The Inca trail is normally sold out far in advance. Please first check the availability of the classic 4-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

Overview

Walk into the footsteps of the Inca’s, and discover their secrets until their incredible Inca fortress Machu Picchu. Of course, one of the world wonders of the Unesco. This 39 km trail leads you in 4 days through the protected wild nature of the Peruvian jungle and forest steppe. You will pass several archeological Inca sights and have impressive panorama’s over snow peaked mountains and distant rivers.

The Inca Trail is without doubt the most famous and most beautiful hike in South America you cannot miss. The Incas used this route for the pilgrimage from the city Cuzco to the sacred citadel Machu Picchu. The distance of this hike is only 39 km but the original route is a long-distance hiking trail. Your 4-day adventure will start in the Sacred Valley of the Inca’s, approx. 2 hours from Cusco. You will pass several ruins and will hike through cloud forests and mountain tundra’s .

If you are looking for an authentic and adventurous experience to Machu Picchu, our 4-day Inca Trail is the perfect option. Come other travelers from all over the whole world for a trip of once in a lifetime. This hike is a superb option whether you are traveling by yourself, with a partner, or in a group of small friends.

During these 4 days, you will be challenged but you will also receive the biggest and most amazing reward. The last day you will enter the archeological complex Machu Picchu enter the Sun Gate and will have a view over the mystical Machu Picchu for the first time. Descent and explore this Inca citadel with your guide and learn about its history and secrets. After that you will have time to spend a few hours by yourself to know better this amazing place. Take your time and relax before heading back to Cusco.

There is also an alternative, the 2 day-Inca Trail. You will hike 1 day and the 2nd day you will visit Machu Picchu. The most popular is the 4-day Inca trail. Due to its great popularity and the danger of erosion, only 500 people are allowed per day so make sure you will book this amazing and once in a lifetime hike on time.

Day 1 :

Cusco - KM 82 –Pisacucho - Wayllabamba

We start the adventure of your lifetime by picking you up from your hotel between 6:00 to 6:30 am to start the trip by car to Ollantaytambo town.

After a two hours car ride you will have the chance to have breakfast. After this stop, we continue driving one more hour by the same car to the starting point Km 82 / Piscacucho.

During this drive, you have will see plenty of corn plantations and potato plants. Most of the local people here are farmers. Once we arrive at km82, we get ready to pass the first control point of the whole 4-Day Inca trail.

After we got an Inca Trail Hike 4 Days stamp on our passport, we will hike for 2 hours to reach Mesccay, here we take a break to taste the local corn beer called Chicha. Then we continue hiking to the viewpoint of the Llactapata ruins.

After this view, we hike for 30 more minutes to the spot to where we will have lunch. After lunch, a 2.5 more hours hiking will follow to the campsite located in Huayllapampa where our crew of porters and cooks will set up your camp. Then it is time to enjoy a hot tea and dinner at the camp. The camp is located at 3000 m altitude.

Level of difficulty: Moderate
Hiking time: 6-7 hours
Total distance: 11km approx.

Day 2 :

Huayllabamba – Incatrail highest point - Pacaymayo

Early in the morning, the cooks will wake you up with hot coca tea early to start the hardest day of the whole Inca trail successfully.

After a nutritious breakfast, we get ready to start the trek to the highest point of the entire Inca Trail 4212m/13818ft. 4 hours uphill hiking 9km/5ml.

The trail begins at 3000 m to 4212 m on a beautiful path made of stones combined with nice Inka stairs, which takes you to the pass of the Inca trail called – WARMICWAÑUSCAN (dead woman’s pass).

If we get nice weather, we have the chance to enjoy the overlooking views of the mountains that surround Machu Picchu and the sacred valley of the Incas.

After a while, at the pass we start descending 2 hours to the lunch spot. We will reach the lunch place called Pacaymayo. This will also be our campsite. In the afternoon we provide you tea and dinner. After dinner, it’s time to sleep at our camp Pacaymayo — located at 3700 m.

Level of difficulty: challenging
Hiking time: 8-9 hours
Total distance: 15 km approx.

Day 3 :

Pacamayo - Phuyupatamarca – Wiñayhuayna

Today is the most beautiful day of the Inca trail because you get the opportunity to see how the landscape changes from the Andean cloud forest to the jungle area.

You will hike on the beautiful original Inca trails and will visit: Phuyupatamarca (the town in the clouds). In the distance, you enjoy the view of the majestic Salkantay mountain and Wakaywillka mountain and of course the first views of Machu Picchu montaña and Huaynapicchu mountain.

After a delicious breakfast around 5:30 am we leave from the camp toward Phuyupatamarca 2 hours uphill hiking then two more hours downhill on the Inca trail.

Once in Puyupatamarca, you have time to enjoy the views, and we explore the beautiful archeological site of Puyupatamarca (see picture.)

After that, we hike down on the curved Inca stairs to Intipata for 2 more hours until we reach Intipata to explore the farming terraces and enjoying the magnificent views of the Urubamba River and its valleys. Then we go to the lunch spot at wiñayhuayna campsite to eat a delicious lunch.

After lunch, we got time to rest and we will go to explore the Wiñaywayna Inka ruins. Then we go back to the camp to enjoy teatime and the last supper made by the camping chefs.

