Itinerary
DAY 1: Cusco – Km 82 – Llullucha pampa
DAY 2: Llulluchapampa – Chaquicocha
DAY 3: Chaquicocha – Wiñay Wayna
DAY 4: Wiñay Wayna – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes
Day 5: Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes – Cusco
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco – Km82 – Llullucha Pampa
Early morning you are collected from your hotel and taken by our private transport to the starting point of the Inca Trail trek, Piscacucho, otherwise known as Km 82 (2,350 m). Once there you will have a briefing from your tour guide and after that you cross the checking point. You will trek along the Urubamba River, stopping by the Incan archaeological sites of Willca Raccay and Llactapata. You then carry on up the Cusichacha River Canyon which offers glorious views of the Cordillera Oriental, especially the Veronica Mountain (5, 850m). You have lunch in Chamana, and later continue on the trail along the Cusichaca River, aquainting ourselves with various Incan agricultural stepped terraces and irrigation channels until we reach the attractive village of Wayllabamba. From there you ascend, passing various eco-systems along the way. Later in the afternoon you get to the village of Llullucha Pampa, where your first campsite is (3,850 m). You then have dinner and a rest.
- Estimated trekking time: 7-8 hours
- Hiking distance: 17 km
- Max. elevation: 3,850m (12,630 ft)
- Min. elevation: 2,600 m (8,530 ft)
- Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
Day 2: Llulluchapampa (3,700 mt) (12,139 feet) –Chaquicocha (3,450 mt) (11,318 feet)
Today is a challenging day. Early after breakfast you continue your Machu Picchu Hiking Tour, climbing towards the highest point of the trail, Warmiwañusca Pass (Dead Woman’s pass) at 4,200 meters (13,779 feet), passing through the cloud forests of Yunkachimpa and Corral Punku, which offer superior views 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.
- Estimated trekking time: 7-8 hours
- Hiking distance: 12 km
- Max. elevation: 4,200 m (12,630 ft)
- Min. elevation: 3,500 m (11,480 ft)
- Difficulty: Challenging
Day 3: Chaquicocha (3,450 mt) (11,318 feet) – Wiñaywayna (2,644 mt) (8,674 feet)
After 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 served dinner.
- Estimated trekking time: 5-6 hours
- Hiking distance: 10 km
- Max. elevation: 3,670 m (12,040 ft)
- Min. elevation: 2,700 m (8,860 ft)
- Difficulty: Moderate
Day 4: Wiñay Wayna – Machupicchu – Cusco
We will get up very early, and leave Wiñay Wayna, then we will descend gently through the highland jungle to our target destination: Intipunku or the Sun Gate to Machu Picchu. We spend the rest of the morning exploring the Inca citadel on our own. For those interested, we meet up in Aguas Calientes, the town beneath Machu Picchu to have lunch together. You can take an unhurried walk down (from where you can take some beautiful panoramic shots; it takes about an hour) or a shuttle bus (about 20 minutes and costs USD10, not included in the Inca Trail package). After you can visit the local hot springs, it costs 15 soles, also not included in the package. You spend the night in a comfortable hotel, where you can enjoy a hot shower.
- Estimated trekking time: 3 hours
- Trekking distance: 4 km
- Max. elevation: 2,700 m (8,860 ft)
- Min. elevation: 2,400 m (7,875 ft)
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Day 5: Machu Picchu – Cusco
After an early breakfast we will take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu to enjoy the sunrise at this bewitching place. Arriving at the site we will explore the ruins with our well-informed guide and then you will also have time to amble around Machu Picchu on your own. We later descend to Aguas Calientes for the train back to Ollantaytambo from where we get a private bus to Cusco.
Included
- Pre-trek briefing with your Tour Guide;
- A duffel bag (for your clothes and equipments);
- Transfer by private vehicle to the initial point of the trail at Km 82;
- Accommodation: camping (3 nights), hostel (1 night);
- Inca Trail Permit and 2 entrance fees to Machu Picchu;
- Meals: 4x breakfast, 4x lunch, 4x dinner, 3x afternoon´s hot beverages (If you are a vegetarian, please tell us in advance. A vegetarian meal option is for NO extra cost!);
- Experienced bilingual Tour Guide (a group up to 10 participants has 1 Tour Guide, a groups over 10 participants receives 2 Tour Guides);
- A professional Cook;
- Porters to carry food, camping and cooking equipment;
- Camping equipment: Eureka personal double tents, sleeping foam matts, tables and chairs, cooking tent with cooking equipment, dining and toilet tents and bottled gas;
- A sleeping bag (for up to -5°C);
- Tourist train (Expedition Class) from Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) to Ollantaytambo;
- Tourist bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco.
Not Included
- Breakfast on the first day and last lunch in Aguas Calientes Town,
- A shuttle bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes Town ($9.50 one way, $18.50 - a round trip);
- Travel insurance;
- Entrance fee to Huayna Picchu mountain and Machu Picchu mountain
- Extra Porter to help you carrying up to 15 kg of your personal belonging (USD 130; the Extra Porter can be shared between 2 persons);
- Tips to local staff (please note: it is a custom to give tips in Peru, however, it is not obligatory);
- Other extras not mentioned.
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Meal budget: Please allow USD 20-50 for meals not included.
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Single room: Please note that if you have booked the "Single room" option for this trek, you also receive your own single tent.
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Local flights: No local flights are included in any of our Inca Trail packages
How to Book Machu Picchu and Inca Trail Tour?
For the sake of maintaining the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and its surroundings, the Peruvian authorities now limit the number of Inca Trail trekking permits 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 Inca Trail office ( 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. Your Passport for the Inca Trail Trek; You need to supply us with your passport details when you request your Inca Trail Trek. 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 Inca Trail 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 your 50% 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 alternative treks the Inca Trail available 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.
