The Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Itinerary

Day 1 | Inca Trail

Transfer by Van from Cusco to Km 82 Inca Trail Entrance - Wayllabamba

Our journey to Machu Picchu through the classical Inca trail begins at your hotel, from where you will be picked up after the breakfast (optional) around 6:00 – 6:30. From your hotel you will have a transfer 2 – 2.5 hours with your guide to our starting point which is called km 82. At the starting point you need to show your Inca Trail permission card, your original passport, and your ISIC card if you have one.Here the Inca Trail begins and we will start hiking for 2 hours to Miskay, where we are going to enjoy a nice lunch. The hike to Miskay is a flat and a beautiful walk, where we can enjoy the incredible flora of the landscape around us.

The first day is relatively easy and serves as a warm-up along the flat Inca trail. There are excellent views of the Inca fortress “Willca Raccay” (2,750 m / 9,022 ft), the vast and incredible Inca site of Llactapata (officially called “Patallacta”), and the beautiful snow-capped peak of “Wakay Willca” (5,860 m / 19,225 ft), known as Veronica. Our first camp is in Wayllabamba (3,000 m / 9,842 ft). We’ll arrive there at 5:00 p.m., and upon arrival, we’ll have some time to enjoy “afternoon tea”—hot drinks and cookies—followed by a delicious dinner prepared by our personal professional chef at approximately 6:30 p.m. After dinner, we’ll settle in for the night. Nighttime temperatures hover around 5°C, depending on the month.

Meals: Lunch, snacks, afternoon tea and dinner.
Accommodation: Camping facilities at Wayllabamba.
Distance: 11kms/6.8 mls (6 hours more or less of hiking)
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate.
Walking Time: Approximately 6 hours (including picnic lunch in route)
Walk and Terrain: Walk, canter on open roads, some steep ascending

Day 2 | Inca Trail

Trekking Wayllabamba to Pacaymayuc / Runkuraqay

At the second day the guides wakes us up at 5:30 with warm tee, so we can get a good start of the day at the Inca trail and we will eat breakfast at 6:00. Our first hike of this day begins at 6:30 and it will take around 5 hours (7 km) to get from our camp to the high spot which is called Dead Woman's Pass (4.600 m), where you can experience the female spirit, a woman that lives on the side of the mountain.

From this place we have a 2 hour hike down to our second camping spot (Pacamayu 3,600 m), where we finally will have our lunch after 7 hours of hiking in total on the Inca trail. At the camp we will rest and around 6.30 we will have dinner. Later we will get comfortable under our blankets, so we can stay warm for the cold night.

Meals: Breakfast, water, lunch, snacks, afternoon tea and Dinner.
Accommodation: Pacaymayo Camp, camping facilities.
Distance: 16kms/10mls (9 hours more or less of hiking time)
Difficulty: Moderate/challenge.

Day 3 | Inca Trail

Trekking Pacaymayuc to Winayhuayna

We get up at 6:00 am and breakfast will be served by the chef at 6:30. At 7:00 we will start hiking. This day is a very special and beautiful day where we will pass 3 Inca ruins along the Inca trail. To get to the first Inca ruin Runkqurakay (3.800 m.), we have to hike one hour up; thereafter we have another hour of walking to the second high spot, Runku Pass (4.000 m.). After the second Inca ruin it will get easier, from there we will walk down for 45 m. to Sayacmarka (3580 m.).

After the visit we will have 25 min. to chakicoccha (3.600 m) where we will enjoy our lunch in natural surroundings and incredible landscape. After the lunch we have a one hour hiking to Phuyupatamarka (3.60 m), which is the last hike on the Inca trail of this day. On this place we can find the last Inca construction for today.

From this point we will have an easy two hour walk down to Wiñnahuayna (2.600 m), where we will settle our camp and our chef will make a nice buffet to everyone so we can say goodbye to the chefs and the porters in a very nice way at 6.30. If you still have energy left after the hike, you can visit the archaeological site of Wiñay Huayna, only 5 minutes from our camp spot, a really delightful site on the Inbca trail with a lot of terraces and ruins.

