4 Day Ancient Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu

The Inca Trail is more than just a hike—it’s a journey through history, breathtaking landscapes, and personal endurance. Trekking this ancient path to the legendary Machu Picchu is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, filled with misty cloud forests, high-altitude passes, and stunning archaeological sites.

Why We Chose Alpaca Expeditions

We booked our 4-day, 3-night trek with Alpaca Expeditions, a locally owned tour operator that invests heavily in the local community. Their porters include local farmers from Cusco who gain steady employment during the off-season, providing them with reliable income year-round. Our team included porters ranging from 19 to 59 years old, including female porters, which is still rare in many trekking companies.

Though some operators claim Alpaca Expeditions mistreats their porters or their tours are too crowded, we found our experience to be nothing short of exceptional. Our porters were in good spirits and the company has received multiple awards for their commitment to their staff and community. Our group of 14 trekkers is the max group size and we loved how our group felt like a big extended family. It meant we always had a hiking buddy to accompany us no matter our pace and with the bonds we created on the trip, we've kept in touch ever since, even reuniting in different parts of the world! Some of our best memories weren’t just from the breathtaking views but from the friendships we formed—whether it was laughing over our struggles up Dead Woman’s Pass or swapping life stories over dinner.

Other Operators

• SAM Travel Peru: SAM Travel has strong ties to local communities and is known for their social responsibility, offering support in different regions of Peru. While SAM is highly reputable, it may not offer the same level of luxury and extras (e.g., premium campsites) as some of the more high-end operators like Alpaca.

• TreXperience: They offers competitive prices while maintaining solid quality, making it a great option for budget-conscious travelers. Their accommodations are more basic and they have a larger group size on average.

The Real Heroes: Porters and Chefs

Before setting off, we didn’t know what to expect in terms of logistics. It quickly became clear that the porters and chefs were the unsung heroes of the trek. The porters carried our duffels, set up camp before we arrived, and dismantled everything in record time the next morning. They even predicted weather shifts with uncanny accuracy by simply reading the sky.

And the food? The meals we received were far beyond our expectations. We had imagined simple camp-side meals, but what we got were multi-course meals made from fresh, local ingredients. We were astonished with meal, and we never left the dining tent hungry. On the final day of our trek, the chefs worked their magic and made a freshly baked birthday cake for one of our group members.