How Difficult Is The Inca Trail?
Is the Inca Trail really that difficult to hike?
Peru is full of formidable treks, and throughout this country you can have some extremely memorable experiences. The Inca Trail is one of these, where you can have a unique mix of ancient history along with beautiful scenery. However the main question we get asked is regarding the difficulty of the Inca Trail, and whether it is a hard hike to complete.
In this guide we’ll explore the difficulty of the Inca Trail. This includes what the hardest part of the Inca Trail is, as well as our top tips for making the overall difficulty of the trek more manageable.
How Difficult Is The Inca Trail?
Quick Answer: Overall the Inca Trail difficulty can be considered as “moderate” trek, which may surprise a few reading this.
This means there will be strenuous activity each day when walking along the route, so you will need to make sure you prepare in advance. Although some may say the Inca Trail is hard, this is down to their own subjective experience.
We personally think that it is a moderately difficult hike due to the fact that the altitude is not so high (compared to others like the Salkantay Trek), and also as there are well-defined paths to follow.
What Is The Hardest Part Of The Inca Trail?
The overall hardest part of the Inca Trail (as reported by past hikers) has to be the Dead Woman’s Pass. It’s the highest altitude point of the trek, sitting up at a dizzying 4215m.
At this elevation altitude sickness symptoms are common, so be sure to take preventative measures before (we’ll explore some methods later in this guide).
3 Ways To Make The Inca Trail Less Difficult
1. Get in Good Physical Shape Beforehand
Most problems hiking the Inca Trail come from a lack of fitness. This doesn’t mean you need to be a professional athlete to enjoy this hike, however some training before is recommended.
This includes going on long walks twice a week, as well as on hikes through the forest or mountains to get used to walking long hours on uneven surfaces.
You can read this guide on how to train for the Inca Trail for more information.
2. Prevent Potential Altitude Sickness
The Inca Trail is located within the high-altitude Andes Mountains, and has elevations which range from between 2400m and 4200m. Whilst the lower altitudes are more comfortable, the higher ones can make things more difficult.
We recommend spending at least 48 hours in Cusco before to acclimatize, as well as taking Coca Leaves and Soroche Pills to prevent symptoms.
3. Make It Easier For Yourself If You Are Struggling
Hiking in these difficult terrains can be hard, and it’s important to remain humble.
If you do find it too hard, then remember you can either have a porter help carry your extra items, or even ride a mule to get past the more difficult parts of the route.
There’s no shame in this whatsoever! At the end of the day you are welcome to do whatever it takes to make it through the Inca Trail.
How Difficult Is The Inca Trail?
And that’s all for this guide on how difficult the Inca Trail is.
As with any hike, you will want to take it seriously and learn about any potential difficulties – and the Inca Trail is no exception.
Overall the Inca Trail is a moderately difficult hike, so you will need to prepare in advance (and with some good preparation you’ll find it to be both a comfortable and fun hike to complete).
We next highly suggest reading why the Inca Trail is worth visiting, and why you will want to head on this memorable hike when you next visit Peru.