Day 1: Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Km 82 – Llactapata – Wayllabamba

You will be picked up from your Cusco hotel early in the morning in our private vehicle for the drive through the Sacred Valley of the Incas as far as the village of Ollantaytambo. Here it is possible to make any last minute purchases, and also to eat a good breakfast, if you wish. From Ollantaytambo, we will continue to the trailhead at Pisacucho (also known as Kilometer 82). On arrival at Kilometer 82, we will be asked to show our trekking permits, passports and (if you are paying a student rate) student cards. After crossing the Urubamba River, we begin our trek by hiking through a typical dry forest ecosystem. We will walk for around 3 hours (6 kilometers) to Llactapata, the first archaeological site on our journey. An easy hike of around four kilometers through farmland will take us to the village of Wayllabamba, where we will camp for the night.

Hiking distance: 12 kilometers / 8 miles

Minimum altitude: 2700 meters / 8990 feet

Maximum altitude: 3100 meters / 10,000 feet

Altitude at camp: 3100 meters / 10,000 feet

Approximate nighttime temperature: Around 10 Celsius

Day 2: Wayllabamba – Llulluchapampa – Dead Woman’s Pass – Pacaymayo

This is considered the most challenging day of the trek. We will wake early in order to get a good start. Leaving small villages and farmland behind, we will enter subtropical forest. We will stop for at Llulluchapampa, from where a steep ascent will take us up to the highest pass on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (Warmiwañuska / “Dead Woman’s Pass”, at 4200 meters / 13,779 feet). From the high pass, we will descend around 600 meters (1980 feet) over 3 kilometers (1.8 miles), passing through humid cloud forest as far as our next campsite at Pacaymayo.

Walking distance: 11 kilometers / 6.8 miles

Minimum altitude: 3100 meters / 10,000 feet

Maximum altitude: 4200 meters / 13,780 feet

Altitude at campsite: 3600 meters / 11,810 feet

Approximate nighttime temperature: Around 6 Celsius

Day 3: Pacaymayo – Sayakmarka – Phuyupatamarca – Wiñay Wayna

Today we will walk to the beautiful Inca site of Runkurakay, which originally served as one of the checkpoints on the royal Inca highway to Machu Picchu. From these ruins, we will continue to Sayakmarka, one of the most beautiful Inca sites on the entire Inca Trail. After stopping for lunch and to enjoy the surrounding scenery, we will trek through a beautiful landscape, entering a cloud forest filled with several species of orchids and hummingbirds. We will walk for another hour to the Inca site of Phuyupatamarca (“Town in the Clouds”), reaching the third highest point on the trail at 3680 meters (12,070 feet). From this section of the trail there are fine views of Mount Salkantay. From this pass we will hike for another three hours downhill into the forest, arriving at the spectacular Inca site known as Wiñay Wayna, where we will camp for the night. It is possible to have a hot shower at this campsite, and even buy a cold beer! The Inca ruins are situated a short walk from the campsite. The Quechua name of the ruins means “forever young”. This site is described by many hikers as the most beautiful archaeological site on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

Walking distance: 12 kilometers / 10.5 miles

Minimum altitude: 2,670 meters / 8760 feet

Maximum altitude: 3,900 meters / 12,800 feet

Altitude at campsite: 2,670 meters / 8760 feet

Approximate nighttime temperature: Around 12 Celsius

Day 4: WiñayWayna – Inti Punku – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes – Cusco

We will start our day early in order to arrive at the Sun Gate (2730 meters / 8792 feet) before sunrise. This early morning hike is the final part of the famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and from the Sun Gate you will have your first view of the city of Machu Picchu. After taking time to enjoy this spectacular sight, we will walk downhill along the final section of the trail to the spot where you can take the classic picture postcard photograph of this ancient city. We will take a walking tour of the ruins lasting approximately 2.5 hours, in the company of our expert guide, after which you will have time to explore this Inca city independently. Those who have the energy can opt to climb Huayna Picchu hill above the ruins (2720 meters / 8923 feet). It takes around 45 minutes to reach the top (a permit to climb Huayna Picchu must be obtained in advance, when booking your Inca Trail). Finally, we will meet up again with the rest of the group and go down by bus or on foot to the small town of Aguas Calientes, where we will have time to eat before boarding the train to Cusco.

Please note: The train included in all tours is the Expedition/Tourist Class service (to Ollantaytambo, from where we will take a bus to Cusco). Those wanting a more flexible train timetable can coordinate directly with us.

Walking distance: 8 kilometers / 5 miles

Minimum altitude: 2400 meters / 7870 feet

Maximum altitude: 2720 meters / 8920 feet

PLEASE NOTE: Government regulations mean that it is not possible for us to make your reservation for the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu without the full passport details of the client and full payment of the entrance fee to the Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary. Limits on the capacity of the Inca Trail mean that only 500 people a day are permitted to hike the trail. Therefore, in order to guarantee your place on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, you must provide us with a scanned copy of your passport and a non-refundable deposit. Your reservation will only be confirmed when we have your entrance ticket in our hands. If your passport number changes before you start the tour, you must relay this information to us or risk losing your booking. You must take your original passport with you on the trail.

Itinerary notes: Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (4 days)

The times mentioned in this itinerary are approximate. Walking times will depend on the progress of the group and the guide may change lunch spots and campsites, depending on the progress of the group. Each guide has their own preferred route which may not necessarily correspond exactly to the route described here.

Itineraries may be subject to change depending on time of booking and campsites provided by the Ministry of Culture (the institution responsible for managing the Inca Trail).

The above trekking itinerary is our preferred option for this route. However campsites used during the Inca Trail section of the trek are subject to change depending on availability of spaces allocated by the Ministry of Culture, which is responsible for managing the campsites used by the trekking companies authorized to operate within the Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary. This is particularly relevant for the last campsite, as Wiñay Wayna is the closest campsite to Machu Picchu (just 2 hours from the Sun Gate overlooking the ruins). There is not enough space at Wiñay Wayna for all Inca Trail groups, and the next campsite is Phuyupatamarca, which is a five hour walk from Machu Picchu.

If having Wiñay Wayna as your final night’s campsite is important to you, we strongly recommend that you book your Inca Trail tour as soon as possible. As a rough guide, of the 500 permits issued each day, the last 200 permits will be allocated to trekkers who will camp at Phuyupatamarca. Those booking at the last minute may find themselves camping at Phuyupatamarca.

Another option we recommend is an upgrade for your train to Vistadome/Executive Class. You can also opt to take the later Expedition/Tourist Class train back to Cusco (to maximize your time at Machu Picchu).

If you would like to spend an extra night in Aguas Calientes please let us know, so we can change the date of your train ticket to the following day. Hotels costs and costs associated with returning to Machu Picchu the following day will be considered in addition to the cost of the trek. Please also note that your entry ticket to Machu Picchu is valid for one day only. If you wish to visit the ruins on a second consecutive day you will need to purchase another ticket.