Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4D/3N Group Service

The Classic Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu is famous for being one of the world's ten best hikes! Walk in the footsteps of the Inca as you discover astonishing ecological diversity and a wealth of archaeological treasures. The Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary covers 32,952 acres and is home to a network of Inca trails, scores of archaeological sites, 10 ecological zones (from glacial peaks to tropical forests), over 450 species of birds and 200 species of orchids, as well as the legendary citadel of Machu Picchu!

Day 1: Cusco – KM 82 – Hatunchaca – Wayllabamba – Ayapata

Today begins your adventure of a lifetime with the Classic Inca Trail! Your guide will pick you up from your Cusco hotel in our private van at 4:30 am. From there, we travel to Piskacucho, which is known as Kilometer 82, where the Classic Inca Trail begins. Along the way, we stop for breakfast in Ollantaytambo at about 6:30-7:00 am to load up on energy for our first big day. (Breakfast is not included)

Arriving at KM82 (8:30 am), we will have some time to organize ourselves, use the restrooms, apply sunscreen, insect repellent, etc. Here you need to give your duffel bag to the porters, keeping only a small daypack with the essentials you need during the hike. Check our packing list for more information. Once at the Inca Trail checkpoint, be ready to show your passports and your student ID card, if you booked as a student. Your guide will have all of your permits and tickets.

At the start of the trail (2,720m/8,923ft) you will cross the Vilcanota River and follow its scenic route. The first day is relatively easy, a warm-up along the rolling "Inca flat terrain." There you will enjoy great views of the Inca Fortress of Huillca Raccay, the vast and incredible Inca site of Llactapata, (also called Patallacta), the Urubamba mountain range that divides the jungle, the Andes Mountains, and the beautiful snow-capped peak of Veronica (5,860m/19,225ft), also known as W'akay Willca. You stop for your first gourmet lunch at Hatunchaca, after which you only have about three hours of walking to camp.

Our first campsite is about 2 hours past the small village of Wayllabamba (3,000m/9,842ft) located in the temperate green valley of the same name. Temperatures at night can be as low as 5ºC, depending on the season. It is generally colder in the dry season from May to September.

When you arrive at camp, your afternoon tea and appetizers will be ready for you. Enjoy a hot drink and settle into your tents, which will already be set up for you.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, snacks, afternoon tea and dinner
Accommodation: Camping facilities
Distance: 12kms/7.5mls (about 6 hours hiking)
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate

Day 2: Wayllabamba – Dead Woman's Pass – Pacaymayu – Ch'aqui Qqocha

Your guide will wake you up with a hot mug of tea or coffee at 5:30 am. Enjoy your hot drink in your sleeping bag before getting up for a delicious and hearty breakfast. With your daypacks as light as possible, you start a steep ascent towards the highest pass, Abra de Warmihuañusca, also known as Dead Woman's Pass at (4,200m/13,779ft). On this day, you will feel a real sense of achievement upon reaching the top! After a well-deserved break for photos, you begin the descent towards your lunch spot, which is located at Pacaymayu (3,550m/11,646ft).

On your way up towards the pass, you will see an array of hummingbirds and a variety of other species of birds. There will be plenty of time to appreciate the incredible variety of native plants and the Polylepis, or Q'ueuña trees, which grow in the astonishing cloud forest located at (3,650m/11,972ft)!

After a gourmet lunch, you begin the second two-hour steep climb towards Runkuraqay pass (4,000m/13,123ft). You arrive at your campsite by 5 pm, where your afternoon tea and appetizers are waiting for you. Temperatures at this campsite are around 4ºC during the night.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, snacks, afternoon tea and dinner
Accommodation: Camping facilities
Distance: 16kms/10mls (about 9 hours hiking)
Difficulty: Moderate/challenging

Day 3: Ch'aqui Qqocha – Phuyupatamarca – Wiñay Wayna

This is the most impressive day so far, so keep this in mind as you ascend! Your guide will wake you up at 6 am with another hot mug of tea or coffee in your tent before you get up for breakfast. You start the day with a gentle climb towards the archaeological site of Phuyupatamarca, which means "Village in the Clouds". Here, we reach the third highest point along the Inca trail (3,680m/12,073ft). The views of the mountains, canyons and surrounding areas are spectacular!

