OVERVIEW
INCA TRAIL TO MACHUPICCHU
DAY 1: CUSCO – OLLANTAYTAMBO – KM 82 – LLACTAPATA – WAYLLABAMBA
Early in the morning, we pick you up from your hotel in Cusco to later take you by private vehicle to the town of Ollantaytambo. There, we have breakfast and we shop the last necessary stuff for the trek. Then, we get on our vehicle again to continue until the so-called Km 82 at Piscacucho. This is a trailhead and checkpoint of the 4-day Inca Trail to Machupicchu. After 2 hours of walking, we arrive at the Inca archaeological site of Llaqtapata. These two Quechua words mean a “village” (Llaqta) and a “high place” (Pata). Our Tour Guide shows us around the Inca site and he/she explains to us that it used to serve agricultural purposes due to its many platforms.
Our Cook serves us to lunch there afterwards and then, we are ready to continue trekking until we get to the beautiful valley of Wayllabamba (3,000 m/9,843 ft). We layout our first camping there, followed by dinner and overnight.
Maximum altitude: 3,000 metres / 9,843 feet
Minimum altitude: 2,700 metres/8,858 feet
Duration of the trek: 5-6 hours
Trekking distance: 12 km / 7.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Weather: Warm by day/Cold at night (around 0°C)
DAY 2 INCA TRAIL TO MACHUPICCHU: WAYLLABAMBA – WARMIWAÑUSQA – PACAYMAYO
Our Cook serves us breakfast early in the morning so that we can start trekking. First off, we need to overcome a 9-km uphill section (around 5 hours) in order to reach the highest point of the trail: Warmiwañusqa Pass. It measures 4,200 m.a.s.l. (13,780 f.a.s.l.) and it means the pass of the “Dead Woman” in Quechua native language.
In this place, you might admire a wonderful panoramic view overlooking the surrounding mountain range while enjoying your well-deserved lunch. Afterwards, only a descent walk awaits you as we need to reach the Pacaymayo Valley (3,526 m/11,566 ft). It offers incredible views of the landscape having a waterfall on the left side as well as many snow-capped peaks all around. The valley is a perfect place to build our second campsite, have dinner and rest after this arduous hike.
Maximum altitude: 4,200 metres /13,780 feet
Minimum altitude: 3,000 metres/9,843 feet
Duration of the trek: 6-7 hours
Trekking distance: 11 km / 6.8 miles
Difficulty: Difficult
Weather: Cold by day/Cold at night (around 0°C)
DAY 3: PACAYMAYO – RUNCURACAY – SAYAQMARCA – PHUYUPATA MARCA – WIÑAY WAYNA
Many guided visits to Incan sites await us today. For that reason, we need to have breakfast early morning again and start hiking afterwards. First off, we trek until Runcuracay, a beautiful Inca construction built in a shape of an oval. We are guided around this site which is believed that it served as a watchtower for the Incas. Afterwards, we continue till we reach the archaeological complex of Sayaqmarca. Our Guide gives us an explanation about its interesting building erected on a very steep slope, surrounded by a wonderful mountain chain.
Later on, we trek to the Phuyupata Marca archaeological complex to be guided around this composition of impressive fountains and water channels. These are, without any doubt, an example of spectacular hydraulic engineering work of the Incas. Our last stop of the day is at Wiñay Wayna where we build our last campsite. So, we can enjoy dinner and go to sleep.
Maximum altitude: 3,962 metres/12,996 feet
Minimum altitude: 2,700 metres/8,858 feet
Duration of the trek: 8 hours
Trekking distance: 16 km / 9.9 miles
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
Weather: Moderate by day/Cold at night (around 0°C)
DAY 4: WIÑAY WAYNA – MACHUPICCHU – OLLANTAYTAMBO – CUSCO
Very early in the morning, you have breakfast to be able to start trekking to the famous “Inti Punku” (Sun Gate). This place serves as a checkpoint for Inca Trail trekkers too. You rest there for a while and enjoy the stunning sunrise above the Sanctuary of Machupicchu (2,430 m/7,972 ft).
