Hiking the Inca Trail (Qapaq in Quechuan native language), a 50 km sector of authentical Incan stone paths that once extended from Cusco to Machu Picchu, is one of the world's signature outdoor excursions! Nothing beats the sensation to walk the Inca Trail that leads to the Lost City of the Incas just as the Sun casts its first golden rays over ancient stone buildings.
5-Day Inca Trail hike with us means a fully supported hike by Porters and modern equipment accompanied by an experienced bilingual Tour Guide. Moreover, you are given an extra day to discover Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu! These all enable you to fully enjoy one of the most popular hikes in South America.
Most of the travelers, who have reached Machu Picchu hiking the Inca Trail, would not like to have it done in any other way.
The Inca Trail hike takes you past Inka ruins that are accessible only by foot. You will also enjoy views of the surrounding stunning scenery. In the beginning, you walk the Inca Trail in the thin air of the Andean highlands and you end it in a cloud forest full of orchids, bromeliads, hummingbirds, condors, and spectacled bears, among others.
Although the number of Inca Trail hike trekkers is strictly limited, you will still see lots of fellow hikers along the way. Come to join one of the best Machu Picchu hiking tours!!
Sustainable Tourism: At Salkantay Trek Machu, we are happy to promote and practice sustainable tourism and support local communities;
Difficulty Hike: 3 Demanding;
Age Requirements: 12+
Group Available: Min: 2 - Max: 8
Crew: A Tierras Vivas Representative in Cusco and a professional bilingual tour guide, a cook, and porters;
Accommodation: 3x campsite, 1x hotel;
Meals: 4x breakfast, 4x lunch, 4x dinner, 4x afternoon tea (Please allow USD 20-50 for meals not included);
Transportation: Private transportation and train;
Camping Equipment: A double tent, Air sleeping roll mattress, feather sleeping bag (-5 grade), a pair of hiking poles, air pillow camping, and others (More details, You can view our camping equipment included!).
Day 01: Cusco - Km 82 - Llullucha Pampa
Day 02: Llullucha Pampa - Chaquicocha
Day 03: Chaquicocha - Wiñay Wayna
Day 04: Wiñay Wayna - Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes
Day 05: Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes - Cusco
Early morning, we pick you up from your hotel and take you by our private transport to the starting point of this Inca Trail hike - Piscacucho, also called Km 82 (2,350 m). There, your Tour Guide gives you a briefing about the following Machu Picchu tour and after that, you cross the checking point of the Inca Trail hike. Then you hike along the Urubamba River visiting the Incan archaeological sites of Willca Raccay and the enormous Llactapata. Later on, you continue up to the Cusichaca River Canyon offering magnificent views of the Cordillera Oriental; particularly, the Veronica Mountain (5,850 m). You have lunch in Chamana to later continue the Inca Trail walk along the Cusichaca River observing several Incan agricultural stepped terraces and irrigation channels until reaching the picturesque village of Wayllabamba. Thereafter, you start ascending while appreciating various eco-systems along the way. Later in the afternoon, you get to the village of Llullucha Pampa, a place of your first campsite (3,850 m). There you have dinner and a rest afterward.
Estimated trekking time: 7-8 hours
Trekking distance: 17 km
Max. elevation: 3,850m (12,630 ft)
Min. elevation: 2,600 m (8,530 ft)
Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
Early after breakfast, you continue your Machu Picchu hike ascending towards the highest point of the trail - Abra Warmiwañusqa (= Dead Woman´s Pass) at 4,200 metres passing through the cloud forests of Yunkachimpa and Corral Punku offering excellent views of surrounding snowcapped peaks. From Warmiwañusqa, you descend to the Pacaymayo Valley (3,300 m), where you have a lunch break. Then you walk the Inca Trail through the valley until you get to the Inka´s ruins of Runkuracay where a guided tour follows. Afterwards, you climb up and get over the second pass - Abra Runkurakay (3,860m) walking on this "Royal Inca´s Highway" down to the next Inka site - Sayacmarca. On the way, you pass the Yanacocha Lake. In the end, we get to our second campsite - Chaquicocha (3,670 m).
Estimated trekking time: 7-8 hours
Trekking distance: 12 km
Max. elevation: 4,200 m (12,630 ft)
Min. elevation: 3,500 m (11,480 ft)
Difficulty: Challenging
Today, we start hiking passing through lovely subtropical vegetation and many important archaeological sites. Before we reach the first site, we get over Phuyupatamarca Pass (3,670 m) and just behind it, we can see the Phuyupatamarca Inka complex (3,600 m), one of the best preserved and most completed sites of this 5 days Inca Trail. The complex is located on the top of a mountain and it corresponds with its Quechuan name that means the "Town above the Clouds". After a guided tour, we have lunch there. Then, we start a steep descent via a cloud forest offering an opportunity to see beautiful orchids and different bird species on the way to our last campsite at Wiñay Wayna (2,700 m). There, we have a guided tour of the same-named impressive archaeological complex consisting of a religious sector, urban sector and an agricultural centre with lots of stepped terraces. Afterwards, we are served dinner and then we go sleep to get ready for hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu!
