The Classic Inca Trail

Day 1

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Cusco | Piscacucho (Km 82) - Canabamba - Llactapata – Huayllabamba - Ayapata

Cusco Km 82 Llactapata Huayllabamaba Ayapata

Our tour leader and hiking team will pick you up early in the morning from your accommodation. If you're in Cusco, we will stop by you between 4:00 a.m. and 4:30 a.m .; if you're in Urubamba, between 5:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., and if you're in Ollantaytambo, you can sleep a little more because we'll pick you up between 6:30 and 7:00 a.m. You'll board private transportation that will take you to the place known as km 82, which is the route's first control point. After enjoying a delicious breakfast prepared by our chef, you'll meet the entire team that will accompany you on this exciting adventure and will guarantee you some unforgettable memories in the middle of the sacred mountains of Cusco. From there, we'll start hiking; please be sure to take your original passport with you to enter the Inca Trail.

The first 2 hours of walking are relatively easy; the first break will be in front of the little Inca site, Canabamba, where we will talk about the water canals and enjoy the view of the glacier, la Verónica. Then we will go to Wilkaracay and see the archeological site of Patallaqta, which shows its stone walls amid the vegetation on the other side of the Urubamba River. We will continue walking for 30 minutes until we get to Tarayoc, our lunch spot. You'll be surprised by the delicacies we've prepared for you.

We only have 3 hours more walking to arrive at our first campsite located in Ayapata (3,300 masl / 10,826 fasl). If you need to buy something to eat or drink, or maybe you forgot your camera batteries, don't worry; in this last part, we'll go through 2 small communities where you can make your purchases. Now relax while eating a snack or sipping a hot drink. Dinner will be ready at 7:30 p.m., and then a night of rest awaits you.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Accommodation:  Camps
• Difficulty:  Moderate
• Walking Distance:  8.7 miles

• Starting Elevation:  2600 m / 8530 ft
• Highest Elevation:  3300 m / 10926 ft
• Campsite Elevation:  3300 m / 10926 ft

Day 2

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Ayapata | Dead Woman’s Pass - Pacaymayu – Runkurakay Pass – Sayacmarca - Chaquicocha

Dead Woman’s Pass Runkurakay Pass Chaquicocha

We'll wake you up very early with a hot cup of coca tea that will help you start the day in the best way possible. Today the longest and most exhausting day on the route, awaits us. We'll go uphill for 4 hours to the highest point of the trek to the Warmiwañusca Pass - the Dead Woman's Pass (4,215 masl / 13,829 fasl). Open all your senses and connect you with those immense mountains that you see all around. Feel the spirit of those thousands of ancient Peruvians who walked these roads in complete harmony with nature. We'll then descend for one hour and a half to the other side of the valley until Pacaymayu (3600 m / 11.811 fasl), where our lunch place is located. Remember that here you can refill your water bottles. After having eaten, we'll ascend for 2 hours to Runkurakay pass. We'll visit a little Inca site and see two immense waterfalls (mostly in the rainy season). Later we'll descend for 1 hour to the archaeological site of Sayacmarca, a place worth visiting that is almost inaccessible.

We'll stop here to discover the secrets of this ancient place in the company of our guide. The mysteries of the Incas will be revealed, little by little, as the sun descends and reddens the Vilcabamba mountain range. It's only 25 more minutes until we reach our second campsite in Chaquicocha (3,600 masl / 11,811 fasl). After dinner, if you still have strength, we'll be able to observe the stars and learn a little more about the fascinating dark constellations of the Incas. The night skies in the Andes, far from the cities' artificial lighting, deserve to be seen.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Accommodation:  Camps
• Difficulty:  Challenging
• Walking Distance:  9.9 miles

• Starting Elevation:  3300 m / 10827 ft
• Highest Elevation:  4215 m / 13829 ft
• Campsite Elevation:  3600 m / 11829 ft

Day 3

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Chaquicocha | Phuyupatamarca - Intipata - Wiñay Wayna

Chaquiccocha Phuyupatamarca Wiñaywayna

Well done, you have overcome the most challenging day! Today a beautiful reward awaits you. After having rested in our comfortable tents, we’ll begin our day at 6:30 a.m. You’ll walk for one hour and a half while receiving the immense green embrace of the earth. From here, the jungle begins to thicken. You’ll also have the privilege of observing the impressive perpetual snows of the Salkantay glacier in the distance, the second most important glacier in the Cusco region.

