Hiking the Inca Trail: What you need for 4 days

This past March I tackled one of my business goals travel with a new travel partner to experience its way of travel. The partner I picked was G Adventures as their passion for adventure travel and sustainability resonated with me and how I enjoy traveling. G Adventures is also a preferred partner of my host agency Gifted Travel Network as well as a member of Virtuoso, my consortia. The value of these partnerships is the high touch my clients receive when we work together. 

G Adventures is an adventure travel company offering a wide selection of small group tours, safaris, and expeditions to more than 100 countries across seven continents. I chose the Inca Discovery which included a four-day hike along the Inca Trail covering 26 miles and over 13,000 feet in elevation. 

Packing for such a trip can be overwhelming as there isn’t a convenience store along the way to pick up something you may have forgotten. After a lot of research and consideration of the weight limitation with what the porter would carry, I felt like I packed perfectly. 

LUGGAGE/BAGS
Suitcase (storage in Cusco)
Daypack
Bag (Provided By G Adventures. Porter will carry, 13 pounds, clothing, toiletries, sleeping bag)

Investing in a solid sleeping pad is worth it. One for comfort, two to keep the chill of the ground off of you. I used this Nemo Tensor Ultralight Insulated in regular wide. 

SLEEPING
Camping mattress/sleep mat
Sleeping bag
Travel pillow

INCA TRAIL CLOTHING
2-3 sports bras
Lightweight, water-resistant hiking pants
Long pants, 3 leggings
Thermal base layer – Long underwear set, shirt and bottoms (sleeping)
Shirts/t-shirts – 3-4 Quick dry shirts (short sleeve)
2 Microfleece sweaters/sweats
Lightweight down jacket
Rain jacket
Poncho
4 pairs of trekking socks
1 pair of extra warm thermal socks (sleeping or at camp)
Warm gloves
Warm hat
Footwear (Waterproof Hiking Boots/Shoes at Camp – Light, not tennis shoes)
Hat (Ball cap, sun hat)
Small travel towel
Sunglasses
Toiletries (Preferably biodegradable)
Watch
Waterproof backpack cover
Pack liners or waterproof bags

ESSENTIALS
Toilet paper
Medication (plus Ibuprofin, anti-nausea)
Bug spray
Sunscreen
Wet wipes
Hairbrush, hair ties
Deodorant
Ziplock for garbage
Lip balm
Nuun hydration tablets
Snacks (4 bars, 2 jerky bags, gum)
Reward snacks for the night (4 candy bars)
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Phone charger for no electricity, I used this.
Cash $200 – $300
First-aid kit (should contain lip balm with sunscreen, sunscreen, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, bandaids, anti-histamines, antibacterial gel/wipes, antiseptic cream, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, prescription drugs)
Flashlight/torch (Headlamps)
Locks for bags
Moneybelt/Fanny Pack
Outlet adapter
Personal entertainment (Book, cards)
Reusable water bottle (backpack bladder)
Hand sanitizer 

Want to read about my experience on the Inca Trail? Click here.

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