Day 1: Cusco – Piskacucho- Wayllabamba – Llullucha pampa

This route was first examined by Hiram Bingham in 1911 and was opened for hikers in 1970. The legendary ruins of Machu Picchu are not the only historical remaining parts within the region, many other fascinating sites are in places that are only accessible on foot and have barely been explored. Early in the morning you will start out to Piskacuchu, an area situated on the 82nd km waymarker (51mile) of the Cusco (2,680 meters from sea level). After a briefing you will cross a bridge and walk together with the bank of the Urubamba River as it streams north-west with the Sacred Valley along a horizontal landscape, then turning right and moving up abruptly from the river. After passing through a small village, the relics of the Inca hillfort Huillca Raccay appear high above the mouth of the river Cusichaca (happy bridge). When the Incas conquered this area they constructed a fort here as the site commands a wonderful vista across the Urubamba Valley and guarded the entrance to the Cusichaca Valley. You will also visit the very large Llactapata. You will have lunch in Chamana and then carry on along the river observing various Incan agricultural stepped terraces and irrigation channels until reaching the attractive village of Wayllabamba. After that in the afternoon you reach the village of Llullucha Pampa, the location of your first campsite (3,850m). You will have dinner and a rest.

Day 02: Llullucha Pampa - Chaquicocha

Today is a challenging day. Early after breakfast you continue your climbing towards the highest point of the trail, Abra Warmiwañusca (Dead Woman’s pass) at 4,200 meters (13,779 feet), passing through the cloud forests of Yunkachimpa and Corral Punku, which offer superior vistas of the encircling frost-topped summits. From Warmiwañusca you go down to the Pacamayo Valley (3,300 mt) (10,826 feet), where you have a lunch break. You then continue your trek to the Inca ruins of Runkuracay where you will enjoy a guided tour. You then climb over and cross the second pass – Abra Runkuracay (3,860mt) (12,664 feet) and align with the Royal Inkas Highway down to the Inka ruins of Sayamarca passing Lake Yanacocha. Our second campsite is in Chaquicocha, where we will eat and rest.

Day 03: Chaquicocha - Wiñaywayna

After a delicious breakfast we continue on the route, going through delightful semi-tropical flora on the way to the archaeological site of Phuyupatamarca (3.600 mt) (11,811 feet). After a guided tour we have lunch there. We then commence a steep descent through cloud forest where we have the chance to see charming orchids and various types of birds in route to our campsite in Wiñaywayna (2, 700 mt) (8,858 feet). We then have a guided tour of the Wiñaywayna archaeological site. After we set up at our campsite and take our dinner.

Day 04: Wiñay Wayna - Machu Picchu - Cusco

We wake up early today and have our breakfast. We start our trek with a view of the Urubamba River to the Sun Gate or Intipunku to see the sun rising over Machu Picchu. We will enter to the citadel early for the best photo opportunities and then devote the rest of the morning discovering the ruins. When you’re finished with the guided tour you can descend to Aguas Calientes where you can have lunch or visit the hot springs or alternatively spend extra free time at Machu Picchu. Later, you take the train back to Cusco.

Includes:

• Transfer by private vehicle to the initial point of the Inca Trail at Km 82;
• Accommodation: camping (3 nights);
• Inca Trail Permit and entrance fee to Machu Picchu;
• Meals: 3x breakfast, 3x lunch, 3x dinner, 3x afternoon´s hot beverages );
• Experienced bilingual Tour Guide (a group up to 8 participants has 1 Tour Guide, a groups over 8 participants receives 2 Tour Guides);
• A professional Cook;
• Porters to carry food, camping, cooking equipment and and 5 kg of each passenger's stuff;
• Camping equipment: Eureka Personal double tents (4 person tent which allows for greater comfort, and also storage of backpacks);
• Thermarest mattress (inflatable mattress for more comfort to sleep in the trail)
• A sleeping bag (for up to -5°C);
• A pair hiking poles
• A blanket per person
• A pillow
• Day Pack Rain Covers;
• Water every day (excluding the first 4 hours of the trek when you need to bring your own);
• Tables and chairs, cooking tent with cooking equipment, dining and toilet tents and bottled gas;
• Rain Ponchos;
• Duffel bag (for your personal belongings);
• A T-shirt of the Classic Inca Trail Map;
• Tourist train (Expedition Class) from Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) to Ollantaytambo;
• A shuttle bus down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes Town;
• Tourist bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco;
• First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle.

