Inca Trail (4 days)
Classic trek on the Inca Trail. It combines landscapes with mountains, jungle, and a mixture of ruins, and paved trails of the Quechua people.
This is a high demand program, with limited spaces and availability for climbing the Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu mountains, having dates that run out of spots with months in advance. We recommend you planning your trip as far in advance as possible and consider other alternatives, like the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu.
Price
- Adult: US$ 720 per person.
- Child (age 8 to 17): US$ 690 per person.
*For extra US$ 20 you can have an individual tent.
Included
- Pick up at the hotel in Cusco.
- Drop off in downtown Cusco.
- Transport:
- Round-trip shared transport by vehicle between Cusco and Ollantaytambo.
- Shared transport via Expedition train from Aguas Cailientes to Ollantaytambo.
- Accommodations:
- 1st night in the Wayllabamba camping (shared double tent).
- 2nd night in the Pacaymayo camping (shared double tent).
- 3rd night in the Wiñay Wayna camping (or Puyuptamarca, according to availability shared double tent).
- Meals:
- Breakfast (except on day 1).
- Lunch (except on day 4).
- Dinner (except on day 4).
- Camping gear (tent and sleeping pad).
- Inca Trail permits with entrance ticket to Machu Picchu.
- Porters for camping equipment and meals.
- Guided visit (Spanish and English) in archaeological site of Machu Picchu.
- Bilingual guide (Spanish and English).
Not included
- Breakfast on day 1.
- Lunch nor dinner on day 4.
- Water.
- Sleeping bag (US$ 15 per person; you can rent it directly in the agency in Cusco).
- Trekking poles.
- Bathroom with shower.
- Health insurance.
- Tips (optional).
Optional services
- Train upgrade to the Vistadome category from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (return trip): US$ 80 per person.
- One-way bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes: US$ 12 per person.
- Extra porter for luggage: US$ 180 per person for 4 days; maximum 14 kg (31 lbs).
*Remember that if you do not hire a porter, you have to carry your sleeping bag and sleeping pad, along with the rest of your luggage.
How to book
- Select the departure date from the calendar.
- Select the number of people.
- Click on "Add to cart".
- Pay the full price of the tour online.
What you should bring
- A 40 to 60-liter backpack for the whole trek.
- Backpack rain cover.
- Sleeping bag.
- Trekking poles (recommended).
- Base layer (synthetic long underwear).
- Long and short sleeved t-shirts.
- Warm jacket.
- Waterproof clothes (pants and jacket, or rain poncho).
- Synthetic underwear.
- Towel.
- hiking shoes.
- Flip-flops.
- Hat and gloves to protect yourself from the cold.
- Cap for the sun.
- Sunglasses.
- Wet wipes.
- Personal toiletries.
- Toilet paper.
- Sunscreen.
- Insect repellent.
- Headlamp.
- External battery (most of the places of accommodation do not have electricity).
- Bottle with water (1 liter per person for the first day; you will be able to recharge you bottle during the trek).
- Snacks.
- At least S/. 200 for expenses not included in the trek.
Itinerary
Start: Day 1 at 4:30 am at your hotel in Cusco.
End: Day 4 around 8:00 pm in downtown Cusco.
Day 1: Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Wayllabamba (8-km hike (5 miles), 5 hours).
We will pick you up to take you from Cusco to Ollantaytambo. Here, we will have time for breakfast (not included), and to buy some last items before beginning the trek such as water and snacks that will help you maintain your energy during the hike. Next, we will go by vehicle to Km 82 in Piscacucho, where the first control will be done, and we will start the trek. After 2 hours of hiking, we will pass through the Patallacta archaeological site at an altitude of 2,750 meters (9,022 ft.). We will then eat lunch 45 minutes away from there. After having recovered a bit of energy, we will continue on the route for one and a half hours until reaching the first camp: Wayllabamba. Here we will have dinner and receive instructions from the guide for the next day, and then we will go to sleep.
Day 2: Wayllabamba – Warmiwañusca – Pacaymayo (12-km hike (7.5 miles), 8 hours).
After breakfast in the morning, we will begin the day's hike and walk for 45 minutes before reaching the second control: Wayllabamba. After this, we will trek up to reach Llullucha Pampa at an altitude of 3,800 meters (12,467 ft.). We will rest for a couple of minutes before getting back on the route towards the Warmiwañusca pass at 4,215 meters (13,829 ft.), the highest point of the trek. From here we will head off towards the Pacaymayo camp where we will have dinner and be able to rest for the next day.
Day 3: Pacaymayo – Wiñay Wayna Camp (16-km hike (10 miles), 12 hours).
Just like every other day, we will get an early start and marvel at the changing landscapes. We will feel the warm temperature of the jungle climate and also see types of vegetation we did not see in the first days of the trek. We will also pass through many archaeological sites, such as Runcurakay, at an altitude of 3,750 meters (12,303 ft.). There is also a pass with this same name at an altitude of 3,900 meters (12,795 ft.), as well as the Sayacmarka site. After this trek, we will have lunch in Chaquicocha and some time to rest because we will have to continue walking to the next site: Puyuptamarca at an altitude of 3,750 meters (12,303 ft.). From this last place, we will begin our descent to the Wiñay Wayna camp, where we will have dinner, receive the guide’s instructions for the next day, and then will be free to sleep.
Day 4: Wiñay Wayna – Machu Picchu – Cusco.
We will get up very early in the morning, at 3:30 am, to continue the descent to the last control point, where we will have to wait until the doors open to go on to the citadel. After this point, we will walk for one and a half hours until reaching the Inti Punku, the Sun Gate, where we can see the entire Machu Picchu citadel and Huayna Picchu in the background. Here we will stop for a few minutes to take pictures. Then, we will continue on to the citadel where we will have a 2-hour tour with our guide, who will give us more historical information about the different places found here. After this, we will go to Aguas Calientes, where we will have to be at the train station a half an hour before our train departure time to begin our return. We will first arrive at Ollantaytambo and then to downtown Cusco by vehicle, where the activity will end.
Cancellation policy
- If you cancel or reschedule this tour, you will not receive a full refund.
- If you cancel or reschedule more than 6 days in advance, you will only receive a refund of US$ 40 per person from the advance deposit made at the time of the booking.
- You can reschedule the tour date by paying an additional US$ 40 up to 6 days before the start.