OVERVIEW
The Classic 4 Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for adventurous hiking enthusiasts eager to tackle Peru’s top trekking route, one of the most renowned hikes globally.
During this 4-day trek, you’ll explore captivating Inca archaeological sites, traverse original paved Inca pathways, and marvel at the breathtaking scenery of Machu Picchu National Park. The adventure begins in the Sacred Valley of the Incas and concludes in the Peruvian jungle. Walk along the ancient Inca paths built nearly 500 years ago and immerse yourself in the stunning Andean mountain landscape!
After your booking, we will send you a separate confirmation to reconfirm your date, as Inca Trail tickets are highly limited.
Trip Highlights
Limited Inca Trail Tickets:
Please book in advance!
Recommended For:
Moderate Hikers
Starting Altitude:
2720m / 8920ft
Hiking Distance:
45km / 26 miles
Altitude Acclimatization:
Recommended
Itinerary
We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 5:30 am and drive to the village of Ollantaytambo. There, you can enjoy a nutritious breakfast (not included) and purchase some snacks before we embark on our trekking adventure. We will proceed to Piscacucho (KM 82) and start our first 2-hour hike to Patallacta (2,750m/9,020ft), an Inca archaeological site with stunning views, located in the lush and green Urubamba Valley. After visiting this fascinating site, we will continue hiking for 45 minutes to our lunch spot. Our cook will prepare a delicious meal, and we’ll have some time to rest. Then, we will hike for 1.5 hours to our campsite at Wayllabamba (3,000m/9,800ft), where you can enjoy a well-deserved rest, an afternoon snack, and a tasty dinner before heading to bed.
Hiking Distance: 11 km / 5 miles
After a hearty breakfast and a hot cup of coca tea, We will walk for 4 hours to the first pass of the Inca Trail, called Warmiwañusca, which means “Dead Woman’s Pass” (4215 meters above sea level/13,829 feet), the highest point on the trail. Upon reaching the pass, we will take a short break to enjoy the stunning views before continuing our 2.5-hour descent to the next valley of Pacaymayo (3,600m/11,800ft). There, we will have some coca tea and a freshly prepared dinner, and spend the night at our campsite.
Hiking Distance: 10 km / 7.5 miles
Our team will wake you up early with a hot cup of coca tea. Today will be the longest and most challenging day, so we’ll start with a nutritious breakfast to prepare for the journey. We will continue our hike through lush jungle vegetation and encounter several incredible Inca archaeological sites.
The first archaeological site we visit is the Runcuracay (3,760m/12,300ft). Unlike other Inca structures, Runcuracay features circular enclosures, a rare design element in Inca architecture. After a short break, we will hike for 1.5 hours to the archaeological site of Sayacmarca. Located on a rocky cliff at 3,600m, Sayacmarca appears as a labyrinth of houses, plazas with fountains, and narrow streets.
We will then reach our lunch spot at Chaquicocha, where we will have some time to relax. After a 2.5-hour hike, we will arrive at the next archaeological site, Puyupatamarca (3,600m/11,810ft), also known as the “City Above the Clouds.” Here, you will find Inca ruins with five small stone baths that maintain a constant flow of fresh water during the rainy season. From there, we’ll start our 3-hour descent to our campsite at Wiñayhuayna, where we will have tea and dinner. This meal will be special as it will be our final dinner with the team, and we will bid farewell to our porters.
This campsite will be available according to the ministry and may be Puyupatamarca or Wiñaywayna.
Hiking Distance: 15 km / 10 miles
Today, we will wake up at 3:30 am, have breakfast, and descend to the control point. We will wait there for a little over an hour until the gates open. Once we pass through the control point, we will hike for 1.5 hours to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku), the ceremonial entrance to Machu Picchu. From the Sun Gate, we will get our first breathtaking view of the majestic Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu. We will then descend for 40 minutes to the Machu Picchu citadel, the “Lost City of the Incas.” This complex is renowned as a masterpiece of Inca architecture, featuring a complete town with different quarters, plazas, alleys, buildings, astronomical observatories, and terraces. The city was rediscovered on July 24, 1911, by US explorer Hiram Bingham. Our local guide will provide insights into this sacred site and show us around the entire complex. Afterwards, you will have free time to explore the archaeological site on your own.
For those who have opted to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain, you will do so at your designated time.*
In the afternoon, we will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes for lunch at a local restaurant. We will then board the train to Ollantaytambo, enjoying the stunning landscapes of the Sacred Valley during the ride. Upon arrival at the train station, we will transfer you to your hotel in Cusco.
*Please inquire in advance about availability. $60.00 per person for Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain
Hiking Distance: 6 km / 3.7 miles
📦 What Is Included?
🛏️ Accommodation
- Four-person tents for 2 people.
🍽️ Meals
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary (3x Breakfast, 3x Lunch, 3x Snack, 3x Dinner).
- Professional cook and cooking equipment.
- Dining tent and kitchen tent for fresh meal preparation.
- Special diets like vegetarian or vegan are accommodated if requested in advance.
- Hot coca tea every morning.
- Boiled water for coffee and tea at campsites.
- 1.5 L of boiled water for the 3rd and 4th day.
🚗 Transportation
- Transport from your hotel in Cusco to the starting point at KM82.
- Train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo on Day 4.
- Transportation from Ollantaytambo to Cusco (Plaza Regocijo).
👥 Local Guides & Team
- Professional English/Spanish-speaking guide, with an assistant guide for groups over 9.
- Porters to carry camping (equipment, food, and kitchen utensils).
- Experienced trekking guides with at least 3 years of certification. They carry a first aid kit and an oxygen bottle.
📝 Additional
- Briefing at the office in Cusco the evening before departure (between 17:00, 18:00 or 19:00 ).
- Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail are included.
❌ What Is Not Included?
🍴 Meals
- Breakfast on the first day (available for purchase in Ollantaytambo or bring your own).
- Lunch and dinner on the last day.
- Water is not included on the 1st and 2nd day. (can be purchased along the trekking route).
🎒 Equipment
- Sleeping bags ($15.00 per person ).
- Trekking poles ($20.00 per person ).
⚙️ Optional Activities
- Entrance to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain ($60.00 per person, book in advance).
- Shuttle bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes ($12.00 per person).
🌐 Other
- Tips for guide, cook, and porters.
- National or international flights.
- Travel insurance.
- Other activities not mentioned in this itinerary.
FAQ
If you are a student, you may be eligible for a $20 USD discount. However, you must meet the Peruvian government requirements, as the discount is applied to the cost of your Machu Picchu ticket and is not something that we are able to negotiate.
To be able to receive the discount, please send us after your booking a photo of both sides of your student card, and another photo of your passport. We can help you check if all the requirements are fulfilled. It must be an original student ID, given from the university in PVC material and include university information, personal student information, student picture, expiration date valid only for one year, and must coincide with the year that student visits Machu Picchu.
You also need to bring your original student card with you the day you visit Machu Picchu. You will also need to bring the card with you and verify it at the Machu Picchu checkpoint.
Please check if your student card includes the following requirements:
- One personal daypack (a 30 to 50 L backpack is sufficient).
- Reusable water bottle
- Small coins in Peruvian Soles (Bathrooms are free at the campsites but cost 1 Sol along the route. Keep small change on hand for water bottles, snacks, and toilet paper.)
- Rain jacket or rain poncho
- Strong footwear (Waterproof trekking boots recommended.)
- Sleeping bag (also available for rent)
- Flashlight/headlamp and batteries
- Clothes for the entire trek:
- Two long-sleeve trekking shirts
- Two short-sleeve shirts
- Leggings or trekking pants
- Shorts
- Four pairs of underwear
- Sweatpants for the night
- Three pairs of hiking socks
- A rain poncho
- An insulated jacket
- Gloves
- Beanie
- A hat with a brim
- Hiking boots
- Bathing suit and small towel (if you plan to visit the hot springs)
- Sandals to rest your feet at the campsites
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Additional snacks (we supply you with plenty of food already)
- Original passport (mandatory for entrance to Machu Picchu)
The best way to prepare yourself for this trekking experience is easy: spend at least 2 to 3 days at a high-altitude place like Cusco, so your body gets used to the high altitude. If you have already been to a high altitude destination before arriving in Cusco, we still recommend you spend at least one full day in Cusco to rest, recuperate from your trip, and enjoy the beautiful views of the city before your trek.
