The Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is one of the world’s best known hikes, a must-do for visitors to Peru. The four-day Inca Trail trek is a stunning combination of the region’s ruins, mountainscapes, and cloud forests. Our trek begins along an ancient Inca trail through beautiful mountain valleys filled with wild orchids and vividly colored birds. After crossing two high passes, we descend nearly 2,000 – 6560ft. cut stone steps and arrive at Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate, the sacred entrance of and lookout of the incomparable Machu Picchu citadel.
There are only 500 people allowed on the Inca Trail every day. Of that number, only about 200 are actually hikers (the rest are guides and support staff). These spaces deplete quickly, and often months in advance. If you cannot get a permit, you can take fabulous alternative Inca trails like the: Salkantay trek, Inca Jungle Trail, Lares trek.
If you have not time and want to hike by the classic Inca trail, you can do the Short Inca Trail 2 days that it walk by the part of the classic 4 day trek and enter to Machu Picchu by the Sun Gate.
Highlights
Enjoy an amazing 4 day trek to Machu Picchu through the majestic Peruvian Andes.
Stop along the Inca trail to taste local delicacies, such as fresh avocado, cacao and coffee.
Hike up to the Dead Woman pass and other amazing viewpoints.
Follow your local expert guides and spend four nights at a beautiful and comfortable camps
Curl up under a blanket of stars at your beautiful camp.
ITINERARY
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
PRICES
MAPS
FAQs
🤝🏻 Meeting and briefing
Some days before the tour, our team will contact you via E-mail or whatsapp and will coordinate the meeting time at your hotel to provide you the all tour details and answer all your questions.
🗓 Itinerary
🏁 Starts from your accommodation in Cuzco at 04:00 A.M.
🔚 Ends to the center of Cuzco at about 7:00 P.M.
Day 01: Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Wayllabamba
🚶♂️ Walking distance: 9 km – 5.5ml. 🕗 Duration: 6 hours 📈 Maximum elevation: 3000m. – 9840ft. ⛺ Lodging: Wayllabamba
Early morning pick up from your hotel. We will take a van to the trail head at Km 82, Piscacucho (2800m. – 9184 ft.) where we meet with whole Quechua team porters, cook they will accompany for the entire exciting adventure, along with your guide. you will register in the check point then we will cross the turbulent Urubamba River while checking out the snow capped mountain Veronica (Wacay Willca) (5,900m. – 19,356ft.), the first 2 hours of the hiking are relative easy, we will stop off in from of the archaeological site Canabamba, the guide will explain and you about the place and the Inca history.
After our lunch, we will continue walking along the Urubamba River through flat terrain until we reach Miskay. There, we will ascend to a viewpoint on the highest part of the mountain to see the impressive Inca city of Llactapata (2600m. – 8530ft.), then will continue walking through magical Polylepsis foreststo the small village of Wayllabamba (3000m. – 9841ft.), camping site, dinner, overnight.
💡 To keep in mind Remember you will need to show your original passport in the Inca trail check point to enter to the trail, please do not forget it. From the check point you have to carry all your luggage in case you think you need help, you can hire the services of an extra porter that costs USD. 140.00 that carries 15kl.
Km. 82
Day 02: Wayllabamba – Warmywañusca Pass – Pacaymayu
🚶♂️ Walking distance: 12 km – 7.4ml. 🕗 Duration: 7 hours 📈 Maximum elevation: 4200m. – 13779ft. ⛺ Lodging: Pacaymayu
After scrumptious breakfastmade by our talent chef, we begin the hardest day of the trail. Awaiting us is a steep, lengthy ascent for about 4 hours to the high pass Warmiwañuska (4,200m. – 13,779ft.), that mean “Dead Woman’s Pass” This ascent crosses two ecological zones like andes, hightlands. The view from the top reveals snowcapped mountains in all directions, including the towering crags of Salkantay, the icy claw of Pumasillo, and Huayanay of the Vilcabamba mountain range, we will descend about 40 minutes and we will have the lunch in the muidle of the mountain, after lunch we will continue descending to the other side of the valley to Pacaymayu (3750m. – 12300ft.) campsite where will have the dinner and spend the night.
💡 To keep in mind Always carry a wind jacket with you and as well as a rain jacket, normally in the pass it is very windy and depending on the season it can rain.
Pacaymayu Valley
Day 03: Pacaymayu – Runcuraqay – Sayacmarka – Wiñayhuayna
After our delicious breakfast, we will continue walking through the Pacaymayu Valley, after it we will hike up 45 minutes to the Inca remains Runkurakay the guide will show you the most important parts and we will see the two impresive waterfalls on the mountain slopes, then will continue hike up 45 more minutes to Runkuracay high pass (3915m. – 12841 ft.) we will enjoy with the view and then will say good bye to the andes landscape, we will continue the hiking downhill for about 1 hour until get Sayacmarca archaeologicalsite.
