Four days on the Classic Inca Trail, with Dead Woman’s Pass behind you and the Sun Gate ahead. Then Machu Picchu with your guide, and three nights under the trees of the Amazon. This 11-day Peru tour links Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, the Classic Inca Trail, Machu Picchu and a rainforest lodge in Tambopata.
Permits, porters, chefs, hotels, trains, the lodge and local guides are handled by a 100% Peruvian team. You bring your boots and your passport; we carry the rest.
Tour Type Small Group Tour
Duration 11 days / 10 nights
Activities Cultural, Trekking, Camping, Nature
Average Group Size 8 to 12 people
Accommodation Hotel, Camping, Lodge
Tour Language English, Spanish
Destinations Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Inca Trail, Machu Picchu, Puerto MaldonadoPeru Highlights Trek 11 Days: Lima, Classic Inca Trail, Machu Picchu and Amazon - Overview
The Peru Highlights Trek 11 Days is for travelers who want the real thing: the full four-day Classic Inca Trail, with camps under the stars, cloud forest, and Inca sites that only hikers get to see, until the trail opens at the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu is below you. After the guided visit you fly to the Tambopata Amazon for three nights of canoes, canopy walkways and night walks. Lima and Cusco come first, with two days to adjust to the altitude before the trek.
TreXperience was founded by Juan Coronel, who started on this trail as a porter, then a trekking chef, then a guide. That is why the camps, the food and the pace are the way they are. Hotels are named, permits are booked in your name, and a local team meets you at every stage.
Tour Highlights:
- Lima in one afternoon: the Miraflores cliffs, the old center, the San Francisco catacombs and a pisco tasting.
- Cusco and the Sacred Valley: two days at altitude before the trek, with a night in Ollantaytambo.
- The Classic Inca Trail: 4 days, 46 km / 28.6 mi, Dead Woman’s Pass at 4,215 m / 13,829 ft and ruins you can only reach on foot.
- Camp done properly: 4-person tents for two, chefs cooking fresh meals, porters carrying the camp and a 7 kg / 15 lb duffel for you.
- Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate at first light, then the guided tour and the Vistadome train back.
- Three nights in the Amazon: Lake Sandoval by canoe, the Canopy Walkway, a night walk and a dusk canoe at Hacienda Concepción.
- One team from Lima to the jungle: permits, hotels, trains, lodge and transfers handled before you fly.
The Tour Day by Day
Day 1: Arrival in Lima - Afternoon City Tour
Airport pickup and a hotel in Miraflores. In the afternoon: Parque del Amor, Huaca Pucllana, Plaza San Martín, Plaza Mayor, the San Francisco catacombs and a pisco tasting.
Day 2: Flight to Cusco - Afternoon City Tour
Fly to Cusco. In the afternoon: the Plaza de Armas, the Twelve-Angled Stone, Qoricancha, Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay.
Day 3: Sacred Valley - Pisac, Moray and Maras - Night in Ollantaytambo
An alpaca and llama farm, the Taray viewpoint, Pisac and its market, lunch in Urubamba, Moray, the Maras Salt Mines and the night in Ollantaytambo, close to the trailhead.
Day 4: Inca Trail Day 1 - Km 82 - Patallacta - Ayapata
Passport check at Km 82, the first Inca terraces at Patallacta and a gentle warm-up day to the camp at Ayapata.
Day 5: Inca Trail Day 2 - Dead Woman’s Pass - Chaquicocha
The big one: up to Dead Woman’s Pass at 4,215 m / 13,829 ft, down to lunch, over Runkurakay and on to the camp at Chaquicocha.
Day 6: Inca Trail Day 3 - Phuyupatamarca - Wiñay Wayna
The most beautiful stretch: cloud forest, Phuyupatamarca, Intipata and an afternoon at Wiñay Wayna, with the last camp below it.
Day 7: Inca Trail Day 4 - Sun Gate - Machu Picchu - Cusco
Up before dawn, the Sun Gate, the guided tour of Machu Picchu, the bus down and the Vistadome train back to Cusco.
Day 8: Flight to Puerto Maldonado - Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica
Fly to the Amazon, boat along the Madre de Dios River, a first rainforest walk and a twilight river cruise.