Level of difficulty: normal
Hiking time: 5-6 hours
Total distance: 10 km Approx.

Day 4 :

Machu Picchu – Cusco

Today you will experience the magical moment to see Machupicchu. Early in the morning, our chefs will wake you up with hot coca tea. After a delicious breakfast, we will leave early to be one of the first passing the last Inca trail checkpoint.

We will hike to the Sungate (Inti Punku).

Once we arrive at the Sungate, you will have time to enjoy the magnificent view of the Inca ruins: MACHUPICCHU.

Enjoy incredible views of a town made of stone built by ancient civilizations of the Inca’s surrounded by the Peruvian Andes. After this, we will continue our trek to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu before arriving at Machu Picchu itself.

Once at Machu Picchu we get time for the classic and panoramic pictures and for a guided tour of approximately 2.5 hours.

After this guided tour, you will have free time to explore by yourselves other parts of the Inca city such as the Inca bridge, Huaynapicchu mountain, or Machu Picchu mountain. If you interested to climb these mountains, you have book it in advance. After 6 – 7 hours in Machu Picchu, we take the bus down to Aguas Calientes town where you can have lunch in one of the restaurants.

At 18:20 it’s time to take the train for to Ollantaytambo (train ride of 1,5 hour.) At the train station in Ollantaytambo our transfer will wait for you to bring you back to Cusco (2 more hours.) You will be back in Cusco around 10 pm.

Level of difficulty: normal
Hiking time: 2-3 hours
Total distance: 7 km approx.

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Recomendations

1. Best time to do the Classic Inca Trail

We tell you that Peru has a diversity of geographies and therefore different climates, determining an ideal time to travel is very difficult. If we focus on this classic, the 4-day Inca Trail, we consider that the best time to do the Inca Trail is from April to October. A season without rain, this time is the most pleasant with sunny and mostly dry days and cold nights.

In addition, you should know that in the month of February this inca trail is closed for maintenance work. In February it is only possible to go to Machu Picchu, this is open every month of the year.

2. Make your reservation in advance for the Classic Inca Trail

If you decide to do this trek it is advisable to make your reservation many months in advance, from 6 to 10 months in the high season (May to September) and from 2 to 4 months in the low season because there is a limit of spaces per day. The Peruvian government only allows access to 200 visitors per day.

3. Conditions of the classic Inca Trail

You should have a brief idea of what the trek will be like.

The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is considered the best hike in South America and perhaps the world. Thousands of tourists competed to do this trail, as it is the route that the ancient Incas took to reach Machu Picchu.

The tour has a duration of 4 days, approximately a hike of 40 kilometers before you reach the lost city of the Incas “Machu Picchu”, along the way you will experience high and low temperatures. As well as you can enjoy other Inca ruins, fabulous landscapes and lots of vegetation.

4. Acclimatization

It is very important to acclimatize before this trek, at least 1 to 2 days, and to rest as much as possible, eat lightly, and drink plenty of water, preferably coca tea. This trek will take you to altitudes over 4000 m, so to avoid altitude sickness follow the advices of the guide.

5. What to bring for the Inca Trail

It is recommended to take only what is necessary, remember that you will walk several kilometers to Machu Picchu and a gram more will affect your performance, so here is a list of items to consider in your journey along the Inca Trail.

– Passport
– Cash, preferably in small denominations 10, 20, 50, 100 soles.
– Camera and video camera
– Backpack cover
– Windproof waterproof jacket.
– Small towel and bathing suit
– 4 shirts / t-shirts
– Sun hat
– 1 pair of shorts
– 2 pairs of long pants
– Hiking boots / strong and comfortable shoes
– Sport sandals
– Sunscreen
– Sunglasses
– Toiletries (biodegradable)
– Bottle of water
– Flashlight
– First aid kit.

6. Enjoy the trek

Enjoy the hike to the fullest, it is not a competition to reach Machu Picchu, but take your time and live it to the fullest, because on the hike you will appreciate beautiful landscapes, adrenaline, and a lot of fun; besides visiting archaeological sites and new experiences; something that other hikes will not give you.

EXTRAS that we can arrange for you

– Huayna Picchu entrance ticket. USD 75
– Montaña Machu Picchu entrance ticket. USD 75
– Sleeping bag USD 15 for the whole trek
– Walking pole USD 10 For one pair
– Porter service USD 70 for 7 kilos
– UP-GRADE train to Vistadome – Panoramic train.  USD 25-USD45 - train at 16:22 (Depends on availability)

Notes

Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain: The visit to Huayna Picchu needs to be booked long time in advance as there are only limited spaces. We charge an additional fee of US $ 75,00.

Extra porter: According to the law (26702) and supervised by the Ministry of Employment, the collaboration of an extra porter is given under the conditions the customer requires. However, the customer’s luggage must not exceed 7 kg (including sleeping bag.) The service costs for an extra porter: US$ 70 and includes transport, entrance fee to the Inca Trail, food and camping equipment.

Information

– Altitude: 2050 – 4200 m
– Distance 39 km
– High Season: April – December
– Duration: 4 days – 3 nights
– Level of Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
– Route: Closed in February