INCA TRAIL 4 DAYS
Treks
TYPE TRIP
Hiking/Trekking
SEASON
March – January
DIFFICULTY
Challenging
DISTANCE
42 km/26.098 miles
OVERVIEW
The 4 day Inca Trail journey to Machu Picchu, also known as the Classic Inca Trail, provides a genuine experience. You’ll be following along the footsteps of the Incas to Machu Picchu. It is a once-in-a-lifetime event that is at the top of many travelers’ bucket lists.
The twenty-six-mile Inca route journey to Machu Picchu has been named one of the best twenty-five hikes in the world by National Geographic Travel magazine. To keep the path in good shape, local officials have limited access to 500 people every day. This comprises porters, guides, and chefs, and only 200 trekkers can complete the journey in a single day.
Inca trek permits are frequently sold out six months in advance. We strongly advise you to make a reservation as soon as possible.
Depending on your physical state, the Inca Trail may be difficult for you. To avoid altitude sickness, we recommend spending 3-4 days in Cusco and acclimating before starting the hike.
Route
Route
Day 1. Cusco – KM.82 – Wayllabamba
Day 2. Wayllabamba – Warmi Wanusca – Pacaymayo
Day 3. Pacaymayo – Phuyupatamarka – Wiñay Wayna
Day 4. Wiñay Wayna – Machu Picchu – Cusco
HIGHLIGHT DESTINATION
Itinerary
Day 1. Cusco – KM.82 – Wayllabamba
We will pick you up at your hotel in Cusco at 5:30 am and drive to the village of Ollantaytambo. Here we will enjoy a nutritious breakfast (not included) and have the chance to buy some snacks before we finally start with our trekking adventure. We will head on to Piscacucho (KM 82) and start with our first 2-hour hike to Patallacta (2,750m/ 9,020ft), an Inca archaeological site with spectacular scenery, located in the lush and green Urubamba valley. After the visit of this fascinating place, we will continue to hike for 45 minutes to our lunch spot. Our cook will prepare a delicious meal for us and we will have some time to rest. We will then hike for 1.5 hours to our campsite Wayllabamba (3,000m/ 9,800ft), where you will have a well-deserved rest and an afternoon snack, followed by a tasty dinner before heading to bed.
Hiking Distance: 11 km/5 miles
Day 2. Wayllabamba – Warmi Wañusca – Pacaymayo
After a large breakfast and a hot cup of coca tea, we will hike for roughly 4 hours to the highest pass of the trek, the Dead Woman’s Pass (4,215m/ 13,829ft). On reaching the pass, we will stop for a short break to enjoy the fascinating views before setting off again to our 2,5 hours descent to the next valley of Pacaymayo (3,600m/ 11,800ft). We will have some tea and a freshly prepared dinner and spend the night at our campsite.
Hiking Distance: 10 km/7.5 miles
Day 3. Pacaymayo – Phuyupatamarka – Wiñay Wayna
Our team will wake you up early with a hot cup of coca tea. This day will be the longest and most challenging, which is why we have a nutricious breakfast to get ready for the day. We will continue our hike surrounded by jungle vegetation and a number of incredible archaeological Inca sites ahead. The first archaeological site we visit are the Runcurakay ruins (3,760m/ 12,300ft). Unlike other buildings of Inca origin, the Runkurakay ruins present the peculiarity of having circular enclosures among its structures, something unusual in the design of the Inca cities. After a short break, we hike for 1.5 hours to the archaeological site of Sayacmarka. These ruins are located on a rocky cliff road at 3,600 m altitude and look like a labyrinth of houses, squares with fountains in the middle, and narrow streets. We then reach our lunch point at Chaquicocha, where we have some time to relax. After 2.5 hours of hiking, we reach the next archaeological site of Puyupatamarca (3,600m/ 11,810ft), also known as the “The City Above the Clouds”. There are Inca ruins with five small stone baths, which during the wet season contain constant fresh running water. From there we start our 3-hours descent to our campsite Wiñayhuayna, where we will have tea and dinner. This will be a special meal as it will be the final one together with our team and we will say goodbye to our porters.
