
The Inca Trail was hardship, incredible elation, stunning views, and a history lesson all rolled into one. From start to finish our eyes feasted on everything that came our way. What blew me away was just how dramatic the scenery was all around us and how diverse the the trail takes you through. From farm lands, to flat lands, mountain passes, jungle, cliffs, and stairs that never end, there was an abundance of terrain and climates.
There are way too many photos to show here but for the visual readers out there, I thought that this would be a great way to give you a sense of what the whole 4 day journey was like.
Read more about Peru
- Picking which Machu Picchu hike to do
- Review of Alpaca Expeditions for the Inca Trail trek
- 9 surprising things I learned about trekking the Inca Trail
- Why choose trek Salkantay trek over the others
Where to stay in the Cusco?
- If you’re looking for great places to stay, my recommendation is to take a look on Booking.com. For a really comfortable luxury stay, the Palacio Del Inka was incredible for us but on a budget, we equally loved the Hostal Illapa Inn. For our one night in the Sacred Valley, the Tambo del Inka was another Marriott property that blew us away.
Table of Contents
In This Article
Got your gear and ready to go? Come along for the ride!

Get to the end of the post to find out how.
Hiking the Inca Trail with Alpaca Expeditions – A Visual Journey
Day 1 – Pumped















Day 2 – Morale Crushing Day















Day 3 – Finally An Easier Day


















Day 4 – Magical Reveal




























And there you have it! 4 unforgettable days. It wasn’t easy but 100% worth it.
Feel like planning your own trip? Make sure you check out my super complete guide of what you need to think about when planning your Inca Trail trip.
What To Pack For Hiking The Inca Trail
Packing for a kinking trip like this is a bit limited because you’re carrying it all on your back! Check out our full guide of what to pack for a trip to Peru.
- Good hiking shoes like Columbia Conspiracy Razor Outdry.
- A lightweight poncho, you’ll be using this often!
- Warm layers for sleeping in at night since it gets cold. Long johns, a fleece top and wool socks are recommended.
- A water reservoir to attach to your hiking backpack.
- Necessary toiletries – sunscreen, insect repellent, toilet paper and hand sanitizer.
- Snacks to give you those needed bursts of energy!
Book with Alpaca Expeditions
I highly recommend that you book with Alpaca Expeditions. They’re best in class and would recommend them to anyone. IF you want to know more, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
Alpaca Expeditions Promotion
If you’re looking to book with Alpaca Expeditions, mention that you were referred by “Going Awesome Places” and you’ll be able to get free walking sticks and sleeping pads. Also make sure to email me as well so I can resolve any issues that you may have.
How? When you fill out their booking form, their second step has a drop down for “How did you hear about Alpaca Expeditions”. Select “Going Awesome Places Blog” in the drop down.

This is the best Alpaca Expeditions promotion and discount you’ll find on the market.

What you should read next
Travel Resources For Your Next Trip
If you’re in the process of planning your trip and putting together your itinerary, these are genuinely the best resources that the Going Awesome Places team stands by 100%.
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Vacation Rentals: Your first instinct will be to check Airbnb but we always recommend checking VRBO as well if you’re looking for a vacation rental (now eligible for One Key).
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If you need more help planning your trip, make sure to check out our Travel Toolbox where we highlight all of the gear, resources, and tools we use when traveling.
What alternatives are there to hiking the whole way? Train? Bus? Donkey?
Really enjoyed your presentation and photos.
Thanks for stopping by! I actually have quite a few pieces of content that could help with your planning. I suggest that you take a look at this piece on how to pick which Machu Picchu hike to do. There’s a section of it that also talks about what if you don’t actually want to do any hiking at all (a combination of train and bus). I hope this helps!
Thank you for this, and all your guides/posts!! I love the details and they’re really helpful with planning. I’m planning a similar trip in Peru (Inca Trail/Amazon Jungle) and I was wondering if I should do the Inca Trail second in case of any altitude sickness, I didn’t want it to ruin the jungle part of the trip by getting sick before I got there.
However, I noticed a lot of people who do the combo do the Inca Trail first. Is this just more convenient? Or is there another reason? Thanks!
Hey! Thanks for stopping by and great question. I think in retrospect you could definitely make a case for doing the Amazon Jungle first followed by the Inca Trail. That said, I don’t think there were too many lingering effects from altitude sickness that carried over. Still, I think it’s a great idea of the logistics work for you doing essentially what we did in reverse.
Thinking back on how we made our decision, I usually plan our trips with the intense and activity-driven parts first with a wind down at the end. Since most Amazon lodges are mostly all-inclusive, it felt appropriate at the time that it would be a nice way to relax a bit after the Inca Trail. To that extent, I think it worked out well. I think in doing it in reverse, you’ll finish the Inca Trail and then head back home soon after which might make you want vacation from the vacation even more but you could easily buffer in more days in Cusco or Lima after your trek.