Then, you are given a 4-hour private guided tour while the Tour Guide explains to you each known detail of its history. He/she shows you around architectural collections of a greater interest which are situated in the so-called “Royal Tomb”. It is located very close to the gateway. Also, you explore the Temple of the Sun (around the structured tower), the Temple of the Three Windows, the Central Temple, the Mansion of the Priests, the sunken place. You can see their lots of springs formed in water channels and many stairways. All entirely made of stone.
There are rocks used for high ritual purposes. The most important of which is “Inti Watana” or the Solar Clock. After the guided part, you are given time off in order to take some more pictures and explore the citadel on your own. When you decide, you use a bus ticket (that the Guide has given you previously) to descend to the Aguas Calientes town (2,040 m/6,693 ft) and have lunch (not included). Later on, you board a train in the direction to Ollantaytambo and afterwards, we take you on a private vehicle back to Cusco. Before we tell you goodbye, we bring you to your hotel.
Maximum altitude: 2,700 metres/8,858 feet
Minimum altitude: 2,040 metres/6,693 feet
Duration of the trek: 2 hours
Trekking distance: 4 km / 2.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Weather: Humid-warm
ITINERARY
INCA TRAIL TO MACHUPICCHU
DAY 1: CUSCO – OLLANTAYTAMBO – KM 82 – LLACTAPATA – WAYLLABAMBA
- 4 am – a pick-up from your hotel.
- Transport from Cusco to Ollantaytambo.
- Breakfast and last shopping of all necessary for the trek.
- Transfer to Km 82 – Piscacucho (2,700 m/8,858 ft) which is the checkpoint of the 4-day Inca Trail to Machupicchu.
- Passing through the checkpoint.
- Start of hiking.
- After a 2-hour trail, we get to the Inca site of Llactapata.
- Guided visit of Llactapata.
- Lunch at Llactapata prepared by our experienced Cook.
- Trek to Wayllabamba (3,000 m/9,843 ft) – our first campsite.
- Dinner and overnight at Wayllabamba.
DAY 2 INCA TRAIL TO MACHUPICCHU: WAYLLABAMBA – WARMIWAÑUSQA – PACAYMAYO
- Breakfast at the campsite.
- We hike up 9 km till the Warmiwañusqa Pass (Dead Woman´s Pass; 4,200 metres / 13,780 feet).
- Lunch at Warmiwañusqa while admiring a wonderful panoramic view of the surrounding mountain range.
- Descent hike from Warmiwañusqa to the deep valley of Pacaymayo.
- Building a campsite at Pacaymayo (3,526 m/11,566 ft).
- Dinner and camping.
DAY 3: PACAYMAYO – RUNCURACAY – SAYAQMARCA – PHUYUPATA MARCA – WIÑAY WAYNA
- Breakfast at the campsite.
- Hiking to the next Inca site at Runcuracay (2,700 m/8,858 ft).
- Guided visit of the site.
- Walk to the archaeological complex of Sayaqmarca (3,657 m/11,998 ft).
- Guiding around it.
- Continuation to Phuyupata Marca (3,521 m/11,552 ft) – an archaeological complex.
- Guided visit of the complex.
- Lunch break.
- Trek to Wiñay Wayna – next Inca site.
- Last campsite at Wiñay Wayna (2,700 m/8,858 ft).
- Dinner and overnight.
DAY 4: WIÑAY WAYNA – MACHUPICCHU – OLLANTAYTAMBO – CUSCO
- Very early breakfast.
- Trekking towards the famous Sun Gate or “Inti Punku”.
- Observing the stunning sunrise above Machupicchu from there.
- 4-hour private guided tour of this overwhelming Inca citadel.
- Time off enabling you to enjoy Machupicchu on your own.
- When you are ready, use a shuttle bus ticket to bring you back down to the town of Aguas Calientes.
- Lunch (not included in the tour).
