What the tour gives you, what goes in your daypack and what to rent — built from what sixteen listings include and leave out.
See the trek we recommend →You pack for the Inca Trail in three places: a daypack you carry, a duffle the porter carries up to the operator's allowance, and a bag you leave in Cusco. The recommended trek gives you a 7 kg duffle and stores the rest of your luggage for free; on treks without a personal porter everything for four days goes on your back.
Sleeping clothes, a change of socks for each day, a spare base layer, toiletries, a small towel and the sleeping bag if you bring or rent one. The allowance is 7 kg on the two most-reviewed treks and 5 or 6 kg on others; four treks include no personal porter and sell one as an extra. Whatever doesn't fit goes in your daypack.
Rent or bring. The sleeping bag is included on one trek, a rental on eight, a paid add-on on one, and five expect you to bring your own. Air mattresses are a rental on the recommended trek, and trekking poles are in the price on none of the sixteen — nine listings rent them or sell them as an add-on. If you own a warm bag and poles, bringing them saves the rental and the guesswork.
A 4-person tent shared by two, a sleeping pad and pillow, a rain poncho, a T-shirt, towels, four breakfasts, three lunches and three dinners with snacks and purified water, private portable toilets, a first-aid kit and oxygen. It leaves out the sleeping bag, air mattress and poles (rent), lunch on day four and travel insurance.
Layers, not bulk. Two base layers, trekking trousers, a fleece and a light down jacket cover the range from a warm day one to a near-freezing night at 3,600 m.
Hands and head. A warm hat and light gloves for the camps and the pre-dawn start; a sun hat for the climb.
Feet. Broken-in boots or trail shoes with grip, a pair of socks for each day, and light shoes or sandals for camp.
Rain. A real rain shell and a cover for your daypack. A poncho alone won't keep you dry on day three in the wet season.
A daypack with water, a rain shell, a warm layer, a head torch, sun protection, snacks and your passport; sleeping clothes and spare layers go in the porter's duffle up to the allowance.
7 kg on the two most-reviewed treks, 5 or 6 kg on others.
Only one trek includes it.
One listing gives 3–20 °C for day two, the highest day.
Boots or trail shoes with a good grip and support, already broken in.
The recommended trek includes free luggage storage.
Yes, for tips — they are not included on any listing — and for small purchases on day four.
Yes.