Day 9: Lake Sandoval - Canopy Walkway - Rainforest by Night
Canoe on Lake Sandoval in the Tambopata National Reserve, the Canopy Walkway in the afternoon and a night walk after dark.
Day 10: Gamitana Creek - Hacienda Concepción - Canoe at Dusk
A farm and creek walk, lunch at the lodge, a boat upriver to the historic Hacienda Concepción and a quiet canoe trip. Excursions are chosen at the lodge.
Day 11: Amazon - Transfer to Puerto Maldonado Airport
A last rainforest morning, the boat back and your transfer to Puerto Maldonado airport, where the TreXperience service ends.
Included
- Pre-trip assistance and local support from Lima to the jungle
- Lima airport pickup (Day 1) and drop-off (Day 2)
- Cusco airport pickup (Day 2) and drop-off (Day 8)
- Lodge transfers by road and boat in Puerto Maldonado (Days 8 and 11)
- 1 night at Casa Andina Standard Miraflores, Lima, or similar
- 2 nights at San Agustín Internacional, Cusco, or similar
- 1 night at Cocatambo, Ollantaytambo, or similar
- 3 nights camping on the Inca Trail in 4-person tents shared by two, with sleeping pad and pillow
- 3 nights at Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica, with meals and excursions
- Breakfast every day from Day 2 to Day 11
- Lunch on Days 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 (if you arrive in time), 9 and 10
- Dinner on Days 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10, plus a welcome pisco cocktail at the lodge
- Fresh meals, snacks and tea time on the trail, cooked by our trekking chefs
- Lima City Tour with the San Francisco catacombs and a pisco tasting
- Cusco City Tour and Sacred Valley tour with all entrance tickets
- Classic Inca Trail permit and transport to Km 82
- Licensed trekking guide, first-aid kit, oxygen and satellite phone on the trail
- Porters for the camp equipment and a duffel bag for up to 7 kg / 15 lb of your belongings
- Kitchen tent, private portable toilets, drinking water from Day 5, rain poncho and hand towels
- Machu Picchu entrance and guided tour (Day 7)
- Bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes, Vistadome train to Ollantaytambo and private transfer to Cusco
- Guided Amazon excursions with Inkaterra Explorer Guides, subject to the lodge schedule
- Professional English-speaking guides on all tours
Not Included
- International flights
- Domestic flights: Lima to Cusco, Cusco to Puerto Maldonado and Puerto Maldonado onward
- Meals not listed: Day 1, lunch and dinner on Days 2 and 7, dinner on Day 3 and lunch on Day 11
- Sleeping bag, air mattress and trekking poles (available to rent)
- Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain tickets (US$75 each)
- Lodge extras: ENA Spa, sunset drinks on a canopy tower or the Tree House night
- Hotel and room upgrades
- Travel insurance (highly recommended)
- Personal expenses and tips for guides, porters and chefs
Machu Picchu Tickets and Circuits
On Day 7 you enter Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate with your Inca Trail permit, walk down to the classic viewpoint and then take the guided tour on the circuit assigned to Inca Trail hikers for your date. We plan around the best option available when your booking is confirmed. See our Machu Picchu circuits guide or the official circuits and routes.
Extra Hikes at Machu Picchu
- Huayna Picchu Mountain - US$75 per person, about 2 hours round trip, on Day 7 after the tour.
- Machu Picchu Mountain - US$75 per person, about 3 hours round trip, on Day 7 after the tour.
One mountain only. Separate ticket, booked in advance, and the time slot must fit the Inca Trail schedule and your train.
Optional Upgrades
Private service: your own guide, chef and porters on the Inca Trail and your own guide and vehicle for selected parts of the itinerary; we confirm which services are private when you book. Trains, the Machu Picchu buses and the lodge excursions are shared services.
Also on request: a rest night in Cusco after the trek, 4-star or 5-star hotels, a Tree House night or the ENA Spa at the lodge, and extensions to Rainbow Mountain, Lake Titicaca or the Colca Canyon.
Full Itinerary of the Peru Highlights Trek 11 Days
Eleven days in three worlds: the coast, four days on foot in the Andes, and the Amazon. Here is each day with times, meals, camps and hotels.
