Inca Trail To Machu Picchu

Early in the morning our guide picks you up at your hotel in Cusco for the 2 hour ride by bus to the small Andean town of Chilca and on to the trailhead at Piscacucho at km 82. Here you will meet the team that will join you during the trek, such as the porters, camp assistants and cooks. You will begin the walk, the first day is quite easy and during the first kilometers, you will have a beautiful view of the snow peaked Veronica Mountain, walking alongside the Vilcanota River until you arrive at the Archaeological Complex of Patallacta, where you will have lunch and gain energy to reach Huayllabamba, the name in Quechua means ‘grassy plain.

Our first campsite is in Ayapata, an hour and a half up towards the small local village called Wayllabamba (3,000m/9,842ft) located in the temperate green valley of the same name. Temperatures at night are around 5ºC depending on the month.

Meals: Lunch, snacks, afternoon tea and dinner
Accommodation: Camping facilities
Distance: 12kms/7.5mls (6 hours more or less of hiking)

After waking up at 5 to 5:30am and enjoying a hot breakfast, we start a steep ascent towards the highest pass, Abra de Warrmihuañusca or Dead Woman’s Pass at (4,200m/13,779ft). On this day, you will feel a real sense of achievement upon reaching the top! After a well-deserved rest, we begin the descent towards our lunch spot, which is located at Pacaymayu (3,550m/11,646ft).

On our way up towards the pass, we will be able to see and a many species of birds. There will be plenty of time to appreciate the incredible variety of native plants and the Qeuña trees, which grow in the astonishing cloud forest located at (3,650m/11,972ft)!

After lunch, begins the second two-hour steep climb towards Runkuraqay pass (almost 4,000m/13,123ft). We arrive at our campsite by 5 pm. Temperatures at this campsite are around 4ºC during the night.

Meals: Breakfast, water, lunch, snacks, afternoon tea and dinner
Accommodation: Camping facilities
Distance: 16kms/10mls (9 hours more or less of hiking time)

This is a really important day as well, by far so keep this in mind as you ascend on day three! We wake up for breakfast at 6am and start the day with a gentle climb towards the archaeological site of ‘Phuyupatamarca’ (meaning ‘Town in the Clouds’). Here, we reach the third highest point along the Inca trail (3,680m/12,073ft). The views of the mountains, canyons and surrounding areas are spectacular!

The Inca site of Phuyupatamarca, is located a few minutes’ walk from the third pass. After visiting this site, we continue walking down 3,000 stairs through the cloud forest to the impressive agricultural Incan site of Intipata. After taking some time to visit this site, we continue until we arrive at our third campsite Wiñay Wayna (2,680m/8,792ft). Today, we will only walk just round 4 to 5 hours to our lunch spot, it will be our campsite as well. Temperatures at night is about 12º C.

A short walk from our campsite is the famous Incan site of ‘Wiñay Wayna’ (‘Forever Young’). Even if you are feeling tired after your day’s trek, it is a moment you cannot miss!

Meals: Breakfast, water, lunch, snacks, afternoon tea and dinner
Accommodation: Camping facilities and hot showers
Distance: 10kms/6.2mls (5 hours more or less of hiking)

After an early breakfast, in the anticipation of continuing on the trail your hearts may begin to pound from the excitement that awaits your every steps and breath as you approach the fabled citadel. The trail contours a mountainside and drops into cloud forest before coming to an almost vertical flight of 50 steps leading up to the final pass at Intipunku (Sun Gate). Suddenly the whole of Machu Picchu is spread out before you in all its glory – a fantastic sight for all. Our guide will explain the history and the myths that surround this archaeological wonder (7’800ft.) Afterward transfer by bus to return to Aguas Calientes for lunch and after that you will board the train for your returning to Cusco. After your arrival to the Cusco train station our staff will meet and transfer you to your hotel. (Breakfast and Lunch)