Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4 Days/ 3 Nights
Duration
From
Overview
As we operate the Classic Inca Trail ourselves, we offer departures year-round. Indeed, if you prefer to join a group, we can provide you with our confirmed reservations for departure dates:
The scenery of the 4-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is well known and recognised as one of the 10 best trails in the world. It is also one of the most recognised paths of the Capac Ñan (Inca´s paths). This unique path traverses amazing, changing landscapes. You will experience varied weather as you ascend and descend through the Andes, from the high Puna to the cloud forests—the rainforest —providing an unforgettable experience. This trail will transport you back to life in ancient Inca society. The trail winds through areas of protected natural beauty, passing the different archaeological sites — Llactapata, Runkurakay, Phuyupatamarca, and Wiayhuyna — where one can appreciate the wide variety of forest flora and fauna, and finally leads to the great sanctuary of Machu Picchu.
The Incas used this trail for their sacred pilgrimage to the citadel of Machu Picchu.
Altitude: 2050 – 4200 m/ 6730 – 13780 ft
Distance: 43 Km
High Season: March – January
Duration: 4 days/ 3 nights
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Route: Closed in February
Comments: 2-3 days of acclimatisation required
Due to its popularity, permits for the Classic Inca Trail are sometimes sold out. However, don’t despair, there are other equally spectacular trails leading to Machu Picchu, such as the Lares Trek and the Salkantay Jungle Trek.
Full Itinerary
We start our adventure by picking you up from your hotel in Cusco at 05:30 am. Please ensure you carry your original passport and ISIC student card (if applicable). Then we take our tour bus to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Before we reach the official starting point of the Inca Trail at km 82 (Piscacucho), we make a brief stop in Ollantaytambo to have breakfast. Arriving at the trail's starting point, we will pass through the checkpoint and register our Inca Trail permits.
We begin the legendary hike, crossing the River Urubamba (2,200 m). In Miskay, we will have lunch on a small riverbank while learning about the archaeological complex of Llactapata. After that, we will continue our hike to Wayllabamba (3,100 m/10,170 ft) and ascend to the Yuncachimpa campsite (3,300 m/10,826 ft). From here, we'll have a spectacular view of the mysterious Nevado Veronica snow mountain. This first day is effortless and a good warm-up for the days to follow.
Level of difficulty: Normal (easy)
Hiking time: 5-6 hours
Total distance: 11 km
The second day is the Free-Hike-Day! That means everybody can walk at their own pace, meeting up for short breaks and catching up as they climb the stairs. Early in the morning, the trail winds through the Valley of Llulluchapampa (3,850 m/12,631 ft). The first 3 km are steep – a perfect opportunity to enjoy the humid woodland and the natural sounds of the water. We follow the path from Llulluchapampa for 2-3 hours until we reach the highest point of this section, the Warmihuasca Pass (also known as Dead Woman Pass) at 4,200 m. This section of the Inca Trail is considered the most challenging part of the route. After a short break at the summit, you continue to hike down with a long and steep descent to the river Pacaymayo (Sunrise River) towards the Runkurakay pass (3050m/10007ft). We continue our hike until we reach our campsite, Chaquicocha (3,650 m/11,975 ft). Here, you can relax after a tough day of hiking while enjoying a fantastic view of the mountains.
Level of difficulty: Challenging
Hiking time: 7-8 hours
Total distance: 15 km
The third day is one of the most beautiful of the trek. You can see intense changes in the ecosystem as you walk towards the tropical forest of Wiayhuayna. You will pass two small lakes at the top of the second pass (3950m) and then do a gentle climb through beautiful cloud forest and a small Inca tunnel. The following third pass (3700m) then offers a great view over the Urubamba Valley. Following the trek, we reach the nearby settlement of Phuyupatamarca, known as the “town above the clouds” (3,600 m/11,811 ft), a well-preserved site with a significant territory featuring Inca baths. Afterwards, we pass through another Inca Tunnel before visiting the ruins of Wiayhuayna (“Forever young”) at 2650 m. Continuing our journey, the Inca stairs transform into a zigzag trail, which leads us to a red-roofed, white building, our last campsite, and also the location where we can purchase hot water (5 Soles) and bottled drinks.
