Inca Trail Tours 2023

Walking Distance – 14km / 8.7 miles

Campsite Elevation – 3,850 meters  / 12,631 feet 

Difficulty Inca Trail Hike Day 1: Moderate

Max. elevation: Ayapata 3,850 meters / 12,630 feet

Min. elevation: Starting Point (Km 82) 2,350 meters / 7,709 feet

Meals: Lunch & Dinner (Plus snack and afternoon tea)

Accommodation: Camping

Weather: Warm and windy

We will start the Inca Trail 4 day hike by picking you up at your hotel at 05:30 AM to drive from Cusco to Ollantaytambo and then to Km 82. Here, we will have to register to enter the Classic Inca Trail path and will meet all the staff members that will do the trek with us. From Km 82 we will take a gentle hike for 2 hours until we arrive to our first Inca site: Willca Raccay and the enormous Patallacta, which is an ancient Inca checkpoint for the approach to Machu Picchu. From Patallacta it’s another 2 hour hike to our lunch stop. After lunch we will hike for another 2½ hours until we reach the first night’s campsite at Ayapata (3,300 meters). On this last stretch we pass through 2 small communities. If you want to buy any energy drinks or snacks you can do so here, you can also buy any essential items such as batteries that you may have forgotten. We’ll arrive to our campsite by 5:00PM and after settling in for a bit you can relax and have a hot drink and snack with your team of porters, chef and guide. By 7:30PM your dinner will be ready, and afterwards you can get some well-deserved rest.

Walking Distance: 16km / 9.94 miles (7-8 hours)

Campsite Elevation: 3,600 meters / 11,811 feet

Difficulty Inca Trail Hike: Moderate to Challenging

Max. elevation: Dead Woman’s Pass 4,215 meters / 13,829 feet

Min. elevation: Pacaymayu Valley 3,300 meters / 10,826 feet

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner (Plus snack and afternoon tea)

Accommodation: Camping

Weather: Cold and rainy

During the morning, we will drink coca tea to help us acclimate further to the high altitude. Soon after, we will have a hearty breakfast prepared by our trail chef. With this energy, we will start our second day’s adventure! We will hike Inca Trail Tour for around 4 hours to the highest pass of the trek, Dead Woman’s Pass (4,215 meters/13,829 feet). On reaching the pass we’ll stop for a short break to enjoy the views before setting off again to descend to the next valley (Pacaymayu Valley – Hidden River). It’s another hour and a half down the side of the valley to our lunch spot. After lunch we begin ascending again to the second pass of the trek. It’s 2 hours to the pass and along the way we’ll stop at a small Inca site (Runcu Raccay) and see two huge waterfalls cascading down the opposite side of the valley. After the second pass, it’s another hour downhill hike to reach the magnificent Inca site, Sayacmarca (an otherwise inaccessible village).

We’ll stop here for a rest and have a quick tour of the site and then watch the sunset over the Vilcabamba mountain range. It’s then just another 20 minutes until we stop for the night at our second campsite Chaquicocha (3,600 meters/11,811 feet). After dinner, if you’re not too exhausted, we can do some star gazing and we’ll point out the fascinating Inca constellations. In the magnificent Southern Hemisphere sky, away from all the artificial lighting, this sky is something to behold!

Walking Distance: 10km / 6.2 miles (5 hours)

Campsite Elevation: 2,600 meters / 8,530 feet

Difficulty Inca Trail Hike Day 3: Moderate

Max. elevation: Phuyupatamarka 3,600 meters / 11,811 feet

Min. elevation: Wiñay Wayna 2,600 meters / 8,530 feet

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner (Plus snack and afternoon tea)

Accommodation: Camping

Weather: Warm and very humid

Completing Day 2 and beginning Day 3 certainly deserves a pat on the back! We begin hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu early again, waking up at 6:30am to begin what is commonly felt to be the most beautiful day of the whole Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Tour. We hike for 2 hours along and begin to enter the jungle, known as the Cloud Forest. Towards the end of the Inca flats we begin to make our way up to the last peak at Phuyupatamarka (3600 meters) from where we’ll have great views overlooking the Urubamba River. From Phuyupatamarka it´s a 3 hour walk down a flight of steps to our last campsite, close to Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young). Wiñay Wayna is the most spectacular Inca site on the Peru Inca Trail Tour after Machu Picchu and the most popular campsite because of its proximity to Machu Picchu.