Not included:

How to Book the Classic Inca Trail?

For the sake of maintaining the Inca Trail and its surroundings, the Peruvian authorities now limit the number of to 500 a day, including hikers, guides, porters and other support staff. Permits frequently sell out various months before and you have to reserve well in advance to obtain your place, especially if you want to go in high season between June and August.

We advise booking your permit at least four months in advance to prevent any letdowns. You can possibly find more economic flights in May, September and October, in the off season. Permit availability can change quickly and cannot be confirmed until it is reserved in the culture Ministry ( once passport details are recieved and the deposit has been paid). Once authorized it is not possible to make any changes to your Inca Trail permit.

You need to supply us with your passport details when you request your Classic Inca Trail. We cannot make a reservation without this. Your permit is connected to your name and passport number. If you change your passport after booking your Inca Trail permit or are planning on traveling with a different passport you need to also bring the passport you used to book your permit or you will not be allowed to hike the Inca Trail. It is very important to make sure that your passport is valid for 6 months.

Booking the Inca Trail & your deposit

When reserving your tour you will pay 50% of the total deposit. We will issue a confirmation invoice, which means your booking has been accepted and a contract exists.If we are unable to confirm a tour we will refund your deposit in full.

Inca Trail Closure

The Inca Trail is closed once a year (in Febuary) for maintainence and during this time we can offer you other tours. There are available optional tours where you can have a similar experience, which are usually not as difficult and follow the Urubamba River before ending as usual at the sungate at Machu Picchu.

Price Changes

Please note that all routes to Machu Picchu are subject to local regulations and prices for permits and transportation may change without notice. Although we will aim to deal with any changes ourselves, it may be inevitable to increase our prices accordingly even after you have booked or whilst on your tour.

What to take on the Inca Trail?

• Passport Original and copies
• Travel insurance(+ copies for a case of lost),
• Flight tickets,
• Cash in USD or credit cards,
• Our service voucher (sent by us to you),
• Entry visa and a proof of vaccination (if applicable),
• Day pack (to carry your personal items during daily travels),
• Rain gear (a rain-jacket and a waterproof trousers or a rain poncho - this can be purchased in Cusco),
• Resistible footwear, waterproof trekking shoes are recommended,
• Sandals (for a higher comfort while at a campsite),
• Warm clothes such as a jacket, a fleece (thermal clothing is also recommended for cold nights during camping),
• Hat or a cap (to protect you against the Sun, rain as well as cold),
• Sun cream or sun block,
• After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body,
• Insect repellent– recommended minimum is 20% DEET (please note that no malaria has been reported during this trip!),
• Camera and its charger/batteries (please note that batteries are consumed quickly under cold conditions),
• Flashlight/headlamp + batteries,
• Handkerchiefs and toilet paper,
• Small towel and toiletries,
• Sufficient reserve of underwear,
• Swimsuit (to visit the thermal baths of Aguas Calientes),
• Snacks (biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc.)
  Please note: we do provide a daily morning snack and our meal service is very complete and well supplied. The recommendation of taken own snack applies only for customers who like a specific snack that might not be in our menu.
• Bottled water for the first morning and a water bottle.
  Important: plastic bottles are not allowed on the Classic Inca Trail! Please bring a metallic (alternatively Nalgene) bottles!
• Optional: walking sticks (please note: rubber covers are required for the Inca Trail!!); you can also rent it from us,
• Please note: we provide with filtered boiled water during entire Inca Trail, but if you like to use water from streams along the trail, you need to take some water-purifying tablets with you.

Inca Trail Map

Inca Trail Alternative Treks

If you want to do the Inca Trail and it is fully booked or you have a too tight schedule, we can recommend some optional tours with beautiful landscapes.

Inca trail hiking tours offers you the best alternatives:

INCA TRAIL WITH CAMPING

2 days Inca trail with camping is one of the best options if you are looking for a short trip but do not want the classic night in a hotel. On this route we will find beautiful forests, cloud valleys, visiting several Inca archaeological sites that offer impressive views of the citadel of Machu Picchu.

2 days inca trail classic

Enjoy on the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. It is a tour of the real Inca road, its route is 10.5 km, you will visit three wonderful Inca archaeological sites such as Wiñaywayna, Chachabamba and Machu Picchu. In addition, enjoy the beauty of the landscape and the richness of biodiversity, you will also spend the night in a hotel in the town of Aguas Calientes.