Inca trail
$550
/ per person
(1 Review)
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is beyond a doubt one of the most beautiful trails in America and an unforgettable experience not to be missed. The trail leads through the protected wild nature of the Peruvian jungle and forest steppe, passes several archeological Inca sights and offers impressive views. The Incas used this itinerary for their pilgrimage to the sacred citadel Machu Picchu.
Altitude: 2050 – 4200 m. / 6730 – 13780 f.
High Season: March – January
Duration: 4 days / 3 nights
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?
- Backpack with rain shelter
- Sleeping bag
- Clothing for warm and cold climate like a waterproof jacket
- Rain pants and lightweight pants
- Trekking shoes, slippers or sandals (for showers and hot springs)
- Woolen or synthetic socks
- A sweater
- Long- and short-sleeved polo’s/t-shirts
- A rain poncho
- A hat
- Bathing suit (for the hot springs in Aguas Calientes)
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Disinfecting alcohol and gel
- Water bottle and sterilizing tablets
- Toiletries and toilet paper
- Camera (wrapped in plastic bag)
- A flash light and batteries
- Some snacks like chocolate bars and dry fruit
- Original passport
- Original ISIC student card and extra money in soles.
GENERAL INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
- Reservation: Since the number of trekking permits is limited to 500 per day (about 200 tourists and 300 trekking staff) it is important to book well in advance – especially in the high season between May and September. In the low season between December and January, it is possible to get a ticket about 20 days in advance.
- Passport details: Please make sure that your passport is valid for the time you intend doing the Inca Trail. Furthermore, assure that the passport’s details you send us via email, such as the passport’s number, your name etc., are correct. Changes on short notice will complicate the entrance to Machu Picchu.
- Travel Insurance: It is compulsory that all clients have personal travel insurance. This insurance must cover personal accident, medical expenses, loss of effects and all other expenses which might arise as a result of loss, damage or injury occurring to the client. We cannot be accounted for any accident or loss of personal belongings the customer caused by his/her own actions.
- Porters: The Porters will only carry general camping equipment. Backpacks, sleeping bags, mattresses and additional equipment must be carried by the customer. However, if you wish to have a personal porter, this can be arranged. Please let us know in your reservation. Tips for the porters are always welcome.
- Campsites: The campsites on the Inca Trail can be different from the ones described in our itinerary (Yuncachimpa, Chaquicocha and Wiñaywayna). This is due to a limitation of the places (Wiñaywayna is almost always fully booked). The campsites (especially Wiñaywayna) are well known with the public. Therefore they will book their places well in advance (certainly when you want to go in the high season from May to September you have to book months in advance). If there isn’t any place anymore the Ministry of Culture (entity of the government which supervises and controls the availability of the quotas for entering the Inca Trail) will assign other campsites (Wayllabamba, Pacaymayu and Phuyupatamarca).
- Return ticket: We will leave Aguas Calientes by train either at 2:55 pm or at 6:45 pm. This depends on the ticket availability and on how far in advance you booked your trip. During the afternoon, you will have time to have lunch in one of the nice restaurants in Aguas
Calientes. Moreover, you can visit the hot springs to relax a bit. You will be back in your hotel either at about 6:00 pm or at about 10:00 pm.
- Your health: It is a common misconception that because many people do the Inca Trail it must be easy. It is not. The trail is 45km (26 miles) long and involves great physical exertion to complete. Combined with high altitude and extreme weather the trek can be hard work. Therefore, we strongly recommend ensuring that you are well acclimatized, in good shape and healthy. Hence, you will enjoy your trip from the beginning on.
A participant must declare if he/she has any sickness or medical disorder and must bring his/her own medicines.
4 days / 3 nights
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Destination
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Included
BreakfastCamping materialDinnerFirst-aid-kidLocal English Speaking GuideLunchPrivate transfersSnacksTourist trainTouristic Bus -
Not Included
Domestic flightsFlight ticketsHotelPersonal guideTips
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Tour Plan
1
CUSCO - KM 82 – WAYLLABAMBA – YUNCACHIMPA
We will leave Cusco (3350m/10990f) at 5:30 am by the tourist bus and head for the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Before we reach our starting point km 82, we make a short break in Ollantaytambo for having the option to get breakfast. The official beginning of the Inka Trail is called km 82. Here we will meet the rest of the group and take care of the registration facilities. After crossing the Rio Urubamba (2200m) we will start the legendary Inca Trail. The first day the trail is easy to walk and a good warm up for the following days. In ‘Miskay’ we’ll have lunch at a small river bank while getting some information about the archaeological complex of Llactapata. After that, we will continue our hike to Wayllabamba (3100m/10170f) and ascend to Yuncachimpa (3300m/10826f), the camping site we will spend the night in. From here, we have a great view of the mysterious Nevado de Veronica.
- Level of difficulty: normal - medium
- Hiking time: 7 hours
- Total distance: 12 km approx.
2
YUNCACHIMPA – LLULLUCHAPAMPA – WARMIHUAÑUSCA PASS – PACAYMAYU – RUNKURAKAY PASS – CHAQUICOCHA
The second day is the ‘Free-Hike-Day’; that means that everybody should walk in his/her own pace – of course you will meet during the small breaks or see each other while beating the stairs. Early in the morning the trails first leads through the Valley of Llulluchapampa (3850m/12631f). The first 3km are step - enjoy the humid woodland and the water sounds. From Llulluchapampa follow the way for 2-3 hours until you crest the highest point of this section, the Warmihuañusca (Dead Woman Pass) (4200m/113780f). This climb is known as the most difficult part of the Inca Trail. After a short break at the summit, you continue your hike down with a long and steep descent to the river Pacaymayu (Sunrise River) at 3500m/11480f) towards the Runkurakay pass (3950m/12916f) until you reach our camping site called Chaquicocha at (3650m/11975f). Here you can relax your body from the tough day while enjoying an amazing view over the mountains.
