Description
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is believed to be one of the best treks the world has to offer. It’s also one of the most accessible, as you don’t need any particular skills to complete. A little good health and fitness will help you get from the trailhead to Machu Picchu (Mapi) on a 4-day, 3-night tour.
Details of the walk:
Difficulty: moderate
Duration: 4 days / 3 nights
Elevation gain: 428 m / 1404 ft.
Seasons: from March 1 to January 31 (February is closed for maintenance).
Driving time in Cusco: 2 h 45 min +
Nearest walk: town of Ollantaytambo
Highlights: Dry valley of the Andes, Last stretch of the Sacred Valley, views of the Urubamba mountain range, scenic trail, cactus area, local villages, wildlife: horses and dogs of the prairie, vizcacha and Andean foxes, birds; Torrent tyranulett, black-breasted buzzard eagle, chiguanco thrush.
Activities: hiking trail, nature, visits to archaeological sites and visits to the Andean community.
What you get:
- Professional bilingual guide.
- Pick up the hotel.
- Roundtrip transportation to kilometer 82.
- Return train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo. (Expedition train) and bus from Ollantaytambo to the city of Cusco.
- Water (not included during the first 4 hours of the trek, we will provide you with boiled water to drink during the rest of the trek).
- 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 afternoon snacks, 3 dinners and various snacks to eat throughout the day. (Breakfast on day 1 and lunch on day 4 in Aguas Calientes are not included).
- Entrance fees to the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu.
- Dining tent with tables and chairs.
- Cook and assistant cook
- Basic foam pads for sleeping.
- Tent for 2 people.
- One-way bus tickets from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes.
- First aid kit.
- Oxygen bottle
First Day:
Day 1: Cusco – Km82 – Ayapata.
Start time: between 04:30 a.m. and 05:00 a.m.
Travel:
Two hours by bus from Cusco to Piskacucho or the famous 82 km.
We will cross the Urubamba River, one of the most important tributaries of the Amazon River in Peru. See the Inca fortress of Huillca Raccay and the Inca city of Llactapata (patallacta). Enjoy the impressive views of the Urubamba mountain range and the snow-capped Veronica peak, which stands at 5,860 m / 1,922 ft.
Difficulty level:
Moderate. The trail starts at 2720m / 8923ft climbing to 3000m / 8984ft, this is a mild day on the Inca Trail.
Meals:
Breakfast on the way to Piskacucho. Lunch during the trek and dinner at the camp. Vegetarian options are available at lunch. Please let us know if you need this option please.
Accommodation:
Camping in tents at a campsite in the small town of Wayllabamba. The temperature at night is generally around 10°C / 50°F.
Other information:
Entrance tickets, passports and student IDs will need to be shown at the start of the tour.
Second Day:
Start time: 06:00 am
The fauna and flora in this part of the walk is incredibly varied and you will see many birds such as hummingbirds and plants and trees such as the ‘Polilepys’ or the Q’ueuña tree that grow in the amazing cloud forest located at 3650 / 11972m! You’ll feel a real sense of accomplishment coming to the top of the pass today.
Difficulty level:
Very difficult. A steep and difficult ascent from our camp at 3000m / 10700ft to the highest pass (Abra de Huarmihuañusca / ‘Dead Woman’s Pass’ at 4200m / 13779ft. After a break we have a 2 hour descent to our camp at Pacaymayu.< /p>
Meals:
Breakfast at the camp, lunch on the hike and dinner at the camp at night.
Third Day:
Start time: 06:00 am
Visit the archaeological site of “Runcuracay”. Spectacular views of the surrounding mountains from the Runkurakay Pass. Explore the Inca site of ‘Sayacmarca’ and look at the magnificent scenery as you pass through the enchanting cloud forest. Visit the Inca site of “Phuyupatamarca” (which means town in the clouds) and then walk through the impressive Inca agricultural site of “Intipata”. This is the most amazing day of the trek, because a relaxing day through some of the most beautiful scenery the Inca Trail has to offer.
Difficulty level:
Difficult Climb from 3550m / 11646ft to 4000m / 13123ft to the second highest point of the trail and then a steep descent to the archeological site of Sayacmarca and then a new ascent to 3680m / 12073ft.
Meals:
Breakfast at the camp, lunch on the hike and dinner at the camp at night.
Other information:
A short distance from this camp is the Inca site of the same name “WiñayWayna”. Even if you’re tired after your day’s hike, don’t miss out on visiting the most impressive site on the trail.
Fourth Day:
Day 4: Winay Wayna – Machu Picchu.
Start time:
On this last day, wake up time is 3:30 a.m. We start the day early to allow our porters adequate time to pack up all of our camp and get down to your train stop to catch your train to Cusco. After a quick early breakfast, we’ll head to the last checkpoint of the Inca trail, where we’ll wait for about an hour until the checkpoint gate opens at 5:30 a.m.
A visit to “Inti Punku” (Puerta del Sol) 2730m / 8792ft before sunrise and your first spectacular view of Machu Picchu 2400m / 7873ft with the sun rising over it. Read more about the sunrise in Machu Picchu below.
From the trail, the opportunity to take the famous picture of Machu Picchu. A walking tour (2 hours) of Machu Picchu by your guide. Optional climb of Huayna Picchu 2720m / 8923ft (a 45-minute climb to reach the top).
After the tour you can wander around the impressive site to yourself and then return by bus or on foot to Aguas Calientes. From there, you will take the scenic train back to Cusco.
Difficulty level:
Moderate A gentle one hour ascent to Inti Punku and then a 40 minute descent to Machu Picchu 2400m / 7873ft
Meals:
Breakfast in the camp very early. Lunch in Aguas Calientes.
Need to Carry:
- Original passport (student card – (ISIC) )
- Travel insurance is essential
- Sleeping bag (can be hired by us)
- Walking boots
- Waterproof jacket / rain poncho
- A warm jacket.
- Hat and gloves.
- T-shirts.
- Comfortable pants.
- Sun hat.
- Sun protection (factor 35 recommended)
- Insect repellent.
- Water (For the first 4 Hours)
- Hand sanitizer.
- Personal medication.
- Camera
- Headlamp (They are useful)
- Shorts
- Cane (with rubber tip)
- Sandals
- Extra money
- Swimsuit (Aguas Calientes)
Not included:
Optional services not included:
- Sleeping bag (4 seasons) $40
- Cane x 2 (single) $20
- Inflatable mattress $35
- Camping pillow (rest) $20
- Rent our Comfort Packages (all of the above items) for just $100
- Complete porter (up to 14 kg or 30 pounds. You can share between 2 people) $ 180
- Half porter (up to 7 kg or 15 lbs. Cannot be shared) $100
- If you need an extra porter or half porter, please let us know when you complete the booking form.
- Single store supplement $55
- Huayna Picchu Mountain $90
- Machu Picchu Mountain $90
More Information:
What is the sunrise in Machu Picchu? For more than 5 decades, people who visit Machu Picchu have wanted to get there to see the sunrise. The best time of year to see the sunrise at Machu Picchu is during the winter solstice on June 21 of each year. Watching the sunrise is a beautiful thing reserved mainly for people who walk the Inca Trail during that particular time of year. However, this event is conditioned to the season (summer and climatic changes that could prevent people from doing it. Mapi Trekking Peru does not guarantee that you will see the sunrise in Machu Picchu.
Your guide will give you your train tickets. The train usually leaves around 2:55 p.m. and arrives in Cusco at 7:45 p.m., although this may be subject to change. You can choose to have an extra night in Aguas Calientes to explore Machu Picchu on your own and visit the hot springs in Aguas Calientes.
