Inca Trail Backpacking 2025

At the second day the guides wakes us up at 5.30 with warm tee, so we can get a good start of the day at the Inca trail and we will eat breakfast at 6.00. Our first hike of this day begins at 6.30 and it will take around 5 hours (7 km) to get from our camp to the high spot which is called dead woman pass (4.600 m), where you can experience the female spirit, a woman that lives on the side of the mountain.

From this place we have a 2 hour hike down to our second camping spot (Pacamayu 3,600 m), where we finally will have our lunch after 7 hours of hiking in total on the Inca trail. At the camp we will rest and around 6.30 we will have dinner. Later we will get comfortable under our blankets, so we can stay warm for the cold night.

We get up at 6.00 am and breakfast will be served by the chef at 6.30. At 7.00 we will start hiking. This day is a very special and beautiful day where we will pass 3 Inca ruins along the Inca trail. To get to the first Inca ruin Runkqurakay (3.800 m.), we have to hike one hour up; thereafter we have another hour of walking to the second high spot, Runku Pass (4.00 m.). After the second Inca ruin it will get easier, from there we will walk down for 45 m. to Sayacrmarka (3580 m.).

After the visit we will have 25 min. to chakicoccha (3.600 m) where we will enjoy our lunch in natural surroundings and incredible landscape. After the lunch we have a one hour hiking to Phuyupatamarka (3.60 m), which is the last hike on the Inca trail of this day. On this place we can find the last Inca construction for today.

From this point we will have an easy two hour walk down to Wiñnahuayna (2.600 m), where we will settle our camp and our chef will make a nice buffet to everyone so we can say goodbye to the chefs and the porters in a very nice way at 6.30. If you still have energy left after the hike, you can visit the archaeological site of wiñahuayna, only 5 minutes from our camp spot, a really delightful site on the Inbca trail with a lot of terraces and ruins.

Begin hike overlooking the Urubamba River to the sun Gate or INTIPUNKU to see the sunrise on Machu Picchu. We enter the site early in the morning for the best photo opportunities and then spend the rest of the morning visiting and exploring the Ruins, free time in Machu Picchu. Meeting for those interested in visiting Aguas Calientes for lunch or to visit the hot springs otherwise, in the afternoon return to Cusco by tourist train from Aguas Calientes (actual town of Machu Picchu) to Cusco

If you would like the best Inca Trail Tours all inclusive, choose the best option hike:

• 3 Day Inca Trail Intrepid
• 4 Day Inca Trail All Inclusive
• 5 Day Inca Trail All Inclusive
• 7 Day Inca Trail

• Inca Trail Tours FAQs
• Difference between large and small on the Inca Trail
• Choose to climb up Huayna Picchu
• Inca Trail Booking Policies
• How to Book and Payment
• Responsible Travel

• Pre-trek briefing (Our guide will visit your hotel a day before the trek for your briefing);
• Transfer by Tourist transportation to the initial point of the Inca Trail at Km 82;
• Accommodation: Camping (3 nights);
• Inca Trail Permits;
• 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 trekking Chef;
• Super Cool Porters to carry food, camping and cooking equipment;
• Personal porter for your personal belongings (5 kg)
• Camping equipment: Personal double tents;
• Sleeping Roll Mattress;
• Tables and chairs, cooking tent with cooking equipment, dining and toilet tents and bottled gas;
• Tourist train from Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) to Ollantaytambo;
• Tourist bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco;
• First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle.

• First breakfast and last lunch.
• Sleeping bag (U$ 20)
• Hiking poles (U$ 15)
• Thermarest mattress (inflatable mattress for more comfort in the trail)
• Extra porter: If you want to carry more than 7 kg ( USD 180; the Extra Porter can be shared between 2 persons)
• A shuttle bus down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes Town.
• Huayna Picchu ($80)
• Travel Insurance
• Tips and extra expenses to souvenir.

Our guide will visit your a day before the trek and He/ She will give you a briefing and more information about your Inca Trail. It very important, let us know, where you will be staying in Cusco, our guide will visit your hotel 2 or 1 day before the trek for your briefing.

All Tierras Vivas trekkers are accompanied by a Tour Guide. The aim of our Tour Guides is to take a hassle out of our customers’ trips and to help them to have the best trip possible. The Tour Guides provide information on places visited, offer suggestions of what to see and to do, recommend a good place to eat and introduce to his/her colleagues. The Guides have a broad general knowledge of each country visited during a tour, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local Tour Guides where we think that more specific knowledge could add more enjoyment to visited places.

Usually our hike is starting from Cusco, but we can pick you up from your hotel outside of Cusco. Please check your trip and location for pick you up.

This famous Inca Trail has two traditional versions of 4 days and the short version of this, which consists of 2 days, now we will explain the degree of difficulty for both routes, so you are prepared before starting your walk.

Day 1: Cusco- Ollantaytambo - KM 82 to Llulluchapampa Campsite.

Distance: 16km approx

Starting Altitude: 2,650m

Finishing Altitude: 3,700m

Walking Distance: 8 - 9 hrs

Degree of difficulty: easy

Day 2: Lluchapampa Campsite up to Dead Womens Pass.

Distance: 8 km approx.

Starting Altitude: 3,700m

High Pass Altitude: 4,200m (Dead Womens)

Finishing Altitude: 3,950m

Walking Distance: 7 - 8 hrs (walking slowly)

Degree of difficulty: difficult

Day 3: Trek Pacaymayo Valley Campsite up to Runkuraqay - Phuyupatamarka.

Distance: 16km approx.

Starting Altitude: 3,950m

High Pass Altitude: 3,600m (Phuyupatamarca)

Finishing Altitude: 2,700m

Walking Distance: 6 hrs

Degree of difficulty: difficult

Day 4: Trek Winay-Wayna Campsite to Inti Punku (Sun Gate), then to Machu Picchu!

Distance: 5km approx.

Starting Altitude: 2,700m

Finishing Altitude: 2,300

Walking Distance: 4 hrs

Degree of difficulty: moderate

Our tents are of the brand Eureka Timberline Outfitter 4 person designated for 4 seasons. We provide with 4 person capacity tents; however, just 2 trek participants use it! In this way, we provide you more space and comfort. In case of a single traveller, we provide with a 2 person capacity tent.

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.

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.

• Original passport
• For students: original ISIC card
• Insurance card/certificate
• Hiking boots
• Waterproof jacket or rain poncho
• Warm jacket
• Hat and gloves
• T-shirts
• 2 pairs of pants (1 for hiking, 1 for when you are relaxing)
• Thermal underwear for sleeping
• Sleeping bag
• Hand sanitizer
• Comfortable trousers
• Sun hat or cap
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Water for the first day
• Toiletries/ Toilet paper
• Personal medication
• Cameraand Batteries
• Flashlight or headlamp
• Cash (in Peruvian nuevos soles)

If you want to say that you’ve hiked the famous Machu Picchu, then the Cheap Inca Trail Tour is for you. but usually you will need to book in advance, in case it is fully booked, we recommend the Inca Trail alternative hikes:

• Inca Trail Trek Cachicata (4 days/3 nights) (best option to the Inca Trail)
• Lares Valley Trek to Machu Picchu (4 days/3 nights)
• 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)
• Salkantay Inca Trail (7 Days/ 6 Nights)
• Salkantay to Machu Picchu Condor Sight (5 Days/4 Nghts)
• Salkantay Inca Trail Condor Sight (7 Days / 6 Nights)
• Choquequirao Trek
• Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Trek (9 Days/ 8 Nights)
• Ausangate Trek (7 Days/ 6 Nights)