Alternative Inca Trail 4D/3N

Alternative Inca Trail is a 4-day trek to Machu Picchu will take you on a hike across the Mountains nearby Cusco city, following an ancient Inca Trail that connects with the Sacred Valley, follows the Urubamba River, join the Last section of the Classic Inca Trail, and Arrive to Machu Picchu through the Sungate right before the sunset. Along the way, you’ll have an amazing view of Cusco from the Mounatin, visit local communities, hiking with Llamas and alpacas, visit beautiful archaeological sites such as Huchuy Qosqo, Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo, Wiñaywuayna, and Machu Picchu. This trail was used by the Last Inca King who moved his rebel army in 1536 from Cusco to the Last Capital of Incas (Vilcabamba) during the XVI century.

Highlights of the Alternative Inca Trail 

Explore the mountains around Cusco
Complimentary airport Pick up and drop off.
Follow the ancient Inca Trail from Cusco to Machu Picchu
Arrive hiking to the Sacred Valley from Cusco
Ride the panoramic trains on the way back (Vistadome or 360°)
Support social projects in the Andean Villages

Price per person: 670.USD Book Now

To Book a tour you only need to send a 200.USD deposit,  the remaining balance can be paid in Cusco with any credit card with no additional charges at all.

Discount: We offer a 30$ discount to all travelers under 17 years old and students with valid ID under 25 years old. The ID must have: Name of the university, name of the person, photo and expirations date no later than Dec 31st fo the year of travel.

Day by Day Summary of the Alternative Inca Trail

Day 1: Cusco – Tambomachay – Qenko (13 Km, 8 Hrs), Depart from your hotel at 5:30 AM, drive to Tambomachay, and start the 8-hour hike to Quenqo Village at 3800m (12467ft). Along the way, you’ll see mountains, grasslands, birds, and beautiful lakes. Spent the night in a tent.

Day 2 Qenko – Huchuy Qosco – Lamay –Ollantaytambo (8 km, 7 hrs), Wake up in your tent with a cup of coffee or tea and get ready for the second day of the hike to Huchuy Qosqo 3600m (1118127ft) a spectacular ancient city on top of the Sacred Valley, Along the way you pass streams, beautiful canyons. Spend the night in a hotel at Ollantaytambo.

Day 3: Ollantaytambo– Km104 – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes (15km 7hrs), After breakfast in the hotel you’ll take the first train to Km 104 to start the Inca trail, passing Chachabamba, Wiñaywayna, Sungate, and finally arriev to Machu Picchu late in the afternoon and have the unique opportunity to see almost empty this spectacular place. After Exploring the upper part and enjoy the sunset, you’ll take the bus down to Aguas Calientes, check-in in your hotel to spend the night. Dinner at Indio Feliz.

Day 4: Machu Picchu (Lost City Of The Incas), On the last day, you’ll have breakfast, take the first buses up to Machu Picchu, and explore the citadel with your tour guide, The guided tour starts with a visit to the Inca Bridge, terraces, urban areas, temples, palaces and a free time to explore by yourself before taking the Vistadome Panoramic train back to Cusco. Arrive at your hotel around 7.30 pm

Included during the Alternative Inca Trail

Safety briefing the day before the tour at 6:00 pm in our Office
Pick up from your hotel in the morning of the tour
All transportation during the duration of the trek
Duffle bag up to 7 kilos for your personal stuff to be carried by porters
Professional highly trained mountain tour guides
Experience happy chefs, porters
3 nights camping in the mountains with comfortable equipment
1 night 3-star hotel in Agua Calientes
All meals during the Trek with local organic ingredients except last lunch
Entrance ticket to Inca Trail and Machu Picchu
Bus down to Aguas Calientes from Machu Picchu
Panoramic Exclusive train on the last to come back to Cusco

Not Included in the Alternative Inca Trail

Sleeping bags, air mattress, or trekking poles
Last Day Lunch
Huayna Picchu or Montaña entrances
Tips for porters, chef, guides

All hikers need a warm sleeping bag for camping during the trek. We recommend a sleeping bag that keeps you warm during temperatures as low as -10C. Air mattresses and trekking poles are optional but recommended. If you don’t want to bring all these bulky items from home, you can rent them from us.

Optional hikes after Machu Picchu tour:

Huayna Picchu – Tickets must be booked in advance at $75 per person. Takes 2 hours round trip

Montaña Climb – Tickets must be booked in advance at $75 per person. Takes 3.5 hours round trip

DAY 1: CUSCO – TAMBOMACHAY – QENKO

Depart from your hotel at 5:30 AM and drive to Tambomachay just 20 minutes outside of Cusco. We will start slowly hiking up to the highest mountain passes with vast grasslands, birds, and beautiful lakes along the way. The hike is about for hours to lunch at Koriccocha Lake at 3700m (12130ft).

Once lunch is over we will start the second part of the day to Quenqo Village at 3800m (12467ft), along the way is possible to sport herds of Llamas an alpacas that they belong to the villager, Quenko is a small village with few hundred inhabitants who survive from the agriculture. Spent the night in a tent.

