Trek to Machu Picchu: Four-Day Inca Trail Trek

• Peru Tour package to Inca Trail & Machu Picchu
• We offer a price guarantee for Peru vacation packages
• Top testimonials, safety, and comfort
• Daily departures and fully customizable Latin America tours

Follow the legendary path of the Incas, winding through the spectacular scenery of the Peruvian Andes, past centuries-old sites, toward the mythical and awe-inspiring Machu Picchu. Declared one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the mysterious ruins – and the old Inca trail that gets you there – are without a doubt the highlight of any trip to Peru.

The most famous trekking route in the world takes adventurers along an epic and sometimes challenging journey to the city in the clouds. Visitors are struck by the sheer majestic beauty and human ingenuity of the Inca citadel that remained hidden until just over 100 years ago. Along the trail you will be able to admire various sites and visit traditional villages where locals maintain their ancient ways of life. You will sleep at campsites and dine of high quality meals prepared by a chef who works magic with simple ingredients and a propane stove. All the essentials for the trek are provided, including a bilingual expert guide who will help you navigate through this magical journey into the clouds. 

Day 1 : Begin the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Day 2 : Inca Trail - Wayllabamba to Pacaymayo
Day 3 : Inca Trail - Pacaymayo to Wiñayhuayna
Day 4 : Arrival to the Sun Gate & Machu Picchu

Go Covered: Free Travel Insurance now included

Contact our team of professionals with any questions you may have at Live Chat Help or write us at travel@latinamericaforless.com

Day 1 : Begin the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

• You will be picked up from your hotel and taken on a scenic 2-hour drive through the picturesque Sacred Valley to the town Ollantaytambo, where you can enjoy an optional breakfast. In Ollantaytambo, you’ll meet the rest of your trek team and pick up equipment and food. Afterwards, you will continue on to Piscacucho (km 82) by bus where the trail begins.
• Once you cross the Piscacucho Bridge over the Urubamba River, you will start the trek. You will walk on flat terrain along the shore of the river until you reach the small community of Miskay where you will be able to rest. Continuing on a steeper path toward a high plateau, your efforts will be rewarded by the spectacular view of the Inca ruins of Patallacta.
  Patallacta, "Village in the Heights," is an archaeological complex situated at the foot of a mountain on the left bank of the river Cusicancha, a tributary of the Urubamba River. There are many terraced fields here that once probably served to feed other settlements and tambos (travelers’ rest stations) along the Inca Trail. The urban sector has more than 100 structures, as well as an Inca altar called Pulpituyoc.
• After lunch, you will continue the trek for another 2 hours, until you reach the first campsite of Wayllabamba. This is the highlight of the day as it includes breathtaking views of the Vilcanota ridge on the other side of the Urubamba River and the snow-covered Mount Veronica.

Hike distance: 7.5 miles (12 km)
Minimum altitude: 8,860 feet (2,700 m)
Maximum altitude: 9,840 feet (3,000 m)
Approximate time: 5 to 6 hours
Gradient: Moderate

Day 2 : Inca Trail - Wayllabamba to Pacaymayo

• The second day is the most rigorous and highest-altitude part of the Inca Trail, so you are encouraged to go at your own pace. The walk is arduous, with a long steep climb to the high Abra de Warmiwañusca known as the “Dead Woman's Pass” at 13,780 feet (4,200 m).
• When starting the hike, you can see the trail ahead of you zigzagging up the mountain. On the trail you will be able to appreciate the change in the surroundings as you pass from the moderate temperatures of the valleys and ascend into the arid and cold high plains. Right before the high mountain pass in a small plain is a campsite called Llulluchapampa, bordered by two streams of crystal clear water. There is a public bathroom here, and this is also a great resting place before the last stretch over the pass at Warmiwañusca. The pass is cold and very windy. Beyond it, a winding path of steps descends to a natural valley that hosts this night’s campsite.
• Keep your eyes open, as you might be able to sport varieties of birds, including sparrows and hummingbirds, as well as the Andean bear. Also called the spectacled bear for its golden circular area of fur around its eyes, this solitary creature calls the Andean cloud forest home. The day’s hike ends at the Pacaymayo Valley campsite. Here you will have dinner and take a well-deserved rest after a strenuous day on the trail.