Level of difficulty: Normal (easy)
Hiking time: 5-6 hours
Total distance: 10 km
After our breakfast at 04:30 am, we will head to the Inti Punku (Sun Gate) to catch the first glimpse of Machu Picchu and watch the sunrise over Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu. The last triumphal descent will take almost one hour to finally reach the citadel of Machu Picchu (2400m/7874ft) at around 08:00 am.
You will have the classic view of Machu Picchu and spend some time enjoying it and taking memorable pictures.
Due to the new Inca Trail regulations, we will book an additional entrance to Machu Picchu (circuit 3).
Machu Picchu is the best-known of all the Inca Archaeological sites, as it is recognised worldwide as one of the New Seven Wonders, even though it's not mentioned in any handwritten chronicle by the Spanish Conquerors. Experts believe that Machu Picchu was constructed around the mid-15th century by Inca Pachacuteq and was rediscovered in 1911 by American historian Hiram Bingham.
The guided tour of this fascinating site will be an unforgettable experience, including visits to the Main Square, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Circular Sun Tower, and the Burial Grounds.
Optional: You can hike up Huayna Picchu (the mountain behind Machu Picchu), from where you will enjoy stunning views over the whole complex! However, only 400 entrance tickets are available per day, so please let us know in advance if you plan to hike so we can reserve your ticket for US$60.00.
Because Huayna Picchu is very quickly oversold, we offer Machu Picchu Mountain as a second option for climbing. The advantage of this hike is that it will be less crowded without sacrificing beauty! The cost for this hike is also US$60.00 per person.
La Gran Caverna is a ceremonial temple in Machu Picchu, with an entrance fee of US$60.00 per person.
You can visit the beautiful Inca Bridge (a 1-hour hike). This road will allow you to enjoy other views of Machu Picchu and take many breathtaking pictures. US$45.00 per person.
When leaving the site, a bus takes you down to Aguas Calientes for a late lunch.
(according to your time in Machu Picchu)
At 14:30, you take the train back to Ollantaytambo and then a tourist bus to Cusco. In case you finish early in Machu Picchu
Please let us know if you want to spend more time in Aguas Calientes, so we can book a later train at 4:12 pm or 7:00 pm (depending on the train service, there may be an extra cost).
Climate: Warm with mosquitoes
Hiking time: 02 hours total
Distance: 4 km
(1) Visit Machu Picchu Citadel: The entrance ticket for Machu Picchu citadel is not included in the Inca Trail permit (extra cost of $45.00).
(2)Visit to Huayna Picchu: The entrance fee for Huayna Picchu Mountain must be booked in advance and is included with circuit 3. For an additional US$75,
(3) Extra porter: According to the law (26702) and supervised by the Ministry of Employment, an extra porter is given under the condition that the customer requires one. However, the customer's luggage cannot exceed 14 kg because the porter is allowed to carry only 20 kg. The service costs US$140 and includes transportation, entrance fees to the Inca Trail, food, and camping equipment.
You can book a half porter, 7kg, $ 70
(4) Tips for porters, cooks and guides are always welcome. The porters are also very grateful for small donations, such as clothing or school equipment, for their children.
Please read the Terms & Conditions for the Inca Trail:
Please note that the program's deposit is non-refundable. The deposit is used to purchase the entrance ticket to the Inca Trail, and once the ticket is purchased, it cannot be resold or refunded.
Green Peru Adventures will not issue refunds if a participant cancels the trip before departure or during the journey.
If Green Peru Adventures doesn't confirm the reservation, your payment will be fully refunded.
All participants must carry their own backpacks, which should include a sleeping bag and a mattress, unless they have booked an extra porter or the service consists of porters.
A participant must declare any illness or medical condition and bring their own medication.
All participants must bring their original passport and, if available, their original student card.
All clients are required to have personal travel insurance. This insurance must cover personal accidents, medical expenses, loss of effects, and all other fees that may arise as a result of loss, damage, or injury to the client. Green Peru Adventures shall not be held accountable for any accident or loss of the customer's personal belongings.