Distance: 10 km/8.1 miles
Duration: 6 hours
Meals: lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Difficulty: moderate

DAY 2 QENKO – HUCHUY QOSCO – LAMAY –OLLANTAYTAMBO

Enjoy the Local Village early in the morning with a cup of coffee while you enjoy the first rays of the sun, after breakfast, we will start a gradual up and down to Huchuy Qosqo 3600m (1118127ft) a spectacular ancient city on top of the Sacred Valley, Along the way you pass refreshing streams, beautiful canyons, and breathtaking views. After exploring the Inca Site, we will continue for 15. hours into the Sacred Valley, Our chef will be waiting with a special Lunch that local love, PACHAMANCA,

The last part of the will be traveling by van along the Sacred Valley until we arrive in Ollantaytambo where we will check-in in a hotel.

Distance: 8 km/5 miles
Duration of hike: 5 hours hike
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Casa Blanca or Similar
Difficulty: easy

DAY 3: OLLANTAYTAMBO– KM104 – MACHU PICCHU PUEBLO (AGUAS CALIENTES)

Wake up early in your hotel, breakfast and then take the train from Ollantaytambo to Km 104, to begin the Inca Trail. Once you pass the checkpoint you will start the final and most impressive stretch of the full Inca Trail. You will visit amazing Inca Sites, see a vast variety of flora and fauna, and finally arrive at Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate.

This trek allows you to visit the most impressive sites inside the Inca Trail and you will have the chance to arrive twice to Machu Picchu, if you plan properly the times, you can arrive after 4:00 pm to Machu Picchu and you will find the place almost empty since everybody start leaving the citadel early. After enjoying a full day in teh Inca trail and Machu Picchu, You will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes, check-in, dinner in a local restaurant and sleep early for the next day.

Highest altitude: 2700m / 8858ft
Distance: 15km, 7 hours
Meals: Lunch, snacks & dinner
Accommodation: Killa INN or similar
Difficulty: Moderate

DAY 4: MACHU PICCHU (LOST CITY OF THE INCAS)

The final day, you will wake up in your hotel and have an early breakfast and take the first buses up to Machu Picchu. If the weather is good you will be able to witness the sunrise over Machu Picchu, which is truly an unforgettable experience.  You will have the chance to go to the Inca Bridge or spend some time in the upper part of Machu Picchu before starting the tour.

The guided tour takes about 2 to 23 hours, where your tour guide will show you the best of Machu Picchu. Later you will have time to explore by yourself or either climb Huayna Picchu or Montaña, These tickets need to be booked in advance. After you are done with Machu Picchu, you will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes for lunch ( not included)  and then take the Panoramic train and bus back to Cusco. The TreXperience Team will meet you off the train and return you safely to your hotel.

Guided Tour: 2 – 3 hours
Meals: Breakfast (hotel)
Accommodation: not included
Difficulty: Easy

ABSOLUTE ESSENTIALS FOR THE TREK:

• Valid, original Passport (a copy will not be accepted)
• Valid, Student Card (if you booked as a student)
• Trekking boots (light, comfortable and broken in)
• A good quality daypack (light, small and comfortable)
• Water storage for at least 2 liters; either a camel bag or water bottle(s)

FOR YOUR DAYPACKS:

Below is a list of items that we highly recommend you keep with you at all times in your backpack. Remember you will be carrying this with you every day of the trek, so we recommend you bring a good quality daypack which is both light and comfortable. It is important to note that due to local regulations, your backpack should not exceed 25L. All larger backpacks cannot be taken into Machu Picchu and will need to be stored outside the gates.

• Hat and sunglasses
• Rain gear
• Warm layers (fleece / long-sleeved tops)
• Sun cream, bug spray
• Hand sanitizers
• Toilet paper
• Personal medication
• Band-aids, moleskin
• Camera, extra batteries
• Head Torch
• Additional snacks, power bars, chocolate
• Extra money for souvenirs, drinks & tips (small change is useful for paying to use the villagers’ toilets on the first day)

ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR YOUR DUFFEL BAGS:

During the trek will provide you with a duffel bag in which you can pack any items that you won’t need to keep with you during the day. Our porters will carry this bag for you throughout the trek. Please note this bag should weigh a maximum of 7 kg including the weight of your sleeping bag and air mattress (if you bring/rent one). When rented from us, these two items weigh approximately 3 kg. During the Inca Trek, you will travel through different temperatures as you climb/descend, it can also be cold at night when at the campsite. Therefore layers work best!

• Sleeping bag for Inca trail (can be rented from us)
• Air mattress for Inca trail (can be rented from us)
• Some light, comfortable shoes for the camp
• Warm jacket, hat, and gloves for Inca trail
• 2-3 t-shirts (wicking t-shirts are best)
• 1-2 hiking pants/trousers
• Four sets of undergarments
• Four sets of hiking socks
• 1 Fleece
• 1 Warm, down jacket for the coldest nights
• Quick-dry towel
• Soap
• Wet wipes
• Toothbrush and paste
• Face moisturizer
• Powerbank/battery charger
• Plastic bags to keep wet or muddy clothes separate