Considered: The most exciting and magical day (early wake up 3.30 AM)

Area: High Cloud and Subtropical Forest

Meals: Breakfast

Weather: Hot and very humid (bring lots of water)

Wake up time is at 3:30AM. We’ll eat breakfast at 4:00AM and wait at the checkpoint to be one of the first to start trekking when they open the gates at 5:30AM. We’ll wave goodbye to our team of porters and chef and then it’s "Forward On” to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku). We will wake up early after a refreshing night to enjoy the serenity in the soft morning light as hike 2 hours from Wiñay Wayna to the Sun Gate or “Inti Punku.” Here, the Inca Trail 4 day trek officially ends. From here we have spectacular views of the mountains and Machu Picchu in all its glory.

We will walk downhill for 1 hour and enter the hidden Royal Citadel of the Incas! Here we will have a 2-hour guided tour through this incredible ancient city to visit temples, terraces, palaces, priest’s houses, the sundial, the industrial sector, and the farming fields. Be amazed at the engineering ingenuity of the Incas which was so far ahead of their time and still partially a mystery today! Without having modern tools or even steel and iron to work with, the people who built this city were genius in organizing this community in a sustainable and beautiful way on the side of a mountain, even bringing water in canals through its streets for the people to use.

After this tour, you are free to explore by yourself. Another option is walking to see the Incan Bridge. You will be able to stay and enjoy this magical city for as long as you need before taking the bus down to the town of Aguas Calientes. Here if you have left time before the train, you will be able to have lunch, visit the hot springs, and walk around the town and the artisan market. At 16:22 hrs (subject to availability), we will take the train to Ollantaytambo. A private bus will pick up our group and drop you off at your hotel in Cusco at about 20:00 hrs. Rest your feet and your body now, but we can assure you your heart will still be soaring for weeks and years to come!

Pre-Departure Briefing

You meet your guide in your hotel for an orientation talk prior to the trek. You are provided there a duffle bag too.

Transport

You are picked up from your hotel in the morning and transferred by private vehicle to the so-called Km 82 (the starting point of the trek). On the last day of the Inca Trail tour, you take a train to Ollantaytambo. There, our driver picks you up taking you to your hotel either in Yanahuara, Urubamba, or Cusco.

Experienced Tour Guides

We keep our groups as small as 2-6 participants. Every group gets a Tour Guide, who is English speaking, with a university background, and officially licensed. Your Guide explains to you about the culture and surroundings along the entire route. S/he keeps you safe following the government health and safety protocols, so you can enjoy the trekking without any worries and just focus on the beauty of the trail!

Responsible Porters

A personal Porter is included in the tour who is responsible for carrying a duffel bag filled with your personal belongings (up to 7 kg/11 lbs). There is no additional fee for this. There are also other Porters to carry all the camping equipment and tents.

Tierras Vivas porters - Our porters account with life insurance and health insurance according to Peruvian regulations. These insurances involve all our super porters and trekking chef.

Inca Trail Permits and Machu Picchu Tickets

In the Inca Trail Tours, there is an Inca Trail Permits and entrance fee to Machu Picchu citadel already included. As soon as we receive your details and a deposit, we purchase your permits. These permits are for a specific date and in your name. They cannot be changed once confirmed! Only your passport number is allowed to be updated.

Double Personal Tents:

2 people occupy each 4-person tent which allows higher comfort and luggage security. Our tents are of 4 seasons and are always disinfected and highly maintained to ensure excellent performance during the treks. They are of the brand Eureka Mountain.

Camping Equipment for the Hike

All camping equipment during the Inca Trail. Dining and kitchen tents, tables, chairs, a toilet tent, and all cooking equipment (carried by porters) are included.

Air Sleeping Roll Mattress

We use air mattresses of the top-quality brand Therm-a-Rest.

Sleeping Bag

All our sleeping bags are of feathers and suitable for up to -16°C! It means you do not need to worry about cold as the temperature at night does not fall below 0°C!

A Duffel Bag for 2 Persons (7 kg per person)

You receive a duffel bag at your briefing (1-2 days prior to the trek) to fill your things in. These bags are carried by our porters during the trek. But you receive them at each campsite. Every duffel has a maximum weight of 7kg! 5kg of it should be for your personal belongings and the other 2kg are meant for your sleeping bag and pad.

Please note: You do not have access to your duffel bag until you arrive at the evening campsite!

