The Classic Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu is one of the most popular trekking routes in South America and is consistently ranked among the 10 best hikes in the world. During this 4 days adventure, you will encounter a perfect combination of history and natural beauty. Visit the ancient Inca archaeological sites and arrive before sunrise at the Sun Gate (Intipunku), from where you will have the first and most fantastic view of Machu Picchu, the legendary Lost City of the Incas.
Inca Trail with TreXperience is discovering a new hiking and camping experience where simplicity becomes an experience of a lifetime. Come and join our small group tours, like-minded trekkers from all over the world of different ages and genders. Perfect for solo travelers, couples, or a group of friends. During the Inca Trail, we provide: Food: Your trekking chef will prepare special meals every day, starting from the first breakfast until the last breakfast. We use fresh local products to provide the best of Peruvian food. Vegetarian, vegan, GF meals are available on request. Equipment: We provide kitchen tents, dining tents, toilets tents, tables, chairs, Eureka 4-man tents for every 2 travelers, and Eureka 2-man tents for solo travelers. We do not charge any single supplement. Transportation: We provide door-to-door service (from hotel to hotel), we will start the tour from your hotel at any location in Cusco or the Sacred Valley, and after the tour, we will transfer you back to your hotel as well. We are the only company that provides panoramic trains on the way back to relax and enjoy the fantastic views. Safety: All our staff has training in First Aid, Mountain rescue, Covid 19 protocols. We provide an oxygen tank, first aid kit, satellite phones. Porters: TreXperience porters have the proper equipment and fair wages; they are the most important staff in the Inca Trail, without them is not possible to arrive at Machu Picchu. Student Discount: Upgrade to a private Inca Trail Tour or a Private Luxury Inca Trail tour! Day 1: Training day! Day 2: The Challenge! Day 3: The easy day! Day 4: Discover Machu Picchu! Campsite locations might change depending on availability and final campsite assignment!
The Inca Trail trekking team will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco around 4:30 am (depending on your location); if you stay in the Sacred Valley like Urubamba or Ollantaytambo; the pick-up will be after 6:00 am. Then, drive for 3 hours to Km. 82 (Piscakucho) to start the Inca Trail 4 days and 3 nights to Machu Picchu. We will arrive at the trailhead at approximately 8.00 am – First, meet your team of chefs, porters, guides, and enjoy a delicious breakfast with amazing views of the Andes mountains. Next, We will continue to the control point to show our passports and begin the fantastic trip to the lost city of the Incas. After completing the checkpoint, we will start the Inca Trail TreXperience; the first part is a relatively easy 2-hour hike to Patallaqta, the first ancient site along the Inca Trail route. From a unique, secluded location, we will enjoy the breathtaking views of this ancient city surrounded by mountains and rivers. Then, it is another 2-hour hike to Hatunchaca village – located in the Inca Trek’s heart, where the team of porters and chefs will be waiting with a delicious lunch prepared with fresh local products. After enjoying the delicious lunch, you will continue the day for 2 more hours to the first campsite in Ayapata, arriving at approximately 5:00 pm. Your tent, a snack, and a hot drink will be waiting for you. You will then have some time to rest, prepare your bed, and enjoy the view of the mountains before tea time and dinner. Our team will wake you up bright and early in the morning with a hot cup of coffee or coca tea in your tent. Today will be the most challenging part of the 4-day hike to Machu Picchu, and after breakfast, it will be a 4-hour hike to Dead Woman’s Pass (4215m / 13829ft), the highest point along the Inca Trail Trek. At the summit, we will take time to enjoy a coca tea and appreciate the serenity of this location. At the same time, your guide completes a traditional offering ceremony to the Apus (local Gods). After enjoying the views, we will start a 2-hour downhill trek to Pacaymayu Valley, where we will enjoy a well-earned lunch. After lunch, the second mountain is an easier 2-hour climb to Runqurakay Pass (4000m / 13123ft). We will take time to explore 2 Inca sites along the way; Runqurakay and Sayacmarca. The second campsite is Chaquicocha (dry lake, 3600m / 11811 ft.), where you can admire a beautiful sunset over the Vilcabamba mountain range before dinner. This is the perfect place to stargaze with an unobstructed view of the constellations! With the hard part of the 4-day Inca Trail tour well and truly over, you can relax and enjoy the easiest and most exciting day of the Inca Trail. Today’s route is extremely varied, and it is only a 5-hour hike to the final campsite. Along the way, you will pass through several different ecosystems, experience the atmospheric cloud forest, and observe the magnificent panoramic view of Salkantay Mountain (the second-highest peak in Cusco). We will visit two Inca sites, Phuyupatamarka (City in the Clouds), with spectacular views of the Urubamba River, Machu Picchu Mountain, and Intipata (Terraces of the Sun). At Intipata, there will be time to rest and take in your magical surroundings. We will reach the campsite at approximately 1:00 pm to have lunch, and then you can then enjoy some free time to relax, unwind at the camp, chase llamas, or take a refreshing shower. Later in the afternoon, we will visit the Inca site of Wiñaywayna, where your guide will explain this fantastic location’s history. We will then return to the campsite for tea, dinner, and a special farewell surprise! On our final day of the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, we have to get up very early to prepare for the highlight of your TreXperience! visiting Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. We will go straight to the checkpoint and wait until it opens at 5:30 am. As the sky brightens, we will walk for one hour to the Sun Gate (Intipunku), taking in the stunning views along the way. You can watch the spectacular sunrise over Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate on a clear day, which is truly an unforgettable sight. We will start our one-hour final descent towards Machu Picchu, arriving at the last control point around 8:00 am. Your tour guide will take you on a 2-hour comprehensive tour of the city before leaving you in Machu Picchu to explore on your own or climb Huayna Picchu Mountain (tickets must be booked as far in advance as possible). Your guide also will explain how to take the bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes for lunch and then take the panoramic train (Vistadome or 360° train) and bus back to Cusco. TreXperience Team will meet you off the train and return you safely to your hotel in Cusco or the Sacred Valley. The approximate arrival time back to Cusco is around 7.30 to 8:00 pm.