Hiking Distance: 15 km/10 miles
Day 4. Wiñay Wayna – Machu Picchu – Cusco
Today we will wake up at 3:30 am, have breakfast and descend to the control point. We will wait there for a bit more than one hour until the gates open. Once we have passed through the control point, we will hike 1.5 hours to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku), the ceremonial gateway into Machu Picchu. We will get our first glimpse of the majestic Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu. From there, we will descend for 40 minutes to the citadel of Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas“. This complex is considered a jewel of the Inca architecture. It is a complete town with different quarters, squares, alleys, buildings, astronomical observatories and terraces. The city was rediscovered on July 24, 1911 by the US researcher Hiram Bingham. Our local guide will share his knowledge about this sacred place and show us the whole complex. Later, you have enough free time to explore the archaeological site on your own.
For those who have previously selected to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain, you will do so at your designated time.*
In the afternoon, we will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes and have lunch at a local restaurant. We then take the train to Ollantaytambo, enjoying the beautiful landscape of the Sacred Valley during the train ride. Upon arrival at the train station, we will take you to your hotel in Cusco.
*Please ask in advance for availability. $65.00 per person for Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain
Hiking Distance: 6 km/3.7 miles
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Important info
-
ACCOMMODATION
- Comfortable tents with foam mattress.
MEALS
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary (3x Breakfast, 3x Lunch, 3x Snack, 3x Dinner).
- Professional cook and cooking equipment. Dining tent and kitchen tent for the cook to freshly prepare your meals.
- Our meals can be accommodated for any dietary requirements such as vegetarian or vegan. Please let us know in advance if you have certain preferences, so we can plan ahead.
- A hot cup of coca tea every morning.
- Boiled water provided for coffee and tea to accompany your meals at the campsites.
TRANSPORTATION
- Transport from your hotel in Cusco to the starting point at KM82.
- Train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo on day 4.
- Transportation from Ollantaytambo to Cusco (Plaza Recojigo).
LOCAL GUIDES & TEAM
- English/Spanish speaking professional guide, plus an assistant guide for groups over 12.
- Porters, who carry camping equipment, food and kitchen utensils.
- All our trekking guides have a minimum of 3 years of guiding experience and are certified. They carry a first aid kit with them, as well as an extra oxygen bottle in case of emergencies.
ADDITIONAL
- Briefing: You will have a meeting with your guide in our office to go over all the details regarding your tour. The orientation will be between 5:00-7:30 pm at our office in Cusco the day before departure.
- Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu and Inca trail included.
- MEALS
- Breakfast on the first day (you can either bring your own sandwhich, or have breakfast for 15.00 Soles in Ollantaytambo).
- Lunch and dinner on the last day.
- Mineral water (you can buy bottle of mineral water in Ollantaytambo and in the first Campsite)
EQUIPMENT
- Sleeping bags. Available for rent if you don’t have one with you ($20.00 per person).
- Trekking poles. Available for rent for $15.00 per person.
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES
- Entrance to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain. You can choose to add one of them to your trekking itinerary for $60.00 per person. Please let us know in advance, so we can check the availability.
- Shuttle bus down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes (optional available for $12.00 per person)
OTHER
- Tips for your guide, cook and porters.
- National or international flights.
- Travel Insurance.
- Other activities not mentioned in this itinerary.
- Original Passport and student cards if you are students.
- A Hiking/trekking Backpack (21 liters capacity).
- Hiking Poles with rubber tips. You can bring your own or rent it from AB Expeditions.
- Trekking Clothing: Hiking shoes, waterproof pants, waterproof shorts, two shirts, a light sweater, jacket for rain, and clothes to rest in at the hotel. On the other hand, it is quite comfortable and relaxing for the body to wear light clothes for the walk; for this, waterproof materials are very good, because they enable quick drying from sweat and rain.
- Night in Aguas Calientes: Please bring with you a clean set of clothes to wear after the trekking. Also, you can bring along swimwear and towels if you decide to visit the hot springs in Aguas Calientes.
- Personal Hygiene items: toothpaste. toothbrush, and wet wipes.
- Medicine: If you are taking any medications, please bring them with you. It is also recommended to bring some over the counter medicine for the altitude sickness (Coramina, Aspirina, Diamox, Sorojchi, Acetazolamide). It is also suggested to bring Anti Blister Gel to avoid getting blisters on your feet and being unable to continue on your trek.
- Digital Camera with an external memory (2-4 Gb) (Optional).
- Sunglasses with UV protection.
- Sun Block SPF 60 (UVA-UVB) waterproof and sport.
- Waterproof Insect Repellent lotion, not spray.
- Swiss Army Knife.
- Water bottle made of flexible plastic. This type of bottle is very easy to carry and does not take up a lot of space. At the same time, they help in our effort to protect the environment.
Book Online
From:
$670.00
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