Trekking chef during the hike to Inca Trail

A Cook specialized in cooking on the trail along with his/her Assistant prepare all of your delicious meals along the track to replenish your energy. You never go hungry!

Meals

3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners, snacks, and 3x afternoon tea. A vegetarian, vegan, or special diet is available at NO extra cost! Every afternoon before dinner, the Cook provides popcorn, biscuits, coffee, hot chocolate, tea, hot water, etc. After a long day of hiking, you do not have to wait until dinner to relax, warm-up, and enjoy a bite!

Wake-Up Coca Leaf Herbal Tea

Every morning at the campsite, you are wakened up with a cup of coca leaf herbal tea! Our staff brings the tea to your tent so that you can warm up from inside before you start the day. The herbal tea helps to breathe in this high mountain altitude of the Andes.

Water During the Hike

Beginning from your first lunch until your last breakfast, Tierras Vivas will supply all the water needed. This water will be boiled, and then cooled, before distributing. You must supply your own water bottles or camel back. We recommend carrying about 3L worth. We will refill our waters at each meal.

Train Tickets

From Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, there are two railway companies (IncaRail and PeruRail), in the 4-day Inca Trail is included the Train ticket to Ollantaytambo 

Machu Picchu Bus Ticket

A shuttle bus down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes Town.

Hiking Sticks or Hiking Poles

On the trailhead, our porters provide you with a pair of hiking sticks for your use during the trek. 

A Blanket per Person

We provide you a thermal blanket to warm you up every night!

Air Pillow

At every campsite, you find inside your tent your sleeping bag and inflatable pillow. 

Rain Ponchos

Usually, it is raining on the Inca Trail. Our porters provide a rain-poncho in case you need it.

A Hot-Water Bottle

A hot-water bottle is a rubber container that you fill with hot water and put in a sleeping bag to keep it warm.

A Inca Trail Tours T-shirt of the

It is a special t-shirt to remember your experience and survival of the hike.

Medical Kit & Oxygen Bottle

Our crew brings a first-aid kit and an oxygen bottle to be ready in case of an emergency. 

During the Inca Trail Tours, our staff will provided the following:

• Camping toilet tents private;
• Personal wash clothes;
• Our staff will provided the Biodegradable soap;
• Every morning our cook will provide the hot water for personal cleaning;
• Small towels for your clean your hands

What is included in personal camping equipment during the Inca Trail tours?

• Last lunch in Machupicchu town
• Travel insurance.
• Tips for our staff: Please note that our agency staff is well paid, so it depends on you if you give them an extra reward for their effort.
• Entrance fee to Huayna Picchu Mountain. It is a climb to this mountain to see the citadel of Machu Picchu from above (US$ 80). 

Solo Traveller

Please note that if you have booked the "Solo Traveller" option for this Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Tour, you receive your own single tent for all nights.

To complete your booking, we require a deposit of 50% of the total amount! The remaining balance can be paid in cash upon your arrival to Cusco.

To pay your deposit, you can choose one of the following methods:

• Credit and Debit cards - you might pay online using our booking system.
• Western Union - do not forget to send us MTCN code, please.
• A bank transfer - email us please and our staff will send our account bank.

All briefings are done at your hotel at 5:00 PM the night before your trek. Briefings are approximately 30 -45 minutes long. This is where you will receive your duffel bags.

Leaving Machu Picchu requires a lot of logistics, which are all included in your tour.

• From Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes, you will take a 25 minute bus down to the village. Buses are first come, first serve and run all day.
• You will take a train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo or Poroy. Your guide will give you your train tickets with train time. Make sure you get to the platform 30 minutes ahead of time.
  • Train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo is 2 hours
  • Train from Aguas Calientes to Poroy is 3.5 hours
• Once you arrive to the train station, look for a gentlemen with your name. He will then drive you Cusco
  • Van ride from Ollantaytambo to Cusco is 2 hours
  • Van ride from Poroy to Cusco is 30 minutes
• Once you arrive to Cusco, you will driven back to your hotel.

Machu Picchu to Cusco Transfer Schedules

Of course weather on Inca Trail is unpredictable. No matter what month you are doing the Inca Trail Tours 4 day, please make sure that you have rain gear that includes a waterproof jacket, pants, poncho and waterproof gloves. Many people forget about gloves, but being cold and wet makes hiking very unpleasant.