In case force majeure occurs, such as an impossibility to operate the program or trek due to unusual or unforeseen circumstances outside of Green Peru Adventure's control like: extreme weather conditions, landslides, strikes not allowing operation or putting it at risk, sudden inaccessibility of route etc., Green Peru Adventures will propose viable solutions to operate the program within the available dates, or if impossible, will then propose an alternative program. If the client's chosen alternative is less valuable than the originally booked option, the client is entitled to a refund of the price difference. All cost overages will be at the client's expense. If none of these options is feasible, Green Peru Adventures will refund part of the paid amounts, except for costs already incurred and entrance fees.
Included/Exclude
- Pre-departure Inca Trail informative presentation by your tour guide
- 24-hour support from the company owner
- Private transfer from your hotel in Cusco to km 82
- Entrance tickets to the Inca Trail
- Professional bilingual licensed guide for up to 8 trekkers (Spanish and English) – 2 licensed tour guides for 9 to 16 trekkers
- Camping equipment includes professional two-person tents (Doite, model Cima 4, extra light/4kg, Doite, model Kailas 3, extra light/4.5kg, and Doite, model Himalaya, extra light/4.5kg); sleeping mats; a dining tent equipped with a table and chairs; and a sanitary tent.
- Cooking equipment and meals (3 breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners). Food includes pancakes, omelettes, soups, fresh fruit, spaghetti, chicken, fish, meat, and rice, all rich in carbohydrates and well-suited for trekking; hot drinks, including coca tea, which is excellent at altitude (vegetarian food and specialised diets by request!).
- Porters to carry the leading equipment, like tents, food, cooking gear, and dining tents
- Permits and entrance fees for our porters and cooks
- Tea and snack time every day (tea, coffee, wantan, popcorn, crackers)
- Boil purified water after breakfast to refill your water bottles
- First-aid kit and oxygen bottle
- 2.5 hrs guided visit and explanation in Machu Picchu ( in case you book the entrance fee to the citadel)
- Bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes
- Tourist train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and bus to Cusco
- Transfer from the train station in Cusco to your hotel
- Breakfast on the first day and last lunch in Aguas Calientes
- Sleeping bag (if you don’t have one, you can rent one!)
- Personal porter
- Trekking poles ($10 each) and a wooden walking stick (5-10 Soles)
- Energy snacks such as chocolate bars or dried fruits will be handy
- Hot shower on 3rd camp (5 Soles), Hot Springs in Aguas Calientes (10 Soles)
- Extra drinks
- Tips for the trekking crew (not mandatory!)
- Insurance of any kind
Recommendations, what to bring
- Backpack with rain shelter (if you hire a personal porter, we will provide a duffle bag)
- Sleeping bag
- Clothing for warm and cold climates
- Rain pants and lightweight pants
- Trekking shoes
- Trekking poles (poles with metal tips are not allowed on the trail)
- Slippers or sandals (for showers and hot springs)
- T-shirts and trekking pants that zip off to short pants for a comfortable day walk
- A set of clothing to change into
- Rain gear, a rain poncho, and a hat
- Sunscreen, insect repellent
- disinfecting alcohol and gel
- Personal medical kit
- Toiletries/ toilet paper/ small towel
- 2-litre water bottle, water purifying tablets
- Camera (wrapped in a plastic bag), a flashlight, and batteries
- Some snacks like chocolate bars and dry fruits
- Original passport, original student card (if you book your tour as a student)
- Extra money for drinks & tips, souvenirs, etc. (Soles or Dollars) – emergency money at least 200 extra Soles
What we need when you make a reservation
- Scanned copy of your passport, to info@greenperuadventures.com
- Tour departure date
- Send a deposit of 60% of the total price of your tour. (The remainder of your balance will be due upon your arrival in Cusco.) Payment can be made via Western Union, PayPal, or ABN AMRO Bank in Holland, or securely and directly through our website by selecting your desired tour and clicking the BOOK NOW button.
Prices
- Price US$790.00 per Person for over four people
- Two people USD 890.00
“With every tour you book with Green Peru Adventures, you can request a free walking tour of Cusco’s mysterious and historical city, accompanied by one of our professional guides, who speaks several languages.”
We are looking forward to creating an unforgettable experience for you.
