Luxury Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4 days

Full Description of Inca Trail Luxury Tour 4 days 3 nights

Day 1: Cusco – Kilometer 82 – Wayllabamba

We will pick you up in Cusco after breakfast in your hotel and travel by van to Kilometer 82, the beginning of the Inca Trail. Here you’ll get ready to start the Inca Trail, Pass the checkpoint and begin hiking the iconic luxury hike to Machu Picchu for 4 days. The first part of the hike it’s a relatively easy 4-hour hike to the lunch place near the Inca Site of Llaqtapta. As part of our Luxury Inca Trail service, you’ll have an elite team of chefs preparing gourmet meals using local organic products; you will also have available cold drinks such as beer and sodas.

After lunch, you’ll continue hiking along the Cusichaca river for 2 more hours to the Village of Wayllabamba, located at 3000m/9842ft, where we spend the night in comfortable tents. You will have drinks available like wine, Pisco Sour, hot showers, massage therapists, and complete luxury camping equipment.

The Luxury Inca Trail tour pick-up can be from your hotel located in Cusco or the Sacred Valley. If possible, we recommend staying in a hotel in the Sacred Valley the day before the Inca Trail.

• Departure: 6:30 am (can be any hotel located in Cusco)
• Hiking distance: 12 kms/7.4 m (6 hours walking approx.)
• Expected arrival at the campsite: 4:30 pm
• Considered: Moderate.
• Meals included: lunch, snacks, tea time, and dinner.
• Available: Hot shower, massage therapists, and drinks

Day 2: Huayllabamba – Warmiwañusca – Pacaymayo

Wake up early with a cup of coffee or coca tea in your tent and get ready for the most challenging part of the Luxury Inca Trail Tour. Your chef will prepare breakfast with fresh products and a wide variety; the hike begins with a steep 4-hour climb through the dense cloud forest to Llulluchapampa 3762m/12338ft, where a delicious lunch will be waiting for you to reenergize for the ascent. During this first section, you will pass through different microclimates with enough time to admire the beautiful views of the mountains covered by native plants, including Polylepis or Q’ueuña trees.

After lunch, you will continue climbing to Warmiwañusca (Dead Woman’ Pass), the highest point of the Inca trail with 4215 masl/13828.7 ft. After some rest, you’ll continue for another 2-hours down to the second campsite at Pacaymayo Alto, located at 3600m /11482.9 ft. Upon arrival, your luxury tents will be ready, shower, massage, dinner, and sleep early to recover for the next day.

• Wake up time: 05:30 am
• Expected arrival time: 4:00 pm
• Hiking distance: 10 km/6.2 m (8 hours)
• Considered: Challenging
• Meals included: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, tea time, and dinner.
• Available: Hot shower, massage therapists, and drinks

Day 3: Pacaymayo – Runkuracay – Phuyupatamarca

On the third day, you will wake in a beautiful Valley with amazing views of the Andes, the Urubamba Valley, and waterfalls near the campsite. After breakfast, you will start with a 2-hour climb to Runkurakay pass at 3955m/129756ft, the second-highest mountain of the Inca Trail. Along the way, you’ll be able to see the circular ruins of Runkuracay, a small lake, and fantastic views of the mountains. Upon arrival at the pass, you take some time to explore the area and rest. It’s a 2-hour down to Sayacmarca Inca Site, a famous archeological site located in the cloud forest region; lunch is served in a nearby campsite to later continue for 2 more hours to the last camp Phuyupatamarca (“City in the clouds”) at 3600m/11811ft.

This las campsite is arguably the most beautiful on the whole Inca Trail Trek; you’ll be able to see Machu Picchu Mountain from a distance, enjoy the fantastic view of the highest snow-capped peaks such as the Salkantay Mountain, Pumasillo, and Veronica. After setting up all your stuff in your tent, you climb to the high areas waiting for the sunset; the views of the last mountains of the cloud forest are amazing.

• Wake-up time: 05:00 am
• Expected arrival: 3:00 pm
• Hiking distance: 13 kms/8 m(7 hours)
• Considered: Moderate.
• Meals included: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, tea time, and dinner.
• Available: Hot shower, massage therapists, and drinks

Day 4: Phuyupatamarca – Machu Picchu – Cusco

Wake up early with a fantastic view of the mountains, the cloud forest region, and wait for the sunrise while you enjoy a coffee. After enjoying the last breakfast with your trekking team, you’ll say goodbye to the incredible team of chefs, porters, the masseuse, and you will start going down more than 300o stairs built 500 years ago. Today’s hike is mostly downhill, visiting the ruins of Phuyupatamarca, Intipata, Wiñaywayna, and Sungate at exclusive times with almost no people.

You will arrive at the Sungate around 10:00 am; here, you will have the first glimpse of the legendary city of the Incas. From Sungate, you will continue for one more hour into Machu Picchu citadel, have lunch at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, and explore the citadel of Machu Picchu with fewer visitors in the afternoon.

Exploring Machu Picchu after lunch will allow seeing this fantastic place with fewer people and with amazing views. After finishing the tour, you will go down to the city of Aguas Calientes, take some time to explore, and later board the Exclusive Vistadome trains back to Cusco.

• Wake-up time: 04:00 am
• Expected arrival time to Machu Picchu citadel: 11:00 am
• Hiking distance: 11 kms/6.8 m (6 hours)
• Considered: Moderate.
• Meals included: Breakfast, snacks, lunch at Machu Picchu.

Packing List for the Luxury Inca Trail:

During the Luxury Inca Trail Trek, you will have a personal private porter to carry all your belongings for the 4-days trek; there is a weight limit of 20 kilograms (44 pounds). TreXperience will provide you with a duffel bag to put all your equipment for the Inca Trail hike.