- The train ride back to Ollantaytambo (2 hours).
- Transport back to the city of Cusco (approx. an hour).
- Transfer to your hotel.
- End of service of the Inca Trail to Machupicchu.
OPTIONAL
OPTIONAL:
- Climb to the Machupicchu Mountain, a mountain situated above the Inca citadal accessible by a 1.5 hour climb. Here you are able to take those postcard-like photos of Machupicchu. It costs USD 15 extra. Please note that the booking needs to be done at least 1 month in advance due to limited number of tickets!
- Wayna Picchu – a mountain situated above the Inca citadal accessible by 45 minute climb. It serves to take some panoramic photos of Machupicchu. It is extra USD 25. Please note that the booking needs to be done at least 3 months in advance due to limited number of entrances!
INCLUDED
WHAT DOES THE INCA TRAIL TO MACHUPICCHU TOUR INCLUDE?
- Pick-up from your hotel in Cusco.
- Private transport to the trailhead at Km 82.
- A professional English-speaking Tour Guide.
- Guide Assistant (for groups of over 10 participants).
- Porters to carry camping and kitchen equipment.
- Entrance ticket to the Inca Trail and Machupicchu.
- Camping and kitchen equipment (a dining tent, a kitchen tent, kitchen utensils, tables, seats, a toilet tent).
- Personal tents (a quad tent for two persons).
- Blanket.
- Mattress.
- Walking stick.
- Duffel bag.
- First aid kit and a bottle of oxygen.
- Two-way radio.
- Meals: 4x breakfast, 3x lunch, 3x dinner, hot beverages during main meals – a vegetarian option available upon request.
- Private guided tour of Machupicchu.
- 1 ticket of a shuttle bus between Machupicchu and Aguas Calientes.
- Return train to Ollantaytambo.
- Private transport between Ollantaytambo and Cusco.
- Drop off at your hotel in Cusco.
NOT INCLUDED
INCA TRAIL TO MACHUPICCHU TOUR NOT INCLUDE:
- Sleeping bag (you can rent it from X Travel Peru for USD 30/trek).
- Lunch on day 4 (in Aguas Calientes).
- Beverages (apart from the main meals).
- Extra Porter (who can carry up to 20 kg of your belongings – USD 70 extra).
- Climb to Wayna Picchu or Machupicchu Mountain (see the Optional section please).
- Entrance fee to the thermal baths at Aguas Calientes (10 Soles).
- Tips to local staff.
- Pocket money.
- Accommodation in Cusco.
- Any flight.
- Travel insurance.
WHAT TO BRING
WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU TO THE INCA TRAIL TO MACHUPICCHU?
- Original passport!!! (Please note: It will be checked at the gateway! If you fail to bring it, you will not be allowed to enter!)
- Necessary stuff for a 4-day trek (We recommend you to take up to 7 kg of your belongings which might be carried by an extra Porter.);
- Sleeping bag (you can rent it from us if you do not have any);
- Personal medicines (if applicable);
- Small backpack;
- Warm clothes such as a jacket, a sweater, long trousers (particularly for the cold nights);
- Light clothes such as shorts and a T-shirt (for sunny and warm days);
- Sufficient number of socks and underwear;
- Rainy coat or poncho (especially, from November to April);
- Trekking shoes;
- Camera;
- Extra batteries and/or power bank;
- Binocular (if you like);
- Flashlight;
- A peak/hat;
- Sunglasses;
- Sun protection cream;
- Insect repellent;
- Toiletries;
- Towel;
- Toilet paper;
- Swimsuit (in case you like to visit the thermal baths at Aguas Calientes);
- Bottled water;
- Canteen;
- Matches;
- Knife;
- Water purification tablets (optional);
- Pocket money (to buy some souvenirs or refreshments).
MAP
GUIDE MAP FOR THE INCA TRAIL TO MACHUPICCHU
PRICE
INCA TRAIL TO MACHUPICCHU
The price depends on the number of participants, travel dates and other preferencies. Please inquire about a personalized price.