Inka Trail to Machu Picchu - 5 Days

The five-day Inka Trail To Machu Picchu begins once we’ll pick you up from your hotel at 05:30 a.m and board our tourist bus to Pisqhakucho or (km 82); the bus journey will take 3:30 hours approximately with amazing views of the Sacred Valley of the Incas; two hours after, we will arrive to the village of Ollantaytambo where you can enjoy your breakfast and purchase some items for the trek; don’t forget some coca leaf for the altitude and leave your K’intu (offering) at the dead woman’s pass.

From Ollantaytambo, we’ll continue one hour along the Sacred Valley until Pisqhakucho or km 82. Once we arrive, we must check the permits and the entrance to the Inca Trail as well your passport. After we pass the control point, we’ll start trek steeply up for five minutes and then undulating trail for 3 hours until Patallacta (Up city) Inca ruins; this section of the Inca Trail runs through mountainous valley with the presence of different type of cactus and flowers; along the trail, we will pass small huts where local families live, we will see many farming lands of corn.

Patallacta was discovered by Mr. Hiram Bingham at 1915, here still exist great terracing system that was used during Inca times for growing maize; a prestige crop that needed irrigation in the dry highlands; here you will hear history from the Guide; then continue through the Cusichaca Valley for two hours until Hatunchaka (long bridge) where our lunch will be served. After lunch, we will continue 1:30 hour to wayllabamba (3,000 masl) camp

Meals: L-D

Accommodation: Camping

Maximum altitude: 3,000m

Minimum altitude: 2,750m

Distance of trekking: 11km

Approximate trekking time: 6 -7 hours.

We’ll leave the camp at 07:00 a.m before the sun warms up. The hike of today will be for 11km we will trek over Dead Woman’s Pass (4,200 masl).

From Wayllabamba, the trail continues through a dense vegetation of polylepis family trees where you can see birds and hummingbirds. In this part of the trail, you will be rewarded by stunning views of the high mountains forest, rivers and waterfalls. After 3 hours of hike from Wayllabamba, we will arrive to Lluchapampa (3,800 masl) where we will stop to have lunch and use toilets, after that we’ll continue 2:30 hours uphill through several steps most of them placed recently to protect the mountain from erosion.

From Lluchapampa to the pass, there are not tall trees because the altitude you will see mountain covered with straw. Ones we arrive to Dead woman’s Pass (4,200 masl) you will be rewarded by super views down several valley and up surrounded mountains covered with snow; after a good rest and after you finish with your pictures, we will descend for 3 hours by the restored Inca Trail until Pacaymayo camp (3,600 masl)

Meals: B-L-D

Accommodation: Camping

Maximum altitude: 4,200 masl

Minimum altitude: 3,600 masl

Distance of trekking: 11km

Approximate trekking time: 7-8 hours

After breakfast, we’ll leave the camp at 07:00 a.m and continuing the hike on the original Inca Trail still well preserved after 500 years. Today, we will hike 13km we will trek over the second pass (4,000 masl) and camp at Phuyupatamarka (3,600 masl).

From Pacaymayo camp, you could see the snow mountain of “La Veronica” (5,750 masl); the trail continues uphill through several Inca steps until the second pass; we will stop at the half way to visit Runkuraqhay Inca Ruins. From the pass, we’ll descend to the ruins of Sayacmarca (Inaccessible Town), an intricate labyrinth of houses, Squares and water channels, perched precariously on a rocky spur overlooking the Aobamba Valley.

The Inca Trail continues with spectacular structure of white granite paving stones, continue along the steep upper fringes of the cloud forest through a colourful riot of orchids, bromeliads, mosses and ferns. At the third pass, we’ll camp by pinnacles topped with Inca viewing platforms, overlooking the archaeological complex of Phuyupatamarca (Cloud-level Town) and the Vilcabamba Mountain range from which the Salkantay Mountain (6,271 masl) is the highest.

Meals: B-L-D

Accommodation: Camping

Maximum altitude: 4,000 masl

Minimum altitude: 3,600 masl

Distance of trekking: 13 km

Approximate trekking time: 6 – 7 hours

Today, we will hike 10km and most of the trail is down and will be warm day because the trail runs through the cloud forest. Be prepared to see subtropical insects and animals.

After breakfast, we’ll continue few minutes down to Phuyupatamarka (town over the clouds) Inca Temple; at this place, you will see water fountains still working after 500 years also you will see altars where the Incas placed offering of great beauty; your guide will explain you the history of this temple located on top of the rocky mountain and where the water springs is located. Then, we’ll continue approximately 3,200 steps down through the cloud forest where you can see a large quantity of birds and hummingbirds, as well flowers.

After 3 hours of hike, we will arrive to Wiñayhuayna (Young Forever) which was discovered by Archaeologist Julio C. Tello at 1942, we will explore it and learn about the construction techniques, then we will have lunch and in the afternoon, we’ll continue to trek to Intipunku or Sun gate from where we will enjoy the sunset over the stunning Machu Picchu. From here, we’ll continue descending 40 minutes down to Machu Picchu. Here is the best spot to contemplate in the total dimension the harmony that exist here, the footprints of a great civilization ruled by love, kindness and respect to the mother nature, the mixture of the nature and human work inspired and dedicated to our humankind creator. After that, we will take bus for 25 minutes down to the town of “Aguas Calientes” and have accommodation in the hotel.

Meals: B -L

Maximum altitude: 3,600 masl

Minimum altitude: 2,000 masl

Distance of trekking: 10km

Approximate trekking time: 6 -7 hours

We’ll get up early (04:30 a.m) and have your breakfast at 05:00 a.m be ready and take the early bus up to Machu Picchu to see the sunrise and for the guided tour in the most and remarkable Temples and areas of Machu Picchu. The tour will be for two hours approximately and after this you will have free time to explore by yourself.

Machu Picchu the “Lost City of the Incas” was discovered by Mr. Hiram Bingham at 1911 and now it’s the new wonder of the word, Machu Picchu was constructed at XV century during the time of Pachacutec Inka Emperor (IX-Inca’s Dynasty).

After you finish with your exploration of Machu Picchu, our joining point will be at the town of “Aguas Calientes” to enjoy the lunch and in the afternoon, we will take the train to Ollantaytambo train station from where you will transferred to your hotel in Cusco by bus.