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CLASSIC INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU 3N/4D

Experience the classic four-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu through ancient ruins and high passes.

  • 3 Nights / 4 Days
  • Max 16 People
DURATION

3 Nights / 4 Days

LOCATION

Machu Picchu

MAX ALTITUDE

4,215 m.s.n.m.

DIFFICULTY

Moderate

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

The tour begins at 05:00 AM with a private pickup from Cusco, driving through the Sacred Valley to Kilometer 82 to begin an 11 km hike past the Patallaqta ruins to Wayllabamba camp. On the second day, you will face a challenging 12 km ascent to the highest point at Warmiwañusca Pass (4,215m) before descending to Pacaymayo camp. The third day is a scenic 16 km trek visiting the archaeological sites of Runkuracay, Sayaqmarka, and Phuyupatamarka before arriving at Wiñaywayna camp. Finally, on day four, an early morning 6 km hike leads to Intipunku (Sun Gate) for your first view of Machu Picchu, followed by a 2.5-hour guided tour of the citadel and a return train journey to Cusco via Aguas Calientes.

Itinerary

Pre-trek briefing (required)

We provide a full pre-trek briefing at our office or at your hotel in Cusco. This gives you the chance to ask questions about the trek itinerary. Briefings are scheduled for the day before your trek starts.
Please take this into consideration when booking your travel plans to Cusco, to ensure you arrive in time for the briefing.

Day 1: Cusco - Piscacucho ( Km 82) - Wayllabamba

Early in the morning after breakfast at the hotel, we will pick you up at 05:00 from your hotel. We will go for an average of 2 and a half hours to the famous Sacred Valley of the Incas. Our first stop will be in the town of Ollantaytambo where you can make the necessary purchases. Then, we will continue until we reach the starting point of the Inca Trail called Kilometer 82. Reaching a height of 2,673 masl (8,770 feet) and on the first day we will walk 11 km. (6.8miles) The first part of the walk is relatively flat and we will walk an average of 2 hours and 30 minutes to the lunch spot. In the course we will visit our first archaeological center called Patallaqta. The name of the Inca city means “City on top of the Terraces” in Quechua, and here you will be able to explore archaeological remains and you will also be able to see more remains in the distance. After visiting Patallaqta, we will walk for another 20 minutes until we reach the lunch site called Tarachayuc. After enjoying lunch, we will start walking for an average of 2 hours until we reach our camp. This part of the trail is relatively flat with ups and downs until we reach our camp, Wayllabamba, which is at an elevation of 3,000 masl or 9,842 feet.

Overnight in Wayllabamba

Camp site.

Meals: Lunch and Dinner.

After breakfast this day is the most difficult day because we will ascend 1,200 meters until we reach the highest pass of the Inca Trail, and we will walk 12 km (7.4 miles). After enjoying breakfast, we will start our hike where the climb up to the pass will take an average of 5 hours. On the way up, we will be able to see different ecological zones starting from a humid forest and ending in the puna zone where there are no trees, only wild grass. Once we reach the highest point called Warmiwañusca, which means «Pass of the Dead Woman,» which is located at 4,215 masl (13,828 feet), there we will take some time to rest and enjoy the panoramic view. Then, we will begin to descend to our camp for an average of 2 hours. We will descend by stone steps to the Pacaymayo camp, which is at an altitude of 3,630 masl or 11,910 feet. Here we will have lunch and afterwards you will have some time to rest and explore the camp and then we will have dinner in the evening.

Overnight in Pacaymayo

Camp site.

Meals: Lunch and Dinner.

After breakfast, we will walk 16 km (9.9 miles), it is the longest day of the Inca Trail, but also the most beautiful and interesting because we will see more archaeological centers and different ecosystems. After getting up and having breakfast, we will begin to ascend to the next step that will take us 2 hours. On the way up we will visit an archaeological center called Runkuracay, which is a very interesting archaeological center due to its circular shape and its location. It is said that this place was a refuge for walkers and a control on the way. After having a tour in this archaeological center, we will continue climbing up to the second pass called Runkuracay which is at 3,941 masl or 12,800 feet. Then we will descend for 2 hours to the place of lunch, and on the way down we will visit an archaeological site called Sayaqmarka, which means «Site in a Steep Place.» Here we can see an important temple dedicated to the Salkantay Mountain, which is the highest in this area. Then we will arrive at Chaquiccocha for lunch and then we will continue walking for 4 more hours until we reach our next camp. The first part of this road will be relatively flat with ups and downs until we reach our next archaeological site called Phuyupatamarka which means «City above the Clouds.» Here we will see water sources where the Incas took special baths to purify themselves before visiting the Inca city of Machu Picchu. Here we also have the Phuyupatamarka camp, which is the second option for camping on the third day. After the tour, we will go down until we reach the agricultural terraces of Intipata. Then we will continue descending to our Wiñaywayna camp, which means «Forever Young» and is at 2,650 masl or 8,694 feet. This is our last night in the camp, and after our dinner, we will thank our support staff (porters) for their work.