Meals: Breakfast, water, lunch, snacks, afternoon tea and dinner.
Accommodation: Wiñay Wayna Camp, Camping facilities.
Distance: 10kms/6.2mls (5 hours more or less of hiking)
Difficulty: Moderate

Day 4 | Inca Trail

Trekking Winayhuayna Inti Punku & Machupicchu guided Tour

On the last day we get up very early 3:30 and eat breakfast at 4:00. After the breakfast we begin hiking to the first checkpoint which opens at 5:30. After the checkpoint we have one hour of hiking to the Sun gate, from where we will have great views of Machu Picchu and all the surrounding mountains. Here we will have 20 min. to rest. Thereafter we have 10 min. down to the lost city of the Incas; Machu Picchu. Here the Inca trail ends and we will enter the wonder of Machu Picchu. At the city, we have to pass the second checkpoint for leaving our bags and it will cost you 3 soles for every back, which is necessary.

There you will also need to show your passport, the ticket and the ISIC card if you have one. Thereafter your guide will show you around the Machu Picchu and the different important sites, ruins and temples of the site from 8:00 to 10:00. After the tour you will have some free time to explore the city, its many different roads and its beautiful surroundings. After you have enjoyed the magnificent city of the Incas you have to use your bus ticket to get down to Aguas Calientes and then take the train back to Cusco via Ollantaytambo. The “expedition train” leaves at 6.30 in the evening and arrives at Ollantaytambo after 2 hours. At Ollantaytambo there will be a bus waiting for you to take you back to Cusco. Here your journey will end at 10:30 in the night.

Meals: Breakfast
Distance: 8.9kms/5.5mls “By Bus in 25 minutes”
Difficulty: Easy
 

What's Included?

• Pre-tour information: You will meet your Inca Trail guide at our offices (or another agreed-upon location) around 18:00 hours for an informative session about the tour.
• Tourist transportation "Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Km 82, Chachabamba".
• After exploring the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu, return by Consettur bus to Aguas Calientes.
• "Expeditions" tourist train Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo.
• Tourist transportation "Ollantaytambo – Cusco".
• Highly qualified professional English and Spanish-speaking guide on the Inka Trail.
• Highly qualified professional English and Spanish-speaking guide at Machu Picchu.
• Entrance ticket to the legendary Inca Trail.
  • 1st night: Camping at Wayllabamba.
  • 2nd night: Camping at Pacaymayo.
  • 3rd night: Camping at Wiñay Wayna.
  Note: Campsite availability is subject to the availability determined by the Ministry of Culture.
• Entrance ticket to the Archeological site of Machu Picchu (Circuit 1, Guardian's House).
• Additional entrance ticket to Machu Picchu (Circuit 2 or 3, depending on availability).
• Dining and kitchen tents, tables, chairs, and kitchen equipment carried by our team (the porters).
• A specialized chef for trail cuisine and an assistant who will prepare all meals during the trail.
• 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners (vegetarian, vegan, luten-free at no additional cost).
• Supply of boiled, filtered, and cooled water from the first lunch to the last breakfast. It is recommended to bring your own water bottles (approximately 3L).
• Wake-up with Coca Tea, every morning at the camp, a cup of coca tea is provided in the tent before starting the day.
• Tea Time, every day during the hike.
• The team will carry a first aid kit, including an emergency oxygen bottle.
• 24-Hour Customer Service: We offer a 24-hour telephone service to facilitate communication with our agents before your trek.
• Free Luggage Storage: We provide complimentary luggage storage at our offices in Cusco. You can leave your luggage before starting your tour (exclusive to our passengers).

What's not Included?

• Trekking poles are not included but is highly recommend for the hike. You can bring your our or rent from us.
• Sleeping bag.
• Additional entrances (Huayna Picchu mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain).
• The first breakfast and the last lunch are not included.
• Additional costs or delays beyond our control, such as natural disasters, adverse weather conditions, itinerary modifications due to passenger health issues (suffering from an illness or health problems), pandemic, changes in government policies, political instability, strikes, etc.

Note: If you prefer, you can rent trekking poles, sleeping bag, additional entrance fees and lunch can be arranged on-site.

*Note: "Machu Picchu mountain" refers to the peak opposite the main Machu Picchu ruins.

