2 reviews
4 days, 3 nights
Voucher on smartphone accepted
Confirmation will be sent by email
English, Español
The Official Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a 4 day 3 night trek which is considered as one of the world’s oldest routes and one of the ten best hikes in the world. On this trek you will be able to follow the old traditional trail used by the Incas to reach Machu Picchu over hundreds of years. At the same time you will enjoy incredible sacred landscapes and you will be able to immerse within the mystic history of the Inca Empire. As a reward the last day this mystic trek will end in Machu Picchu (ticket included), the Inca citadel.
Departure time: 4:30am on day 1
Pick from hotel in central Cusco between 3:30-4:00am
Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco to Wayllabamba
Day 2: Wayllabamba to Pacaymayu
Day 3: Pacaymayu to Wiñay Wayna
Day 4: Wiñay Wayna to Machu Picchu and back to Cusco by transport
More details of the itinerary on the itinerary section below
You will be pick up in your hotel in Cusco at around 4am. After 1.5 hours of bus journey you will be dropped off in Piskacuchu (Sacred Valley), also known as “km 82”. This is the starting point of the Inca Trail where your trek will start.
On day 1 the trek is relatively easy. After a break to eat, this day you will be able to see the Inca city of Llactapata along with the military post of Willkarakay. Then you will continue your trek through the valley of Wayllabamba walking along the Kusichaca River where you can enjoy the local flora and native fauna. You will continues on the trail gradually within the Andean forest until arrive to the first campsite in Wayllabamba, where you will have a dinner and stay for the night.
On this second day you will have an early wake up (6am) and after a breakfast, you will start a more intense walk. The Trek will go through the densely Andean forest until you reach the campsite, where you will take a short rest. In the afternoon the trek will continue and you will see the landscape changing from sierra to puna (a dry landscape with much less vegetation). After another rest, you will make the final ascent to a 4215 meters point which is the highest point of the trek. There you will be able to enjoy panoramic view. Then you will descend to the Pacaymayo valley (3600 meters), where the camp will be set up, you will eat and stay for the night
After a breakfast you will visit the archaeological site of Abra Runkurakay. 45 minutes later you will reach the second highest pass of the Inca trail (3970 meters above the sea). You will continue with a descend to the archaeological site of Sayacmarca (3624 meters).
Once your archaeological site visit is completed, the trek continue down and you will make lunch break. From here you will enter the high Andean cloud forest. Then you will continue on the route, passing through an original Inca tunnel to reach the archaeological complex Phuyupatamarca. Finally you will continue the walk along the long descendant stone steps to reach Wiñaywayna where you will camp and spend the night.
On this last day you will get up early to walk the final part of the Inca Trail. One hour later you will reach the Puerta del Sol (Sun Gate) known as Inti Punku, where you will see the sunrise over Machu Picchu (subject to weather conditions). Then you will take a 2-hour tour to learn more about this history and discovery the secrets of this mystic place. After you will have time to explore the citadel at your own.
The climb to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain is possible but optional (you will be able to book it as extra).
Once your Machu Picchu visit is completed, in the afternoon you will descend by bus to Aguas Calientes town, where you will take the train to Ollantaytambo. Finally you picked up at the Ollaytaytambo station and you will be driven by bus back to your hotel in Cusco.
Get by email a list of times of departure and arrival of all services available.
Good fast service. We booked last minutes tickets for the Machu Picchu and mountain without issues
Pick from the hotel to transport terminal and then directly to Ollantaytambo. Perfect service
Transport from Cusco to Machu Picchu within our budget, and met nice people. Jose the driver is amazing.
Good fast service. We booked last minutes tickets for the Machu Picchu and mountain without issues
Pick from the hotel to transport terminal and then directly to Ollantaytambo. Perfect service
Transport from Cusco to Machu Picchu within our budget, and met nice people. Jose the driver is amazing.
Donna - United States