The Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is the most legendary and by far the most well-known hike in Peru. If you’re moderately healthy, the Classic Inca trail hike is the most wonderful way to get to the secret Inca city. After a night in Cuzco, you’ll begin on the 44km path along the old Inca trade route that winds its way up through the Andes to the out-of-the-way, and practically out of reach, Machu Picchu. Hiking for three days continuous and traversing across the highest pass at 4200m, the Inca Trail is not for the weak, but it’s definitely an experience that you won't forget and a real climax of your Peru trip. The landscapes across the peaks of the Andes are amazingly dazzling and it's hard to explain the blissfulness you'll get when you finish your three-day Inca Trail.
In 2001 it was decided that the classic Inca Trail was becoming too seriously degraded because of the number of people using it and the porters were exploited (the porters load 60 kg during 4 days) Figures for 2000 show that 50,000 people walked the trail (Inca Trail without guide or with guide), compared with 300,000 visiting Machu Picchu. On average day in the high season, 190 people arrived at Machu Picchu having walked the trail. The Ministerio de Cultura and Sernanrp (Peruvian authorities) proposed therefore to introduce limits on the number of people using the Trail. The new regulations - the limits entrance the Inca Trail is 500 person per day (200 trekkers + 50 guides + 150 porters)
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Day 01: Cusco - Km 82 - Llullucha Pampa
Day 02: Llullucha Pampa - Chaquicocha
Day 03: Chaquicocha - Wiñaywayna
Day 04: Wiñay Wayna - Machu Picchu - Cusco
Accomodation: 3x campsite.
Meals: 3x breakfast, 3x lunch, 3x dinner, 3x afternoon tea (Food on the Inca Trail)
Transportation: Transportation by private van, 1x train (Expedition Class).
Camping equipment: You can view our camping equipment included!
Group Available: Min: 2 - Max: 8
Salkantay Trek Machu offers two service, the first its 4 day Inca Trail superior service all inclusive and the second it is Cheap Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Tour. Usually in this service is included the basic equipment.
If you would to book Inca Trail and it is fully booked, we can recommend the 2 day hike to Inca Trail, there are spaces available every day.
If you would like more details about the trail, click here and explore the Inca route
Please check availability for the date you want before booking your Inca Trail 2021.
May you have some question about the Inca Trail.
Huayna Picchu mountains not included in our service, it is the extra.
Visit our Inca Trail Booking Policies
To complete your booking, we will require your personal details, full name, passport, nationality and day of birthday. Once sent, our booking department will require the 50% pre-payment for your book your entrance fee and train ticket. Inca Trail Book and Payment you will find the next step to book and payment.
Specialist operators for international tour companies.
Highly experienced english speaking guide.
Inclusion all equipment for your Classic Inca Trail (sleeping bag, thermarest mattress, etc)
If you reserve this trip, you will be making a donation to the school for special needs children
Salkantay Trek Machu DOES NOT permit this exploitation!! We guarantee that our porters carry only an amount given by the Peruvian law!! There is still a long way to go when it comes to a reserve of adequate meals, backpacks and warm dry sleeping accommodation.
To start our 4 Day Inca Trail Hike, we will wake up very early to them travel to Piscacucho or commonly known as the "Km 82", thus starting our tour "Inca Trail to Machu Picchu", then go to "Patallacta". Once there, we will continue walking to the place where we will have lunch and then walk to "Ayapata", place where we will spend our first night.
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 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 continue hiking through the valley to the Inca´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 4 day Inca Trail hike. 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 to sleep to get ready for the exciting Machu Picchu hike!!
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
This is the last day of the 4 day hike to Inca Trail so we get ready early in the morning and after breakfast, we start climbing antique steps to Inti Punku (the Sun Gate) to see the sunrise above the long-expected citadel of Machu Picchu!! 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 4 day trek to Machu Picchu finishes by afternoon's descend to the town of Aguas Calientes where we take a train back to Ollantaytambo, there you will take the tourist bus to Cusco. Arrival in the evening.
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
Single room: Please note that if you have booked the "Single room" option for this trek, you receive your own single tent for all nights.
Local flights: No local flights are included in the trek´s price!
Day 1 - 3: We pick you up from your hotel at 05:30 am and transfer to Km 82 (2hrs 40min), where start hiking the Inca Trail with a professional guide, cook and porters. Guided tour on the route of the Inca Trail and Wiñaywayna.
Day 4: Wake up early (4 am) and hike to Machu Picchu, guided tour on the lost city of the Incas and in the afternoon train return to Cusco.
Many people include Peru in their “Things to do” list before they depart the planet, the main reason being to Trek the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, 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. The difference lies in what kind of an experience you want, hiking the Inca trail and how challenging you like your treks.
If you want to say that you’ve hiked the famous hike to Machu Picchu, then the Classic Inca Trail is for you. but usually you will need to book in advance, in case it is fully booked, we recommend the Inca Trail alternatives:
During the Classic Inca Trail we spend three nights full-service camping, meaning that our camp staff will erect and dismantle the tents, cook, and do all camp chores for you: you need only carry your day pack. There will also be dining and toilet tents and bowls of warm water are provided both morning and evening for washing with. and last night you spend a small hotel.
Single Supplement: If you are traveling on your own, and would prefer to share a tent, we'll pair you with another trekker of the same gender and there will not be an extra cost. If you prefer to have a tent to yourself a surcharge of USD 50 will have to be paid. If you want an upgrade any service to the train or accommodation or do you want to stay extra night in Machu Picchu, contact us directly to info@tierrasvivas.com for this to be done and confirmed to you.
The camping equipment to Inca Trail will be returned to Cusco on day 4th, you need to give to chef the sleeping bag, mattress.
Camping (double tent) provided in 1st, 2nd, 3rd nights
The hike to Inca Trail is included the extra porter. Our porters will carry your clothes, sleeping (5 kg per person). You will need to carry only your a daypack: Camera, water bottle, snacks, cold weather and a poncho in case of rain (unlikely in Dry season May to October)- but as a precaution.
It’s very important to take EXTRA MONEY. You need to take at least 200-300 soles emergency money:
Climate in Cusco: The highland region of Cusco has well defined winter and summer seasons. Winter days (June - August) are very sunny and warm, but the temperature drops to near freezing at night. Rainy season is from January to March. December and January are two of the nicest months for trekking with only the occasional shower and blooming flowers.
If very important your take best cover backpacker, because the weather in Inca Trail is change every date, we can’t predict it raining or no. If you don’t have, we recommended to 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 raingear 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. Machu picchu has a warm climate, getting only cold at night. The rest of necessary implements are included in the “What we recommend that you bring your Inca Trail” list.
