"Classic" Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in 4 days


The Inca Trail got used as a communication system for the Incas to run from one place to another in the humongous Inca Empire which stretched from south Colombia to north of Argentina. There are different Inca trails to hike, but this one is the most famous Inca trail and it will take you from Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, through beautiful landscapes and different archaeological Inca sites.


Patallaqta - Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in 4 days

Availability for Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in 4 Days / 3 Nights

Our departure dates for the Inca Trail are from March to January. Our recommended dates are from April to October, because of the rain season. The Inca Trail has a strict limit on how many people can use the Inca trail (500) three hundred of them are the guides, porters and chefs. Therefore we will recommend you to book your trip as soon as possible around 6 months in advance.


ITINERARY


Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in 4 days - Km 82 - Day 1

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.

After the lunch we are going to have another two hours hike to Wayllabamba (3.000 m.) which will be our camping spot. We will arrive there at 5:00 pm in the afternoon, and we will enjoy a nice dinner from our personal professional chef at 6:30 pm. After the dinner we will settle down for the night.



Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in 4 days - Day 1 map
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in 4 days - Huayllabamba - Day 2

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 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.



Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in 4 days - Day 2 map
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in 4 days - Paqaymayo - Day 3

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.



Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in 4 days - Day 3 map
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in 4 days - Machu Picchu - Day 4

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.



Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in 4 days - Day 4 map

MORE INFORMATION


  • Transfers In / Out.
  • Pre-departure briefing: You will meet your Inca Trail guide and group in our office for an orientation before your trek, one or two days before the tour.
  • Transport picked up from your hotel in Cusco to Piscacucho, the starting Inca Trail trek.
  • English and Spanish speaking Professional Guide for Inca Trail trek and Machupicchu.
  • Guided visit to Machu Picchu and the ruins along the trail.
  • Entrances tickets to Inca trail and Machu Picchu.
  • 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 snacks, 3 dinners – Vegetarian food, or other diet requirements can be arranged with no further charge.
  • Professional cook.
  • 3 Camping nights.
  • Medical kit and Oxygen bottle.
  • Camping equipment (2 person tents, mattresses, Cooking equipment, tables and chairs).
  • Porters / Horses (who carry tents, food and cooking equipment).
  • Bus ticket from Machu Picchu ruins to Aguas Calientes (one way)
  • Train tickets (EXPEDITION): Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo train station.
  • Transfer back to Cusco.
  • 24-hour guest service: Telephone service available 24 hours/day.
  • Free luggage store at ITEP Travel.
  • First breakfast before the transfer on the first day – lunch at the last day at Aguas Calientes.
  • Sleeping Bags. USD 25.00
  • 1 Duffle Bag: You can put your personal luggage, up to 7 kgs (15.43 lbs.) USD 80.00 (this bag will be carried by our porters)
  • Tips are not included but it is optional.
  • Additional costs or delays out of control of the management (landscape, bad weather condition, itinerary modification due to a safety concern, illness, change of government policy, political instability/strike, etc.)
  • Walking sticks (US$15 for a pair of sticks)
  • Extra porter for personal items (US$130 for up to 15 Kg)
  • Upgrade to Single room in Aguas Calientes (US$35)
  • Upgrade to Vistadome train (US$50)
  • Entrance ticket to Huayna Picchu (US$75) – There is only a limited space at Wayna Picchu (400 persons per day), so it is a good idea to book in advance.
  • We can help you to book hotels (standard and luxury) in whole Peru.
  • You should bring your original passport and *Valid student identity card if applicable
  • Walking boots
  • Waterproof jacket/rain jacket
  • Warm jacket, hat and gloves
  • T-shirts
  • Comfortable trousers
  • Sun hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Sun protection cream (factor 35 recommended)
  • Re-usable plastic or metal water container or camel bags
  • Water for the first day, but on the way it is possible to buy bottles of water from local families.
  • Insect repellent
  • Toiletries
  • Personal medication
  • Camera and films
  • Shorts
  • Walking stick (with rubber tip)
  • Plasters and bandages
  • Sandals
  • Baiting suit for the hot springs
  • Extra money for personal expensive, tips and entrance fees for hot springs (entrance fee for the hot spring is: US$ 4 / 10 Soles), (recommended 200 Peruvian nuevos soles for extra money)

DISCOUNTS

  • 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).
  CLASSIC CONFORT
  Machupicchu Machupicchu + Huayna Picchu / Machu Picchu mountain Machupicchu Machupicchu + Huayna Picchu / Machu Picchu mountain
Inca Trail 4D - 2023 USD 649.00 + USD 75.00 USD 779.00 + USD 75.00
  • 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.
  • This map shows the route of the Inca Trail 4 days that starts on km 82. Chachabamba and ends on Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu Village.

Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Map

Inca Trail 4 Days VIDEO

In this video you will see the sights of the Classic Inca trail to Machu Picchu. We begin showing the four days in details such as the sites of Runkurakay, Sayacmarka, Wiñayhuayna, Inti Punku, Machu Picchu Sunshine and a night in Aguas Calientes. Next we show the second day, the exclusive Machu Picchu Sunrise.

Wiñayhuayna : means 'forever young' and is considered to be a sacred place along the Inca Trail before coming to Machu Picchu.

Intipunku: Intipunku is also called the 'Sun Gate' and leads to Machu Picchu. This is a great vantage point where you'll get your first view of Machu Picchu. It was used by the Incas during their ceremonies for the summer solstice in December.

Sayaqmarka: Sayacmarka is an Inca ruin that is believed to be a village as well as a sacred area, dedicated to the mountains. Sayacmarka means 'place you cannot enter/inaccessible.

Runkurakay: Runkuraqay is an archeological ruin believed to be an administrative point left behind by the Incas.



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