Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (4 Days)

At early in the morning, we will be picking you up from your hotel in Cusco. We will then be traversing through the Sacred Valley of Incas to a remote town called, Piskacucho, known to many as KM 82. Once in KM 82, we will have to cross a check point where the officials will verify your document against the Inca Trail permit. Please remember to carry your original passport.

From the check point, we will start the real adventure. We will be hiking for three hours to Tarayoc, where we will stop for lunch. This section of the trail would reward you with sights of Kanabamba an ancient Incan ruin and the snow capped peak of Veronica Mountain, at a distance.

The most fascinating site of the day is ruins of Llaqtapata. Llaqtapata is an Incan site, it houses remains of palaces, temples and terraces. This was used as a nexus point between the cities from the jungle side and the cities from the highlands during the Incan empire. Our tour guide, would give you a detailed explanation here about this lesser known yet an important site.

We will stop for lunch at a town called, Tarayoc at around 0100 PM. From here we will hike for another two hours to our first camp site called Wayllabamba .

After a full day hike it will be nice to relish a cup of hot chocolate or tea accompanied with pop corn, empanadas and some snacks. At night we will serve a Novo Andean meal for dinner before you crawl into your tents.

Trip Summary:

• Hiking Time: 6-7 Hours (approx)
• Hiking Distance: 11 Kms/6.83 Miles
• Highest Point 3,000 m/9,840 ft.
• Lowest Point: 2,700m/8,856 ft.

The second day of Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is considered to be quite challenging. After relishing on a nutritious breakfast, we will start hiking uphill to the highest point of the trek, called the DEAD WOMAN’S PASS at 4,215 meters (13,825 feet).

Enroute to the dead woman’s pass, we will be passing through different ecotones. We will be taking a lunch break at Llulluchapampa (3,800 meters / 12,464 feet).

After relishing on a nutritious meal for diner, we will continue with our hike to the Dead Woman’s Pass. Here, we will stop and rejuvenate . You will witness a fantastic scenery here. From here, we will continue with our downhill hike to Pacaymayu, which roughly takes three hours. This evening, we will stop for tea followed by dinner.

Trip Summary:

• Hiking Time:7-8 Hours (approx)
• Hiking Distance: 12 Kms/ 7.45 Miles
• Highest Point 4,215 m/ 13,825 ft.
• Lowest Point: 3,000 m/ 9,840 ft.

After having breakfast at early in the morning, we will start hiking to the second pass, Runkuraqay (3,950 m / 12,956 ft). Third day of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is quite interesting. You will be passing through many Incan sites along the trail. Our guide would explain the richness and the importance of each site during the Incan empire.

On this day, mostly the trail goes through the cloud forest, you will be seeing birds and orchids. You would also be rewarded with sights of Urubamba and Vilcabamba mountain range. Around noon, we will stop for lunch. After lunch, we will start our downhill hike to Wiñay Wayna which in Quechua means “Forever Young”.  It is at 2560 meters or 8962 feet). This is the third and the last camp site on the 4 days Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. After savouring a cup of hot tea, we will serve dinner.

Trip Summary:

• Hiking Time:8-10 Hours (approx)
• Hiking Distance: 15 Kms/ 9.32 Miles
• Highest Point 3,950 m/ 12,956 ft.
• Lowest Point: 2,650 m/ 8,692 ft.  

The fourth day marks as the most important day on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. The best moment of the Inca Trail that you would surely relive for the rest of your life is the eye catching view of Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate (Inti Punku).

You would get a view of Machu Picchu, as the cloud would clear the sights of the walls of the prestigious Incan citadel while the golden rays of the sun shimmers over the citadel of Incas. After witnessing the sight of Machu Picchu from distance we will start hiking down to the citadel itself.

Our guide would give you a two hours guided tour explaining the existence and building of Machu Picchu. After thr tour, we will take the tourist bus down to Aguas Calientes town. Here you can have lunch (not included).

Later in the afternoon, you will be boarding the train to Ollantaytambo where our guide would meet you and will organise your transfer back to your hotel in Cusco.

Tip Summary:

• Hiking Time: 2-3 Hours (approx)
• Hiking Distance: 5 Kms/ 3.11 Miles
• Highest Point 2,700 m/ 8,856 ft.
• Lowest Point: 2,400 m/ 7,872 ft.