Inca Trail to Machu Picchu - 4 Days

The four-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu begins once we pick you from your hotel at 05:00 a.m and travel in our private bus to Pisqhakucho or km 82 (the starting point of the trek). Our journey from Cusco to Pisqhakucho takes approximately 3 hours, with many beautiful views of the Sacred Valley, the Urubamba River, small towns, and the picturesque town of Ollantaytambo where we will meet our porters who will carry our belongings during the 26 mile-trek to Machu Picchu.

In Ollantaytambo, you can use the bathroom enjoy breakfast and purchase some items for the trek; then, we’ll continue one more hour by bus to Pisqhakucho. After we pass the control point, we’ll cross a suspension footbridge across the Urubamba River and start the Inca Trail with a gentle climb for 5 minutes, then we’ll have three hours on relatively level terrain as we follow the course of the river, rewarded with superb views of snow Mountain of “La Veronica” (5,750 masl).

We’ll arrive to the Inca ruins of Llactapata (up town). Which consist in urban Inca built surrounded by many Inca terraces and Inca aqueducts used for irrigation system; from here, we’ll continue through Cusichaca Valley until the community of Wayllabamba (the valley of the pasture 3,000 masl) here our lunch will be served and after a deserved rest, we’ll continue the climb to Ayapata camp (3,300 masl).

Meals included: L – D.

Accommodation: Double occupancy camping tent.

Maximum Altitude: 3,300 masl.

Minimum Altitude: 2,750 masl.

Distance Travelled: 13 kilometers.

Approximate walking time: 7 – 8 hours.

After breakfast, we’ll depart from the camp of Ayapata at 07:00 a.m. This is our longest day, but one can be rewarded with spectacular views: down several valleys and up to the surrounding snow-covered peaks. The path climbs for 1:30 hour to Llulluchapampa by a large number of steps, some of them newly laid to protect the mountain from erosion. You can walk at your own pace, stopping to catch your breath whenever you like.

Along the way, you can see several species of birds. With luck we’ll see hummingbirds, falcons and black-chested buzzard eagles. From this point, you can see the highest pass ahead; two more hours trekking by many steps brings us to Dead Woman’s Pass (4,200 masl), the first of two that we will cross today.

After we take a good rest, we’ll start steps down to the Paqhaymayo Valley here lunch will be served. In the afternoon we’ll continue to the second ascent toward the the Runcuracay Pass (4,000 masl). From the pass, in clear weather, you can look back to the Dead Woman’s Pass and forward to a breath-taking sweep of snow-capped peaks. From here, most of the trail is downhill to Chakiccocha camp (3,600 masl). The trek will last for 8 hours approximately.

Meals included: B – L – D.

Accommodation: Double occupancy camping tent.

Maximum Altitude: 4,200 masl.

Minimum Altitude: 3,300 masl.

Distance Travelled: 15 kilometers.

Approximate walking time: 8-9 hours

We’ll start the trek at 07:00 a.m; today the trek is short and wonderful. From Chakiccocha camp, the trek takes about 1 and 1/2 hour through an easy path to Phuyupatamarka (3,600 masl) the most impressive Inca ruins with stunning views; the name means town over the Clouds; This part of the Inca Trail is of well-kept paved stone, still in great condition after many centuries, from here, we’ll descend through the cloud forest with impressive views of the Urubamba river along which we will observe flowers and different varieties of orchids also great varieties of birds and hummingbirds.

The end of the day will be at Wiñayhuayna camp where we will explore exceptional Inca ruins which contains Inka houses, water baths, and terraces.

Meals included: B – L – D.

Accommodation: Double occupancy camping tent.

Maximum Altitude: 3,600 masl.

Minimum Altitude: 2,600 masl.

Distance Travelled: 10 kilometers.

Approximate walking time: 5-6 hours.

We’ll get up at 04:00 a.m and start the trek at 05:00 a.m. We’ll trek 1 hour and 1/2 until Inti Punku or Sun Gate to overlook Machu Picchu for the sunrise; then half-hour down to Machu Picchu and we’ll take the pictures before we start with the guided tour for about two hours across this stunning and historical Inca monument.

We will visit the principal remains and monuments, such as the Main Square, Temple of Three Windows, Intiwatana , The Quarter of the Mortars, The Temple of the Condor, the cemeteries and enclosures, sacred sources, urban and agricultural sector and others. Then, we will have free time to continue admiring this Inca site. Among the activities suggested for this day you can conquer Wayna Picchu Mountain and enjoy the landscape. After you finish with Machu Picchu, we’ll take the bus and head to the town of “Aguas Calientes” to enjoy the lunch. In the afternoon, we will take the train and return to Cusco.

Meals included: B

Maximum Altitude: 2,700 masl.

Minimum Altitude: 2,000 masl.

Distance Travelled: 5 kilometers.

Approximate walking time: 2 hours.