First off, if you are doing the Inca Trail with porters, like us and most others were, they have a weight limit, and therefore you have a weight limit. Most tour companies will include the service of porters, if not most people will opt for them. You can learn more about them here.
The porters are permitted by law, to carry a maximum of 20kg, including their own personal items. This makes it even more important that you choose a responsible company, as some companies are known to deduct any fines off porters wages, should any be incurred, find out why we chose G Adventures as an operator here. If you're feeling up for it, ask to have a go at carrying one of the porters bags for a section of the trail, we were most definitely not feeling up for that. They're not the easiest looking things to carrying given the large awkward shape.
For some porters this 20kg will include, cooking equipment, tents, tables, food (including eggs, how did they not crack?!), for others, it will be multiple trekkers duffel bags. This is where you will put your sleeping bag, roll mat, and any other overnight necessities. This bag has a limit of 6kg per person to ensure porters safety. Other treks to Machu Picchu are allowed extra weight as they allow mules on the trail, check out the alternatives here.
A bit of back story. We had a briefing in Cusco, at the local G Adventures offices, a couple days before leaving for Ollyantaytambo. We met our guide and assistant guide, got shown the route, had a briefing on each section and what to expect each day, got told what to pack and shown what equipment was available to hire, more on this later.
After this meeting you will be supplied with the duffle bag with a number on it. As mentioned earlier this will be handed to porters. You pack the majority of this duffle bag in Cusco, make sure to weigh it leaving enough room for any hired kit. Anything you need whilst hiking you must carry.
The Essentials
#1 Your Passport
There's a government checkpoint at the start of the Inca Trail, where they check your passport and your permit, so, if you turn up without your passport your whole trek will be ruined, not what you want, especially before you've even began! There's also a stamp once you reach Machu Picchu, a pretty cool memoir, if you don't mind it taking up the majority of a page in your passport (it's pretty big!).
#2 Backpack (with rain cover)
A comfortable backpack, now we both have hiking backpacks as we hike regularly, we both opted for suspended mesh design with comfortable padded hip belt and accessory loops, as this is what we prefer. You don't necessarily need anything too technical but make sure its comfortable enough to wear for multiple days, so be sensible. Make sure it's got a rain cover, in addition consider a dry bag inside. Of course you'll be carrying the necessities like water, a raincoat, a hat etc, in addition to this the size and weight of this is dependent on a number of factors,
If you have porters you don't need a big bag, if you don't you'll need to carry everything.
If you're carrying any camera equipment this usually effects the size
if you want to take anything more than the porters are permitted to carry that's down to you but try to restrict yourself
the amount of snacks you want to carry
the weather, how cold you get
one of us prefers a water bladder the other prefers multiple water bottles, this is personal preference
If you do invest in a hiking backpack it is worth getting it fitted in an outdoor store.
#3 Hiking boots and hiking socks
It's a given, you need hiking boots, that have been worn in, brand new ones are no good! First and foremost look after your feet if they start to hurt, everything will become more difficult. If you're after your first pair or a new pair it is definitely worth getting them professionally fitted, this is free in most outdoor stores.
#4 Raincoat and poncho
Even if it's forecast sunshine, take a raincoat! You're in the Andes, weather changes quick! You'll probably want one that is fairly breathable if you're visiting in the warmer season. In addition, to a raincoat, on recommendation of our tour guide and Inca Trail guide we were told to buy ponchos, they are available in shops in Ollyantaytambo.
Our tour guide also took us to buy ponchos (and coca leaves if you wanted them to chew on- it's known to help with altitude sickness), the weather forecast wasn't too great, and ponchos are good when you're carrying a backpack even if you have a waterproof coat and backpack raincover, it helps to have one over the top (Unfortunately, they were all disposable ponchos, so it might be worth picking up a reusable one or borrowing one before the trip).
#5 A Headtorch
A headtorch is more useful generally, but in this instance especially if you've got hiking poles, you'll want a head torch, a handheld one or your phone just won't cut it on the morning of day 4, both of us had head torches and were guiding the way for several people behind us with out lights as they couldn't hold their phones, a pretty funny memory shouting steps and turnings in the path.
#6 Sun Protection; hat, sunglasses and sun cream
You've got the rain covered, now cover yourself for the sun and heat, we didn't end up needing these until day 4, but we were certainly glad we'd carried them all that way when the time arrived. It's also worth sharing suncream with someone else.
#7 Toiletries
Toothbrush, toothpaste (worth sharing with someone else), deodorant, hand sanitiser, mosquito repellent, tissues, soap, again sun cream, avoid baby wipes! It's worth checking out our section of toilets and showering on the trail on our experience guide.
#8 A water bladder or water bottles
Each evening you are asked how much water you want for the following day, the porters will then boil the necessary amount of water for everyone to then decant into their containers. Everyone knows hydration is important, some people may drink more than others, and it obviously depends on the weather, it's better to have too much than too little, make sure you have a big enough container to carry the necessary amount of water. Sometimes 2 water bottles which can slot in either side of your bag are more handy than one larger one.
#9 Layers
Thin layers are better than anything thick and bulky.
- Synthetic quick drying or Merino Wool base layers on top, will be your best option, and bottoms will also be good for sleeping. You want a material that wicks away moisture.
-A Fleece, which will also dry quick if it gets wet.