Day 1: Arrival in Lima - Afternoon City Tour
Welcome to Peru. We meet you at Lima airport and take you to Casa Andina Standard in Miraflores, or similar. Lunch is on your own; rest before the afternoon.
Around 2:00 p.m., your guide picks you up: Parque del Amor on the Miraflores cliffs, a view of the Huaca Pucllana pyramid, then the old center with Plaza San Martín, Plaza Mayor and the San Francisco convent and catacombs, with a pisco tasting along the way. Back at your hotel around 6:00 p.m.
- Meals: not included
- Tour: half day, about 2:00 to 6:00 p.m.
- Hotel: Casa Andina Standard, Lima, or similar 3-star hotel
- Difficulty: easy
Tips: Arrive in Lima in the morning to join the tour; early check-in is not included unless you ask for it in advance. More in our Lima travel guide.
Day 2: Flight to Cusco - Afternoon City Tour
After breakfast, transfer to Lima airport for the flight to Cusco, about 1 hour 20 minutes (not included). Our Cusco team meets you and takes you to San Agustín Internacional, or similar, near the historic center. Cusco sits at 3,400 m / 11,155 ft, and these next two days are your acclimatization before the trek: rest, drink water and eat light.
Around 1:00 p.m., your guide picks you up. On foot: the Plaza de Armas, the Twelve-Angled Stone and Qoricancha, the Temple of the Sun. Then by vehicle: Sacsayhuaman and its zigzag walls, Qenqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay, with a stop at Cristo Blanco when time allows.
- Meals: breakfast at the hotel
- Tour: half day
- Hotel: San Agustín Internacional, Cusco, or similar 3-star hotel
- Maximum altitude: about 3,700 m / 12,139 ft
- Difficulty: easy, with walking and stairs at altitude
Tips: Walk slowly, skip alcohol today and tell your guide if you feel unwell. See our guide to altitude in Cusco.
Day 3: Sacred Valley - Pisac, Moray and Maras - Night in Ollantaytambo
Pickup at 7:00 a.m. for a full day in the Sacred Valley. First an alpaca and llama farm, then the Taray viewpoint and Pisac: terraces and temples above the town, and time in its colorful market.
After lunch in Urubamba, the circular terraces of Moray and the Maras Salt Mines, still worked by local families. The day ends in Ollantaytambo, a living Inca town only a short drive from the trailhead, so tomorrow starts later and better rested.
- Meals: breakfast and lunch
- Tour: full day
- Hotel: Cocatambo, Ollantaytambo, or similar
- Difficulty: easy
Tips: Pack your 7 kg / 15 lb trek duffel and a small daypack; your main suitcase stays at your Cusco hotel or in our free storage until Day 7. Your trekking guide gives the briefing and hands out the duffel bags the evening before the trek [TO CONFIRM: Cusco on Day 2 or Ollantaytambo on Day 3]. More in our Sacred Valley guide.
Day 4: Inca Trail Day 1 - Km 82 - Patallacta - Ayapata
Breakfast at the hotel and pickup around 6:30 a.m. for the short drive to Km 82, where the Classic Inca Trail begins. Passport and permit check, a photo at the sign, and you are walking beside the Urubamba River with the snow peak of Verónica above you.
The first morning is gentle. From a ridge you look down on Patallacta, the first big Inca site of the trail, then climb slowly to lunch at Hatunchaca, cooked by our chefs while you rest. The afternoon follows the Cusichaca stream up to the camp at Ayapata, where the porters have the tents up and tea ready when you arrive, around 5:00 p.m.
- Meals: breakfast at the hotel, lunch, tea time and dinner at camp
- Hike: 14 km / 8.7 mi, about 6 hours
- Camp: Ayapata, 3,300 m / 10,826 ft
- Difficulty: moderate
Tips: Original passport, the same one used for your permit. Walk at an easy pace today; tomorrow is the one that counts. Read our Classic Inca Trail page for the full trek details.
Day 5: Inca Trail Day 2 - Dead Woman’s Pass - Chaquicocha
The hardest and proudest day. After an early breakfast, about four hours of steady climbing through cloud forest and open puna to Dead Woman’s Pass, Warmiwañusca, at 4,215 m / 13,829 ft, the highest point of the whole trip. Your guide sets the rhythm: short steps, regular breaks, no rush. At the top, the wind, the view back down the valley and the feeling of having done it.
