Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Early morning, we pick you up from your hotel and take you by our private transport to the starting point of this 4 day Inca Trail hike - Piscacucho, also called Km 82 (2,350 m). There, your Tour Guide gives you a briefing about the following Machu Picchu trek and after that, you cross the checking point of the Classic Inca Trail. Then you hike along the Urubamba River visiting the Incan archaeological sites of Willca Raccay and the enormous Llactapata. Later on, you continue up to the Cusichaca River Canyon offering magnificent views of the Cordillera Oriental; particularly, the Veronica Mountain (5,850 m). You have lunch in Chamana to later continue along the Cusichaca River observing several Incan agricultural stepped terraces and irrigation channels until reaching the picturesque village of Wayllabamba. Thereafter, you start ascending while appreciating various eco-systems along the way. Later in the afternoon, you get to the village of Llullucha Pampa, a place of your first campsite (3,850 m). There you have dinner and a rest afterward.

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

• Pre-trek briefing (Our guide will visit your hotel a day before the trek for your briefing);
• Transfer by private vehicle to the initial point of the Inca Trail at Km 82;
• Accommodation: camping (3 nights);
• Inca Trail Permit and entrance fee to Machu Picchu;
• Meals: 3x breakfast, 3x lunch, 3x dinner, 3x afternoon´s hot beverages (If you are a vegetarian, please advise us in advance. A vegetarian meal option is for NO extra cost!);
• Experienced bilingual Tour Guide (a group up to 8 participants has 1 Tour Guide, a groups over 8 participants receives 2 Tour Guides);
• A professional Cook;
• Porters to carry food, camping, cooking equipment and and 5 kg of each passenger's stuff;
• Camping equipment: Personal double tents (4 person tent which allows for greater comfort, and also storage of backpacks);
• Thermarest mattress (inflatable mattress for more comfort to sleep in the trail)
• A sleeping bag (for up to -5°C);
• A blanket per person
• A pillow
• Day Pack Rain Covers;
• Water every day (excluding the first 4 hours of the trek when you need to bring your own);
• Tables and chairs, cooking tent with cooking equipment, dining and toilet tents and bottled gas;
• Rain Ponchos;
• Duffel bag (for your personal belongings);
• A T-shirt of the Classic Inca Trail Map;
• Tourist train (Expedition Class) from Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) to Ollantaytambo;
• A shuttle bus down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes Town;
• Tourist bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco;
• First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle.

• Breakfast on the first day and last lunch in Aguas Calientes Town,
• Travel insurance;
• Entrance fee to Huayna Picchu ($80) or Machu Picchu Mountain ($80);
• Extra Porter to help you carrying up to 15 kg of your personal belonging (USD 130; the Extra Porter can be shared between 2 persons);
• Tips to local staff (please note: it is a custom to give tips in Peru; however, it is not obligatory);
• Other extras not mentioned.

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.

HIKE TO MACHU PICCHU

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:

• Inca Trail Trek Cachicata (4 days/3 nights) (best option to the Inca Trail)
• Lares Valley Trek to Machu Picchu (4 days/3 nights)
• Short Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu (4 days/3 nights)
• Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu (5 days/4 nights)
• Cachicata Trek to Machu Picchu(4 days/3 nights)

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.

OPTIONAL SERVICES TO BE HIRED

• Walking sticks or trekking poles USD 20 for both
• Personal shared porter: Tierras Vivas provides a porter duffle bag for your belongings/equipment at the briefing time the night before of your tour. Foam pad roll mattress, Therma- rest mattress, blanket, pillow and rain poncho is provided to each trekker and need to be carried by your porter. it is more comfortable. *Equipment as sleeping bags, backpacks, duffle bag, pillow, blanket, rain ponchos,water bottles must be organised in advance at the time of your booking or send us an e-mail.

EXTRA INFORMATION

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.

TIPPING & EXTRA MONEY

It’s very important to take EXTRA MONEY. You need to take at least 200-300 soles emergency money:

• The local people built the small markets in the route and you can find the water, snack, chocolate, cola etc. Your first breakfast, last lunch no included
• Tipping to Inca Trail to Machu Picchu: If at the end of your trek you felt your trekking guide(s), and staff did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. The amount is entirely a personal preference: however as a guideline we suggest each hiker contributes USD 50 per person to a collective tipping pool, more is always appreciated.

INCA TRAIL WHEATHER

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.

BACKPACKER FOR YOU TREKKING

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.

APPROPRIATE CLOTHING ALONG THIS HIKE

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.

WHAT TO BRING TO THIS HIKE

• Passport original
• Original International Student Identity Card (in case you have applied for a student discount)
• Cash in soles
• Rain gear (jacket and pants if available)
• Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots recommended
• Sandals or jogging shoes for a higher comfort while at camp
• Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces. Thermal clothing is also recommended.
• Flashlight/headlamp and batteries
• Camera and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
• Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold
• Sun block
• After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body
• Insect repellent – minimum recommended 20% DEET – no malaria risk has been reported
• Handkerchiefs
• Toilet paper
• Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc. Please note that we do provide a daily morning snack and our meal service is very complete and well supplied. This recommendation applies for all clients being used to a specific snack, as it may happen that it is not included in our selection
• Water container and water for the first morning. Important notice: plastic water bottles are no longer allowed into Machu Picchu. Plastic water containers (ie. Nalgene) or metal ones are recommended
• Optionally: water- sterilizing tablets in case you pick up water from streams or rivers along the route. Otherwise, we provide filtered boiled water, which is safe to drink and has not reported any health problem so far
• Small towel
• Swimsuit (if you wish to go to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes)
• Optional: walking sticks or poles (rubber covers required in order not to damage the Inca Trail)