Inca Trail Peru 4D & 3N
The Experience
Inca Trail Peru
The city of Cusco is the starting point for the four-day Inca Trail Peru. You walk this trail together with an English-speaking guide and porters. During the four-day hike you will descend in height. You will also notice this in the increasingly green environment. The scenery along the way is beautiful and the views are breathtaking. During the Inca Trail Peru you will pass various archaeological Inca sites along the way, culminating in Machu Picchu on the last day, one of the seven wonders of the world!
During the Inca Trail Peru you carry your own sleeping bag, mat and personal items. We can arrange an extra carrier for you at an additional cost.
– The waiting times for the Inca Trail Peru can be several months, so book the Inca Trail Peru on time! We can check for you how many places are still available on the various departure dates.
– During the month of February it is not possible to do this trek.
– In addition to a good condition, it is important that you take time to acclimatize to the altitude.
In addition to the 4-day Inca Trail Peru, you can also book the 2-day Inca Trail with us . This is an alternative for people who find the 4-day Inca Trail Peru too strenuous.
What's Included
- Specialized bilingual guide
- Private Transport
- Entrance fees
- Box lunch water
What's Not Included
- Departure Taxes
- Entry Fees
- 5 Star Accommodation
- Airport Transfers
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Early in the morning, your guide will pick you up by bus from your hotel in Cusco. Afterward, you will travel by bus through the Sacred Valley of the Incas and the towns of Urubamba and Ollantaytambo. The four-day Peru Inca Trail begins at the Urubamba River, at kilometer 82 (measured from the city of Cusco). There, you will also meet the porters who will accompany you over the next four days, carrying shared supplies such as the kitchen equipment, tents, and food.
The first day of the classic Inca Trail in Peru is relatively easy, covering only 8 miles (13 kilometers). After lunch, you will pass by the Inca ruins of Llaqtapata, a well-preserved site used for farming. You will cross the Cusicacha River, a tributary of the Urubamba River, and after a hike of approximately 3 hours, you will reach Huayllabamba at an altitude of 9,842 feet (3,000 meters), where you will spend the night. The guide will offer you a cup of tea, and the porters will have already set up the tents, including the large mess tent that serves as the kitchen.
Hiking time: approximately 3 hours.
After an early breakfast, you will begin your trek. The porters will still be busy packing up the tents, but they will soon catch up with you along the way.
On this second day, you will conquer the highest point of the trek, Dead Woman’s Pass (Warmiwañusca), at an altitude of 13,828 feet (4,215 meters). The views from the summit are magnificent, and you can get a close-up view of the Salkantay and Veronika mountains, among others. After this pass, you will descend to the campsite for the night, Pacaymayu.
This day is considered the most difficult by most hikers. The walking distance isn't very long, but the numerous climbs and descents on stone stairs at this altitude make today's hike grueling. Walk at your own pace and don't feel pressured by faster hikers. It is impossible to get lost, and you have plenty of time to arrive today. Since you started early in the morning, you will be back at the campsite by early afternoon.
Hiking time: approximately 7 hours.
In the morning, take a short hike up to Runkurakay. Today, you will walk the original Inca Trail through beautiful forests, which are habitats for animals like the puma. After crossing a second mountain pass, you will reach the ruins of Sayaqmatka. Next, you will walk through the cloud forest, where you can admire numerous tropical flowers and colorful orchids. Along the way, you will see the remains of the Sayacmarca, Conchamarca, and Puyupatamarca ruins. These last ruins are located at the third and final mountain pass of the day. You will spend the night at the Wiñayhuayna base camp, an impressive and well-preserved Inca site at 8,694 feet (2,650 meters). Unlike the first two nights, this is the only campsite in this location. This means all the hikers who started with you on Day 1 (500 in total) will be staying the night here. Therefore, it may be a bit noisy tonight. There are a limited number of showers and power outlets at this camp that many people want to use, so assume you won't be able to shower or charge your phone/camera tonight. Hiking time: approximately 8 hours.
Tip: On the fourth day, you likely won't see the porters anymore. Porters earn very little and therefore rely on tips. Make sure to give them their tip no later than the end of the third day, and hand it to them personally to ensure they receive the money they are owed.
Today, your guide will wake you up at 4:00 a.m. You will leave this early to reach Intipunku by sunrise, where you can overlook the ruins of Machu Picchu. The weather needs to cooperate, but the most magical experience is seeing Machu Picchu still shrouded in clouds; the heat of the rising sun dissipates them, and the ruins become increasingly clear. It is truly magnificent!
From Intipunku (also known as the Sun Gate), it takes approximately one hour to reach Machu Picchu on foot. In the morning, your guide will provide an archaeological tour of the complex. Afterward, you will have free time to explore the site on your own.
In the afternoon, you will head by bus to the town of Aguas Calientes, half an hour away from Machu Picchu. In this town, you will find numerous restaurants for lunch and also have the opportunity to visit the Aguas Calientes hot springs. In Aguas Calientes, you will take the train to Cusco in the mid-afternoon. Your guide will let you know if you should get off at Ollantaytambo and be transferred from there to Cusco by private bus, or if you prefer to travel directly by train from Aguas Calientes to the town of Poroy and be transferred to Cusco by private bus from there. Upon arrival in Cusco, you will be taken to your hotel, completing an unforgettable experience on the Peru Inca Trail.