Classic Inca Trail 4 Days 3 Nights

About this tour

Places visited

Machu Picchu

Pickup point

Hotel in Cusco

Drop-off point

Hotel - Plaza de Armas

Departure time

4:00 a.m.

Return time

6:00 p.m.

Itinerary

1. Day 1 Cusco – Piscacucho – Salapunku – Llaqtapata – Huayllabamba

   Between 4:00 and 4:30 a.m., our private vehicle and agency staff will pick you up at your hotel for a smooth drive along a paved road to Piscacucho (2,700 m.a.s.l.), a community at kilometer 82 of the Cusco – Machu Picchu Pueblo railway and the starting point of the Inca Trail. We will begin our hike by crossing the bridge over the Urubamba River and walking along its left bank, as the river flows northwest through the Sacred Valley.

   We start by visiting the interpretation center in Piscacucho, then continue along the right bank of the Urubamba River for about 30 minutes to Salapunku. After visiting the site, we continue to kilometer 88, Qoriwayrachina, where we cross the river on a footbridge, and after a few minutes' walk we reach the impressive Inca city of Llaqtapata (2,650 m.a.s.l.).

   We then follow the valley carved by the Kusichaca River, climbing gradually for about four hours to the community of Huayllabamba (3,000 m.a.s.l.), where we set up our first camp. Along the way we will enjoy spectacular views of the Vilcanota mountain range across the Urubamba River, where the magnificent Mount Verónica rises to 5,832 meters above sea level, as well as the diverse wild flora and fauna found throughout the valley.

   • Total distance: 15 km
   • Estimated hiking time: 7–8 hours
   • Maximum altitude: 3,000 m.a.s.l.
   • Campsite altitude: 3,000 m.a.s.l.

   • Meals: Lunch, afternoon tea and dinner
   • Accommodation: Camping in Huayllabamba
2. Day 2 Huayllabamba – Warmiwañusca Pass – Pacaymayo

   This morning we wake up at 6:00 a.m. and, after breakfast, begin the hardest part of the hike: a steep, rugged 9 km climb. During the ascent the landscape changes from highlands to puna, a dry, high-altitude area with little vegetation. On the way to the first mountain pass, Warmiwañusca Pass, also known as Dead Woman's Pass (4,200 m.a.s.l.), we may see herds of domesticated llamas and alpacas grazing on ichu, a tall, tough wild grass and one of the few plants that grow abundantly at such altitudes.

   We will also cross an area of cloud forest, home to many kinds of birds, such as hummingbirds, and plants such as orchids, bromeliads and ferns, as well as to the Andean bear, also known as the spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus). Today we especially recommend filling your daypack with cereal bars, nuts and coca leaves, which will keep your energy up and help you cope with altitude sickness (soroche).

   Right after the pass, we descend into the Pacaymayo Valley (3,600 m.a.s.l.), where we camp after about 7 hours of hiking.

   • Total distance: 11 km
   • Estimated hiking time: 6–8 hours
   • Maximum altitude: 4,200 m.a.s.l.
   • Campsite altitude: 3,500 m.a.s.l.

   • Meals: Breakfast, snack, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner
   • Accommodation: Camping in Pacaymayo
3. Day 3 Pacaymayo – Runkurakay Pass – Sayacmarca – Phuyupatamarca – Wiñay Wayna

   Today will be the longest day, but also the most impressive and interesting of the hike, thanks to the number of archaeological sites and lush areas of cloud forest we will visit, so rich in history and in Andean flora and fauna. From Pacaymayo we climb to the second mountain pass, Runkurakay Pass (3,970 m.a.s.l.). Halfway up we stop to visit the Inca site of the same name, at 3,800 m.a.s.l., a small oval structure believed to have served as a watchtower.

   After crossing the pass, we descend towards Yanacocha (Black Lake) and enter the cloud forest to reach Sayacmarca (3,624 m.a.s.l.), a beautiful Inca complex with a semicircular building, enclosures on different levels, narrow streets, ceremonial fountains, courtyards and irrigation channels. An easy climb then takes us to the third mountain pass, Phuyupatamarca Pass (3,700 m.a.s.l.). Along this ascent we will appreciate the scale and genius of Inca engineering and stonework, walking on paths carved into the mountainside and seeing ravines filled with perfectly placed stones that allow the trail to cross the many levels of this rugged Andean terrain.

   Later we pass through an Inca tunnel to reach the pass and walk down to the Inca complex of the same name, one of the most complete and best-preserved sites on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. It sits on a mountaintop, as Phuyupatamarca means “high place above the clouds”. From there you can see a sophisticated sacred Inca complex of water fountains on solid foundations, as well as impressive views of the Urubamba River valley.

   We then continue down the stone steps to Wiñay Wayna (2,650 m.a.s.l.), a splendid Inca complex with an agricultural sector of numerous stepped terraces, a religious sector with temples and huacas (sacred altars dedicated to the worship of Inca deities), and an urban sector. Our camp will be nearby, next to a hikers' lodge with a bar and bathrooms with hot showers. After visiting this wonderful archaeological site, we will enjoy our farewell dinner with the whole team at the campsite.

   • Total distance: 16 km
   • Estimated hiking time: 7–8 hours
   • Maximum altitude: 3,900 m.a.s.l.
   • Campsite altitude: 2,650 m.a.s.l.

   • Meals: Breakfast, snack, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner
   • Accommodation: Camping in Wiñay Wayna
4. Day 4 Wiñay Wayna – Inti Punku – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes – Cusco

   On the fourth and final day of this amazing hike, we get up at 4:00 a.m. to leave Wiñay Wayna an hour later and climb to Inti Punku, “Sun Gate” in Quechua. The one-hour walk follows a path paved with flat flagstones along the edge of cliffs, through lush high-jungle scenery. From Inti Punku, a spectacular viewpoint, we will have the dazzling opportunity to watch a magical sunrise over the Sacred Inca City of Machu Picchu.

   We then descend towards Machu Picchu and, 40 minutes later, enter the Lost City of the Incas from its highest point, near the Guardhouse. From there we go down to the checkpoint, where we register and leave our backpacks, and immediately begin a full guided tour of the Inca city lasting about two hours. Afterwards you will have some free time to walk around the site or climb Huayna Picchu mountain, provided you have booked this activity well in advance, as access is limited to 400 tickets per day and there is an additional cost. The wonderful thing about this optional activity is that from the top you can enjoy spectacular views of the entire Inca city of Machu Picchu and the valleys and mountains around it.

   In the early afternoon we meet in the small pedestrian town of Aguas Calientes for lunch. If you wish, you can take a short walk and relax in the warm waters of the local hot springs, explore the town, try an exotic, refreshing drink or do some last-minute shopping. In the late afternoon we take the Expedition or Vistadome train to Ollantaytambo, where we board our private transport back to Cusco. We arrive in the former Inca capital after dark, and the day ends with the transfer to your hotel.

   • Total distance: 4 km
   • Estimated hiking time: 2 hours
   • Maximum altitude: 2,700 m.a.s.l.
   • Altitude at Machu Picchu: 2,400 m.a.s.l.

   Optional: Some travelers prefer to spend an extra night at a hotel in Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes) to enjoy the local hot springs and other optional activities, such as visiting the Machu Picchu Site Museum, climbing Putucusi Mountain or walking to the Mandor waterfalls.

   • Meals: Breakfast

What's included?

Prices

What to bring and tips

• Extra money
• Insect repellent
• Hat and sunglasses
• Camera
• Snacks
• Water