A long descent to lunch in the Pacaymayo valley, then a second climb past the round watchtower of Runkurakay to its pass at 4,000 m / 13,123 ft, and down to the camp at Chaquicocha. Dinner, stars like you have never seen them, and sleep.
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, tea time and dinner at camp
- Hike: 16 km / 10 mi, about 10 hours
- Highest point: Dead Woman’s Pass, 4,215 m / 13,829 ft
- Camp: Chaquicocha, 3,600 m / 11,811 ft
- Difficulty: challenging
Tips: Layers for the cold start and the wind at the pass, sunscreen, 2 liters of water, snacks and poles with rubber tips. Coca leaves help; so does talking less and breathing more.
Day 6: Inca Trail Day 3 - Phuyupatamarca - Wiñay Wayna
The day most hikers remember best. A short climb to Phuyupatamarca, the town above the clouds, with its stone baths and a view that sometimes reaches the back of Machu Picchu mountain, then a long descent on original Inca stairs through cloud forest, orchids and hummingbirds, with the terraces of Intipata hanging over the valley.
You reach the last camp around 1:00 p.m. for lunch, and the afternoon is yours for Wiñay Wayna, Forever Young, a curve of terraces, temples and fountains five minutes from the tents. Tonight the chefs serve the farewell dinner and the team is introduced by name; tipping is optional and always your choice.
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, tea time and dinner at camp
- Hike: 10 km / 6.2 mi, about 5 to 6 hours
- Camp: Wiñay Wayna, 2,600 m / 8,530 ft
- Difficulty: moderate, with long descents on stone steps
Tips: Poles save your knees today. Pack your duffel tonight and keep only your daypack, passport and camera for the morning.
Day 7: Inca Trail Day 4 - Sun Gate - Machu Picchu - Cusco
Wake-up before dawn, a quick breakfast and the walk to the checkpoint, which opens at 5:30 a.m. About an hour along the mountainside, a last flight of steep steps, and the trail opens at the Sun Gate: Machu Picchu below you, the first light on its terraces, and nobody rushing you.
Another hour down to the classic viewpoint, then the guided tour of the citadel on the circuit assigned to Inca Trail hikers: terraces, temples, plazas and sacred spaces. Bus down to Aguas Calientes, lunch on your own, then the Vistadome train to Ollantaytambo and a private transfer to your Cusco hotel, arriving around 7:30 p.m.
- Meals: breakfast at camp
- Hike: 6 km / 3.7 mi, about 2 to 3 hours, plus the guided tour
- Altitude: Machu Picchu, 2,430 m / 7,972 ft
- Return: bus, Vistadome train and private transfer to Cusco
- Hotel: San Agustín Internacional, Cusco, or similar 3-star hotel
- Difficulty: moderate
Tips: Passport and a small daypack; no large bags, drones, tripods or food inside. See our Machu Picchu rules guide. Tonight, a hot shower, and repack for the jungle.
Day 8: Flight to Puerto Maldonado - Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica
After breakfast, transfer to Cusco airport for the flight to Puerto Maldonado (not included; buy it once we confirm the schedule). The lodge team meets you and, after a 45-minute boat ride down the Madre de Dios River, you arrive at Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica, from 2,430 m to about 200 m in one morning.
A short briefing, lunch if you arrive in time, and your cabana. In the afternoon, a first walk on the Trail System with your Explorer Guide, then a Twilight River cruise to look for nightjars, capybaras and caimans. Dinner at the lodge with a welcome pisco cocktail; your legs will thank you for the hammock.
- Meals: breakfast at the hotel, lunch depending on arrival time, and dinner at the lodge
- Not included: flight from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado
- Lodge: Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica
- Difficulty: easy
Tips: Long sleeves, repellent, a headlamp, a rain poncho and a dry bag for your phone. Ask your doctor about the yellow fever vaccine well before you travel.
