Classic Inca Trail To Machu Picchu 4D/3N
Moderate


This is the classical version of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, the most popular trek in Perú due to the incomparable beauty and unique environment you encounter. We have designed the itinerary carefully choosing the campsites, focusing in the natural beauty, cleanliness and avoiding crowds whenever possible. We have also tried to space out the trekking days evenly to smoothly gain altitude the first two days and latter to evenly distribute you efforts each day.
Photo: Silvio Pereira Costa, Brazil
Photo: Rob Culp, USA
Photo: Alex, United Kingdom
Photo: Alexander Yates, USA
Photo: Rob Culp, USA

DAY 1 - KM.82 TO PAUCARCANCHA

We pick you up from your hotel in Cusco and travel by private vehicle to Km. 82 , the trail head of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Here meet our porters and begin our trek following the left bank of the Urubamba River. After a couple of hours of gentle hiking we reach and visit the extensive Inca ruins of Llactapata. We continue hiking, this time away from the Urubamba river ascending and following the Cusichaca River towards the village of Huayllabamba, we have a picnic lunch nearby and continue ascending to a 40 min. detour from the main trail that will take us to "Paucarcancha" a magnificent archaeological site and right next to it, a locally owned private campsite where we will find our camp set up for the night. Time to visit this well kept site that is estimated to be a "Tambo" or resting and control place where two valleys and rivers meet. L, D.

DAY 2 - PAUCARNCANCHA TO PACAYMAYU

After enjoying the beauty of this special campsite and a nutritious breakfast we begin hiking on a shortcut trail above the village of Huayllabamba. We register at the Park's control station to continue on an ascending trail with increasingly rewrding views. Later we encounter and hike through an interesting cloud forest of native trees before we reach our lunch spot at "Llullucchapampa". We have lunch enjoying views of far away Huayllanay Galcier and the high pass known as "Warmiwañusta" or Dead Woman's Pass (4,200 meters). After lunch we ascend towards the high pass, we concentrate on our steps and breathing, our rest moments are rewarded with spectacular views. We reach the pass, take time for the classical pictures and begin our descend to the our campsite at Pacaymayu. B,L,D.

DAY 3 - PACAYMAYU TO PHUYUPATAMARCA

An early nourishing breakfast bolsters our energy for a day's hike in the original cobblestone paved trail left by the Incas. We can appreciate the lovely changes in vegetation and geology as we pass through different ecological zones. We climb up and over the second high pass at 3,950 Mts. On a clear day, our efforts are rewarded with unparalleled views of the snow covered peaks of the Cordillera Vilcabamba and the lush valley vegetation. Masterful Inca engineering is today's highlight along the trail as we discover the Inca remains of Sayajmarca at 3,640 Mts., explore them, have a picnic lunch and continue to the incomparable site of Phuyupatamarca, THE PLACE ABOVE THE CLOUDS at 3,680 Mts. We camp here and have enough time to soak up some of the magical charm of this marvellous campsite. B,L,D.

DAY 4 - PHUYUPATAMARCA TO MACHU PICCHU

Sunrise in "Phuyupatamarca" is considered one of the highlights of the trek, early rise with the idea in mind that today we will reach Machu Picchu, the lost City of the Incas. This morning we say good by to our crew and porters, we have a chance to voluntarily tip them. Most of them will take a detour from the main trail and head to the town of Aguas Calientes where they catch the train to go home. After breakfast, we hike several hours down a clear stone paved trail with several incredible stairways, some carved in stone, a small tunnel and several viewing terraces. We will come to the ruins of Wiñay Wayna, FOREVER YOUNG to visit this incredible Inca site and have lunch nearby. We continue on to Inti Punku, THE GATE TO THE SUN. From here we first see the spectacular city of Machu Picchu below us. A quick descent along the wide royal Inca road and we enter the mysterious citadel to have a tour in detail and spend some time wandering and wondering in the midst of its eternal beauty. Stay at a hotel (Hotel not included in price) in the town of Aguas Calientes in the vicinity by the Urubamba River or catch the train back to Cusco. B,L.

OPTION "A": You have the option to request for your guide to stay one more day with you to return with him to Machu Picchu for further explanations on the site and to visit other areas of Machu Picchu like Huaynapichu or the Temple of the Moon. In the afternoon return by train to Cusco (not include overnight on Hotel).

Please Note: This option must be requested before the trip begins in order to make the previous arrangements necessary

Price Includes:

  • All accommodations in top quality tents.
  • All meals marked as B,L,D at the end of each day in the itinerary.
  • Service of local official guides.
  • Service of camp staff: Cook, assistants, porters.
  • All group camping and cooking equipment: Passenger tents based in double occupancy. Sleeping pad (foam). Dinning tent with tables, silverware and chairs. Toilet tent with biodegradable chemical toilet.
  • Porters to carry all equipment plus a personal bag with a maximum weight of 10 Kgs. (22 lbs) per person.
  • Entrance to Inca trail and Machu Picchu ($74.00).

Price Does Not Include:
Any meals not specified after each itinerary day, optional tipping or gratuities to staff, hotel nights, expenses such as medical immunizations (if any), travel insurance, and other expenses of a personal nature (liquor, laundry, and so on.) Trip member must provide sleeping bag. (please note that sleeping bags can also be rented for $4 per day).