Inca Trail Hiking Tours

Inca Trail

There are many original Inca Trails in the Andes, but the most famous section, simply known as The Inca Trail, is the original route to the breathtaking ruins of Machu Picchu. Spread over 4 Days, the 44 km trail through the Andes crosses three stunning high passes and encounters many ancient archaeological sities, culminating at the famous Lost City of the Incas. There are few treks in the world that combine natural beatuty, history and mystery with such an awe-inspiring final destination.The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu has extraordinary warm tropical landscapes by the Sacred Valley of the Incas, various ecological floors, its great agriculture with terraces, its handicrafts, variety of Flora and Fauna as bird watching "the cock of the rocks" ; This trek from the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, presents original cobblestones and visits the most important Inca Complex of all this route to MachuPichu, as the great WIÑAYHUAYNA "forever young".

The trek is led by a local guide and supported by team of porters and cooks, leaving you with only a small day pack to carry. The trail can be demanding but can be completed by anyone who leads a reasonably active life – you certainly don’t need to be an expert! The trail is not rushed and everyone is able to walk at their own pace. If you are in any doubt, or if you have any condition that may affect your ability to trek, we advise that you consult your doctor.

Lares Valley Trek

Hidden within the magnificent snow-capped Andes is a part of Peru where you have all appeal of the Inca Trail – magical mountain scenery and the legacy of the Incas – without the tourist crowds. An exceptional alternative to the busy Inca Trail, the Lares Valley trek is so far off the beaten track that it has changed little over the last 500 years. With spectacular and diverse scenary, it is amazing that the area has remained largely untouched by tourism and retains its authenticity, offering a glimpse of life the way it used to be in Peru. You will meet traditionally dressed Andean farmers, and wander markets trading as they have done for centuries. You will see thatched stone and adobe houses and watch herds of llamas and alpacas roaming free.

The Lares Valley trek is a similar trek and grade to the Classic Inca Trail (with one challenging high pass) and is full escorted. It includes 2 nights camping and one night in Aguas Calientes town before an early climb up by foot to Machu Picchu. We can generally guarantee your place on the Lares Valley trek, however you will be required to pay a single supplement if you are the only one trekking on your departure. This is payable to your travel agent at the time of bookingand will be refunded in Cusco if any additional group members join the departure of your trek.

Salkantay trek

This is one of the most interesting and important alternative treks to do, due to its wide range diversity in flora and different ecosystems, and its inca site laid on top of a mountain and just in front of the back of the Machu Pichu mountain, and this trail finally gets to Aguas Calientes located at the base of the historical and archeological site of Machu Picchu, from where we take a early bus up there to see the sunshine and avoid crowds whilst doing Machu Picchu with one of our English speaking tour and knowledgeable guides.

The first day, we start early in the morning to drive from Cusco through along La Pampa de Anta ( the breadbasket of Cusco) to Mollepata(breakfast) for 2:30hours, and we then continue driving to the headtrail at Soraypampa(3,800mt), from where we start doing a gentle ascend to Salkantaypampa, and we then hike up a 7 seven switchback to get much closer to lunch at near to the small lake Soyrococha. where afterwards we hike up to the highest pass at 4550mt, and we then just descend to campsite at 3700mt at Huayracmachay, the following days we keep on descending down to 2100mt at la Playa and 1986mt at Aguas Calientes on the 4th day,each day of our hike we go through different landscapes, so basically the first day is a kind of difficult hike in terms of altitude, but we just pass, and the temperature that gradually gets colder, but this can be easily cop with thermal clothes.

How to book the Inca Trail, Lares trek and Salkantay trek.

All trek to Machu Picchu which include time to complete the Inca Trail are clearly marked. On these tours you also have the option of trekking the alternative thrird nights Lares Valley trek, which also culminates with a visit to Machu Picchu on day fourth. Salkantay trek is four nights five days and last day to visit Machu Picchu.

Inca Trail Book Well in Advance

In 2003 the Peruvian Government proposed many changes to the administration of the Inca Trail in a bid to protect its fragile eco-structure from over-use. Government started to enforce the majority of the regulations more strictly in 2005. Most of these proposals have been aimed at reducing the number of trekkers on the trail, improving the quality of the tour operators and offering a reservation system whereby trekkers will be forced to make their reservations many weeks (even months) in advance. The maximum number of Inca Trail permits sold per day is 500 (including porters, cook and guides). Permits often sell out several months in advance and we recommend you book 6 – 4 months ahead (particularly if trekking during the peak season from June to September). We can’t guarantee the availability of permits, and in all instances Inca Trail booking will be on request until confirmed by our Cusco office. If you choose to book the Inca Trail within 60 days of your tour departure (90 days during high season) we will still attempt to secure you a permit but limited availability is likely to greatly reduce your chances of success especially in peak season. Once confirmed we can’t make any amendments to your permit.

Your Passport.

You must provide Inca Trail Hiking Tours & Tierras Vivas or your Travel Agent with your passport details at the time you request your Inca Trail. We can not book or confirm your trekking permit without this.

Your permit is linked to your name, passport number, nationality age and sex. If you change your passport after booking your Inca Trail permit or you plan to travel with a different passport, you MUST also bring the passport you used to book, you permit or you will not be able to trek the Inca Trail. It is extremely imporntant to check that the passport you use to enter Peru has a minimum of 6 months validity after the end of your tour before you apply.

Inca Trail tour operators

Please note in order to comply with Peruvian regulations our trek are operated by Tierras Vivas, this company is associated with our company, and This company have a extremely reputable. When booking the Inca Trail from our ‘Short Hike Tours’ section you may be trekking in a pooled service (in a group with other single travelers).