Cusco & Machu Picchu: Honest Review of 4-Day Inca Trail Trip
Okay, so you’re thinking about hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu? I get that. It’s on a lot of peoples bucket lists for a reason, as a matter of fact. It’s definitely one of those lifetime experiences you actually remember. This isn’t just some walk in the park, right, yet it really does require you to be prepared. Having just finished the “From Cusco Machu Picchu and 4 Day Inca Trail with Train Included” tour, I’m here to give you the real deal – highs, lows, and everything between. Consider this, too it’s not just a review, arguably its like your virtual trail guide offering insights to hopefully make your experience even better.
What to Expect Booking and Pre-Trip Prep
Securing your spot on the Inca Trail could be more or less of a thing, since permits are really, really controlled to protect the path. I’d argue that its so important to book way in advance – I’m talking six months, maybe more. Permits, seemingly, sell out super fast, especially if you’re aiming for peak season which I wouldn’t actually recommend, to be honest, since its usually really crowded. So, too its also really important to get this sorted. You wouldn’t, kind of, want to miss the bus.
The tour I picked – “From Cusco Machu Picchu and 4 Day Inca Trail with Train Included” – actually made the booking process reasonably easy, since the company handled the permits. We gave them our passport details, paid the deposit, and, like, waited for confirmation, and that was really, really that. Also, they were super good at answering any questions that, like, popped up. In short I was bothering them. This leads to the next topic: Pre-trip prep.
Don’t underestimate how tough the Inca Trail is actually, though, you know? Getting in good physical condition beforehand is pretty important. Start doing a good deal of hiking, preferably with some hills, using your hiking boots, actually. Strengthening your legs and core muscles will pay off big time when you’re, literally, going uphill at high altitude.
Packing the right stuff is obviously key, as well. The tour company, for instance, gave us a packing list, yet I found I needed a bit more than they suggested. Some extras like extra socks are welcome, because they always come in handy. Broken-in hiking boots are also welcome to avoid blisters, as well as rain gear (even if it’s the dry season), a solid backpack, a water bottle or hydration pack, and trekking poles, and that was that.
Day 1: Cusco to KM82 and the Start of the Trail
Day one starts pretty early, so prepare to leave Cusco at dawn, and that, in a way, feels kind of amazing. It’s pretty good going to KM82 (Piscacucho), that’s the official starting point of the Inca Trail. The bus ride offers some nice scenery, that, to be honest, prepares you for the natural experience ahead, literally. Along the drive you can stop shortly and get yourself a snack.
After that you’ll have to, maybe, pass through the control point and get that passport stamped, that almost feels like you are entering a different reality. That, of course, can also mean waiting a short time in line, and just a bit of anticipation. Once the line is through you finally walk through that entry and enter the trail.
The first day, basically, is reasonably gentle. A slightly rolling path, following the Urubamba River. Its almost a nice introduction to the whole experience. The landscapes is so amazing, right, with views of the mountains and just a lot of different local plants.
That day you get to visit the Patallacta archaeological site. Its more or less an Incan village. The guide that we had, to be honest, gave us some background on the history, and its amazing how well these villages stand still after hundreds of years, right? Makes you think that some architecture today can be compared to the Incan engineering.
The first campsite, to be honest, isn’t that far. So there’s just enough time to sort of take it all in without destroying your legs, even though most of the travel agencies describe the first part that way. Porters set up the tents and get to cook, so all you have to do is to relax, honestly. Very nice, if you ask me.
Day 2: The Dead Woman’s Pass Challenge
Okay, Day two? A lot tougher than day one, in a way. Very much what all the articles warned us about. We set off to climb Dead Woman’s Pass and what could be described as the trails highest point at 4,215 meters (13,829 feet) above sea level. It looks so high and there can almost not be anything growing there due to the air pressure.
The beginning could be seemingly easy but it’s rather a deceiving slope going slightly uphill. At some point it will change and it is up up up up. The altitude, honestly, hits you hard. Very little air and every step, actually, becomes a conscious effort. I found that pacing myself, using trekking poles, and just sipping water regularly, to be absolutely the best approach. I do believe that stopping shortly every so often also really helps and you can have some good view points.
