Top 3 Treks to Machu Picchu

Get to Machu Picchu at your fitness level!

Machu Picchu is on your bucket list, but you aren’t sure if you are physically up for the challenge? Today I will go over the three different activity levels you can choose from; easy, moderate, and hard. It all depends on what you expect out of the trip and how big of an adventure you want! There are several things to consider before you book the trip though.

If you are concerned about the altitude (elevation), what many tourists don’t realize is that Peru’s average elevation is over 5000′ ft. So if you DON’T live in Albuquerque NM (5312′), Colorado Springs CO (6035′), Big Bear CA (6772′) Flagstaff AZ (6910′), or Santa Fe NM (7199′), etc, you will be feeling the difference the minute you step off of the plane. For most, the difference will be negligent; for some who are a bit out of shape (or asthmatic) you might get a slight headache or feel winded.

Some tourists fly straight into Cusco, Peru to start their Machu Picchu trip. I honestly don’t recommend that, especially if your hometown is below 5000′, because-

Cusco’s elevation is 11,152 feet!!

You’ll want to take about a week to acclimate, so I definitely do recommend starting your vacation in Lima. It is recommended to spend two-three days in Lima before you fly to Cuzco, and you’ll want to spend a couple of days there as well. If your hometown is above 5000′, you can fly straight into Cusco and then take the bus or train to Aguas Calientes, elev. 6,693′, at the base of Machu Picchu. You can spend a few days there to relax and acclimate before you trek up. Your potential for altitude sickness will lessen the longer you acclimate. For those who are asthmatic (but controlled) it is recommended that you have a few inhalers handy; in Cusco you will definitely feel the difference in your breathing.

After a couple of days in Aguas Calientes, a couple of days in Cusco, you should be ready for the big hike! Machu Picchu’s elevation is “only” 7900 feet!

All entry tickets must be pre-purchased, in some cases up to 6 months in advance, and I suggest you start planning now for the 2022 travel season. Each January, all of the tour companies purchase their year’s worth of entrance tickets -and the permits for hiking/camping tours on the Inca Trail. If you start planning with me now for your big adventure, you’re guaranteed to have all the logistics taken care of without a worry.

For the easiest, least arduous way to get to Machu Picchu, I partner with a group tour company called Monograms. They specialize in trips for independent travelers that don’t care to travel with a tour group, and they have local hosts that meet you at each location and provide fantastic insider information, answer all of your questions, and make sure you get to where you need to go. Each day is filled with great things to do and see. If I did not partner with Monograms, then I would be creating this very itinerary for you myself. Fortunately, they already have all the relationships and processes in place – they did all the hard work so I don’t have to!

This particular 6 day/7 night Monograms itinerary starts with two nights in Lima, then you will fly into Cusco for one night, then head down to Sacred Valley, which is 9000′ where you’ll breath a bit easier. After the night there, you will catch the train to Agua Calientes. There is a shuttle bus that will take you to the front gate, and you will meet your guide for the tour of Machu Picchu. The next morning you will have the option of heading up at 5:30 am to view the sunrise before heading back to Cusco. One more night in Cusco, and one last day and night in Lima.

For those who would like a little more of a challenge, this particular Monograms tour will allow you to walk up to the Machu Piccu entrance gate, which is an increase of about 1200′ in elevation. It will take approximately 2 hours, depending on your fitness level. If you want to walk up to see the magical sunrise through the Sun-Gate, you would have to leave at about 3am.

I also partner with a group tour company called GAdventures, and they have many different options in adventure travel to Machu Picchu. These are small group tours; the group size may be anywhere from 12-16 people. If you are looking for something a little smaller, contact me. GAdventures is super accommodating. In fact, I just received an email the other day promoting this season’s Machu Picchu tours. They sent me a fantastic trail map to share with you that covers all things Inca Trail, with info you need to get prepped for your big adventure.

The Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu is GAdventure’s Activity Level 4: Demanding, Some high-altitude hikes or more strenuous activities, but accessible to most healthy travellers. It is a 4 day trek that can only be accessed with a guide, a permit, and is usually pre-booked at least 6 months out- (GAdventures actually opened up new tours starting this August, but they will go pretty quickly). The average length of the daily hike is 11km/6.8mi. The longest day is 16km/10mi. Keep in mind you are also going UP. Take a look at this altitude map. The Wayllabamba Gap to Dead Woman’s Pass is completed during day 2 of the trek!

The heavy tourism has certainly taken its toll on this UNESCO World Heritage sight, and Peru has recently reduced the amount of Machu Picchu daily visitors to 1116. They also lowered the amount of daily Inca Trail hiking permits by 50%. These details will all be taken care of when you book, but due to the restrictions, the earlier you book the trip, the more likely you will be able to get the dates you want.

There you have it, three different ways to get up to Machu Picchu; the easy way, by bus; the two-hour trek from Agua Calientes; or the 4-day Inca Trail hike. Whichever way you decide to get there, it is certainly going to be a memorable, breath-taking trip! (Pun intended!) I am available! Email, text, or call – Contact me so we can start the plan!