- Level of difficulty: challenge
- Hiking time: 8 hours
- Total distance: 15 km approx.
3
CHAQUICOCHA – PHUYUPATAMARCA – WIÑAYHUAYNA
The third day is the most beautiful one. You can notice a change in the eco-system while walking to the tropical forest of Wiñaywayna. We will pass two small lakes at the top of the second pass (3950m/12959f). It’s a gentle climb through beautiful forest and a small Inca tunnel before the third pass (3700m/12139f) offers a grand view over the Rio Urubamba Valley. The nearest settlement is named Phuyupatamarca/"Town above the clouds" (3600m/11811f). A well preserved site with long chain Inca baths where one can enjoy impressive ancient engineering. We pass another Inca Tunnel before visiting the ruins of Wiñaywayna/"Forever young" (2650m/8694f). The Inca stairs change into a zigzag trail until you reach a red-roofed white building, our last camping site, and also a location with hot water (5S) and bottled drinks.
- Level of difficulty: normal - unforgettable (easy)
- Hiking time: 5 hours
- Total distance: 9 km approx.
4
WIÑAYHUAYNA - MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO
After our breakfast at 4:30 am, we will head - equipped with our flashlights - to the Inti Punku (Sun Gate) at 2700m/8858f to get the first glimpse of Machu Picchu and watch the sunrise over Machu Picchu and Wayna Picchu. The last triumphal descent will take you almost one hour before we visit the citadel of Machu Picchu (2400m/7874f) around 8:00am. You can enjoy its spiritual charm during a guided tour (about two hours) that helps you to understand the meaning and ancient use of the different buildings. After this tour you will have enough time to explore the archeological site on your own (f.ex. go to the Inca Bridge, explore the variety of buildings or climb Wayna Picchu for an amazing panorama picture). A bus takes you down to Aguas Calientes. Here you can soak away your aches and pain in the town’s hot springs (S10). We will leave Aguas Calientes in the afternoon.
- Level of difficulty: normal - unique (easy)
- Hiking time: 2-3 hours
- Total distance: 5 km approx.
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SERVICES INCLUDED
- Transport
- Private transfer from your hotel in Cusco to km 82
- Tourist train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and bus to Cusco
- Transfer from the train station of Ollantaytambo to your hotel in Cusco
- Bus going downhill from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes where the train station is situated.
- Entrance fees to the Inca trail and Machu Picchu
- Professional bilingual guide (Spanish and English)
- Camping equipment (professional two-persons tents: Doite, model Cima 4, extra light/4kg, Doite, model Kailas 3, extra light/4.5kg and Doite, model Himalaya, extra light/4.5kg; sleeping mats, dining tent equipped with a table and chairs, a sanitary tent)
- Cook, cooking equipment, meals (3 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 dinners). Food includes pancakes, omelets, soups, fresh fruit and spaghetti, chicken, fish, meat and rice, all rich in carbohydrates and very suitable for trekking, hot drinks including coca leafs tea which is excellent for the altitude
- Tea and snack time everyday (tea, coffee, wantan, popcorn, cracker)
- Porters to carry the main luggage (all the equipment and cooking stock)
- First-aid kit and oxygen bottle
- Breakfast on the first day and last lunch in Aguas Calientes
- Sleeping bag (if you don’t have a sleeping bag there is the possibility of renting one for US$25.00 dollars)
- Lunch in Aguas Calientes town
NOTES:
(1) Visit to Huayna Picchu: For Huayna Picchu mountain requires to be booked long time in advance.
(2) Extra porter: According to the law (26702) and supervised by the Ministry of Employment, the collaboration of an extra porter is given under the conditions the customer requires. However, the customer’ luggage mustn’t exceed 15 kg, since the porter is only allowed to carry 20 kg. The Service costs 135 USD and includes transport, entrance fee to the Inca Trail, food and camping equipment.
(3) Tips for porters, cooks and guides are always welcome. The porters are also very grateful for a small donation, for example clothes or school equipment for their children.
CONDITIONS & TERMS:
- Please note that the program deposit is non-refundable. The deposit is used to purchase the ticket entrance to the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu and also the entrance for the porters (they will carry just camping equipment and the food for the trek), and once a space is purchased it cannot be resold.
- We will not give any refunds if a participant decides to cancel the trip prior to departure or during the trip (except from the entrances to the archaeological sites and the bus/train tickets)
- All participants have to carry their own back packs, including sleeping bag and mattresses unless they booked an extra porter or the service includes porters, horsemen or mules.
- A participant must declare if he/she has any sickness or medical disorder and must bring his/her own medicines.
- All participants must bring their original passport and, if available, their original student card ´ISIC´.
- It is compulsory that all clients have personal travel insurance. This insurance must cover personal accident, medical expenses, loss of effects and all other expenses which might arise as a result of loss, damage or injury occurring to the client. We cannot be accounted for any accident or loss of personal belongings the customer caused by his/her own.
Caitlin
Hi, very nice website, cheers!
3 September, 2019 at 9:11 am