The Inca Trail & Machu Picchu

Trek the Inca Trail and be awed by a civilisation that ruled as the backbone of the Andes for nearly a century

Picture this: ruins seated seamlessly in cloud forest, challenging mountain passes with snow-capped Andean views and friendly Peruvian porters, guides and chefs making it as fun and comfortable as possible at every step of the way. Peru's iconic Inca Trail is a chance to follow in the footsteps of a great lost civilisation, a trek leading from the old capital of Cusco through the Sacred Valley to the ruins of Ollantaytambo and up to the Sun Gate overlooking mighty Machu Picchu. And once you’ve experienced it, you’ll see why this is considered the mother of all South American treks.

At a glance

Number of ruins

8

Average duration

4 Days

Peak time to trek

May to September

Our Inca Trail trips

Highlights of the Inca Trail

Llactapata ruins on Inca Trail
Llactapata

The anticipation is over and day one of hiking begins. Llactapata (meaning ‘high town’) sets the scene, with its beautiful lined terraces and housing structures dating back to the 16th century.

Dead Woman's Pass on the Inca Trail
Dead Woman's Pass

This is the most challenging (and highest) leg of the Inca Trail trail. Once you’ve made it over Dead Woman’s Pass you can give yourself one big pat on the back! You’ll encounter the 4215 m peak on the second day of the hike with some downright stunning views of the valley below.

Travellers at Winayhuayna on the Inca Trail
Winayhuayna

Winayhuayna packs a punch overlooking the Urubamba River – with upper and lower terraces lined with well-preserved stone houses on a hillside. Arriving at the ruins on the fourth day, this is the final marker of the journey before you reach Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu view from Sun Gate
Inti Punku (Sun Gate)

Inti Punku, better known as the Sun Gate, brings you to the spectacular entrance of Machu Picchu. Evidence suggests this structure was used as a security checkpoint, and the views overlooking the ancient city ruins are impressive to say the least.

Why choose us

Trek experts

All our guides are certified local tour guides and trained in-house on Intrepid Safety Policies. Each trekking guide also receives exclusive Intrepid training, provided by mountain rescue experts in the field.

Safety first

All our guides and trek leaders have been trained by medical specialists in handling altitude illness and are proficient in first aid. Our team carries oxygen cylinders on all treks for emergency use.

Local matters

Our team members live and work in the Andean region, which means revenue from all our treks benefit the local economy.

Full inclusions

We take care of the details, so you can focus more on enjoying the journey. Our tours include all meals, with essential camping equipment and the option to hire additional hiking equipment if needed.

Rainforest Alliance tick of approval

We are proud to have the tick of approval from the Rainforest Alliance indicating that we meet and operate at the highest standards in environmental, social and economic sustainability.

Sustainable travel

We strive to use travel as a force for good. That’s why we choose to give back to the communities we visit, carbon offset all our trips and take our social and environmental responsibilities seriously. We’ve been officially certified as the world’s largest travel B Corp, which means when you choose Intrepid Travel, you can rest assured you’re travelling to improve the planet.

The people who make our trips great

Woman standing in front of the ruins of Machu Pichu
Maritza, operations manager

"I am passionate about empowering local Indigenous communities, especially women, and am also a committed defender of Mother Earth, known in the Andes as Pachamama. I have also worked tirelessly with local communities and governments to help improve the sustainability of treks in the Cusco region".

Man standing in front of the ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru
Paul, leader

“It will be a pleasure to share our traditions and beliefs, take you to the most amazing sites and, most importantly, interact with the locals! Get ready for a behind-the-scenes tour where we’ll visit hole-in-the-wall restaurants and find the best picarones (Andean doughnuts). I’ll be waiting for you here, in my beloved Peru."

Man smiling into the camera with camping gear in the background
Fernando, general manager

"I like working for Intrepid because their social and environmental philosophy isn’t just a slogan to sell more trips, they really do care about it. I have changed my life in so many aspects due to all the learning coming from Intrepid, from recycling to accepting myself, and being proud for who I am."

A local porter giving a thumbs up to the camera along the Inca Trail in Peru
Ascencio, porter

"I started working with Intrepid in 2014 and now I'm 61 years old. I'm very happy to be working with Intrepid because each porter's treatment is better than other tour operators in Peru. Because of this job (which includes fair pay), I can provide a better education for my children". 

Local woman with a backpack on along the Inca Trail in Peru
Valentina, porter

"I come from Huilloc Community in Ollantaytambo town in the Sacred Valley (Cusco), and I started working as a porter on the Inca Trail in 2021. I love walking the Inca Trail and I'm very happy to be working for Intrepid as my income enables me to provide a better education for my 7 children". 

A smiling man standing in front of the Intrepid logo at an office in Peru
Teofilo, porter

"I'm from the Community of Kalla Rayan (Calca town) in the Sacred Valley, and I'm 53 years old. I've worked as a porter for Intrepid since 2009, mainly because I love it and we have very good working conditions. Thanks to my job, I've saved money to spend on my wife and better education for my children". 

Frequently asked questions

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 based on 1343 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Inca Trail Express

Araceli · Traveled November 2024
Review submitted 29 Nov 2024

Inca Trail Express from Lima

Domenico · Traveled November 2024
Review submitted 29 Nov 2024

Inca Trail Express

Viviane · Traveled November 2024
Review submitted 27 Nov 2024

Inca Trail Express

Kyla · Traveled November 2024
Review submitted 21 Nov 2024

Sacred Land of the Incas

Audrey · Traveled November 2024
Review submitted 27 Nov 2024

Life on the trail

The Inca Trail doesn’t have any permanent facilities, but never fear – we travel well prepared. You’ll sleep in modern two-person dome tents on foam sleeping mats, set up by our friendly porters who will also carry your heavier packs. Our chefs cook hot meals each night to load you up with carbohydrates for the next day. You’ll also get a bowl of warm water each day to wash with. Check out the gallery below for a preview of life on the trail. 

Not the hiking type?

On every Intrepid trip that includes the Inca Trail, you can always opt out of the hike. Pick whichever Peru trip you’re keen on and specify while booking that you’d prefer the train option.

There is no extra cost for this, though please note that fees may apply if you decide to change to the train option after purchasing your Inca Trail permit.

While your group mates are hiking, you will have more time in Cusco to relax, get to know this unique city better, and explore the Inca relics strewn throughout the Sacred Valley.

Watch Team See Possibilities conquer the Inca Trail

When blind athlete Dan Berlin and his three guides decided to run the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in a single day, many people told them it would be impossible. But with the assistance of Intrepid Travel, Dan Berlin made it to the Sun Gate just before the cut-off time to carry on to Machu Picchu, and finished their astonishing achievement in 13 hours. Dan Berlin became the first ever blind athlete to complete the entire 26 miles of the Inca Trail in a single day.

Blind Athlete conquers Inca Trail Marathon in Single Day

Responsible trekking

We're committed to ensuring the environmental sustainability of the amazing destinations we visit and we take our social responsibilities very seriously. In Peru, we have committed to paying our porters and guides a fair wage and supplying them with the necessary equipment and resources to undertake their work safely. We also support several community initiatives to promote the long-term sustainability of the region's environment and preserve its communities' traditional cultures. 

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