Day 9: Lake Sandoval - Canopy Walkway - Rainforest by Night
After breakfast, a shaded trail and a wooden canoe take you onto Lake Sandoval, inside the Tambopata National Reserve. Giant river otters, howler monkeys, macaws, turtles and black caimans live here; sightings are never guaranteed, but your guide knows where to look.
Lunch at the lodge, then the Canopy Walkway: eight platforms linked by suspension bridges, the first tower 42 m / 138 ft up, with toucans, monkeys and sloths in the treetops. After dark, the Rainforest by Night walk. Dinner at the lodge.
- Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner at the lodge
- Tour: full day
- Lodge: Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica
- Difficulty: easy to moderate, with a forest walk and a canoe
Tips: Binoculars make this day. Closed shoes, repellent before each walk and a dry bag for your camera on the canoe.
Day 10: Gamitana Creek - Hacienda Concepción - Canoe at Dusk
After breakfast, a short boat ride to the Gamitana farm to taste forest fruits in season, then a trail to Gamitana Creek, home to piranhas, caimans and turtles. Lunch at the lodge.
In the afternoon, a boat upriver to Hacienda Concepción, a former cocoa and rubber plantation, and a quiet canoe trip at dusk. Last dinner at the lodge. The three-day program is a suggested itinerary: excursions are chosen at the lodge and may change with weather, river conditions and wildlife.
- Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner at the lodge
- Tour: full day
- Lodge: Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica
- Difficulty: easy
Tips: Pack tonight and check your flight time. Tips for the lodge staff and guides are optional and always your choice.
Day 11: Amazon - Transfer to Puerto Maldonado Airport
Breakfast and a last morning of birdsong. Check-out is at 10:00 a.m., then the 45-minute boat back and your transfer to Puerto Maldonado airport, where the TreXperience service ends. Lunch at the lodge can be arranged at extra cost; the onward flight is not included.
- Meals: breakfast at the lodge
- Not included: lunch and the flight from Puerto Maldonado
- Tour ends: Puerto Maldonado airport
Want a slower pace? Add a rest night in Cusco after the trek, or Rainbow Mountain, Lake Titicaca or the Colca Canyon before the jungle. Write to us and we suggest the best order for your dates.
Peru Highlights Trek 11 Days Price and Booking
Prices are per person in US dollars. They include all hotels and the lodge, the Classic Inca Trail permit, guide, chefs, porters and camp equipment, the Machu Picchu entrance and guided tour, the Vistadome train, all listed tours and tickets, local guides and ground transport. Flights are not included.
Small-Group Tour Price
| Traveler Type | Price Per Person |
|---|---|
| Adults | US$[TO CONFIRM] |
| Students under 25 with a valid university ID | US$[TO CONFIRM] |
| Children under 17 | US$[TO CONFIRM] |
Private Tour Price
Your own guide, chef and porters on the Inca Trail, and your own guide and vehicle for the city and valley days. Prices depend on group size and availability.
| Number of Travelers | Adults (Per Person) | Students and Children (Per Person) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 traveler | US$[TO CONFIRM] | US$[TO CONFIRM] |
| 2 travelers | US$[TO CONFIRM] | US$[TO CONFIRM] |
| 3 travelers | US$[TO CONFIRM] | US$[TO CONFIRM] |
| 4 travelers | US$[TO CONFIRM] | US$[TO CONFIRM] |
| 5 travelers | US$[TO CONFIRM] | US$[TO CONFIRM] |
| 6 travelers | US$[TO CONFIRM] | US$[TO CONFIRM] |
| 7 travelers | US$[TO CONFIRM] | US$[TO CONFIRM] |
| 8 to 16 travelers | US$[TO CONFIRM] | US$[TO CONFIRM] |
| 17 or more travelers | Contact us for a group rate | |
Note: Private service covers the Inca Trail and selected parts of the itinerary; we confirm which when you book. Trains, the Machu Picchu buses and the lodge excursions are shared.
Booking and Payment
- Deposit: US$800 per person to secure your Inca Trail permit, Machu Picchu ticket, train seats, hotels and lodge. Balance online or at our Cusco office by card, PayPal or wire transfer.
- Send each traveler’s full name, passport number, date of birth, passport expiry and nationality. Inca Trail permits are issued in your name and can’t be changed, refunded or transferred.