You will then ascending toward the final summit of the route in Phuyupatamarka (3650m. – 11975 ft.)after relax and charge energy we will descend for 2 hours 1/2 to Intipata archaeological site that is just 30 minutes far of our campsite Wiñayhuayna (2700m. – 8856 ft.), dinner, overnight.
💡 To keep in mind This day we enter the high jungle and in this part the tropical climate begins and that means that the mosquitoes will begin so for it reason we recommend you have to bring and use mosquito repellent.
Pacaymayu
Day 04: Wiñaywayna – Sun Gate – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes – Cusco
We will have our breakfast at 4:00am, then we will register in the last check point of the Inca trail we will walk 1 hour 1/2 to the Sun Gate (2700m. – 8856ft.), this momment all your effort of the last days will rewarded with the best view of Machu Picchu (2700m. – 7872ft.) congratulations you made it.
After 40 minutes walking to the citadel finally you will be inside of Machu Pichcu, the guide will explain the fascinating history of the Incas and their mysteries, and start the guided tour of the most important points after 1 hour 45 minutes of guided tour you will have free time to explore Machu Picchu, then you will catch the bus back down to Aguas Calientes (1950m. 6396ft.) (Machu Picchu town) and board the train to Ollantaytambo (2800m. – 9148ft.) train station, over there our driver will wait for you and transport you to Cusco.
💡To keep in mind In Ollantaytambo our driver will wait for you with a sign with your name and he will return you to Cusco. The last lunch is not included but normally the guide organizes with the group the last dinner in a restaurant that is coordinated with the group, before taking the train back to Ollantaytambo.
Wiñayhuayna
What’s included
✔ Informative briefing the day before we coordinate with you the time ✔ Pick up from your hotel in Cusco ✔ Private transportation from Cusco to Km. 82 ✔ Professional cook ✔ Kitchen and dinner tents, mattresses, chairs, tables ✔ Two-person sleeping tents ✔ Porter for camp equipment ✔ Entrance ticket to Inca Trail ✔ Entrance ticket to Machu Piccchu ✔ Professional bilingual guide (English & Spanish-speaking) ✔ 3 breakfasts / 3 lunches / 3 dinners ✔ Bus Down to Aguas Calientes ✔ Train ticket from Machu Picchu to Ollantaytambo ✔ Bus transportation from Ollantaytambo to Cusco ✔ First aid kit and oxygen bottle
Not included
❌ First breakfast, last lunch ❌ Sleeping bag (You can rent you if you do not have you own, cost is 15.00 dollars) ❌ Porter to carry your stuff
Group Size: Min 2 – Max 15
💡 Important to know – Over the last years specially after Covid-19, the rules have been changing due to the increase in visitors to this route and these are some of the new regulations that must be taken into account: After entering the Inca trail, the visitors will not able to extend their stay, the time is indicated in the entrance ticket within the established route. – Only máximum 500 people per day will be able to access the Inca Trail, an amount that includes autorizad guides, cooks, and porters, in other words the total number of visitors is limited to approx. 200 tourists, for this reason we recommend making the reservation months in advance specially in high season April, May, Jun, July, August, September. – Due to conservation and restoration reasons, the Inca Trail is close one month a year ( February), if the trail is close for any other event or circumstance client will be informed 30 days in advance, except in the event unforeseen event of force majeure, in this case, its applies without prior notice, but we will informed as soon we know of the event. – All people to enter the Inca trail must identify themselves with their original documents at the check points of the Ministry of Culture.
Good to know in case that you want to spend 1 more day in Machu Picchu From 2021, the Ministerio de Cultura (Peruvian Ministry of Culture) has created 4 types of official entrances to visit Machu Picchu those circuits were created in order to better organize the traffic of travelers inside Machu Picchu, reduce the risk of infection by COVID-19, preserve and protect the constructions of the archaeological site for the future.
Machu Picchu Solo (Circuits 1, 2, 3 or 4) This ticket includes the entrance Llaqta of Machu Picchu (all citadel) (Circuits 1, 2, 3 or 4) this ticket sellout fast.
Machu Picchu Circuit 3 + Machu Picchu Mountain (U$D. 20.00 extra) This ticket is the only one that has re-entry and first the guiding tour to Machu Picchu from the bottom part and after the guiding tour you go up the Mountain.
Machu Picchu Circuit 4 + Huayna Picchu Mountain (U$D. 20.00 extra) Machu Picchu Circuit 4 + Huchuy Picchu Mountain With these tickets you will receive the guided through the lower part of Machu Picchu about 1hour 1/2 until the check point of Huayna Picchu or Huchuy Picchu where you walk up the mountain on your free time.