What should I pack for the Inca Trail Hike to Machu Picchu? This is the most common question asked by the Inca trail hikers. When traveling to a new faraway destination like South America, you must prepare long before, especially when hiking places like Inca Trail or Salkantay trek. For your trip to Peru, you will bring one or two big pieces of luggage depending on how long you spend on your vacation. However, you will only take the necessary equipment for the 4-day Machu Picchu hike. You need to store the rest of your belongings in the Cusco hotel or at TreXperience storerooms. For the Inca Trail hike, you must reduce the stuff you will take to the minimum. We recommend 5 kilos on your daypack and 7 kilos on your duffle bag. Remember that you are responsible for carrying your daypack at all times, and you will need to have all the necessary equipment for the day. Our strong porters will take the 7 kilos duffle bag, and you can find them only at campsites but not during the day. 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 bringing a good quality daypack, light and comfortable. It is important to note that due to local regulations, your backpack should not exceed 25L. All larger bags can not be taken into Machu Picchu and will need to be stored outside the gates. TreXperience will provide you with a duffel bag to pack any items that you do not 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 your sleeping bag and air mattress (if you bring/rent one). These two items weigh approximately 3 kg together (2 kilos sleeping bag, 1-kilo air pad). 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!. Duffle bags will be provided at our office during the safety briefing held the day before; we can also deliver them to your hotel if you need to organize your belongings earlier.
Few places in the world can take your breath away like the Inca Trail. The Inca Empire built these spectacular ancient routes in the XV century as part of an extensive network of roads called Qhapac Ñan (Inca Trails) to maintain communication in such a large empire (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina). Cusco was the Inca capital; therefore, the empire’s most important city. The Inca Trails departed from Cusco towards the provinces; these roads stretched for over 40,000 Kilometers in all SouthAmerica. The Classic Inca Trail is a 26 miles/42Km stretch of a stone-paved road to Machu Picchu. During the XVI century, this portion of the gigantic Inca Routes got lost with Machu Picchu. It was recently rediscovered by Hiram Bingham III during his expeditions to Peru, searching for the Incas’ lost cities. The world-famous Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is located in the Urubamba Province, Cusco – Peru. The Classic Inca Trail connected Cusco with Machu Picchu during the Inca period. Over 4 days, you will be exploring ancient archeological complexes inside the Inca Trail until you arrive at Machu Picchu. The total distance of the Inca Trail is 26 miles or 43Km long. The Classic Inca Trail starts in Km 82, located in Piscacucho (2642 m or 8867 ft), Ollantaytambo district, Urubamba Province. The main checkpoint is located right side of the Urubamba River. Once you cross the river, you enter the Inca Trail protected area. The Shorter Version of the Inca Trail starts at Km 104, also called Chachabamba. This is the express Inca Trail of only 1 day, and the next day you will visit Machu Picchu. This question is often tough to answer, Inca Trail is Inca Trail, and you will be amazed even with sun, rain, wind, cold, or any weather you might encounter on your trip. You just need to have the proper equipment be always prepared for all types of weather. Inca Trail is located in the cloud forest, and this is famous for having the most unstable weather in Peru and perhaps the world. The Inca Trail was built by the Inca civilization somewhere during the XV century by the 9th Inca King Pachacuteq. This Inca Trail was used as a pilgrimage route to Machu Picchu during this civilization’s height. After the Inca Trail’s rediscovery in 1915, archaeologists explored the ancient route. They found many Incan temples, religious sites, and administrative areas such as Llaqtapata and Runcuracay Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamrca, Initipata, Wiñaywayna, and Intipunku. The vast number of Inca Sites, the very well preserved ancient Inca Trail, the secluded location of the area, the varied landscapes, the fantastic view, endemic flora, and fauna are a few of the reasons why the Inca Trail hike has become one of the most important hikes in South America. We recommend arriving at least 2 days before your trip departure. This way, you will have time to adapt to Cusco city’s altitude and prepare for the Inca Trail. The Inca Trail is closed during the entire month of February due to the heavy rains and maintenance. There are 3 ways to make the Inca Trail and arrive at Machu Picchu through the