In addition to the duffel bag provided by TreXperience, you also need to bring a small backpack with you during the day; you are responsible for carrying this backpack.

What to carry on your daypack?

Your backpack must be with you at all times and needs to comfortable and light. Your bag should not be larger than 25 liters to be allowed in Machu Picchu according to regulations.

Original Passport:

Original passports are required to enter the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu. The passport number must match the number you booked your tour; if you have changed or renewed the passport, you must send us a photo of both passports or travel with the 2 passports.

Hat and sunglasses:

Polyester, breathable, and a quick-drying sun hat are better—adjustable chin strap with an extended neck cover that can effectively protect the neck from sunburn.

Rain Gear, Rain Ponchos:

You should bring a waterproof and windproof jacket and pants. Weather in the Andes and especially the cloud forest region where the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu are located have unpredictable weather. TreXperience will provide you with a plastic poncho.

Warm clothes:

You need to bring warm clothes for the cold nights; a fleece jacket, windbreakers, beanie, gloves, and base layers.

Sunscreen, bug spray:

You need to bring water-resistant sunscreen and mosquito repellent for the Inca Trail, especially when hiking close to Machu Picchu, where the weather is wet, warm, and humid.

Hand sanitizer, toilet paper, wet wipes:

Have hand sanitizer and toilet paper always with you. Also, face moisturizer, band-aids, moleskin, personal medication.

Toothbrush and paste:

Have is Ziploc bag and remember that it must be light and small since you will be carrying this.

Camera, extra batteries:

We don’t have outlets or access to electricity; you must have power banks or extra batteries for your camera.

Flashlight or Headlamp:

We recommend good headlamps to have hands-free to walk around in the dark.

Camel bags or water container for at least 2 liters:

It would be best to have a bladder or water container for 2 liters; bigger than this might be too heavy.

Additional snacks, power bars, chocolate:

We provide snacks every day during the Luxury Machu Picchu tour. However, we recommend taking some snacks in your daypack every day.

Extra Money in small denominations (Soles)

The Luxury Inca Trail is all-inclusive except for the first breakfast, the last dinner when you come back to Cusco, or tips to the trekking staff.

What to put in the duffle bag:

TreXperience provides a personal porter for your staff; this way, you can go with a light backpack to enjoy more the Inca Trail (20kg. maximum); you can access the duffle bags only during meals and campsites.

Sleeping bag, liners, pillows:

TreXperience provides sleeping, inflatable mattress, linens, pillows, hot water bags for the coldest nights.

Walking shoes, sandals, or snickers:

Trekking boots are essential for this trek; they need to be rubber sole, waterproof, ankle covering, and use them before the trek; new boots can get you blisters.

Regular shoes or sandals are pérfect after the trek while you are at the campsite.

5-6 T-shirts:

We recommend 4 x short-sleeved shirts and 2 or 3 x long-sleeved shirts. They must be breathable, lightweight, and quick-drying.

2-3 pants for hiking:

Bring 2 or 3 hiking pants; you can also bring hiking shorts or convertible pants.

Five sets of undergarments.

Bring 4 or 5 sets of sports underwear; consider that some days might be raining, and you might use more than one set in a day if it gets wet.

Five sets of hiking socks:

Bring 4 or 5 sets of thick wool hiking shoes to use with your trekking boots, also bring some light socks to wear at the campsites.

Quick-dry towel:

TreXperience will provide you with a bathing robe and small towel for the campsites, and to enjoy showers, please bring a quick-dry small towel if you want.

Soap:

Soap is provided during our tours; you can bring your preferred ones if needed.

Battery Charger:

For 4 days with no electricity, you need to bring a good power bank to recharge your phone or cameras.

Plastic bag.

Any clothes you have in the duffle bag, put inside a plastic bag or something waterproof. Also, have with you a small plastic bag every day to collect trash.

Luxury Inca Trail FAQs

What is the difference between the Luxury Inca Trail and Classic Inca Trail?

The Inca Trail is only one route; the Classic Inca Trail and the Luxury Inca Trail follow the same trail, but the Campsite locations are different.

The Luxury Inca Trail will allow you to stay in an exclusive campsite along the Inca Trail with comfortable equipment and gourmet food. Also, during the Luxury Machu Picchu hike, all services are upgraded to luxury.

What is the equipment provided in the Luxury Inca Trek?

During the Luxury Inca Trek, you will have the following equipment:

• 4-man tents for single travelers and 6-man tents for 2 people
• Air bed with down-filled Sleeping bags
• Extra blankets, pillows, sheets.
• Portable showers with hot water are available every night
• Portable Toilets are available at every campsite and lunch place.
• Luxury dining tents, tables, chairs

We carry everything during the 4-day tour during the Inca Trail, including tents, airbeds, sleeping bags, portable showers, and portable toilets. It is possible to find toilets and cold water showers at specific campsites. However, we do not recommend them for the number of people using them every day.

How challenging is the Inca Trail?

The Inca Trail is one of the most epic hikes in the world. Also, it is one of the most challenging hikes to Machu Picchu. Hikers must be in moderate physical condition.

The Inca Trail is doable; all hikers must prepare or train before they come to hike at a high altitude.

What is the highest point on the Inca Trail?

The highest point of the Inca Trail is Dead Women’s Pass, also know as Warmiwañusca Pass, at 4215m / 13829ft. The second highest point is Runqurakay Pass, with 4000m (13123ft).

How many miles is the Luxury 4 day Inca Trail?

The Luxury Inca Trail 4 Days / 3 nights start in Km 82 – Piscacucho and ends in Machu Picchu. The total hiking distance is 46 km – 28 miles.