Hiking through the Inca Trail and visiting Machu Picchu is something that is on lots of people’s bucket lists, but not every experience you have in Peru will be equal. Choosing the best Inca Trail guided tours can make for a truly unforgettable experience.
The journey from Cusco or the Sacred Valley up towards the Sun Gate will see you hike through some of the most renowned and beautiful high-altitude scenery in the world, with cloud forests, ancient ruins and the bounty of the natural world all around you. The best Inca Trail guided tours will turn the experience from an interesting and enthralling adventure to a mobile history and geography lesson.
The best guides don’t just know how to get you to Machu Picchu; they know everything about the local area, its history, its flora and fauna, and just about anything else you might want to know about the region. But how do you choose the best guides?
What to Look For in the Best Inca Trail Guided Tours
Just like anything else you pay for, some Inca Trail guided tours are better value than others. The experience that will be best might vary from person to person, but there are a few metrics that you can use to try and determine if a tour will be high-quality before you go on it, and surprise surprise, the cheapest tours are unlikely to be among the best.
Rather than focusing on price, you should look for tours that offer the following:
- Small group size.
- Experienced local guides.
- High-quality camping gear.
- Door-to-door logistics.
- Ethical treatment of porters.
- Good safety procedures.
A multi-day hike through high-altitude terrain isn’t ever going to be a picnic, but with the best Inca Trail guided tours, it is far from arduous.
The Smaller the Group, the More Personal the Experience
One of the very first things you should look for when booking a guided tour up the Inca Trail is the group size. You don’t want to be stuck with a big group, where the guides will be focused more on keeping the group together and moving at the same pace, rather than being able to give attention to all of the different group members and ensure that everyone is travelling okay.
In a smaller group, the guide can take their time and make sure that everyone gets to stop and take photographs at appropriate spots, learn about the archaeological sites and ask questions that your guide can answer with their full attention.
A small group means a more intimate and relaxed camping experience as well. Remember that you are going to be with this group for multiple days, so the smaller it is, the more chance you will have to really get to know everyone.
Door-to-Door Service Means Burden-Free Exploration
A lot goes into planning a trek up the Inca Trail. You don’t just show up on the day and start walking; you need to have the right permits, equipment, food and hotel bookings. With Tour Leaders Peru Adventure guided tours will take all of this burden away from you and provide you with door-to-door service up and down the mountains.
Real freedom is being picked up from your hotel and whisked away on an adventure with everything provided for, then being deposited back there days later, ready to relax and reflect on what you’ve just experienced.
Camping in Comfort Means Camping with Quality Gear
When looking at different tour groups to choose from, the quality of the camping gear they plan to use should be an important consideration. You’ll be trekking hard across mountainous terrain, and being able to relax comfortably and get some good shut-eye is going to really matter.
Find out exactly what brands of equipment, like sleeping bags and tents, are going to be used. If the tour group is using things like REI Co-op brand gear, then you can rest assured that your rest will be assured.
How Porters Are Treated Is Important
Pretty much all Inca Trail guided tours have a team of porters that help to carry equipment and set up the camping sites. These dedicated individuals help to make the magic of the trek happen by working busily in the background. But they aren’t always treated well.
You should do your best to find evidence from the guided tour about how well their porters are treated, and you should only ever book a guided tour where you are sure the porters are ethically treated and well compensated for their efforts.
Local Experts Greatly Elevate The Experience
While it is a requirement of Peruvian law that you have a guide to walk the Inca Trail, you want to make sure that your tour operator is a genuine local. It isn’t enough for them to just know which direction to go or how to read the trail signs. You want someone who has been raised in the area and has a deep knowledge of the local area.
The deeper the local expertise, the more rewarding the guided tour is likely to be. You will find out why different archaeological sites matter beyond simply being old, as well as learn about the history of Peru’s native peoples, plants and animals.
Disclosure: This article includes information about Tour Leaders Peru and its Inca Trail tour services. Details about the company and its services are based in part on information provided by the operator and may not have been independently verified. Travelers should independently confirm current permits, requirements, pricing, itineraries, safety procedures, and inclusions before booking.