Estimated trekking time: 5-6 hours
Trekking distance: 10 km
Max. elevation: 3,670 m (12,040 ft)
Min. elevation: 2,700 m (8,860 ft)
Difficulty: Moderate
We start trekking the Inca Trail early morning after breakfast. We first climb antique steps to Inti Punku (the Sun Gate) to see the sunrise above the long-expected citadel of Machu Picchu! Then, we spend the rest of the morning exploring the Inka citatel on our own. For those interested, we meet up in the below town of Aguas Calientes to have lunch together. To get to Aguas Calientes, you can either take a slow descend (recomended to take some lovely panoramic photos; it takes about an hour) or a shuttle bus (approx. 20 minutes; it costs $9.50 which is not included in the Inca Trail package). Afterwards, you can visit the local hot springs (entrance fee of 10 Soles is not included in any of our Inca Trail packages). You spend the night in a comfortable hostel where you can enjoy hot shower!
Estimated trekking time: 3 hours
Trekking distance: 4 km
Max. elevation: 2,700 m (8,860 ft)
Min. elevation: 2,400 m (7,875 ft)
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
No Inca Trail hike expects is today, just a walk and a ride as we take a shuttle bus after very early breakfast. The bus leaves us in front of the gates of the mysterious city of Machu Picchu that we enter for the early morning best photo opportunities! Then, you enjoy a 2 and half an hour guided visit of the so called "Lost City of the Incas"!! Afterwards, you have an opportunity to climb either the peak of Huayna Picchu (45 minutes up and the same time back) or Machu Picchu Mountain (1 hour, 30 minutes up and down) on your own to take some panoramic pictures of Machu Picchu!! This Machu Picchu tour finishes by afternoon's descend to the town of Aguas Calientes where we take a train back to Cusco. Arrival in the evening.
End of the service! Hope you have enjoyed this one of longer Inca Trail tours!!
Meal budget: Please allow USD 20-50 for meals not included.
Solo Traveler: Please note that if you have booked the "Solo Traveler" option for this trek, you also receive your own single tent.
Local flights: No local flights are included in any of our Inca Trail packages!
Every year, thousands of people do the Inca Trail. They usually complete the 43-km trail in 4 days. For most of them, the trip is their lifetime experience and fulfillment of their personal ambitions. The satisfaction of having completed the trek and visiting the spectacular Incan city of Machu Picchu is hard to beat. Although, this feeling is even better if you know that all porters helping you along the way have been treated well and with the respect they deserve.
Important note: Personally shared porter must be reserved in advance at the time of booking your trek.
The camping equipment for Inca Trail will be returned to Cusco on day 4th, you need to give to chef the sleeping bag, and mattress.
The hike to Inca Trail no included the extra porter. You will need to carry with you a daypack with your clothes, sleeping, Camera, water bottle, snacks, cold weather and a poncho in case of rain (unlikely in Dry season May to October)- but as a precaution.
Important note: Personal shared porter must be reserved in advance at the time of booking your trek.
It’s very important to take EXTRA MONEY. You need to take at least 200-300 soles in emergency money:
Is very important to take the best cover backpacker, because the weather on Inca Trail changes every date, and we can’t predict it raining or not. If you don’t have one, we recommended putting your clothes, sleeping bag and other personal equipment inside the plastic bag.
Hiking pants and T-shirts are recommended during the day, complemented by sweaters, fleeces and waterproof jackets. It is very convenient to have light rain gear available in the daypack (rain poncho or jacket and/or rain pants) as the weather changes easily and rains can suddenly occur. At night, warm clothing is required, down jackets can be useful, otherwise a fleece and a jacket. During the third day (if sunny) and in Machu Picchu, convertible hiking pants are useful, as can be switched into shorts if necessary. Machupicchu has a warm climate, getting only cold at night. The rest of the necessary implements are included in the “What we recommend that you bring” list.
A lot of people include the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in their “Things to do”, although what most people don’t know is that there are various Inca Trails Trips to Machu Picchu to pick from in the Cusco region.
In case the Classic Inca Trail is fully booked, you can still enjoy one of our amazing alternative treks:
