The 4-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is one of the most popular trekking routes in South America and is consistently ranked among the top 10 treks in the world. During this 4-day adventure, you will find a perfect combination of history and natural beauty. You will visit ancient Inca sites, arriving at Intipunku (Sun Gate) before sunrise for the best view of Machu Picchu, said to be the legendary Lost City of the Incas.
TYPE OF TOUR: TREKKING
TREKKING DISTANCE: 45 KM
DIFFICULTY: CHALLENGING – MODERATE
CONSIDERATIONS: HAVE GOOD ACCLIMATIZATION AND GOOD PHYSICAL CONDITION.
We will leave Cusco at 06:00 a.m. to begin the 4-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. We will drive for about an hour and a half to Ollantaytambo, where we will stop briefly to buy last minute equipment, personal needs and have breakfast (which is included), then head in our mobility to Piskacuchu (Km 82). The entrance to Inca Trail, once we pass the check point we start our hike of the classic Inca Trail to Wayllabamba (first campsite), on the way we will have lunch in Miskay, which is a Quechua village and rest before walking to our first archaeological site of Patallacta or Llactapata (the largest Inca site) after an explanation from your guide about Llactapata, continue walking for 2 more hours to arrive to Wayllabamba (first place to camp on the Inca Trail 2900 masl. / 9,5144 ft.)
Distance: 12 km / 6,878 miles.
Hiking time: 5 – 6 hours.
Lowest elevation: 695 m / 8,841 ft.
Highest elevation: 3031 m / 9,944 ft.
Difficulty: Moderate.
Highlights: Inca ruins, villages and Veronica Glacier.
Weather: Warm and windy.
We will start our second day of the Inca Trail early in the morning, just to take advantage of the shade of the mountains, it is much better to walk up to the first pass of the Inca Trail (Warmihuañusca, which means dead woman’s pass 4200 masl.), the highest point of the Inca Trail. Here, we can literally see the various ecological zones and microclimates of the Inca Trail, which make up the area, mapped out in front of us. We will cross the Warmiwañusca pass and once we are at the top, we will see many snow-capped mountains around and after taking our group photo we continue down to Pacaymayo (second camping site on the Inca Trail 4 days and 3 nights 3600 masl) where we have our lunch and then have a free afternoon to explore by ourselves.
Distance: 11 km / 6.83 miles.
Hiking time: 7 – 8 hours.
Lowest elevation: 3031 m / 9,994 ft.
Highest elevation: 217 m / 13,827 ft.
Difficulty:
Highlights: Dead Woman Pass (Warmi wañusqa), Salkantay glacier, Pacaymayo Valley and stunning mountain views.
Our 3rd day of the Machu Picchu 4 day tour begins with a nutritious breakfast and then a 45 minute hike to the Runcurakay Pass (second highest pass on the Trail 3850 masl.), and on the way, we will visit the Runcuracay archaeological site. During the day hike, we will also visit the Quechua archaeological sites of Sayacmarca and Phuyupatamarca of the Inca Trail. After lunch, we will head to the Wiñaywayna site, where we will spend our last night on the Inca Trail and then have a celebratory dinner to say goodbye to our Inca Trail porters.
Distance: 16 km / 9.94 miles.
Hiking time: 8 – 9 hours.
Lowest elevation: 649 m / 8,6892 ft.
Highest Elevation: 952 m / 12,957 ft.
Difficulty: Difficult
Highlights: Incredible Inca ruins and incomparable views.
Day 4 is the most important day because we will visit the Wonder of the World. After an early breakfast, we begin the final stretch of the Inca Trail to the lost city of Machu Picchu. First, we will walk to Inti Punku (“Gate of the Sun”), Gateway of the Inca Trail, where we will take an inspiring panoramic view of the citadel of Machu Picchu. After a short hike to Machu Picchu, we will check in and then enjoy a 2-hour guided tour of the sanctuary city. After the tour of Machu Picchu, we will take the bus or walk down part of the Inca Trail to Aguas Calientes, where we will enjoy lunch and free time to enjoy the city before returning to Ollantaytambo by train and then by bus back to the city of Cusco.
Distance:5 km / 3.12 miles.
Hiking time:2 – 3 hours.
Lowest elevation:401 m / 7,871 ft.
Highest elevation:2701 m / 8857 ft.
Difficulty:
Highlight: Sun Gate and Machu Picchu.