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 cut stone steps and arrive at Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate, the sacred entrance of and lookout of the incomparable Machu Picchu citadel. An alternative option is the Short Inca Trail 2 days.
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.
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.
Keeping You Safe During COVID-19
Use of a face mask mandatory for travelers in all public areas.
Use of a mandatory face mask for guides in all public areas.
Hand sanitizer available for travelers and staff.
Mandatory social distancing throughout the experience High traffic areas.
Transport vehicles and camping equipment regularly disinfected.
Temperature controls for travelers at the beginning of the experience
Requirement for guides to wash their hands regularly
ITINERARY
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
PRICES
MAPS
BOOKING
FAQs
Day 01: Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Wayllabamba
Early morning pick up from your hotel. We will take a bus to the trailhead at Km 82, where we meet our Quechua porters. We’ll then cross the turbulent Vilcanota River while checking out the snowcapped Mt.Veronica (Wacay Willca) (5,900m / 19,356ft).
Our first stop is at the beautiful archaeological site of Llactapata and later the village of Wayllabamba. We’ll have lunch near the river, then visit the Q’ente archaeological site, the Cusichaca Valley, and pass through magical Polylepsis forests. The walk lasts for 7 hours. Dinner and our campsite will be at a lofty 3,800 meters (12,467 feet) above sea level.
Km. 82
Day 02: Wayllabamba – Pacaymayu
After breakfast, we begin the hardest day of the trail. Awaiting us is a steep, lengthy ascent to the highest point: Warmiwañuska, the strangely named “Dead Woman’s Pass” (4,200m / 13,779ft). This exhausting ascent crosses three ecological zones: Yunga, Quechua and Puna. Yet there is pleasure in the pain: 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 stop for lunch, and afterwards descend 1000m to our campsite. Dinner and overnight camping will be near Pacaymayu.
WayllabambaDay 03: Pacaymayu – Wiñayhuayna
After breakfast, we will walk through the Pacaymayu Valley until we reach the famous ruins of Runquraqay. Later, we will continue to Sayacmarka, and stop to explore the restored Inca city here.
Along today’s route, formations of white granite, mountain views and the dense Inca Trail vegetation roll by to satisfy our eyes and souls. Later, we will descend to Phuyupatamarca, where we will have lunch and relax, later continuing along the Inca Trail. To end the day, we will descend to Wiñaywayna, and tour the ruins here. Here we will have dinner and overnight camping.
Pacaymayu
Day 04: Wiñaywayna – Machu Picchu – Cusco
We will have our breakfast at 4:30am, and begin the last part of the Inca Trail. This day will be a special one because we will see from the Inti Punku lookout how the sun slowly lights up Machu Picchu at sunrise. After, we will descend through cloud forest into jungle, home to the orchids and hummingbirds common along this part of the Inca Trail.
At Machu Picchu, we will have a guided visit with free time afterwards to explore the ruins at your leisure. In the afternoon you will take the return train to Ollantaytambo , and then a bus back to Cusco.
Wiñayhuayna
Included:
Bus from Cusco to Km. 82
Entrances tickets to Machu Picchu & Inca Trail
Professional guide (English & Spanish-speaking)
Porter for camp equipment
Meals: 3 breakfasts / 3 lunches / 3 dinners
Bus Down to Aguas Calientes
Train ticket from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
Bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
Kitchen and dinner tents, mattresses, chairs, tables
Two-person sleeping tents
First aid kit and oxygen bottle
Not Included:
Sleeping bag
Tips
Group Size
Min 05 – Max 10
Locations Visited
Llactapata
Waillabamba
Pacaymayu
Wiñayhuayna
Machu Picchu
We recommend bringing
Sleeping Bag
Light clothing
Walking shoes or boots
Water bottle
Rain jacket, hat, sunblock, sun glasses
Chocolate, candies and others snacks
Mosquito repellent
Camera
Extra money but in Nuevos Soles (Peruvian national currency)
Hiking poles
Group Service
U$D. 659.00 per person
Private Service
2 – 3 pax
4 – 5 pax
6 – 7 pax
8 – + pax
U$D. 899.00 p/p
U$D. 749.00 p/p
U$D. 699.00 p/p
U$D. 659.00 p/p
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 privide along the Inca Trail?
In the tour is including three hearty meals a day. Typically buffete, you can expect breakfast to consist of fruts, cereal, eggs, local breads, pancakes and hot drinks. Lunch will generally be salads, cheese, pasta style dishes, meats, chiken. 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 minimun, for the dates between April to August is hight recomend to book 5 or 6 months in advance because it is hight toursim season.
Is necesary to use walking poles on the Inca Trail?
Many people like to hike with walking poles and in the inca trail is highly recomend 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 for 50.00 soles (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. 40.00
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.
