I Hiked to Machu Picchu Twice. Here’s What Went Wrong.

Article Summary:

• I hiked both the 4-day Inca Trail and the 5-day Salkantay Trail to Machu Picchu and made mistakes both times.
• I recommend doing extensive planning before your trip to Machu Picchu to avoid beginner mistakes… and then do some more planning.
• I learned some important lessons the hard way on these trips and included tips so you don’t have to make the same mistakes.

After studying archaeology for my bachelor’s degree, I couldn’t catch a flight to Cusco, Peru quickly enough. 

Tales of an abandoned ancient city sandwiched between misty mountaintops clouded my imagination with an obsession I knew I couldn’t shake until I was standing on the sacred ground of Machu Picchu itself.

Machu Picchu is one of the greatest ancient civilizations of the world, constructed during the height of the Incan Empire but abandoned after the Spanish conquest. It was home to only around 700 inhabitants during its peak. 

The mystery of how Machu Picchu was built and what purpose it served has contributed to its rise in international recognition.

There are multiple ways for tourists to visit this icon of the Incan Empire. You can either book transportation straight to its entrance or follow ancient Incan footpaths. I chose the latter.

I visited Machu Picchu twice, once via the 4-day Inca Trail and once via the 5-day Salkantay Trail. The trips weren’t exactly disasters, but beginner mistakes plagued my excursions worse than the Old Testament curses. 

I’ve learned from my plethora of mistakes which included a blunder with my booking (both times), getting lost, bringing too much gear, and visiting at the wrong time. 

Here’s exactly what went wrong each time, along with some accompanying travel tips to help you avoid the same mistakes.

I Goofed Up With Booking

I made a mistake with booking my excursion to Machu Picchu not once, but both times.

Inca Trail

I booked my first trek, the 4-day Inca Trail route, months beforehand via some Andean tour company I found online with good reviews. What could go wrong?

Another trekker I met en route informed me that they paid only $150 in Cusco for the same tour that I booked for $475 from my home in California.

An Englishman overheard this conversation and exclaimed outrageously that he paid close to 900 Euros for the same tour.

Another downfall of booking the Inca Trail online was that no one else booked my specific tour. While some may prefer a private tour, I would have liked to meet other similar-aged tourists instead of having a one-on-one through the jungle with a solo male guide.

Takeaway from this mistake: Wait until you’re in Peru to book your excursion! Tours leave often and seldom sell out. The prices will also be the cheapest if you buy in person rather than online.

Salkantay Trail

I paid only $165 for the 5-day Salkantay Trek because I learned from my first mistake and booked the trip in person at a Cusco tour agency. I was adamant, however, about climbing Huayna Picchu Mountain and did not pay attention to my ticket details.

There’s a quota for how many people can climb the Machu Picchu mountains per day: 800 for Machu Picchu Mountain and 400 for Huayna Picchu Mountain. Additionally, there are only two time slots allotted for mountain climbing. You can do it at either 7-8 am or 10-11 am. 

My ticket was for 7 am. But because the park didn’t open until 6 am, I had to skip part of my archaeological tour to make my entrance time for the mountain.

Takeaway from this mistake: Guided treks to Machu Picchu include an informational guide around the archaeological site. Opt for the later mountain time so you can enjoy the tour and learn about the wonders of Machu Picchu before you make the steep trek up the mountain.

I Chose the Wrong Season

While the “wrong” season is subjective, I did no weather research before booking my excursion and ended up hiking to the archaeological site in the pouring rain. 

The Peruvian rainy season is from December to March. Not knowing this, I arrived during the thick of the downpour in January.

Most prepared hikers had Gore-tex rain jackets, but I had only an emergency rain poncho. I hiked in that sticky plastic bag for four days due to being inadequately prepared for the elements.

My socks were soaked through, my backpack was wet, and I was beginning to forget my dry life before Peru. The only plus for hiking during the rainy season is the minimal trail crowds. 