Sungate. This trek has other variations and extensions, like the Salkantay Inca Trail; however, it is always based on those mentioned above. Only authorized local, registered tour operators can book the Inca Trail permits in Cusco City. You can not secure the permits by yourself, and you are required to travel with a tour guide, chef, and porters. The Inca Trail permits are released during the first days of October for the following year. This October 2022, we will book the permits for all 2023 seasons. A few months might well out fast, like May, June, July, so it is essential to get manual confirmation that the tour operator has secured the permits. Another tricky question, and the answer is no! the Inca Trail is challenging but doable. You must be able to hike on uneven terrain for about 8 to 1o hours daily, sleep above 3000 meters, and be able to go up and down the stairs in the trail. If you are in average physical condition to handle this type of hike, you must practice regularly before coming to the Inca Trail, and you will have a wonderful time. There are so many different tour operators with reasonable prices when searching online, and it is always hard to decide which tour company you will be traveling with. It would be best if you considered the choice that fits best your interests: You can find better prices or options but always remember to verify what is included. Some tour operators do not include a personal porter bus from Machu Picchu. TreXperience provides a personal porter and all transportation from start to end with panoramic trains. Booking the Inca Trail is easy with TreXperience; click in any BOOK NOW button, select your departure date, fill-up the form with all details requested, including passport information, and finally submit the initial payment required to book the Inca Trail. Due to the permits’ strict booking policy for the Inca Trail administered by the Peruvian Goverment, all Inca Trail bookings must be confirmed manually. Any adventure trip you go on, there are always risks involved. Dangerous situations during the Inca Trail could be due to negligence or the force of nature. The best way to stay safe on the Inca Trail is to follow your tour guide’s instructions at all times. You can not enter the Inca Trail without hiring a registered tour company. You must hike the Inca Trail with a tour guide, chef, and porters.
Overview
Classic Inca Trail hike 4 days 3 nights – Group Tour
Trip details:
Highlights of the Inca Trail with TreXperience
Price per person 690.USD
To book the Classic Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu, you need to make an initial payment of 140.USD per person, the remaining balance can be paid online, in installments, or Cusco with any credit card or PayPal with no booking fees at all.
All travelers under 17 will have a $40 discount. If you are 25 years old or under when traveling, you can get the 40$ discount with your student ID. Please advise by email to give you a code for the discount.
Inca Trail 4 days 3 nights – day by day summary
Cusco – Km 82 – LLactapata – Ayapata (14km, 6hrs).- Depart from your hotel around 4:30 am and drive to Km 82 to start the Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu. The first campsite is located at 3300m (10826ft); we spend the night in comfortable tents.
Ayapata – Warmiwañuska – Chaquicocha (16km, 10 hrs).- The most challenging and longest day of the 4 days Machu Picchu Trek, passing two mountains in 10 hours of hiking: The first mountain is Dead Woman’s Pass, the highest point of the Inca Trail with 4215m (13829ft). The second mountain is Runqurakay Pass, with 4000m (13123ft).
Chaquiccocha – Phuyupatamarca – Wiñaywayna (10km, 6hrs). The most beautiful and relaxing day, hiking is only 6-hours passing through different ecological zones. Today, you will also visit several archaeological sites, including Wiñaywayna, located at 2600m (8530ft); we camp only 2 hours from Machu Picchu.
Wiñaywayna – Machu Picchu – Cusco (6km, 2 hrs), Wake up early and hike for 2 hours to Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate from where we will have a unique view of Machu Picchu. After exploring Machu Picchu, you will take the Panoramic trains and bus back to Cusco. Drop off back at your hotel around 7:30 pm.
Included:
Not Included:
Covid-19 measures to keep you safe during traveling
Why book with TreXperience
Full Itinerary
Full Itinerary of the 4 days Inca Trail Trek
Day 1: Cusco – Km 82 – Hatunchaca – Ayapata
Day 2: Ayapata – Dead Woman’s Pass – Chaquicocha
Day 3: Chaquicocha – Intipata – Wiñaywayna
Day 4: Discover Machu Picchu – Cusco
Packing List
4-Day Inca Trail hike Packing List
Absolute essentials for the Classic Inca Trail hike:
What to put in the daypacks:
What to put in the duffle bags:
FAQs
Inca Trail FAQs
What is the Inca Trail?
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Where do I have to book Inca Trail Permits?
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