- Classic Inca Trail permits sell out months ahead: for May to September, book at least four months in advance, six if you can. See our Terms and Conditions.
- Tell us about dietary needs, pregnancy or any heart, lung, knee or mobility concern, and why you’re traveling. It helps us prepare.
Student and Child Discount
Children under 17 and students under 25 with a valid university ID (name, photo, university and expiry date) may qualify for lower official Machu Picchu and Inca Trail rates. ISIC cards are not accepted. Send the ID or date of birth when booking and we confirm the discount 30$.
Customization and Upgrades
- Private service on the Inca Trail and selected parts of the itinerary.
- A rest night in Cusco after the trek, before the jungle.
- Hotel upgrades to 4-star or 5-star, and lodge extras: Tree House night, ENA Spa or sunset drinks.
- Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain on Day 7, US$75 per person.
Changes depend on availability and may change the price. Contact us for a quote.
Packing List for the Peru Highlights Trek 11 Days
Three climates in eleven days: Lima’s mild coast, four days on the trail with cold nights near freezing and warm, wet afternoons, then the heat of the Amazon. Pack in three parts: a 7 kg / 15 lb duffel for the porters, a daypack for the trail, and your suitcase for the rest. More in our Peru Packing List.
Essentials
Original passport (checked at Km 82, Machu Picchu, the trains and your flights), medication, documents, insurance details and cash in soles for meals on your own and tips.
What to Wear?
Broken-in hiking boots, hiking socks, quick-dry shirts and trousers, a fleece, a warm jacket, a waterproof shell, hat and gloves for the pass, and long sleeves in light fabrics for the Amazon.
What to Put in the Daypack?
2 liters of water, snacks, sunscreen, sunglasses, a rain poncho, a warm layer, your camera and the passport. In the jungle: repellent, headlamp, binoculars and a dry bag for your phone.
What Goes in the 7 kg Duffel?
Sleeping bag (bring or rent), a change of clothes for camp, warm sleepwear, toiletries, a small towel, a headlamp and a power bank. The duffel is carried by our porters and waits for you at each camp. See our Machu Picchu packing list.
What We Provide
Tents for two, sleeping pad and pillow, kitchen tent and private toilets, all meals and drinking water on the trail from Day 5, rain poncho and hand towels, first-aid kit, oxygen and satellite phone, the permits, the train and the lodge.
Optional Gear and Extra Items
Trekking poles with rubber tips, an inflatable air mattress, blister plasters, wet wipes, a swimsuit for the lodge and anything your doctor recommends for altitude.
Travel Information for the Peru Highlights Trek 11 Days
What to know before you book: permits, flights, altitude, how hard the trek is, camp life, Machu Picchu tickets, the lodge and weather.
How do Classic Inca Trail permits work, and when should I book?
The government issues 500 permits a day for the trail, porters and guides included, so about 200 go to hikers. They are issued in your name with your passport number and cannot be changed, refunded or transferred. For May to September, book at least four months ahead, six if you can; permits for peak weeks sell out within days of release. The trail closes every February for maintenance. Details on our Classic Inca Trail page.
Which flights do I need, and when should I arrive?
Three domestic flights, not included: Lima to Cusco on Day 2, Cusco to Puerto Maldonado on Day 8 and Puerto Maldonado onward on Day 11. Wait for our recommended times before you buy; we plan the lodge boats and transfers around them. Arrive in Lima in the morning on Day 1 to join the city tour.
How should I prepare for the altitude?
You get two days in Cusco and the Sacred Valley, at 3,400 m / 11,155 ft and below, before the trek. The trail then climbs to Dead Woman’s Pass, 4,215 m / 13,829 ft, on Day 5 and drops to 2,430 m / 7,972 ft at Machu Picchu. Walk slowly, drink water, eat light and skip alcohol at first. Want more time to adjust? Add a night in Cusco before the trek. See our guide to altitude in Cusco.
How hard is the Classic Inca Trail?
Moderate to challenging: 46 km / 28.6 mi in four days on original Inca stone, with thousands of steps up and down. Day 5 is the test, about 10 hours with two passes. You carry only a daypack; porters carry the camp and your duffel, and your guide sets the pace with a first-aid kit, oxygen and a satellite phone. Regular walkers who train a few weeks on stairs or hills do fine. Tell us about any knee, heart or lung concern before booking.
