The first thing you might have noticed in doing your research on the Inca trail trek is the shear number of trekking companies on offer and the variety of costs to hike the Inca trail.

In this article, I will provide some clarity on what you should expect to pay for an Inca Trail trek and who you should be looking to book with.

Inca Trail Hike Cost

In order for a company to operate an Inca trail trek, they need to be officially licensed by the government. Licenses are only awarded to local Peruvian trekking companies that have offices in Cusco.

International travel companies or adventure and trekking companies typically outsource Inca Trail tours to local operators.

I will explain the pros and cons of working with international companies a bit later in this article, but for now, let's explore the various Inca trail costs offered by local trekking companies in Cusco.

Local Trekking Companies

There are nearly 200 licensed trekking companies in Cusco.

Hence, competition is fierce, which leads to service or quality variations for those looking to differentiate themselves with a superior business, and a race to the bottom for the rest.

The latter is more common. That's why finding a great Inca Trail tour that is affordably priced can be tricky.

For a 4 day Inca trail itinerary, costs with a local operator can range from US$550 on the low end up to US$1,500 for a luxury Inca trail tour. The short Inca trail (2D/1N) can cost anywhere from $400-$700, and the 7-day Salkantay-Inca hike ranges from $750-$2000.

The price differences are driven by several factors: 

• The quality of the operator
• The quality of their service
• The size of the group
• Inclusions and exclusions (for example, train and entrance tickets) 
• Whether the trek is a private or open group
• Whether pre and post hotels are included, and the type of hotel

Cheap operators

With cheap operators, the trek is usually operated by a consortium of operators. This is because they need to reach a maximum group size of 16 trekkers to make the costs stack. Cheap operators generally charge US$550 and lower a standard 4-day Inca Trail hike.  

The service may be okay, but it is likely that the company you have booked with is cutting corners, either in the wages they are paying to porters, the quality of the food or service, or in some other area.

Generally, I would recommend avoiding offers that are in the low $500s as you cannot be guaranteed a great service and will undoubtedly be joining a big group (at least 12-16 trekkers).

Reliable mid-range operators

Reliable and good local operators typically charge around US$650-US$900 per person for a 4D/3N Inca Trail trek (around $450-$600 for the short Inca).

At this price, the service will usually involve joining a group of 8-12 trekkers and include the following:

• Pick-up from your hotel and transport to the start of the trek (KM82) in the Sacred Valley.
• Inca trail and Machu Picchu entrance fees (excludes climbing permit for Huayna Picchu, which will cost an additional US$85 for those who want to climb this peak).
• Camping equipment, including a 2-man sleeping tent per trekking pair, dining or kitchen tent, and all food and cooking materials.
• Three meals a day prepared on the trek by a cook.
• A professional guide who can speak English.
• Porters to carry all camping gear (tents, food, gas canister, first aid kit, emergency oxygen etc.). It is common for trekkers to purchase an additional porter to carry their personal gear (up to 14kg / 31lbs), but this can cost an additional US$80-US$120 for a 4-day trek.
• Bus ticket from Machu Picchu down to Aguas Calientes - this sometimes costs an extra cost US$12. 
• Return train journey from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, and then a bus trip back to your hotel in Cusco. Some operators book a direct train back to Cusco, so you may need to get a taxi back to your hotel (which costs less than US$10). 

It is important to check what's included and not included in your Inca Trail cost for treks to Machu Picchu.

More pricey Inca Trail treks

Some local operators guarantee to run their Inca trail treks regardless of group size. If this is the case, you can be assured that your trek will not be cancelled, but you might pay a premium for the guarantee.

The Inca trail cost gets significantly more pricey if you are looking to do a small, private group trek with less than 5 trekkers. In this case, the running costs of the trek (transport to KM82, costs of porters and guide etc.) are split between a smaller number of trekkers.

If you are looking to do a 2 person private trek, you can expect to pay anywhere between US$900-US$1,200 on the 4D/3N Inca trail.

International Travel, Trekking and Adventure Companies

There are essentially two main types of international companies that sell Inca Trail treks:

• Specialist Adventure Travel or Trekking Companies
• Tour Agents

Specialist Adventure Travel or Trekking Companies

Some of the larger adventure travel companies or specialist trekking companies often have very well established relationships with local operators.

In fact, they provide most, if not all their business to these local operators. In other words, these specialist adventure travel or trekking companies in essence own and operate the service, but use a local team, which is registered as a local company, to deliver it.

The benefit of booking with these companies is that they are generally very experienced in running adventure tours for an international clientele. They often have the resources to invest in excellent training and equipment for their local teams. They also are heavily involved in the design and operation of the local service.

Like the travel agent group below, their service usually comes with all the bells and whistles, and is often part of a 7D/6N itinerary with hotel stays in Cusco and Aguas Calientes.

The Inca Trail cost for these specialist companies are divided into the following price ranges: 

• From US$900 for standard 4D/3N itineraries. These usually include personal porters to carry gear and private portable toilets, something that the local operators usually charge separately for. 
• Up to US$2,000 for small private groups on a 7D/6N itinerary.

Tour agents

Tour agents are essentially travel brokers who offer Inca trail treks that they outsource to local on-the-ground operators in Peru.

These tour Agents are usually found online. They also have immaculate websites and established or recognised brand names.

They often have the following common attributes:

• They are usually run by Western companies.
• They have good reputations. 
• They have adequate insurance.
• They have a safe online transaction platform.
• They offer good pre-trip logistics.

However, when it comes to the actual trek, there will be no noticeable difference in the experience or service had you bought the tour directly from a specialist adventure travel or trekking company.

The benefit you get from booking with a tour agent is the peace of mind that you are working with a ‘seemingly’ established company.

They may also be organising a full tour on your behalf, of which the Inca trail is just a component. Therefore, tour agents often have full tour discounts and logistical control that can work out cheaper than booking everything direct.

You can expect to pay the following Inca Trail cost when booking through a tour agent:

• Between US$1,500-US$2,500 per person with a tour agent on a 7D/6N itinerary.
• Closer to US$1200 for a 4D/3N itinerary.

See more in our article on the best Inca Trail tour operators. 

Breakdown of Inca Trail Cost According to Tour Operators and Trekking Companies

If you missed some of the trekking prices I quoted above, here's a handy table to help you make sense of what local and international companies are likely to charge for the Inca Trail: 

Conclusion

I hope the above information has been helpful in outlining the overall Inca trail cost you will find online and what you can expect to get for your money.

Remember, the places on the Inca trail sell out very quickly, so make sure to start your research early (at least 6 months in advance).

We are particular fans of adventure and trekking specialists who 'operate' a local on-the-ground team, as they generally offer superior Inca trail tours. You can use our recommendation service should you want help in finding a specialist adventure travel and trekking company that isn't a tour agent.

You may also like:

• Machu Picchu routes
• Cost to visit Machu Picchu
• Is the Inca trail worth it?
• Machu Picchu hikes
• Alternative Inca trail hikes
• Inca Trail Travel Insurance for Machu Picchu

Tags: How much does it cost to visit Machu Picchu, Machu Picchu prices, Inca trail cost, Machu Picchu cost, Machu Picchu trek cost, Inca Trail prices

References: (1) Andean Travel Web, (2) Depth research of tour operator sites, (3) Personal experience, (4) Trailblazer Inca Guidebook