[Trip Review] Election Afterparty: 4 Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu with TreXperience

I had the pleasure of hiking the 4 Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu with TreXperience. I booked the hike on Pelago, but be sure to compare prices!

Pre-Trip

Once you have made the booking on a reservation platform, you can expect TreXperience to contact you within a week, providing you with essential information such as a packing list. TreXperience will stay in contact with you, and address any queries that you may have before your trip.

The day before the hike, TreXperience will invite you to their office for a pre-hike briefing. The briefing will cover the itinerary, and how you can pack for the hike. TreXperience will pass you a duffel bag to store your belongings (e.g. sleeping bag, clothes), so you only have to carry a day-pack while hiking. The guides will also confirm your hotel pick-ups for next morning.

Day 1

You can expect a pick-up at your accommodation at around 4:30am. You can expect to have a hearty breakfast at Piscacucho before starting the Inca Trail. The start point to the Inca Trail is also known as 82KM, and there is a museum there where our guides introduced us to the Inca Trail, surrounding landscapes, and took us through the history and key events of the Inca empire.

The trail on the morning was rather manageable, as most of the slopes were rather gentle. Before long, we arrived at our first site for lunch, and what a spread it was. The meals often started with a soup, followed by appetisers and mains, and ending with desserts. The meals were really delicious, and were a highlight of the hiking trip.

After lunch, there was a short scenic hike for another 2-3 hours before arriving at our campsite. The porters were amazing, and had everything set up for us: tents, mattress pads, and the portable toilet etc.

For our group of nine hikers, TreXperience provided us with two amazing guides, Rene and Sebastian. Accompanying us too were two chefs, and 15 porters. We introduced ourselves at the campsite, and thanked them for the wonderful hospitality and service provided.

Day 2

Day 2 of the trail is infamous for being the longest, and toughest day. You can expect to hike 16km for about 10 hours.

I woke up at about 4:00am in the morning, and one of the porters soon appeared right outside my tent with a cup of piping hot coca leaf tea. The coca leaf tea is said to relieve the symptoms of altitude sickness. I grew to love the tea, and would always have it even when back in Cusco.

After a quick breakfast, our group soon set off for Dead Woman's pass or otherwise known as Warmiwañuska, approximately 4000 metres above sea level. This section of the trail gets its name from the shape of the mountain. You can expect to climb for about four hours, but our climb was made more difficult by the pouring rain. Once you reach the summit, you can expect a descent of about two hours before lunch. You will then hike for another four hours after lunch before reaching the campsite for the day.

This day may be the most difficult, but you will also be rewarded with the best views! You will encounter beautiful forested landscapes, alpine meadows, and snow-capped mountains nested within the clouds.

Day 3

Day 3 was a much easier hike. Only 6 hours of hiking until lunch...and that's our campsite for the day!!!

After lunch, our guides led us to an Inca site near the campsite, where we took more photos, and were presented with exclusive TreXperience tshirts!

That's all for day 3! No more hiking, and we had some time to rest before dinner.

After dinner, our group compiled all the tips for the porters, and chefs. You need to tip on the third night as the porters will be leaving first thing next morning; they have to grab the first train back to Cusco, and won't be hiking to Machu Picchu.

I need to give a shoutout to my fellow hikers of our group! They were friendly and, just amazing people. It was a blast hiking with them!

Do take note that the campsite for day 3 comes with showers too! If you need a shower, be sure to grab a shower before you rest for the day! You won't have time to shower next morning.

Day 4

We woke up at about 3:00am on the final day.

Instead of the usual breakfast spread, we were handed a bag of breakfast items before we started making our way to the entrance of the trail. I don't understand the need to be at the entrance early, and having to wait for the trail to open. Once the gate to the trail opens, our first stop was the sun gate (where you will catch the sun rise). Don't worry, there's no need to rush, you won't miss the sun rise.

After an hour or two, we arrived at Machu Picchu! Unfortunately for us, the weather was quite bad, and Machu Picchu was covered in fog.

Despite the bad weather, we still had a great time exploring the site. Our guides were very knowledgeable, and shared interesting facts about the once thriving but mysterious site. We saw plenty of wildlife too, including Alpacas, and Llamas.

After exploring Machu Picchu for a couple of hours, we boarded a bus that took us to a nearby town for lunch.

Before long, it was time to board the panoramic train, where we could enjoy the lush landscapes of Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley one last time. We were then picked up in a bus after alighting the train, picked up our belongings, tip our guides, and got dropped off at our respective accommodations.

Tips for the Inca Trail

• If you want to prepare for the trail, I recommend to train for at least a month by going to the gym (focus on your core, and shoulders), jogging regularly (at least twice a week), and climbing stairs (for your legs).

• Bring slippers/sandals so that you can change out of your hiking shoes when you reach the campsite for the day. Your feet will appreciate it!

• Invest in a good quality, and waterproof hiking shoes. Make sure that you feel comfortable walking in them!

• Bring a headlight (or torch) so that you can navigate the campsite at night. You will also need it for the last day.

• You can rent the following equipment from TreXperience: Mattress Pads, Sleeping Bags, and Trekking poles.

• Be prepared for all kinds of weather. Bring a poncho. Wear layers. Depending on the season, it can get pretty warm, but at the same time, there are certain parts of the trail (e.g. Dead Woman's pass) where it can be freezing.

Essentials:

• Valid, original passport (at least 6 months validity)

• Waterproof hiking shoes

• Small and light daypack

• Water bottle, or water bag

Recommended Items in daypack:

• Hat/Cap, and Sunglasses

• Poncho or Raincoat

• Jacket or some other layers

• Insect repellent

• Sun block

• Toilet paper

• Plaster, and personal medication

• Power bank

• Water bottle, or water bag

Recommended Items in duffel bag:

• Sleeping bag

• Slippers/sandals

• Clothes, including underwear

• Socks

• Towel

• Soap or Soap Sponge

• Wet wipes

• Toothbrush and Toothpaste

Conclusion

If you are physically up for it, do join a 4 Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. You won't regret it.

The hike won't be easy, and it is difficult to prepare for the altitude (unless you happen to live in high altitudes). However, you should go for the hike if possible. The trail itself is beautiful, and you get rewarded with exploring one of the seven wonders of the world.

Similarly, I would recommend doing the hike with TreXperience. Throughout the hike, my fellow hikers and I were well taken care of. The company is also locally owned, and treats their employees well.

Many thanks for reading this long review! You can check out my review on tripadvisor too!

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