Hike distance: 5.6 miles (9 km)
Minimum altitude: 9,840 feet (3,000 m)
Maximum altitude: 13,780 feet (4,200 m)
Approximate time: 6 to 7 hours
Gradient: Challenging

Day 3 : Inca Trail - Pacaymayo to Wiñayhuayna

• After breakfast, you will start a hike along an impressive and archeologically-rich path. A steep hike will lead you to the Runkurakay Pass. Halfway along the trail, you will encounter the ruins of Runkurakay, an Inca tambo, or lodge, of semi-circular design with a view of the valley of Pacaymayo, “Hidden River,” below. Another steep climb up Incan steps leads to the next pass, which offers spectacular views of the mountain ranges of Vilcabamba and Pumasillo.
• You will continue on to the lakes of Yanacocha and Sayacmarca. Aptly dubbed the "Inaccessible Town," Sayacmarca is an interesting set of ruins located on a cliff with a panoramic view of the Aobamba valley and the snow-covered peak of Pumasillo. This construction comprises a labyrinth of very narrow corridors, some with exits and others without. The only access to the ruins is by a steep, but solid, stone staircase carved into the side of the mountain. The abyss on one side is carpeted with exotic plants such as orchids and lichens.
• Continuing on, you will pass Conchamarca, a small, flat archaeological complex. Then the trail ascends again and you come to a 65-foot (20m) long tunnel with steps carved out of the rock. Continuing the ascent, you will reach the third and final mountain pass of the trek at Abra de Phuyupatamarca. Afterwards, the trail continues downhill leading to the archaeological site of Phuyupatamarca, "The Town in the Clouds." This is undoubtedly one of the most unique towns on the Inca Trail. It is almost always covered in the mist rising from the cloud forest and is located on the side of a ravine looking down into the Urubamba Valley. The site is surrounded by terraced fields and offers beautiful landscape views of the Urubamba Valley as well as the adjacent snowy peaks.
• As the day ends, you will head toward the ruins of Wiñay Wayna or "Forever Young," where you will camp for your final night. The ruins consist of Inca agricultural terraces and are believed to have been a center where water was worshipped. Flower enthusiasts will be pleased to see the area’s fabulous pink orchids. The campsite on the final night has a simple restaurant and hot showers. Cold beers and a party in the evening are the norm, allowing you to say goodbye to your cook and porters who will leave early the next morning on the train to Cusco. Make sure you get some rest as you will need to wake early the next morning to get to Machu Picchu in time for the spectacular sunrise. Remember it is customary to make a tip pool, which will then be distributed to the team (guide, cook, and porters). A good tip amount ranges $10-$40 per hiker. Remember that these tips are voluntary, so feel free to tip according to the service you have received. 

Hike distance: 9.3 miles (15 km)
Minimum altitude: 8,860 feet (2,700 m)
Maximum altitude: 1,2960 feet (3,950 m)
Approximate time: 8 to 9 hours
Gradient: Moderate