Let yourself be surprised by the panoramic view of the extensive Vilcabamba mountain range. Later, you’ll begin to ascend towards the last summit of the path in Phuyupatamarca ( 3.650 masl / 11.975 fasl), a mystical place above the clouds. Then we will descend for 2 hours and a half until Intipata, a prominent agricultural place that will see the panoramic view of the sacred valley of the Incas, and from where you’ll be able to appreciate the waters of the Urubamba. This sacred river runs through this territory as if it were an immense cosmic snake.

30 extra minutes await us until our lunch spot and campsite, Wiñay Wayna, whose name means forever young. Relax and become aware of where you are and the incredible effort you’ve made, at approximately 4:00 p.m. You’ll make a guided visit to the Wiñay Wayna archaeological site for 1 hour. The words from our guide will make this remote place come alive once again. Then, we’ll have a little celebration together with all the team that has accompanied you: guides, porters, and cooks. Remember that they have worked very hard to make you feel comfortable and calm during these challenging days of walking. By doing this, we thank them for all their care and affection. Of course, you can also thank them with a tip.

We recommend that you rest early as we’ll wake up together with the sun the next day. The idea is to see how Machu Picchu begins to light up at dawn, a magical spectacle that will captivate your heart.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Accommodation:  Camps
• Difficulty:  Easy
• Walking Distance:  6.2 miles

• Starting Elevation:  3600 m / 11811 ft
• Highest Elevation:  3600 m / 11811 ft
• Campsite Elevation:  2600 m / 8530 ft

Day 4

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Wiñay Wayna | Inti Punku (the famous Sun Gate) - Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu

SUNGATE (Inti Punku) Machu Picchu

Every effort has its rewards. We’ll wake up at 3:30 a.m. and immediately will enjoy our delicious and healthy breakfast. At 4:00 a.m. we’ll go to the Wiñay Wayna entry control point to be one of the first groups to enter the path again. We’ll walk approximately 1 hour to Puerta del Sol(Sun Gate). Get ready because from there you’ll see this marvel of Inca architecture and engineering for the first time. Congrats, you made it! You are already in Machu Picchu! Bow down to this holy place that has quietly waited for your visit to change something that’s hidden deep within you. We have 1 more hour of walking to enter the Inca Town of Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. At approximately 8:00 a.m. we’ll arrive at the last control point to take a short, but well-deserved rest, and enjoy a 2-hour guided tour.

The intimate connection between human beings and nature is revealed in a powerful way in Machu Picchu. Immense stones harmoniously linked together form temples, alleys, houses, and aqueducts that are still working after 5 centuries. Machu Picchu was built in an inaccessible place to resist the fierce attack of oppression and oblivion and to remind modern men that only in true communion with Pacha Mama or Mother Earth can we fully exist.

After the tour, we’ll give you the bus tickets so you can go to Aguas Calientes. In this way, you’ll have all the time available to explore this mythical citadel on your own. You will meet your guide in Aguas Calientes where you’ll enjoy your last lunch at the local restaurant of your choice. Remember that this food is not included in the package. Your guide will then deliver your train tickets to you. Generally, the Expedition class train departure time is 3:20 p.m. or 4:22 p.m. You’ll arrive in Ollantaytambo or Poroy depending on the type of train you choose. There, a representative of Cusco Expeditions will be waiting to take you to the door of your hotel in our private mobility.

Please make sure you are present on the platform at least 30 minutes before the departure of your train.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Difficulty:  Easy
• Distance traveled:  3 miles
• Machu Picchu Elevation:  2430 m / 7972 ft

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Ministry of Culture of Peru is the entity in charge of regulating the use of the Inca Trail and issuing entry permits. To access the Inca Trail it’s essential that you have a permit from the Ministry of Culture that matches the information in your passport exactly: name, passport number, nationality, and age. Only officially licensed tourism agencies can secure these permits, which are not transferable under any circumstances. If you want to change the date of your excursion you have to make sure that there are spaces available on the new date and buy a new permit. They are rules of the Government of Peru that we all must follow. If there are no permits available for the date you want, there are other incredible options to walk to Machu Picchu. We’ll be happy to find the perfect excursion for you.