Additional Services

• Trekking poles. ($15.00 USD)
• Sleeping bags. ($25.00 USD) - 3kg
• Economical Lunch in Machu Picchu town. ($15.00 USD)
• Lunch at Sanctuary Lodge. ($45.00 USD)
• Extra Porter for 6kg. ($80.00 USD)
• Extra Porter for 14kg. ($160.00 USD)
• Huayna Picchu mountain entrance, subject to availability and time slots: 7:00 am / 8:00 am / 9:00 am / 10:00 am ($75.00 USD)
• Machu Picchu mountain* entrance, subject to availability and time slots: 7:00 am / 8:00 am ($75.00 USD)
• Guided tour for Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain*. ($75.00 USD per group)
• Upgrade to the Vistadome train. ($50.00 USD)
• Upgrade to Vistadome Observatory train Return. ($75.00 USD)
• Simgle Tent at the campsites. ($50.00 USD)
• We can assist you in booking hotels (standard and luxury) throughout Peru.

*Note: "Machu Picchu mountain" refers to the peak opposite the main Machu Picchu ruins.

Note 2: If you choose the option of Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain, depending on availability, you may need to add an additional cost for a private guide in the city of Machu Picchu.

What to Bring?

• Original passport (and valid student ID if applicable).
• Hiking boots/shoes.
• Hiking Socks.
• Waterproof jacket / rain poncho.
• Warm clothing, hat, and gloves.
• Casual mountains wear for evenings
• Short or long-sleeved shirts.
• Comfortable pants.
• Sun hat.
• Sunglasses.
• Sunscreen (recommended SPF 35).
• Reusable plastic or metal bottles, or a camelback.
• Insect repellent.
• Personal hygiene items or day Pack.
• Personal medication.
• Camera and camcorder.
• Flashlight with extra batteries.

Extra Items to Bring

• Shorts.
• Trekking poles (with rubber tips).
• Bandages and bandages.
• Sandals.
• Baiting suit for the hot springs.
• Extra money for personal expenses, tips (recommend 200 Peruvian nuevos soles for extra expenses).

PRICES

DISCOUNTS: The Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu | 4 Days / 3 Nights

• 18 - 24 years old: We offer a $20 discount per student. To qualify as a student, you must have a valid student identity card and be under 25 years of age at the time of your trip. Scan and email us the copy at the time of booking.
• Under 17 years old: We offer a $20 discount per child. you must be under 18 years of age at the time of your trip (you will need to scan and email us a copy of the passports).

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Important information

• The Itinerary can change according to the Peruvian government, climate and health status of the trekkers.
•  The train schedule can change according to availability of the train company.
•  The train that we provide is the expedition train to Ollantaytambo – if someone books a train ticket in the last minute it is not sure that they can come in the same train as the other group.
•  If you would like to change your train schedule or tickets, you have to pay more for the transport from Ollantaytambo to Cusco and for the price change of the train.

YES. To protect the historical trail of the Inkas, the number of people allowed to hike the Inca Trail each day is limited to 250. That is why, you should reserve your space as soon as possible. Spaces can be filled up three to six months in advance. Spaces fill more quickly in the high tourist season, from May to September.

We highly  recommended  to do your trekking to the Machupicchu or Huaynapicchu Mountains in order to have the most stunning views of the archaeological place(Machupicchu)

Huayna Picchu is one of the mountains that stands next to Machu Picchu and has amazing views from above. This hike is done after your tour with  us and takes 45 minutes to reach  the top and 45 minutes to came back down. Great oportunity to take  lots of photos, because of the incredible views . 
The Huayna Picchu Mountain is the one that you will see just  behind Machu Picchu on any postcard; the  Incas paths hidden alongside the mountain, it may frighten those  who have a fear of heights.

For those of you who struggle with heights you may need to know that you will be steps away from hundred foot plummets into an abyss, and in some places the path can be very steep and narrow.

There are times when you need to use security cables to support yourself; it is a challenge for anyone. If you suffer from vertigo or you have a hard time controlling your fear of heights we would recommend taking a different route. You will have to place reservations 6 months before if you would like one of the 400 available tickets to go up to the Huayna Picchu Mountain.

Machu Picchu Mountain is an unforgettable and lesser-known hike above the Machu Picchu  with stunning panoramic view of the valley. Reaching the archaeological place which is only one part of the Machu Picchu experience.

The other one is climbing the summit of Machu Picchu Mountain at 3,050 meters above sea level for dramatic views of the place and lush mountains separated by deep valleys and Urubamba River.

As spectacular as seeing Machu Picchu is, the lost Incas city, tells us just little things  if you don’t see them in a perspective with the surrounding mountains. It is  when you can appreciate the enormous effort of Incas engineery to built their  citys 2,430 meters above sea level without using any  metal tools or  wheel. Why the city was initially built ?,still remains as mystery.

The Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Map