What to Bring

• Here’s a packing list for the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in one day:
  • Backypack: A small backpack to carry your personal belongings such as water, snacks, sunscreen, camera, and other essentials.
  • Hiking shoes: Good hiking shoes with a sturdy sole that provides good traction on uneven terrain.
  • Hiking socks: Wearing good quality socks can help prevent blisters and keep your feet dry and comfortable.
  • Lightweight clothes: Quick-dry and moisture-wicking clothes are recommended for hiking.
  • Warm layers: It can get cold at night, so it’s essential to pack warm layers such as a fleece jacket or down jacket.
  • Rain gear: It’s always a good idea to carry a rain jacket or poncho as it can rain anytime in the Andean region.
  • Hat and sunglasses: Protect yourself from the sun and UV rays by wearing a hat and sunglasses.
  • Sunscreen: Use a high SPF sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun.
  • Insect repellent: The trail is in the forest, and there are insects around, so it’s essential to carry insect repellent.
  • Water bottle: It’s important to stay hydrated, so bring a refillable water bottle.
  • Snacks: Bring some energy bars, nuts, or fruits to keep your energy levels up.
  • Personal medication: If you have any medical conditions or take regular medication, bring it with you.
  • Camera: Bring a camera to capture the beautiful scenery along the trail.

  It’s important to pack light and carry only what you need as you’ll be hiking with your backpack. Additionally, porters will carry most of the equipment, so it’s recommended to limit your luggage to a maximum of 7 kg (15 lb).

  Documents to carry with you on tour:

  • Original Passports
  • Original Studend ID: If you booked the Inca Trail 2 days as a student, you must present your original student ID card and passport at the checkpoint located at km 104 beginning of the Inca Trail.

Optional Services

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Travel Guide

What is the Inca Trail?

First off, what exactly is the Inca Trail? There is actually a huge network of trails and roads remaining throughout South America that were used by the Inca people to trade and travel. But the one that we collectively know today as “the Inca Trail” refers to one specific hiking trail in the Andes Mountains in Peru that leads to the ruins of Machu Picchu.

The Inca Trail – AKA the Camino Inca – is usually regarded as the most famous trail in South America (and maybe in the entire world). The “Classic” version of the trek follows a historic Incan pilgrimage path through the mountains that would have originally been reserved for the emperor and nobles to travel to Machu Picchu.

The Classic Inca Trail is 43 kilometers (26 miles) long, and is usually hiked over the course of 4 days, with trekkers sleeping at basic campsites along the way. This version of the trail is quite difficult – and is not what we’ll be talking about here!

How to book the 1 day Inca Trail hike

Whether you’re doing to Classic Inca Trail or just the 1-day Inca Trail hike (or any of the other multi-day hikes in the Machu Picchu region, for that matter), you MUST have both a hiking permit and a local hiking guide. You CANNOT do this hike on your own.

And this is something you need to plan ahead for. Only 750 people are allowed on the Inca Trail each day (including hikers, guides, and porters), so you need to book your hike well in advance. During the busiest hiking months in Peru (May-August), Inca Trail permits can sell out months in advance (especially for the longer 4-day hike). I would not recommend just showing up in Aguas Calientes (the town closest to Machu Picchu) or even Cusco and expect to be able to book the hike last-minute.

So the first step is going to be to book your hike. When you book through a company, they will handle securing a permit and guide for you. I booked the 1-day Inca Trail hike as an add-on to the Peru tour I did with Intrepid Travel, so Intrepid handled securing permits and a hiking guide for us.

For me, the 1-day Inca Trail trek cost $360. That included my Inca Trail permit, a hiking guide, and a second guided visit to Machu Picchu the day after our hike. (Note that it did not include accommodation, since that was already included in my longer Intrepid tour.)

Prepping for the 1 day Inca Trail hike

The reason I got so anxious before my own trip to Peru was because I had a hard time finding information on just how difficult the 1-day portion of the Inca Trail really was. I’d read accounts of the Classic Inca Trail that made it sound very challenging, but I had no concept of what the 1-day hike was like.

To me, 8 miles at around 8,000 feet sounds pretty strenuous, but I was finding 1-day Inca Trail hiking tours with descriptions saying it only took a few hours, and that it was “ideal for families, beginner hikers, and visitors short on time.” Which was it?! How hard is the 1-day Inca Trail hike really?

(Answer: If you’re not a frequent hiker and aren’t in excellent shape to begin with, this is a challenging hike!)

Pricing List