Additionally, taking good care of your body helps deal with the extra pressures that altitude creates. We recommend you eat healthy food, drink lots of water, and stay away from alcohol. Chewing coca leaves and drinking coca tea helps to alleviate any discomfort associated with the altitude.
The entrance ticket to Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain are additional add-ons that you can choose to purchase besides the Machu Picchu visit that is already included in this trek. You can visit one of these mountains after your Machu Picchu visit to see the Inca Citadel from the top.
Please send us an email asking about availability. Then, if available, you can select which mountain you would like to climb when you make your reservation online. Each mountain is an additional 60 USD.
What is Huayna Picchu Mountain?
Huayna Picchu Mountain is home to the Temple of the Moon and is the famous mountain peak seen behind the ruins in all the classic photos of Machu Picchu. Huayna Picchu is an approximately 45-minute climb with more ruins at the top and offers an incredible view of the Machu Picchu ruins. The visit to Huayna Picchu takes approximately 2 hours. Huayna Picchu Mountain is an additional 60 USD.
What is Machu Picchu Mountain?
Machu Picchu Mountain is an additional hike within Machu Picchu that offers a much higher view of the ruins and overlooks the entire valley. Machu Picchu Mountain is an additional 60 USD.
The Inca Trail is more crowded than the Salkantay Trek because it is an original trail of the Incas and one of the most famous hikes in the world, attracting thousands of trekkers every year. It is the only trek that leads directly to Machu Picchu, but is therefore a lot more expensive than the Salkantay Trek.
On the Salkantay Trek, you will spend the last night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes before visiting Machu Picchu the next day. During the Inca Trail, you will discover ancient Inca ruins, whereas the Salkantay offers more wildlife and high mountain sceneries. Many trekkers consider the Salkantay Trek to be a bit more strenuous than the Inca Trail because the general altitude is higher.
The Salkantay Trek offers the best alternative to the Inca Trail for everybody who doesn’t like crowded paths and enjoys different landscapes during the trek.
We sent you a confirmation e-mail with more details about your trekking adventure.
The day before your departure at 17:00, 18:00 or 19:00, please stop by our office located at Portal Espinar Nro 163 to receive the informative briefing. Our professional guide will provide you with all the necessary information about your trek and answer any last-minute questions you may have.
In general, the Andes Mountains are known for their unpredictable weather, so please be prepared for both warm and cold temperatures, as well as rainy and dry conditions. There are two main seasons in the Andes:
Rainy Season (November-March)
During the rainy season, temperatures average around 15°C / 60°F during the day and 5°C / 40°F at night. However, these temperatures may feel significantly colder due to humidity and wind.
Dry Season (April-October)
In the dry season, the weather is sunny and clear, with average daytime temperatures of around 20°C / 70°F, but it can be much colder at night, dropping to about -3°C / 26°F.
We serve a variety of local superfoods and traditional Peruvian dishes, including rice, chicken, beef, salad, potatoes, vegetables, delicious soups, and fruits. Everything will be freshly prepared by our local chef.
We accommodate many vegetarian travelers, and our cooks offer some great options to enjoy their meals. We can also cater to other types of dietary requests with adequate preparation and clear communication.
Previous hiking experience is recommended but not required. Our guides are trained to support hikers of all fitness levels and experience, ensuring that no one is left behind. Most importantly, make sure to acclimate yourself to the altitude before your trek.
Yes, you can leave extra luggage in our office free of charge. Just let us know if you have any fragile or technological items that require special care, and we’ll ensure they are handled appropriately.
The minimum group size is 4 people and the maximum group size is 16 people. For groups exceeding 9 people, there will be an assistant guide to ensure a smoother experience.
Please feel free to review our Terms & Conditions and let us know if you have any questions or requests regarding our cancellation policy, which is available on our website.
PACKING LIST
🧳 Personal Gear
👕 Clothing
☀️ Additional Items