Making it to the top is very worth it, in my opinion. So it’s obviously an amazing feeling of success mixed with just an immense view. Taking time to just soak it all in is quite key. Everyone in the group had this massive group picture. The oxygen might be small but it is still the most emotional point of the journey.
Afterwards it will obviously be downwards, though I would say downwards requires strength as well. It’s a pretty steep and rocky descent that, sometimes, felt just as challenging as the way up. Also be aware the the impact is being felt on your knees, to be honest, and might be sore. That’s the reason walking sticks might actually be useful.
That nights campsite wasn’t too far from the end of the descent and it’s a welcome rest, very much so, after a rather tough day. I mean you really feel as though you really earned it, to be honest.
Day 3: Cloud Forests and Inca Sites
Day three is much gentler than Day 2, actually. We walked through really beautiful cloud forests, I kid you not. The cloud forest, arguably, is sort of like walking in an actual jungle, literally. The humidity, naturally, is high and you need to sort of adjust a little bit.
The views, though, arguably are very amazing. So expect an area full of, not only plants, but birds and some different wildlife as well. A little bit of paradise I have never seen.
That’s also a day when we got to explore, for instance, more Inca sites. The guide walked us to Runcuracay, Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca and those are very well preserved ruins that, apparently, showed the intelligence of the Incas when it comes to things like community management, water supply, construction. Actually impressive, if you ask me.
Phuyupatamarca (“Town Above the Clouds”) was really remarkable, more or less so. The views, apparently, from there, they just took my breath away. It almost feels like you’re, nearly, floating above the hills. Also the guide explained us, arguably, the Incan agriculture terraces and they seem extremely engineered as if they had an architect. But, apparently, they did this without the tool.
The descent is something you need to sort of keep in mind. Even if it sounds easy to do downwards. It requires balance. Also the area close to Winay Wayna it feels quite a bit busy. Because the path turns smaller, honestly.
Day 4: Machu Picchu and the Journey Back
That is that moment you look forward to. Leaving the campsite very, very early – and I mean like at 3:30 AM, I have actually rarely seen that before to get to the final checkpoint, right. From here to Inti Punku (Sun Gate) with a potential look over Machu Picchu for sunrise. Even the hiking guides recommend getting in early.
Reaching Inti Punku is like something magical to happen. Especially when the weather is fine. Because its almost this epic moment that you stand there. The entire Machu Picchu down there. And even then you feel so small because of that dimension and all you had to achieve just to reach this view point.
It is almost really a moving experience to say the least. After sunrise we walked down to Machu Picchu, to be honest, itself for a proper guided tour. The guide knew a whole bunch of stuff. That, arguably, makes you appreciate that history behind it. Why it was built and just that.
Exploring Machu Picchu sort of takes a bunch of hours before returning to Aguas Calientes for that train to Ollantaytambo and then that bus to Cusco. That’s where the tour comes to the actual end. Keep in mind. Because on one end your achievement has made you fulfilled and exhausted, it requires stamina even though it just an afternoon trip to get back. That alone might drain you. I wish they would actually hand you an actual medal, you know.
Recommendations Based on My Experience
- Acclimatize First: Spend at least two days in Cusco beforehand. So to avoid that altitude sickness.
- Pack Light but Smart: Everything should fit. I recommend layers because the climate will vary all over the trail
- Hire a Porter if Needed: There’s, honestly, no shame in it. Even though you want to have that “mountain experience” – you are doing hiking, and there’s people that need a job, too it’s almost like the perfect fit
- Bring Snacks: The tour operator provided meals. Yet extra snacks provide energy to keep you on the trail
- Enjoy the Moment: Take the opportunity because once this is over. It is over, literally.
Doing the “From Cusco Machu Picchu and 4 Day Inca Trail with Train Included” tour can be such an incredible memory. Yes the physical demands are challenging and it is not all too easy to actually hike those trails on a daily base if you live somewhere where there are not a lot of mountains.
However it comes with a big sense of purpose and achievement, for instance. Also a cultural learning experience in something, kind of, unbelievable as far as architecture and nature goes. Coming to this with all your equipment is just really really worth it and if you did everything you might even brag to have achieved this.
Overall? Obviously this will create a remarkable chapter for years if not decades to come, arguably.
Alright, safe travels!
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