As soon as people book their Machu Picchu Inca Trail Tour, they start wondering about Inca Trail Altitude Sickness. The air at high Inca Trail altitudes contains less oxygen than at sea level and forces your body to work harder to get the oxygen it needs. This is why we always recommend spending at least two days in Cusco before beginning any trek. 

With Inca Trail Altitude Sickness, you may first feel like you have the flu or a hangover. You may have a headache, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, trouble sleeping, trouble breathing during exercise. If any of these effects become severe, please contact our office and we will help you get to a doctor.

Most of the time, these symptoms will be mild. We always recommend easing into activity slowly, allowing your body to adjust. Drink plenty of fluids such as water or coca tea.

Avoid drinking a lot of alcohol and coffee. They will cause you to urinate more often and become dehydrated. Avoid smoking. Smoking makes it more difficult for your body to get oxygen. Avoid sleeping pills. They may cause shallow breathing at night, making it more difficult for your body to absorb oxygen while you sleep.

Remember the trek to Machu Picchu is not a race. Go slowly, it will give your body time to adjust to the mountain and Inca Trail Altitude.

ESSENTIALS:

• Passport
• Valid, STUDENT CARD (if you booked as a student)
• Immigration Card (given on the plane as you enter Peru)
• Good daypack (the smaller, the better)
• Water storage: Water reservoir like Camelbaks are encouraged - but enough for at least 2-3 liters.
• Comfortable hiking boots (lightweight with good soles)

FOR YOUR DUFFEL:

Porters will carry up to 7 kg of your personal items. This must include your sleeping bag and air matt (if you bring/rent one). From us these two items weigh 3.5 kg.

• 2-3 wicking t-shirts
• 2-3 hiking pants
• 4 sets of undergarments.
• 4 sets of hiking socks
• 1 Fleece
• 1 Warm, down jacket: gets very cold at night
• 1 Rain jacket and pants
• 1 sun hat
• 1 wool hat
• Headlamp: essential
• Waterproof gloves (even if they are ski gloves, take them)
• Comfortable shoes for camp
• Walking boots
• Waterproof jacket/rain poncho
• Quickdry towel. We provide small ones, you might enjoy something a little larger.
• Small bottle of soap: we provide warm water each day to clean - might make you feel fresh if you had a little soap.
• Battery Charger: There is no place to plug in while trekking!
• Large plastic bags: to help organize and keep clean from dirty.
• Sleeping bag: Recommend down bags for -10C at least

TOILETRIES:

• Sunscreen
• Face moisturizer
• Bug spray
• Handsanitizer
• Wet wipes
• Toothbrush and paste
• Toiletpaper
• Personal medication
• First aid kit: band aids, moleskin, etc.

INSIDE YOUR DAYPACKS:

Daypacks can be any size for hiking, but we always recommend the smaller, the better. Inside Machu Picchu, no bag larger than 25L will be allowed in. If larger, you will need to store outside citadel gates.

• Water: we supply clean water at each meal. You are responsible for your first morning of water only as we won't have time to filter water until your first lunch.
• Sunhat
• Rain gear
• Fleece
• Camera
• Music (IPhone)
• Handsanitizer
• Toilet paper and small plastic bag for waste
• Extra Money for Souvenirs, Drinks & Tips
• Earplugs

If very important your take best cover backpacker, because the weather on 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.

Travel insurance for Inca Trail Tours 4 day is inexpensive and strongly recommended. These Machu Picchu Inca Trail Tours are planned months ahead of time and you can never predict what will happen. Adventure travelling includes more risk than your normal trip. Insurance is a way to protect the investment you have made on this amazing journey. 

We higly recommend this Travel Insurance, to offer you a calm trip and avoid any percanse during the whole Machu Picchu Inca Trail Hike, so you can have an incredible trip without any worry. Hiring an insurance does not mean that there are risks when traveling to Peru, since the rate of tourist accidents is very low. We simply want to offer you an unforgettable experience, without any worries.

Tipping is part of the tradition of any trek to Machu Picchu and while we pay good wages to our entire team, anything extra is always appreciated. Please know that this is not obligatory and that you should never feel pressured into this. Porters and Chef prefer soles if possible. Guide is happy with US, soles or even your credit card  The amount is entirely a personal preference: however as a guideline we suggest each hiker contributes 60 - 80 soles for the porters, and 150 soles for the chef. More is always appreciated.

Also, it’s very important to take EXTRA MONEY. You need to take at least 200-300 soles emergency money.

