Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is one of our favorite experiences from traveling so far! We put a lot of research into what company to trek with, what we needed to bring and how we were going to prepare for it. Here is our experience on Day 1 of the Inca Trail including the company we went with and the beginning of the hike.
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Reading other peoples experiences helped us to understand what it was actually going to be like during our 4-day trek. That is why we are making separate posts dedicated to each of the 4 days of the trek. We’re providing as much detail as we can so if you are planning the same trek you can get a better idea for what to expect. We’ll start by saying the whole experience was amazing and we would HIGHLY recommend that you hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu instead of taking the train if you are able to!
Picking Our Machu Picchu Trek Company
Long before any of the actual hiking started we researched different trekking companies in Cusco that offer a variety of different hikes. The 4-day Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Trek is just one of the many options. There are shorter options available as well as completely different routes if you’re looking for a different experience.
We went with Alpaca Expeditions because honestly their reviews are amazing. Everyone had really positive things to say about how they handled the hike including the guides and the facilities when camping. We easily booked online, gave the appropriate information and they emailed us whenever they needed more information as it got closer to the start.
- Alpaca Expeditions sent us a packing list and other important information that was helpful to know beforehand.
- They also gave us access to a Facebook group where people posted about their experience, asked questions and shared information. This was huge to help us prepare!
We also spent so much time researching what we needed and what would make it easiest for us to actually complete this hike! Even though our backpacks were a little on the bigger side, we were both really happy with how comfortable they were the entire 4 days! We also (now that we’re finished) can say we both survived without any painful blisters or foot issues! We think thats thanks to making sure we broke in our Merrell Moab 2 WP Hiking Shoes ahead of time.
Check out my Female Packing List for Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu for everything I brought with me!
Briefing in Cusco the Night Before
The night before starting our trek we had a briefing with Alpaca Expeditions to go over specifics for the hike. There we met the two guides we would be hiking with along with the 10 other people in our group.
- We got our pick up time and specifics for the distances we would be hiking each day. There was plenty of time to ask questions and clarify things we were still unsure of.
- Then we got our ponchos, backpack covers and our duffle bags to pack stuff for the porters that we wouldn’t need until we got to the camp site. While it might not seem necessary in the dry season, getting a poncho and backpack cover is definitely something you want to make sure to have. You never know when you will need them! We actually got stuck in a rain and hail storm on day 2!
Pick Up for Machu Picchu
We got picked up at 4:00 AM in a large, very comfortable bus along with the rest of our group. We drove for about 2 1/2 hours and then stopped at the beginning of the trail for breakfast. Breakfast was at about 8,923 feet in elevation so we were actually significantly lower than Cusco. This was the first time we met our porters and chefs. Porters are Alpaca Expedition employees who carry items as we hike such as the tents, kitchen materials and duffle bags. They are honestly amazing and literally run up and down the mountain while carrying packs weighing 30kg.
Breakfast consisted of eggs, toast, fruit and coffee and tea. We sat outside and ate for about 45 minutes before packing up. Breakfast was a bit chilly because it was still early and we were outside so we started out with our winter jackets and gloves on. After breakfast we were given snacks for the day which included cookies and a piece of fruit.
5 Things We Wish We Knew About Hiking to Machu Picchu
Starting our Inca Trail Hike to Machu Picchu
To begin you go through the checkpoint with your trekking permit and passport so make sure to bring both with you! We started hiking at about 8:00 AM. The first couple of hours were mostly flat with a few slight inclines every now and then. We stopped for 2 rest breaks to simply catch our breath and make sure the whole group was together. Our guides also used this time to tell us more about the history of the Incas.
- The path was mostly dirt and rocks. You will pass many horses, donkeys, cows, and bulls on the first day which makes it the most dusty of all the days from their feet kicking up dirt.
- If you’re especially sensitive to dust wearing a buff on day 1 will make it a lot more enjoyable for you!
Read More: Day 2 of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
After about 2 hours we stopped at an archeological site called Patallacta which is incredibly impressive! You get your first views of the Incan sites and it does not disappoint. The terraces mixed with the mountains in the background are amazing. We stopped for about an hour to take pictures, explore and hear about the history.
Lunch on Day 1
After hiking for another 2 hours we arrived at our first lunch stop at about 9,612 feet in elevation. We were met with water bowls and soap to wash our hands before eating. This is something that we definitely did not expect but was so appreciated after hiking for a few hours. Lunch included soup and garlic bread to start along with chips and guacamole, rice, trout, fried eggplant, potatoes, corn and vegetable salad.
- This was such an impressive first meal and it held true throughout the whole trek. The food and the wide variety that is cooked along the way is so impressive. You will definitely not go hungry!
- We got about 30 minutes after lunch to refill our water bottles and relax before heading out again.
Read More: Day 3 of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Finishing Hiking Day 1 of the Inca Trail
After lunch at about 2:30 PM we started hiking again this time a bit more tired and full. These next 2 hours were pretty much all uphill and significantly harder than this morning. We all struggled a bit more after lunch as it got steeper and steeper.
Travel Truth: At this point we definitely appreciated having trekking poles for the uphill. We rented ours from Alpaca Expeditions and we would definitely recommend them for both uphill and downhill. While all trekking companies are different, to rent poles it cost us 20 USD each for the whole trek and we felt like it was totally worth the money!
Camp Site on Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Day 1
We arrived at our camp site for day 1 at about 4:15 PM. Our camp site sat at about 10,829 feet so we hiked up a significant amount since breakfast. There were 6 tents already set up for each couple along with a large kitchen tent where we ate all of our meals. This camp site, called Ayapata, was really beautiful and felt very secluded.
Again we were met with water bowls, this time warm water, and soap to wash up. This was so nice to be able to wash our faces after the first day. We packed baby wipes so we both quickly gave ourselves a “shower”, changed clothes and felt so much better! Our sleeping bags, mat and air mattress were waiting in our tent for us along with our duffle bags with all our stuff. We brought our own sleeping bag liners (because you’re renting a sleeping bag) and while they’re pricey they are so comfortable. There were actually people on our trek that rented the liner too and were jealous of how much nicer ours were!
Read More: Day 4 of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Was Day 1 of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Hard?
Our trekking company identified day 1 as moderate difficulty. We had heard day 1 was hard mostly because you don’t know what to expect yet and aren’t used to hiking for that long.
We would say that day 1 of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu was moderately hard. It’s a very early wake up and while the first half of the hiking is generally flat and easy, the last 2 hours were challenging. It’s also a little bit of just getting used to the rhythm of being on the pathway and hiking continuously.
Still not convinced? 100 Photos to Inspire You to Hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
- We were surprised by the amount of stops we made on day 1 as a group. Before starting we assumed any breaks we had to make were going to be us stopping to rest for a minute or two and then catching back up with the group. But we quickly realized breaks are built into the schedule for each day to rest as well as learn about the area.
Stay tuned for the rest of our days along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu! Alpaca Expeditions moto is “the journey is the destination” and we really felt like that held true throughout this whole experience!