What is camp life like on the trail?
Four-person tents shared by two, a sleeping pad and pillow, a kitchen tent where our chefs cook breakfast, lunch, tea time and dinner from fresh ingredients, and private portable toilets at every camp. Porters go ahead, so the tents are up and the water is boiling when you arrive. Drinking water is provided from Day 5; bring or rent a sleeping bag rated to about -5 °C / 23 °F.
How do Machu Picchu tickets and rules work?
Your Inca Trail permit includes the Machu Picchu entrance on Day 7: you enter through the Sun Gate and take the guided tour on the circuit assigned to Inca Trail hikers. Bring the original passport used for your booking. No large bags, drones, tripods or food inside. See our circuits guide and rules guide.
Which hotels, lodge and luggage services are included?
Casa Andina Standard in Lima, San Agustín Internacional in Cusco (two nights), Cocatambo in Ollantaytambo, or similar, three nights of camping on the trail and three nights at Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica, 45 minutes by boat from Puerto Maldonado, with full board and guided excursions. On Day 3 you leave with your duffel and daypack; your suitcase waits at your Cusco hotel or in our free storage until Day 7.
What is the weather like, and when is the best time to go?
The trail is drier from April to October, with cold nights near freezing at the high camps, and wetter from November to March; it closes in February. The Amazon is hot and humid all year, with more rain from December to March. No season guarantees clear skies at the Sun Gate, so bring layers and a rain shell in any month. See our Best Time to Visit Machu Picchu guide.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Peru Highlights Trek 11 Days
Quick answers about the trek, porters, permits, flights, Machu Picchu, the Amazon and customization.
Do I need trekking experience for the Classic Inca Trail?
No, but you need to be reasonably fit and ready for long days: 46 km / 28.6 mi in four days, with Day 5 over two passes. Train for a few weeks on stairs or hills, arrive in Cusco two days early as this tour does, and let your guide set the pace. Many of our hikers have never camped before.
What do the porters carry, and what do I carry?
Porters carry the tents, the kitchen, the food and a duffel bag with up to 7 kg / 15 lb of your belongings, including your sleeping bag. You carry a daypack with water, snacks, a rain layer, sunscreen, camera and passport. Our porters are paid, equipped and fed by us; tips at the farewell dinner are optional and always your choice.
Are sleeping bags, poles and air mattresses included?
Tents, sleeping pad and pillow are included. Sleeping bags, inflatable air mattresses and trekking poles are not; you can bring your own or rent them from us and they travel in your duffel. Poles must have rubber tips to protect the stone trail.
What if Inca Trail permits are sold out for my date?
We tell you right away and offer the nearest date with permits. If your dates can’t move, we can build the same trip around the two-day Short Inca Trail, which uses a separate permit pool, or around another trek to Machu Picchu [TO CONFIRM]. Booking four to six months ahead is the best way to avoid this.
Are flights included?
No. You need three domestic flights: Lima to Cusco (Day 2), Cusco to Puerto Maldonado (Day 8) and Puerto Maldonado onward (Day 11). Buy them once we confirm the recommended times, so the lodge boat and your transfers match.
Can I add Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain?
Yes, on Day 7 after the guided tour, one of them, for US$75 per person. Huayna Picchu takes about 2 hours round trip, Machu Picchu Mountain about 3. Both sell out fast and must fit the trail schedule and your train, so tell us when you book, and remember you will have walked since dawn.
What meals are included, and can you handle special diets?
Breakfast from Day 2, lunch in the Sacred Valley, all meals and snacks on the trail from lunch on Day 4 to breakfast on Day 7, and full board at the lodge. Our trekking chefs cook vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and allergy-friendly meals every week; tell us in advance and the lodge is informed too.
Can I travel solo or customize the trip?
Yes. Solo travelers can join a small-group departure of up to 16 hikers or book the private rate for one. You can add a rest night in Cusco, upgrade hotels, add a Tree House night or extend to Rainbow Mountain, Lake Titicaca or the Colca Canyon. Prefer the two-day trail? See our Short Inca Trail version of this trip.