April can still be rainy so a shoe with nonslip sole (or as close as possible) eg Vibram.

Some people suggest low rise boots as easier with all the steps. Others say go for the ankle support.

Stairs, lots of them!

Most importantly sleep at least 2 or better yet 3 nights in Cusco before the trek to help acclimatize.

If you don't yet use hiking poles I would try some out (they will want rubber tips). Really helps with the downhill.

Lots of socks. Sunglasses, hat and sunscreen. If the sun is out it is brutal between close to the equator and the altitude.

Several trip reports here, look for colduphere's.

Thanks Mlgb. I may go read it myself. It was a year ago this week we were in Cuzco getting ready for the trip.

Ansonville what Mlgb says about stairs is right. We walked a lot of hills before the trip but there is a big difference between sliding your foot up a smooth surface and picking your foot straight up 200 times in a row. The best training we did was walking up a set of 70 rock steps 15 times per session.

Regarding hiking boots my wife thought she had a comfortable pair but realized a month before the trip that they were too tight. That meant her replacement pair were not quite broken in when we started the hike. The sooner you can settle on a footwear the better.

And wear a backback when you walk. A ten pound backback can be surprisingly hard on your shoulders if you are not used to it.

My friends and I hiked Inca Trail at 51 and we live at the beach. "Hilltop" here is 9 ft above sea level! Stairs, lunges, and for us the best thing was miles and miles of walking with our hiking footwear. It's not necessary to wear high top boots unless you have weak ankles or plan to wear those boots every day as your main footwear. Otherwise, boots are heavy and take up valuable real estate inside the suitcase. I had to make a few adjustments to my trail runners and I was glad to do it at home not on the trail. None of us had any foot problems on the hike. But for sure the downhills kicked our butts. If you have any joint issues in your legs, those descents will make you cry for uphills!
We used 2 trekking poles on the descents and were happy to have them. We had no issues with technique even though it was our first time with the poles.
Carry raingear, sunscreen, hats, snacks & water in your pack. Maybe a little bit of camera equipment if you want a photo or two!

How you should prepare depends on how fit you are already. I did the trail a few months ago and simply started going to the gym a bit so I’d have some cardio endurance (which I should have had anyways… but that’s another story!). Other than that, the best thing you can do is what some people already mentioned, which is spending some time in Cuzco before your trek. There are a lot of cute streets up steep stairs in Cuzco, so you can practice there – or even by hiking around some of the other ruins in the Sacred Valley.

Since you mentioned a day pack it sounds like you’re using a porter. The weight limit for porters is actually pretty generous so you can probably over pack if you want. This list is pretty inclusive of things you should consider bringing: http://www.saluxuryexpeditions.com/blog/inca-trail-packing-list/

Re tennis shoes vs hiking books, I have a nice pair of light weight water proof boots that I really enjoyed on the trail, my feet never hurt at all, and they stayed dry. Heavy hiking boots might not be a good idea because I think they would just tire you out on all the stairs. My Inca Trail guide also mentioned many guides and porters like hiking in sandals and light weight tennis shoes because it spreads the balance out across your whole foot and is actually better for your than thick hiking boots – but I can’t verify if that is true!

Also, I didn't use hiking poles and am glad I didn't, but if you have knee problems you'll want to bring some.

WOW, great suggestions and advise. Still not sure on hiking/mountaineering boots or trail runners...Thank you all. Ansonville

When I hiked the trail in 09 there was a young couple in my group that hiked the entire trail wearing tennis shoes. They didn't have any problems with it. I had on a light pair of hiking shoes.

What is the best way to get to manchu pichu>? should I fly or is it too expensive? Where do I stay and for how many days? I am going in Feb so I know the inca trail is out. Any help is appreciated! Thx.

Hey Aheis,
I have just been to Machu Picchu and loved it! First you have to get a flight or a bus to Cusco. Depending on what time of year you are planning on going to Machu Picchu the flights can be quite expensive, in February they will be cheaper as it is low season. I got a great deal with my agent at Dos Manos Agency. Or, perhaps try searching on StarPeru or Peruvian airlines; they looked to be the cheapest option out there!

You should stay a couple of days in Cusco, it is beautiful there. But take it easy for the first day of two because the altitude could make you dizzy or give you a headache. Then when you go to Machu Picchu I would recommend staying one night in Aguas Calientes so that you can make the most of your visit to the Machu Picchu park on the second day, go up early in the morning when there is less tourists!

Here is a helpful blog that I got from my travel agent which could be handy! http://www.southamericatravelblog.com/travel-blog/2013/01/trains-trains-trains-to-machu-picchu-2/