The extensive Inca site of Phuyupatamarca is located a few minutes' walk from the third pass. After visiting this site, you continue walking down 3,000 stairs through the cloud forest to the impressive Inca site of Intipata. As you descend from the mountains, you will feel the temperature rise. You are approaching not only Machu Picchu but also the beginning of the Amazon jungle! After taking some time to visit Intipata, you continue to your third campsite Wiñay Wayna (2,680m/8,792ft). Today, you will only walk about 4 to 5 hours. You will arrive at camp by lunchtime! Temperatures during the night are about 12º C.

A short walk from your campsite is the famous Inca site of Wiñay Wayna which means "Forever Young" in Quechua. It is named after a special orchid which grows abundantly in the area.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, snacks, afternoon tea and dinner
Accommodation: Camping facilities
Distance: 10kms/6.2mls (about 5 hours hiking)
Difficulty: Moderate

Day 4: Wiñay Wayna – Machu Picchu – Cusco

Wake up time is at 3:30 AM. We'll eat breakfast at 4:00 AM and wait at the checkpoint to be one of the first to start trekking when they open the gates at 5:30 AM. This is the final part of your journey, and you arrive by 6:00 am at the Sun Gate, also known as Inti Punku. At that point, the majestic Machu Picchu Citadel will be in front of you with its mystic beauty – an incredible sight for all to see. At the Sun Gate, you will watch sunlight spreading down over the citadel like melting gold, as the sun rises behind you.

After walking about 40 minutes, we enter the Citadel of Machu Picchu from the top through the "House of the Guardians" where you can take the famous postcard pictures of Machu Picchu. From there, we proceed towards the control point, where we register and leave any large backpacks or walking poles. You are only allowed to take small bags into Machu Picchu, such as camera bags. Walking poles are not allowed because they can damage the stones.

Your guide will give you the full guide tour and educate you about the history of the ruins which takes about two hours. You will see most of the important parts of Machu Picchu and learn about how Machu Picchu is divided into three sectors: agricultural, residential and religious.

Meals included: Breakfast
Distance: 6kms/3.7mls
Difficulty: Easy

Important Notes

The Huayna Picchu Mountain Hike depends on availability and let us know about it at booking time.
On the 4 day Inca Trail, we will be doing the Circuit #3 and there is no way to do another circuit unless you buy an additional entrance to Machu Picchu (US$57).
You can upgrade to the Vistadome Train for the same times, 2:55 or 3:20, 4:22, or 4:43 pm. The cost is $70 USD.
Early trains can be organized by request and it has to be done by booking time.

What is Included?

Briefing at our office the night before trek at 6:00 pm
Hotel pick up the first morning of the trek
Private transportation from Cusco to Piscacucho (in our company van)
Extra porter for your belongings (you will need only a day backpack during day)
4 season Eureka Timberline Tents
Comfortable foam mattresses and pillow
Professional English speaking guide experienced in trekking
Meals as indicated in the itinerary (optional: vegetarian or other dietary needs)
First-aid kit including emergency oxygen tank
Porters to carry tents, food and cooking equipment
Boiled water to fill your water bottles
Hot water for washing purposes
Expedition Tourist Train and private transportation back to Cusco
Permit to the Classic Inca Trail & entrance to Machu Picchu
Private toilet tent with normal toilet seat
Two hour guided tour in Machu Picchu
Bus ticket from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes
Dining and cooking tents with tables and chairs
Chef and cooking equipment

What is Not Included?

Huayna Picchu Mountain: $75 USD (needs advance booking)
Last lunch at Aguas Calientes
VISTADOME Train upgrade – $70 USD per person extra (Return only)
Tips for the crew, guide, cook and porters

Extras

Sleeping Bag: $20 USD per person per trek (clean and warm)
Air Mattress: $20 USD per person per trek (Therm-a-rest mattresses)
Walking Poles: $15 USD per pair per trek (Professional extendable poles)
Personal tent: $30 USD (Please request when booking)
Vistadome Train Upgrade: $67 USD per person (Return only)