The next time I hiked to Machu Picchu, I opted for a November excursion right before the rain and found this to be the perfect time to go.

Takeaway from this mistake: Hike during the dry season or bring a rain jacket and Gore-tex hiking boots to avoid being wet the whole time.

I Hiked in Sandals

I chose to hike during the rainy season on my first go around, so my socks and hiking shoes got soaked. 

I switched out my damp footwear for my waterproof hiking Teva sandals, choosing wet feet over wet socks. This worked due to the humidity of the jungle on the Inca Trail. 

But hiking the Salkantay Trail in sandals would not be doable. The alpine trail sits at a much higher elevation and reaches a high point of 15,190 feet. Up there, bare feet would be more than susceptible to frostnip, especially if wet.

I had an overall pleasant experience hiking in sandals due to the warm heat and humidity of the jungle but was lucky I wasn’t on the Salkantay Trail during the rainy season. 

I wore my Salomon X Ultra 4 Gore-tex Hiking Shoes on the Salkantay Trail and will always jump at the chance to recommend them.

Takeaway from this mistake: Avoid wet shoes and socks by traversing the Inca Trail in hiking sandals. Hike the Salkantay Trail during the dry season in hiking shoes since hiking in sandals isn’t an ideal option on this route.

I Almost Collapsed Under the Weight of My Pack

The Inca Trail is steeper than I had imagined and I nearly collapsed under the weight of my heavy pack. There are no porters for either excursion to Machu Picchu, so hikers need to carry only the essentials.

Accommodation and food will be provided by the tour company. Trekkers only need to pack clothing, hiking gear, and extra snacks.

It’s common practice to leave extra gear behind in a hotel locker or at the reception. Cusco accommodations will almost always store extra gear, either for a small fee or for free for returning customers.

Takeaway from this mistake: Only pack what you need for your multi-day excursion. Leave non-hiking gear at your accommodation in Cusco to minimize trail weight.

I Got Lost

My first trek was nearly a disaster. I was the only person in my group and the night before arriving at Machu Picchu, my tour guide returned to Cusco to start another tour. 

I had to find my way in the dark to the pearly jungle gates of the archaeological ruins by myself.

I started the 3-hour hike at 3 am, but confusion set in amid the dark rainy morning and before I knew it, I was lost. I eventually found my way but not before a brief panic attack. 

Takeaway from this mistake: It may seem like common sense, but make sure you’re not the only person in your tour group and ensure that your guide is staying with you until the end. 

I Never Actually Saw All of Machu Picchu

Not seeing the archaeological site itself is surprisingly common. Both times I visited the ancient wonder, thick fog set in and the whole site was incognito. 

On my second visit to the site, most of my morning was spent climbing the impossibly steep Huayna Picchu Mountain and I missed the few windows of sunshine over the stone civilization. I tried to wait out the muggy weather but ultimately could not see the site in its entirety. 

Takeaway from this mistake: Make arrangements with your tour guide beforehand for extra time at the site if the weather is bad. Hang back with a coffee until the fog subsides.

I Should Have Taken the Train Back to Aguascalientes

The train ride back to Cusco from Aguascalientes adds $60 to the tour price. Being a broke backpacker, I opted to hike 3 hours back to Aguascalientes and then take a shared collectivo to Cusco.

The whole endeavor cost only a fraction of the posh train ride price but took the rest of the day. 

Takeaway from this mistake: Take the train back to Cusco if money isn’t an option for quicker access to a hot shower and a long nap. The 3-hour hike back and bumpy collectivo are the most painful parts of the excursion. Your achy muscles will thank you for the short, cushioned train ride back to town.

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I made some serious rookie mistakes hiking to Machu Picchu, but you don’t have to! And while neither trip was ideal, mistakes are a part of traveling and make great stories and anecdotes for your friends back home. 

Are you visiting Machu Picchu soon? I hope you enjoy it, and feel free to drop me a question in the comments below.