It’s important that you are honest with your guide about any health concerns you may suffer from. While guides are not medical professionals, they are trained in First Aid. We also work with a clinic in Cusco that can help assist our team.

You are responsible for assessing whether a Peru Machu Picchu Hike is suitable for you. You should consult your physician to confirm your fitness for travel and participation in any planned activities. You should seek your physician’s advice on vaccinations and medical precautions. Tierras Vivas will not provide medical advice. It is your responsibility to assess the risks and requirements of each aspect of the Machu Picchu Inca Trail Tour based on your own unique circumstances, limitations, fitness level and medical requirements.

If you develop extreme altitude sickness or any other illness that prevents you from hiking, but you wish to still visit Machu Picchu by train, we will work with you to coordinate this trip. This will be a new trip and may require additional fees. We will use as many of the purchased logistics from the original tour to keep fees low.

If you experience issues while hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and can not continue, a porter will accompany you to the closest road and wait while a car comes to pick you up and bring you to the nearest health clinic.

May I change the departure date after the tickets have been bought?

Unfortunately the answer is “No”. Once the tickets have been bought the government does not allow any changes, so we can’t change any departure date after the ticket has been bought. Tickets are also not transferable nor refundable.

*** If you cancel your Peru Machu Picchu Inca Trail, the deposit is not refundable at all! 

What about the balance?

It would be greatly appreciated if you pay in cash at our office (US dollars or Peruvian soles) here in Cusco. We have many cash machines in the historical center to withdraw money. You can also pay by VISA online but you will have to pay a 6% service charge, charged by VISA.

Can I hike to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain after visit the ruins?

Machu Picchu is most beautiful when seen from above, which is why hiking one of the mountains next to the ruins is very popular to do after your tour.

Huaynapicchu is the most popular and must be booked in advance... sells out very quickly. This hike takes approximately 45 minutes to the top and another 45 minutes back down. Tickets are sold in time sessions dictating when you can start this hike. The 1st session is from 7-8 AM and the 2nd session is from 10-11AM. Again, this refers to when you can begin your hike and we normally book the second session so you can enjoy your tour with your guide first. This hike is done on your own, but your guide will show you where to begin.

Machu Picchu Mountain is a bit longer and a bit less popular. It takes 1.5 hours to the top and another 1.5 hours to the bottom. Again there are two time windows - from 7-8 AM and 9-10 AM and we normally purchase the second time window. Those who book the Inca Trail 4 day trek or 7 day Inca Trail CAN NOT do this hike. Time will not allow for this. Hiking either mountain will allow you to have some extra time at the ruins once you complete, as listed above.

Can I store my luggage at your office?

Of course! During the Machu Picchu 4 day hike, your main luggage can be stored at our office or at your hotel, both free of charge.

On the way, you can observe stunning landscape of Andean mountains with snowy peaks and beautiful mountain lagoons, meet local people of remote Andean villages and visit the overwhelming Machu Picchu on the last day!! You can climb up either to Huayna Picchu or to Machu Picchu Mountain as well! Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4 days

The Inca Quarry trail to Inca Trail involves 2 day hike to Inca Quarry trek and Short Inca Trail. On Inca Quarry trek you can observe Inca ruins, Inca moummies, temple of the water and Andean highlands. On Short Inca Trail, you can observe the Cachabamba, Wiñaywayna ruins, flora and fauna. The last day you will visit Machu Picchu. Peru Machu Picchu Inca Quarry Trail

Inca Quarry to Inca Trail

During this hike, you appreciate warm cloud forest nature as well as the Apu Salkantay Mountain (Apu is the sacred spirit of the mountain in Quechua), you visit the Incan site of Llactapata and the “Lost City of the Incas” - Machu Picchu. You can also climb up to either Huayna Picchu or the Machu Picchu Mountain. Salkantay Hike

Salkantay Trek 4 Days/ 3 Nights

This is a longer and very favourite variation of the Salkantay Trek! During this trek, you do not miss out any of its stunning nature as you walk along all its length!! So you can appreciate warm cloud forest nature as well as the Apu Salkantay Mountain (Apu means the sacred spirit of the mountain in Quechua), you visit the Incan site of Llactapata and the “Lost City of the Incas” - Machu Picchu. You can climb up to either Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain too. The Salkantay Trek is the best alternative hike to the Inca Trail tours. This trek is definitely a worth!!. Salkantay Trek

Salkantay Trek 5 Days/ 4 Nights