The availability of entrance tickets to Machu Picchu is very limited and it is recommended to book as far in advance as possible. Especially if you are traveling in high season.
🚫Cancellation policy If you cancel more than 15 days before the start of the tour you will receive 15% of the total amount of the reservation, After this time, or in case of no-show for the tour, you will not be entitled to a refund, because the Inca Trail has another type of organization unlike the other treks.
We recommend to bring for the Inca trail
➖ Passport ➖ Light clothing ➖ Warm clothing ➖ 2 T-shorts ➖ Confortable walking shoes or boots ➖ Mosquito repellent ➖ Water bottle ➖ Waterproof raincoat ➖ Plastic poncho (specially in rainy season) ➖ Hat ➖ Sunblock ➖ Sun glasses ➖ Chocolate, candies and others snacks ➖ Camera ➖ Medication (in case you consider it necessary) ➖ Extra money but in Nuevos Soles (Peruvian national currency)
🙋🏻♂️ QUESTIONS ANS ANSWERS
How difficult is the Inca Trail?
It’s not the most challenging trek in Cusco, but you will be walking up hilland and downhill with lots of stairs, most of the hiking is on fairly well-defined inca trails, with ancient Inca stone .
In the walk you will cross 2 high passes over 4000m (13120 ft.) That have as a reward the impressive view of the entire valley and the entire route of the Inca Trail, the most difficult and longest day is the second day.
How can I avoid altitude sickness on the Inca Trail?
Altitude sickness is frequent for people who arrive from countries that are above sea level, so it is recommended to arrive one or two days before the start of the tour to acclimatize and not have problems during the tour, take often infusions of coca tea, the coca leaf is very good for altitude sickness as it provides more oxygen to the body helping to adapt to altitude quickly.
Can I walk the Inca Trail myself?
The Inca Trail is a tour which is highly regulated and people cannot travel on their own, it is necessary to take the services of certified agencies such as Inkas Destination since we can reserve and buy the tickets as well as see the availability on the date that you indicate.
What if there is no availability of spaces for the dates that I am interested in the Inca Trail?
If you do not find a space for the Inca Trail on the dates you request, Inkas Destinarion created other alternative Inca Trails as beautiful as the classic Inca Trail, some with different landscapes or heights, some of them are Inca Jungle Trail, Lares Trek, Salkantay trek.
When is the best time to do the Inca Trail?
To visit Machu Picchu we have two seasons: the high season that are from the months of April to October, which are the dry and sunny months that coincide with the holidays in Europe and the United States, and the middle and low season that are the months of November to January and March these months are of rain in which it is not known which day it will rain but the landscape changes and everything becomes more green and colorful. The month of February is closed for maintenance.
What food provide along the Inca Trail?
In the tour is including three hearty meals a day. Typically buffet, you can expect breakfast to consist of fruits, cereal, eggs, local breads, pancakes and hot drinks. Lunch will generally be salads, cheese, pasta style dishes, meats, chicken. Dinner is soup, seasonal vegetables, meat, rice or pasta and bread with some local specialities. If you are vegetarian, vegan or have allergies, please indicate at the time of booking so that our trained chefs take into account and prepare food according to your diet or need.
How far in advance have I to make the Inca Trail reservation?
the reservation of the Inca trail tou have to do as far in advance as possible, the government has limited the number of people allowed on the Inca Trail (the tickets are issued to about 200 trekkers per day plus 300 porters). Inkas Destination therefore recommend that you to make your Inca trail reservation as far in advance as possible as soon as you know the available dates, normally 3 or 4 months in advance mínimum, for the dates between April to August is high recommend to book 5 or 6 months in advance because it is hight toursim season.
Is necessary to use walking poles on the Inca Trail?
Many people like to hike with walking poles and in the inca trail is highly recommend to use, this as long as the walking poles will not cause damage to the stone path along the Inca Trail, these must be protected by rubber tips, rubber protectors can buy them in several shops in Cusco. If you do not have the walking poles Inkas Destination can rent it (U$D. 15.00) a pair.
I am travelling alone, could I have my own tent?
If you are solo travelling and are willing to share a tent with a member of the same sex, then there is no additional cost. If, however, you would like your own tent you have to add U$D. 60.00.
How cold is the Inca Trail?
In the Inca trail temperatures can change quickly and radical, It depends of the month and season that you make the reservation, but the normal thing is that at night and early in the morning it is cold in the camps between 0 and 8 degrees Celsius and throughout the day the temperature improves and can reach up to 25 degrees Celsius This depending on the weather if it is cloudy or sunny, so it is advisable to always wear a rain jacket and a warm jacket.