Day 4 : Arrival to the Sun Gate & Machu Picchu

• After an early start with breakfast at 4:30 a.m., you will be on the final leg of the trail by 5 a.m. in order to reach Inti Punko, the Sun Gate entrance to Machu Picchu by 6 a.m. The short hour walk will take you up through a narrow trail until you reach the Sun Gate for sunrise. The view is awe-inspiring and you can only imagine what the Incas must have felt after their grueling journey to this sprawling temple.
• From here you will descend to the citadel for a 2-hour guided tour of Machu Picchu. You will be able to appreciate the intricate stonework that seems to rise from the mountain itself. The giant stones were hauled by hand to the top of the mountain centuries ago, and put into place without mortar, and yet their foundations still remain. You will have the chance to explore the 3 zones of this once grand city: the urban, agricultural, and adjacent zones. The Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana, and the Principal Bath are only a few of the impressive sights that you will see.
• After your tour, you have the option to explore more of the site solo and capture some final photos. Some take advantage of Machu Picchu’s spiritual setting to meditate and whisper a thank you to Pachamama, the Inca’s Mother Nature, for the incredible experience of trekking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
• If the trek through the Inca Trail got you yearning for more, you can take a 90-minute climb up the lush peak of Huayna Picchu. On the way down from Huayna Picchu, take the trail past the Temple of the Moon, once a retreat for Inca nobles and priests. The extra hike is not for the faint of heart and must be done with extreme caution. However, the opportunity to see Machu Picchu from another angle is often enough to draw the more adventurous visitor. Note that park officials limit the number of visitors to Huayna Picchu to 400 per day and admission must be secured in advance with payment of an additional fee. Speak to a travel advisor or see our FAQs page for more information.
• In the afternoon, you will take a comfortable train back to Cusco. You also have the option to stay an extra night in Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of Machu Picchu.
• Check out our Machu Picchu Guide for more information on what see and do, as well as Machu Picchu restaurants that we recommend for tasty dining. 

Hike distance: 2 miles (3 km)
Minimum altitude: 7,875 feet (2,400 m)
Maximum altitude: 8,860 feet (2,700 m)
Approximate time: About one hour of hiking
Gradient: Moderate

Check our Trekking & Adventure FAQs to help you prepare for your Inca Trail trek and contact your travel advisor for any additional questions. 

	Group	Private
per person	$ 679	$ 1499
Prices may vary according to the season, availability, and client preferences. Certain transport costs may not be included. Please contact one of our expert travel advisors for more information.

Transportation and tickets

• Private transport from your Cusco hotel to the start of the trek
• Bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes
• Transfer from Cusco train station back to your Cusco hotel
• One day entrance ticket to Machu Picchu

Camping equipment

• We use four-season, four-person Eureka tents with two entrances (2 people per tent)
• Two foam mattresses, a table, and seat for each tent
• Food and drink utensils
• Dinner tent and kitchen tent for the group
• First aid kit and emergency oxygen bottle

Team

• Professional, knowledgeable bilingual guide
• Cook & cooking equipment
• Porters to carry provided equipment and food. (Additional porters can be hired to carry your personal belongings.)

Our guides are professional and multilingual. Not only do they possess an excellent knowledge of the Inca Trail, but they’re also wholly familiar with all of the intricate archaeological, historical, and cultural Inca traditions. All of our tour personnel are also highly qualified in tour group management and in first aid.

Food

• High quality meals to provide the necessary energy for this challenging trek
• In addition to three meals daily, you will be given revitalizing snacks
• Hot drinks such as tea and coffee, as well as enough water for your canteens, water bottles, or hydration packs. (Water is taken from local streams and boiled while on the trek.)

Not Included

• Hotel in Aguas Calientes
• Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Cusco
• Meals after arrival to Machu Picchu

Packing List

• Comfortable walking shoes or sneakers
• A hat, sunglasses, and sun block to protect you from the strong sun (especially at Machu Picchu)
• Insect repellant
• Hiking backpack – this can be rented in Cusco
• A canteen or similar for the trek as disposable plastic water bottles are prohibited
• Enough clothes only for the Inca trail
• A small flashlight for the early morning start to Machu Picchu
• Your camera with extra memory cards and batteries

Optional extras

• Chocolates and candy. Sugar boosts are great for keeping you going
• You can buy coca leaves and tea to relieve altitude sickness
• Wooden walking sticks to help you climb the trail. (Trekking poles with metal tips are not permitted as they can ruin the trail.)