Our pacing allows you to acclimatize gradually, using quieter campsites and avoiding the busiest parts of the trail. We return to Machu Picchu the next day for a full guided tour — a key highlight of our Inca Trail tours.
What is the best route to take?
We follow the classic Inca Trail (Camino Inca), which starts at 2,800m and ends at Machu Picchu (2,500m), peaking at Dead Woman’s Pass (4,200m). The trail winds through cloud forests, ancient ruins, and mountain passes — making it one of the most spectacular hiking trips to Machu Picchu.
If permits for the Classic Trail are sold out, we offer the Quarry Trail — a quieter, three-day trek through Andean villages, culminating in entry to Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate.
Sustainability and responsible tourism on the Inca Trail
Inca Trail porters
One of the most helpful elements of hiking the Inca Trail are the porters. The porters do an incredible job, often behind the scenes, to help your Inca Trail run seamlessly. The porters carry your main luggage, all food and equipment, as well as setting up and breaking down our camp (pack animals such as horses are not permitted on the Inca Trail).
We ensure the best conditions for our crew and we have been working closely with the Andean community of Misminay, located in the Sacred Valley, for over two decades and all of our porters originate from this village. These relationships are key to the success and consistently positive feedback we receive from Inca Trail trekkers.
Plastic and other waste
Single-use plastic has been prohibited on the Inca Trail (and at Machu Picchu) since 2018. All rubbish is weighed at each check-point and at the end to ensure that all waste is taken away. There's no refuse collection on the Inca Trail, so anything that goes with you must come back off the trail (either with you or as part of the porters' rubbish).
We recommend using a Water-to-Go bottle. Their filters remove 99.9% of contaminants, bacteria and viruses, and can also be filled up from any non-salt water sources. Take advantage of the streams and ancient water fountains along the route to top up. The support team also boil water at each stop for you to refill, too.
Locally sourced food
Our Inca Trail cooks prepare meals that have been planned to be nutritious and suited to the physical exertion of the trek. Hygiene standards are very high and we prepare typical Andean fare using local ingredients so you will also learn about the local cuisine along the way. Customers are always surprised at how great the food is.
There are three sit down meals: breakfast, dinner and an evening meal under canvas. Seconds are always available if you wish and snacks are provided for in between meals. You’re given a snack bag for each day’s hike plus tea and biscuits to welcome you back to camp. Eating together as group is a change to reflect on the day’s hike and relax and enjoy the company of your group.
Wild camping
To protect the history, the locals' livelihoods and the natural environment, no wild camping is allowed on the Inca Trail. Locals till the land that their families have been working for centuries, and no trekkers can hike the trail without a certified guide, ensuring everyone sticks to the designated path and limits any damage to the path and surrounding flora.
Two-man tents are provided with plenty of room for two people and your bags. The tents are well maintained and after a day of fresh mountain air and walking they make for a comfy place to lay your head. The views when you pop your head out in the morning are hard to beat! As for toilets, there are now permanent toilets along the trail and we provide portable bathrooms (toilet tents) with biodegradable bags, a less rustic alternative for our small group to use.
How does the visit to Machu Picchu work?
One-way circuits have been introduced at Machu Picchu, to help preserve and protect the archaeological site for future explorers. In practice, this means that your guided visit will take approximately three hours on a specific circuit around the site. On completion of the circuit, you must exit the site immediately and no re-entrance or free time is permitted. Although we can’t dawdle too much in the site, we are still able to take a leisurely pace with plenty of time for in-depth explanations and photo opportunities. As a rule, we purchase tickets for Circuit 2, which is a route of approximately 3 hours. On the occasion that permits for Circuit 2 are not available, we aim to purchase permits for Circuit 4.
The four circuits available are:
Circuit 1: This circuit takes you to the upper and lower levels of Machu Picchu and is about a 2 hour circuit.
View circuit map here.
Circuit 2: Pending availability, this is the circuit that we use for the guided tour around the site. The circuit is approximately 3 hours long.
View circuit map here.
Circuit 3: This circuit takes you to the start of the Machu Picchu Mountain trek.
View circuit map here.
Circuit 4: We offer this 3-hour circuit as an alternative for when there is no permit available for Circuit 2.
View circuit map here.
What is the difference between the Quarry Trail and the Inca Trail?
Whilst the Inca Trail is more popular, the
Quarry Trail is an alternative route we can take. It's a separate 3-night trail that is much quieter than the Inca Trail, and it has more interaction with locals as it passes through more rural towns and villages.