What Is Included?

• High Quality Service & Safety

• Pre-departure briefing

  You will meet your trekking guide and group in our office for an orientation before your trek. At this time, we will provide you with the duffle bags which will be carried by our porters. The meeting will be at 5:00 PM the evening before the trip begins.

• Experienced Guide

  All our guides are graduates of the professional career of Tourism of the National University San Antonio Abad of Cusco. Our guides are chosen for their professionalism, experience, responsibility, seriousness, unbridled passion for exploring, and a desire to share in the experience. They’ll make sure you are safe and happy.

• Camping Equipment

  Cusco Expeditions uses the best equipment to ensure your safety and comfort. Every 2 people will share Eureka Timberline tents or Mountain Hard Wear with capacity for 4 people. In addition, you’ll have a spacious dining tent where you can enjoy your food without problems.

• Medical Kit or First AID Kit

  All Cusco Expeditions guides have received specialized training in first aid. We hold mandatory training sessions with our guides every February. Your guide will always carry a first aid kit to face basic emergencies (altitude sickness, traveler’s diarrhea, cuts, scrapes, etc.) as well as oxygen. If necessary, we’ll evacuate you from the path as quickly as possible and ensure that you arrive at a clinic for treatment.

• Customer Service 24/7

  We have telephone service available 24 hours/day for ease of communication and preparation with the agency leading up to your trek.

• Meals

• Meals: 4 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 3 Dinners

  Our chef prepares the best dishes in the middle of the mountain. Our passengers love our food! We respect all diets, so let us know if you have any particular restrictions on your reservation form and remind your guide during the briefing. You’ll enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner, in addition to hot drinks and snacks. Every morning we’ll give you your snack so you can enjoy it during the walk.

• Water

  From the first lunch to the last breakfast, Cusco Expeditions will provide you with all the water you need. We will provide boiled water, filtered, and cooled. You need to bring a camel bag or an empty bottle. We recommend a capacity of 2 liters. You’ll be able to fill your bottles during each meal.

• Wake up tea

  Every morning at the campsite, you will woken up with a cup of coca tea! Our staff will bring the tea to your tent so that you will be warmed from inside out before you start your day.

• Tea time or Happy Hour

  Every afternoon before dinner, the cooks will provide popcorn, biscuits, coffee, hot chocolate, teas, hot water, etc. After a long day of hiking, you will not have to wait until dinner to relax, warm-up, and enjoy a bite to eat!

• Snacks on the trail daily

  Before starting your trekking, our tour leader will provide you a Cloth bag with local fruits, biscuits, chocolate, caramels, etc. We will give this snack to you at the beginning of each day in your cloth bag.

• One cloth snack bag per person

  To avoid the usage of plastic bags that contaminate our environment, we will give you a cloth bag for your snacks.

• Products for hygiene

  You will be provided with a small towel before each meal to clean your hands.

• Transportation

• Transport

  - Day 1: You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning and will travel by private transportation to KM 82, the starting point of the trek.

  - Day 4: Private transport from Ollantaytambo train station to your hotel in Cusco.

• Train tickets

  From Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo

• Porters Team or Kallpa Team

  The Porters or Kallpa Team carry all of the personal tents, clothing, and sleeping bags, to extra dining and kitchen tents, food, water, tables, chairs, and a gas bottle stove.

• Permits & Entrance Tickets

• Permits for Inca Trail

  As soon as we receive your complete information and the deposit that secures your reservation, we’ll buy all the necessary permits (subject to availability). These permits are issued for a specific date and will be in your name. They cannot be changed under any circumstances. Change of passport number is only allowed for renewal reasons. In that case you must bring both your old and new passport.

• Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu Archeological Site.

• EXTRAS included in our service.