Overnight in Pacaymayo

Camp site.

Meals: Lunch and Dinner.

On the last day, we will wake up very early (around 03:30 a.m.) and after breakfast we will walk to Control where we will wait until 05:30. Once we pass the Control, we will walk 6 km (3.7 miles) to Machu Picchu for a time of 2 hours and 30 minutes. The first part will be relatively flat until you reach Intipunku, which is the famous Puerta del Sol and the first place where you will see Machu Picchu. After Intipunku, we will begin to descend to Machu Picchu, which is located at 2,400 masl or 7,874 feet, where we will pass Control and we will be able to store our large backpacks in the warehouse. Then we will begin our tour that takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes where we will visit important sites such as temples, squares, terraces, and canals. Please note that there are specific hours for some temples. After the tour, they will take the bus to Aguas Calientes. here we board our return train to Cusco. The suggested time to descend from Machu Picchu to the town of Aguas Calientes is 13:00 p.m depending on the departure time of the train to be always 30 minutes before the departure of train.

Train Expedition from Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo or Poroy (Cusco)
Upon arrival at the station you will be waiting for a staff of the company to transfer to their respective hotels in Cusco.

Meals: Lunch and Dinner.

Trip Details

Duration 3N / 4D
Activities Hiking – Adventure
Difficulty Moderate to challenging
Hiking distance 45KM / 27.5 miles
Minimum height 2000 m.s.n.m. or 6,560 ft (Aguas Calientes Town)
Maximum height 4215 m.s.n.m. or 13,821 ft (Dead woman Pass)
Destinations Machu Picchu
Tour language English, Spanish
Accommodation 03 nights Camping
Meals 03 Breakfast, 3 Lunch, 03 Tea time and 03 Dinners
Starts / Ends Cusco – Cusco

IMPORTANT: Please Allow 2 - 3 Days for Acclimatization

Services Included

The services Included

  • Spanish and English speaking professional guide and assistant guides.
  • Private transport from your hotel in Cusco to KM 82.
  • Porters to take camping equipment.
  • Chef and assistant chef's.
  • Dinning Tent, kitchen tents, tables and chairs.
  • All meals - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
  • Tents and mattress.
  • Accommodation for our guides, cooks and porters.
  • Entrance fee to Inca Trail and Machu Picchu.
  • Expedition train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo.
  • Bus ticket from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes.
  • Bus ticket from Ollantaytambo train station to your hotel in Cusco.
  • First aid kit.
  • Oxygen​​​.
  • Please let us know of any dietary requirements when booking.

Not Included

  • Sleeping bags ($25.00).
  • Tips for the guides and porters.
  • Breakfast on the first day and the last lunch in Aguas Calientes.
  • Trekking poles ($15.00).

Group Service

USD $795.00 per person

Private Service
Number of people
Price per person USD
1 - 2 people
USD $1135.00 per person
3 - 5 people
USD $1020.00 per person
6 - 8 people
USD $890.00 per person
9 + people
USD $795.00 per person

Discount

Children 17 years old and under – $40USD off

* To receive the child discount you must send us a copy of the child’s passport.

Discount

Huaynapicchu Mountain: USD$70.00

Machu Picchu Mountain: USD$70.00

Vistadome Train: USD$45.00

Sleeping Bags: USD$25.00

Trekking Poles: USD$15.00 (1 pair)

Prívate Tent: USD$40.00

Extra Porter (To carry your personal bag) for 7 kg or 15 pounds: USD$120.00

Document
Small backpack
Large backpack
Warm clothes - Including jacket, fleece, thermal clothes for sleeping, gloves, scarf
Rain clothes - Jacket and trousers, poncho, hat
Swimsuit
Small towel
Strong, waterproof trekking boots
Walking poles
Sandals
Flashlight
Camera - Extra batteries as they run out faster under cold conditions
Suncream, moisturiser
Insect repellant - Min 20% DEET
Toilet paper
Personal first aid kit
Snacks - Biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc
Water bottle
Cash in Soles/$USD
YOU MUST BRING YOUR ORIGINAL PASSPORT

How to book

To book the tour, please send us an email with the information of each person in your group:

Full name, nationality, date of birth and gender
Copy of your passport
The tour you want to do, the start date
How many people are in your group
info@peruvianpathsandadventures.com

Tour Map: Classic Inca Trail To Machu Picchu - 3N/4D

Experience the Tour

Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu 1 / 6
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