Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Itinerary

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.

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.

Day 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.

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.