-An optional extra layer; On our briefing our lead guide pointed to one of our down jackets and said everyone should bring something like this for the cooler evenings, now most of our group didn't have something like that and were just fine so this is an optional extra, that packs down small if you can fit it in, then of course your rain jacket as we mentioned before.
- A pair of bottoms, most have a personal preference for what they prefer to hike in, as long as its quick drying, something that will be comfortable and wick away moisture including sweat, choose what suits you. We both often opt for zip off trousers, which were useful with the weather constantly changing.
#10 Money (including small change)
Whether it's for purchasing snacks from stalls on the first day, using the toilets when they're available on the trail, some may charge a very small fee. Tipping the porters, assistant guide and guide is highly recommended, it's worth checking before hand when will be the appropriate time to give the porters there tips, as you do not see them after the morning of day 4, whereas your guide will travel back to Cusco with you.
#10 Snacks!
A very important part of the kit list. Pick up some snacks, Cusco has a few outdoor shops where you can pick up some nice energy bars, of course there's an array of snacks in the supermarket, however be aware, the morning you turn up to start the Inca Trail you must first pack your hired kit in your duffle bag and the porters then take your duffle bag to pack into their larger bags. At the same time you are each handed a bag of snacks, make sure you have room for this! From memory, this consisted of a couple pieces of fruit, some biscuits and some bars. On the first day you will also pass a few small communities which often have small stalls, selling food.
#12 A Camera
Whether it's your phone, which should remain charged as there's no signal and certainly no wifi on the trail or a professional camera or something in between make sure you have a camera to document the trail and Machu Picchu itself, don't forget potentially any spare batteries and memory cards, carrying an SLR all that way to find the memory card is full or batteries died would be heartbreaking! As mentioned under backpacks, a camera is probably where most people will differ in the size and weight of the backpack they will be carrying, it's certainly what made the biggest difference between the 2 of us.
What kit should I take and hire?
So you're probably asking are hiking poles necessary? We certainly were! In the end, we were definitely glad we made the decision to hire them, especially considering the rainy weather, thus slippy paths. We asked the few people we knew who'd done the Inca Trail before departing whether hiking poles were necessary, as neither of us had ever really used them prior. After a fair bit of deliberating, we both hired them. At first we found them tedious to carry, but when you get to the steep uphill and down hill sections you're very thankful for them and they're worth it, trust us! The few people who didn't hire them from our group ended up borrowing our guides at times. Bear in mind if you're taking your own, they have to go in your hold luggage for flights. In short, could we have done it without them, yes, would it have been that bit trickier, yes.
A sleeping bag if you're taking your own make sure it's warm enough, our guide told us a story where 2 girls had only taken thin summer ones or just a liner and were freezing! If you don't own one already and don't think you'll use a trekking sleeping bag again or simply don't want to invest, (warm lightweight trekking sleeping bags are expensive and you'll struggle to squeeze a large camping one in) you can easily hire one. Alternatively, there is a great community of people selling second hand kit online, this, hiring or borrowing from a friend are obviously the more sustainable options which should always be considered.
The sleeping bags are good quality and designed for trekking, however, you can get sleeping bags that way slightly less, but its not worth working out the grams you may gain by buying your own, most people make it work, absolutely fine!
An air roll mat, a trekking mat that is a combination between a traditional roll mat and air mattress, lightweight and designed specially for trekking, so if you want a bit of extra comfort get one but its personal preference, most of our group got one.
If you hire all 3 of them you get a bundle deal or if a friend wants 2 and you want two work it out a deal amongst yourselves. Treat them with care the kit is expensive, including the tents.
As a rough guide, if you hire or bring, both sleeping bag and mat, which on our experience most people will have both, their weight will combine to over half of the allowance.
Optionals;
Extra Layer; As mentioned above an extra layer like an insulated jacket can be useful.
Your guide will have a First Aid Kit but you may want a Personal First Aid Kit as you will all walk at your own pace with a lead guide and assistant guide at the front or the back, so it might be handy to have one on your person.
Not an essential and very much an extravagance but a Smart Watch that tracks your steps, elevation and heart rate, for one you'll probably win any steps competitions that week, secondly you'll be amazed how many staircases its the equivalent too, but also its quite interesting to see what your heart rate reaches at altitude.
You may want a Warm Hat for the cold evenings.
We both also took Gloves and wore them whilst hiking as it got quite chilly at times.
If you're hiring a sleeping bag you may want a Sleeping Bag Liner, or you may want one if you have your own sleeping bag too, remember this all adds to your 6kg limit. This is worth bearing in mind when you may be nearing your weight limit anyway.
Not recommended
Here are some things we found mentioned in other kit list prior to leaving that we didn't bring or didn't use.
Some kit lists will mention bringing flip flops and towels to use for the showers whereas in reality this isn't necessary, especially if you read about showering on the Inca trail over on our guide. Though, it is good to let your feet air.
Inflatable pillow, you may want this but it isn't necessary, the likelihood is if you take all these extra things, this won't fit in your weight limit and it isn't really essential when you can just stuff your sleeping bag storage bag with clothes and it will work just as well .
DON'T FORGET
Make sure your travel insurance covers, trekking and trekking at altitude, as well as evacuation, for G Adventures this is something you must disclose pre departure, otherwise you will not be permitted to join!
Check out other Inca Trail blog posts;
Socks and Sandals