• We believe that attention to small details is what sets us apart from other local companies. You’ll receive a small sleeping pillow, a foam mattress, a cover to protect your backpack on the road, and a rain poncho.

• Satellite phones:

  Our main priority will always be the tranquillity of our clients. While all of our guides are prepared for emergencies in the mountains, being a phone call away from any doctor, hospital, or friend helps you feel more secure. Each Cusco Expeditions guide has a satellite phone that can be used anywhere on the mountain to call anywhere in the world. You can also use it even if it’s not an emergency.

• Personal Porter:

  Is include a personal porter, who is responsible for carrying your duffel bag and personal items (5kl per person). There is no additional fee for this.

What Is Not Included?

• Extras and important equipment.

  All our travelers need a sleeping bag to camp. Inflatable mattresses and walking sticks (with rubber tips) are optional but highly recommended. If you do not have them, don’t worry, you can rent them with Cusco Expeditions:

  • Sleeping bag: US $ 20.00

  • Inflatable mattress: US $ 20.00

  • Walking poles (pair): US $ 20.00

• Huayna Picchu

  You can climb the famous mountain that’s always seen in the photos, behind the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. It’s 45 minutes uphill. Going down can be scary if you fear heights. You can take this excursion once your guided tour to Machu Picchu ends. The additional cost is US $ 75.00. The permit must be issued at least 1 month in advance due to high demand. To protect your integrity, there may be changes due to weather conditions.

• Travel Insurance

• Tips for our staff

  Tips are usual on any excursion to Machu Picchu. Although we pay good salaries to our entire team, something extra is always welcome, especially considering the hard work they do. Typically, group participants collect their tips to hand out to the porters and chefs together.

• Additional costs or delays out of control of the management

  Landscape, bad weather condition, itinerary modification due to a safety concern, illness, change of government policy, political instability/strike, etc.

• Day 4: Last Lunch and Dinner in Aguas Calientes

Additional Items

• Huayna Picchu

• Huayna Picchu is the mountain behind Machu Picchu and which can be climbed in 45 minutes. Although this excursion is up to you, our guide will take you to the place of entry. This walk requires an entrance ticket which we can assure for you if we have enough time in advance.

  Obviously, your entry ticket will be purchased to coincide with the dates of your excursion on the Inca Trail. The entrance can be done in two shifts: from 7:00 a.m. at 8:00 a.m. or 10:00 a.m. at 11:00 a.m. We buy the tickets in the second shift so that our clients can fully enjoy their guided tour of Machu Picchu. Remember the shifts only indicate the time of entry. You can go up and down Huayna Picchu without haste.

  • The ticket for Huayna Picchu costs US $ 75.00 per person.

• Machu Picchu Mountain

• Machu Picchu Mountain is another of the mountains that surround the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. It offers even more incredible views than Huayna Picchu, but it takes 1.5 hours to reach the top. This walk requires an entrance ticket which we can assure for you if we have time in advance.

  The entrance for the excursion to Machu Picchu Mountain is open only from 9:00 a.m. at 10:00 a.m.

  • The ticket for Machu Picchu Mountain costs US $ 75.00 per person.

• Vistadome Train

• All our tours include the Expedition train. This train leaves Aguas Calientes at 4:22 p.m. The Vistadome train is a higher category service that offers more comfortable seats, a panoramic design that will allow you to see through the roof, as well as an entertainment show on board. Generally, the Vistadome train leaves Aguas Calientes at 4:43 p.m. and goes to the Poroy station that is closest to Cusco. From there, we’ll take you to your hotel in Cusco.

  • You can access this service for US $ 75.00 extra dollars.

• Rental Equipment for Inca Trail

• All our travellers need a sleeping bag to camp(Our sleeping bags are effective and durable to protect from temperatures as low as -18ºC (0ºF). They are mummy form and include a sleeping liner.).

  All our Traveller need an Inflatable mattresses and walking sticks (with rubber tips) are optional, but highly recommended. If you do not have them, don’t worry, you can rent them with Cusco Expeditions:

  • Sleeping bag: US $ 20.00
  • Inflatable mattress: US $ 20.00
  • Walking poles (pair): US $ 20.00