Duration 4 days and 3 nights
Difficulty demanding hike at high altitude
Max altitude 4,214 m a.s.l. (Warmiwañusca Pass)
Best time to go May to October
Experience the renowned group Inca Trail Tour over 4 days and 3 nights! Reach the Sun Gate for that first magical sighting of Machu Picchu. Be impressed by the Inca ruins all along the way, enjoy the lush green cloud forest, Andean mountain passes, and the vast landscape.
Traveling this trail with Perú Viajes y Aventuras means the best experience. We will take care of everything, including securing the best camps, pleasing your demanding palate with delicious and nutritious dishes, providing first-rate equipment, and a highly knowledgeable staff with whom you will feel comfortable. Our motto is “The journey is the destination” and we promise this will be your best trip and experience.
Very early in the morning we pick you up from your hotel in the vehicle that will take us to kilometer 82, where we arrive approximately at 11:00 a.m. to start the hike. This first day is beautiful and the first kilometers are easy to walk. We will have a beautiful view of La Verónica snow peak and we will also walk near the Vilcanota River until we reach the Llactapata archaeological complex, where we have lunch, then continue to our first camp at Wayllabamba, where we spend the night after a restorative dinner.
After breakfast we begin the most difficult part of the hike—but not impossible—where we walk toward the highest point of the Inca Trail. You will have an incredible panoramic view of the entire area and can observe the different types of microclimates that exist in the zone. After approximately 3 hours of hiking we pass the pass called Warmiwañusca or “dead woman,” which is approx. at 4,200 m a.s.l. Here you will feel enormous satisfaction for having reached the highest point of the entire Inca Trail. After this fabulous experience we have lunch and then continue descending until we reach Pacaymayo, where we have dinner and spend the night.
After breakfast we begin walking until we ascend to the second most important pass of the Inca Trail, which is at 3,850 m a.s.l., until we reach the Runkurakay archaeological complex, where we have a guided visit of the entire complex, as well as the citadel of Sayacmarca. After the guided visit we continue walking until we reach the Puyupatamarca archaeological complex, another important monument, where we have lunch. After a short rest we continue the hike until we reach the last camp, Wiñay Wayna (“forever young”), where we have a guided visit to the impressive archaeological complex. After the guided visit we have dinner and spend the last night.
After breakfast, we continue the hike very early to arrive in time and be able to appreciate the sunrise at Machu Picchu. After one hour of hiking we pass through Inti Punku or Sun Gate, also known as the entrance gate to Machu Picchu, where you can appreciate the most impressive panoramic view of the entire citadel. We then visit for approximately 3 hours all the surroundings of the Inca citadel, visiting the main sites such as the enclosures, plazas, sacred fountains, temples, and the agricultural and urban sectors. After our guided visit you will have free time to take photos, etc. Then, by prior arrangement, we meet with the rest of the group to take the bus that will take us to the town of Aguas Calientes (if you wish you may continue at Machu Picchu). In the afternoon we return to Cusco by train. End of our services.
The total distance covered during the 4 days is approximately 4 km, and the highest point reached during this hike is 4,214 m a.s.l.
As this is a demanding hike at high altitude, we recommend that you have good physical condition and experience with long hikes before taking on this challenge. For those who do not have experience or are not in good physical condition, we recommend the Short Inca Trail of 2 days.
The best months to do the Traditional Inca Trail are between May and October, thus avoiding the rainy season in Cusco, which runs from November to April.
Because this is an activity with extremely limited tickets and high demand, especially in the months between May and August, we recommend that reservations be made at least 6 months in advance.
