Day 1: Cusco – KM 82 - Llactapata
Today begins with an early morning pick-up from your hotel at 06:00 a.m., and a bus journey to KM 82 which is the starting point of our walk. To help you settle in to the trek, we will slowly make our way along the banks of the Urubamba River where we’ll have great views of the snow-capped mountain, Veronica (5900m/19000ft) and we’ll come across a variety of native plants and birds. Before heading to our main destination and campsite, Llactapata (Patallacta), we’ll visit a small Inkan fortress called Vilca Raccay that is just off the main trail.
Llactapata (2650m/8692ft) receives fewer visitors as it is not on the main Inka Trail, but as we will be going at a more relaxed pace, we will be able to enjoy the peace and tranquility of this beautiful site.
Day 2: Llactapata - Llulluchapampa
Today is another relatively easy day. Most groups would be powering ahead along the Inka Trail and would be heading over Dead Woman’s Pass, the highest point on the trek and one of the hardest and longest climbs on the trail. Instead, we’re going to take things at a more leisurely pace and our goal for today is a campsite at 3800m/12460ft just before the pass, Llulluchapampa. This breaks up the hardest stretch so that we’ll complete it in two days, making the climb significantly easier.
On the way to Llulluchapampa, we’ll once again go off the beaten track to visit the least visited of all the sites on the Inka Trail, the Inka fort of Paucarcancha. As we climb up to Llulluchapampa, we’ll pass through various bio-zones including the low sierra, cloud forest and the high puna (high sierra). There are many opportunities to see a variety of plants and birdlife, and if we are lucky we may also spot a White-Tailed Deer.
Day 3: Llulluchapampa - Phuyupatamarca
Today is our longest day, with two high passes to cross. Luckily for us, we’ll be very close to the first pass and once we’ve reached the second, the walking becomes easier with the path flattening out. We will see some of the best views from the trail today, with snow-capped peaks, beautiful scenery and cloud forest all around us. We’ll also visit two Inka sites: Runcuraccay and Sayacmarca.
Our campsite for tonight is at Phuyupatamarca (3680m/12073ft) and from there we’ll get our first views of Machu Picchu mountain far in the distance (the site itself is hidden from view). The sunset views from this quiet campsite are fantastic.
Day 4: Phuyupatamarca - WiñayWayna - Machu Picchu
Today is all about the Inkas. We will visit 3 major sites: Phuyupatamarca, Intipata and WiñayWayna, before arriving to Machu Picchu itself later in the day. With only a short distance left to cover, you’ll have the opportunity to look around these sites in detail and learn more about Inkan culture and Machu Picchu in preparation for your visit tomorrow. The area around these sites is rich in wildlife, and with only a handful of people on this stretch of the trail at this time of day, it is the perfect opportunity to try and spot some of the more elusive species.
The final stretch of the Inka Trail is completely deserted this time of day, so our arrival to Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate or Inti Punku, will be perfectly timed. With good light and very few tourists around, we can get some great photos of the citadel from a distance before continuing down. After we arrive at Machu Picchu, we’ll head down to Puente Ruinas (the campsite near Aguas Calientes) to be greeted by our porters for our last night camping together. We’ve made it!
Day 5: Machu Picchu
Waking up early, we’ll take the first bus back up to Machu Picchu to enter the site as it opens. We’ll have a 2-hour guided tour of the site during which you’ll learn about the Inkas and visit all the most important areas of the citadel. After your tour you’ll have some free time to explore the site by yourself and if you have permits, to climb either Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain. In the afternoon you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo, and then the bus back to Cusco.
- Pick up from your hotel in Cusco
- Transfer to KM 82, starting point of the tour
- Spanish and English-speaking professional guide
- Assistant Tour Guide for groups
- Inka Trail pass and Machu Picchu entrance ticket
- Porters to carry all the equipmentfor the group and staff: tents, food, and cooking equipment, dining tent and chairs
- Permits and tickets for our porters and cooks
- 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 snacks and 4 dinners. All these meals are prepared by our cook and his/her assistant. We can accommodate special dietary requests e.g. vegetarian meals and allergies.
- Coca tea is served every morning in your tent
- Snacks each morning
- Water (excluding the first 4 hours of the trek when you need to bring your own)
- Hot drinks such as coca tea, black tea and coffee in the afternoon
- Two-person tent
- Sleeping mattress (you will need to carry this unless you hire a personal porter)
- Oxygen and first aid kit
- 2-hour guided tour of Machu Picchu
- Return bus ticket Aguas Calientes-Machu Picchu
- Personal porter: 6kgs
- Vistadome train ticket to return to Ollantaytambo, bus to Cusco and transfer to your hotel
- Sleeping bag (can be rented at our office)
- Breakfast on Day 1 and lunch and dinner on Day 5
- Entrance to Huayna Picchu Mountain
- Entrance to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes
- Travel Insurance – we strongly recommended that you purchase travel insurance for the duration of your trip
- Tips
- Original Passport and migration card
- ISIC card (isic.org) if applicable (must be submitted at the time of booking)
- Backpack and daypack
- Sleeping bag (can be rented from us)
- Hiking boots and sandals (very important)
- Rain gear: a good raincoat, rain pants and a plastic rain poncho
- Shirts and pants for the whole trek
- Coat, layers for varying temperatures, especially at night
- Thermal gloves, scarf, hat for cold nights
- Woolen socks
- Bathing suit for the hot springs
- Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses
- Insect repellent
- Personal medical kit and medication
- Toiletries and hand sanitizer
- Toilet paper
- Small towel
- Water bottle (recommended 1 liter)
- Trekking poles (can be rented from us)
- Headlamp with spare batteries (very important)
- Camera and extra batteries
- Extra money for drinks, souvenirs, tips etc (soles or dollars)
Departure dates: We have potential group trips for the Inka Trail every day of the year, except in February when the trail is closed for maintenance.
Note: You are able to visit Machu Picchu by train in February.
Availability: Only 500 people are allowed on the Inka Trail per day and this includes tourists, guides, porters and chefs. Therefore, to avoid disappointment, you should make your reservation months in advance. Also, please note, all agencies have the same number of spaces, so if one agency is not able to accommodate your dates, none of them will be able to.
- 2 people USD$ 1099.00 per person
- 3 people USD$ 1039.00 per person
- 4 people USD$ 979.00 per person
- 5 people USD$ 919.00 per person
- 6 people + USD$ 859.00 per person
- Student Discount: USD $30.00 (requires ISIC Card)
- Under 18’s Discount: USD $30.00
- Hiking Machu Picchu Mountain: USD $70.00
- Hiking Huayna Picchu Mountain: USD $70.00
- Sleeping Bag: USD $30.00
- Walking Poles (pair): USD $15.00