something that can hold at least 3 liters of water. We will provide water at each meal - boiling it, filtering it, and then cooling it down to make sure all water is clean and ready to drink. Water will not be provided until your first lunch, when our porters will have the ability to prepare clean water. Please bring enough water for your first morning on the trail.
• Equipment: Alpaca Expeditions uses some of the best equipment on the market, including Eureka Timberline 4-person tents shared by only 2 people. Single tents are available for an additional fee of $30US. We have large dining tents for clients to enjoy their meals. Every client will receive a pillow for sleeping and a foam sleeping pad to insulate against the cold ground. All dining equipment, including chairs and dishes, is provided.
• Hotel to Hotel Service: You will be picked up from your hotel on the morning of your trek and driven to KM 82 in our comfortable Alpaca Expeditions van. After the trek, we will drive you from the train station back to your hotel or Airbnb.
• Transportation and Train Service: All your logistics are included in this trek, including the bus ticket from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes as well as your tourist class train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo. This is a 2-hour trip, and it will be another 2 hours by car back to Cusco.
• First Aid: Your safety is our number one concern. All our guides are trained and retrained every February by a medical doctor. They all carry first-aid kits and full oxygen tanks. If needed, we will get you off the trail as quickly and comfortably as possible so you can be taken directly to a clinic for treatment. While these situations are rare, we prepare for them.
• Satellite Phones: While our guides can handle most first-aid issues that happen on the trek, some situations need a bit more attention. Every guide has a fully charged satellite phone with them when they leave for a trek. Being a phone call away from any doctor, hospital, or friend helps everyone feel assured that they are safe. Radios, which all our guides have, are limited in how far they can reach, so Alpaca Expeditions includes this feature to make sure we can connect no matter where we are on the mountain. They can also be used by our clients for non-emergencies if needed.
• Extras: We believe it is the attention to small details that separates us from other tour companies. As mentioned earlier, every trekker receives a small pillow to sleep with, a foam mattress for insulation, a daypack cover to protect their belongings while hiking, and a rain poncho. We provide hot water bins each day to help our clients clean up and feel good at night. We enjoy happy hour each evening to relax, unwind, and discuss the day's events. We will work very hard to create your best vacation.
• Taxes and Fees: All taxes and permit fees associated with this trek are included in our price. There are no hidden fees.
• The Alpaca Difference: While the list below is less tangible, it is equally important and part of everything we do at Alpaca Expeditions.
• Transportation and train upgrades to the Vistadome are available for an additional fee of $75 per person if requested.
• Single tents are available for an additional fee of $30US.

• Ethical and Responsible Treatment to our Porters: Most people would not be able to handle the challenges of these treks if it were not for the porters helping with all the lifting, preparing, and cheering. They are the backbone of our company and the reason why Raul Ccolque created Alpaca Expeditions to begin with. He began in this industry as a porter and understands their needs better than anyone. We are dedicated to providing a better life to every member of our Green Machine. This includes better salaries so they do not need to depend on tips to make ends meet. We provide all their gear, including warm down jackets, proper hiking boots, backpacks, hats, headlamps, sleeping bags, pads, and tents. We have a Porters House for our porters to sleep in the night before and after their trek, since they often travel far from home. We include a medical doctor to work Monday through Friday at the Porters House to tend to our team and make sure they feel well cared for. We also support their families by helping village schools, bringing doctors and dentists to visit, and planting trees in their valleys. We are committed to our social projects, and this is appreciated by the more than 300 porters on our team.
• Porters Trip: We love meeting all our clients, but our favorite trips are when our porters and their families become our clients. While our porters hike to Machu Picchu dozens of times per year, they never make it inside the famous citadel. We take 4 trips a year to bring our team inside and spend two days traveling around the important ruins, letting them touch and see the history of their ancestors.
• Equality Matters: Another big difference is that we believe we are all equal and that every person contributes something different and beautiful to our team. We have always had female guides and have had female porters and chefs on our team since 2017. While the numbers are not equal yet, we hope for the day when we have a 50/50 balance of men and women working on the mountains as part of the Alpaca Expeditions team.
• Sustainable and Responsible Tour Operator: Alpaca Expeditions is far ahead of our competitors in being a sustainable tour operator. We honor our planet by making sure there is no trace left behind on any of our treks. We even include an extra porter to help clean up trash left by other groups. We use local products that are biodegradable and organic whenever possible.