4-Day Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu

Amazing and Physically exhausting. We booked with Valencia Travels. There were some communication issues before arriving but nothing that we couldn't overcome. Their staff was great once we arrived in Cusco. They met us at the airport and stayed with us until flying out. They were very helpful along the way, arranging horseback riding (AWESOME) and the Sun Valley Tour (so-so) the before setting out to hike the Inca Trail. The guides, Oscar and Rene were great. The porters are unbelievable. I still don't know how they do it. Setting up camp and breaking it down everyday while carrying all the stuff along the way. The food was very good and plentiful. We had 9 tourists and 16 porters in our group. The perfect number. 3 were very fast, 3 were at a medium pace and 3 were very slow. Being over 50, I was one of the slow people. The bathrooms were interested but nothing I didn't expect having hiked in the wild for days before. Arriving at the Sun Gate on day four and seeing Machu Picchu was the perfect ending. For those that can't make the hike, you can always take the train to see Machu Picchu as it should be on everyone's list of must see places. Of course, you would miss all the interesting spots along the trail and the amazing feeling of having completed the trail.

All roads direct you to Machu Picchu from Cusco, follow the real route to the lost city of the Inkas, requires a lot of effort and have good physical condition.

<p>William, William, William Willy...if you get this guide, you have lucked out. Truly. It was only my son 12 and I on this tour. We had mixed feelings about it being just us, our guide and the Porters. Other groups seemed to amount from 6 to 20 hikers and we thought we might miss out on the dinner time chat about the experiences. William made this experience incredibly engaging, fun and very educational. His knowledge is remarkable and it had my sone daily suggesting he write a book. I am not sure how Viator picks guides or even how this came together as there is a bit of a disconnect btwn us, Viator and our guide prior to beginning. However, upon meeting William and reviewing the schedule and expectations, we were provided with an incredible combination of experiences. It's a very tough trek but the rewards are more than worth the effort. I'll pass on writing on the tech aspects of this tour as many already have and their opinions are well worth reading. Top marks to William and our Porters. Incredible team.</p>

<p>I want to first start by thanking the tour operator and guide Ruben .C. for making our Inca trail trek wonderful. <br/> Before the trip, I had a few questions about things I needed to prep and contacted Viator three times, however they only told me that the tour company would be contacting me. I think there is a little disconnect between Viator and the tour company because by the time our trip came, I still had not heard from anyone. Luckily we got to Cusco a couple days and after seeking out the tour company, we were informed that there would be a debriefing the day before. During this debriefing, we were told what to expect each day length, difficulty level, etc, number of group members, things to carry in a personal backpack, etc. <br/> Peru is a beautiful country and you definitely get a glimpse of it on the Inca trail. Each day has a different breathtaking scenery and beautifully preserved. Ruben shared a wealth of knowledge and was very helpful in explaining any questions we had on the Inca ruins deepening my appreciation for Machu Picchu. <br/> Here are some tips for other people but those might differ per operator: <br/> 1. Drinking water is available to buy for day 1 and 2, after they will provide boiled water.<br/> 2. Porter will only carry camping supply, food, and gear, you have to carry all personal items and sleeping bag. You can hire extra porter for a fee. <br/> 3. Cold at night and hot during the day in early July, be ready for rain! <br/> 4. Bring some snacks, breakfast is typically at 5am, lunch is around 11 to 12pm, and dinner is at 6pm. <br/> 5. Try to pack light and only bring stuff that you might need. We accidentally brought big multi-day backpacks with us but most hikers brought a standard size backpack.<br/> 6. Stay in Cusco a few days before the hike to acclimate to the altitude.<br/> 5. Bring your passport to get through the checkpoint. <br/> 6. Bring hiking poles.<br/> 7. Have fun and enjoy mother nature.</p>

<p>I tackled the Inca Trail as a group of 4. We had an absolutely amazing time with Camping Adventure Tours I think that's the name of the company. Our guide, William, was amazing! He was friendly, encouraging, helpful, and funny. Our team of porters and chef were great at making us feel comfortable and safe. I would highly recommend this team / company for anyone looking to take on the Inca Trail!</p>