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The 5-Day Inca Trail hike involves a 4-day trek along the Inca Trail and an additional day for exploring Machu Picchu, including Huayna Picchu (Additional cost). During the four-day trek to Machu Picchu, you’ll immerse yourself in traditional Andean culture. The Inca Trail, known as Qapaq Ñan in the Quechuan native language, is a 50 km segment of authentic Incan stone paths that once stretched from Cusco to Machu Picchu. It remains one of the world’s iconic outdoor excursions.
There’s nothing quite like the sensation of walking the Inca Trail, arriving at the Lost City of the Incas just as the sun casts its first golden rays over the ancient stone buildings.
5 Day Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu with us ensures a fully supported experience. Our porters and modern equipment accompany you on this journey, guided by an experienced professional tour guide. Furthermore, you’ll have an extra day to explore Machu Picchu and ascend one of its most renowned peaks—Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain (optional). These elements combine to provide an opportunity for you to fully relish one of the most popular hikes in South America.
Come to join one of the best Machu Picchu hiking tours.
Hiking the Inca Trail reviews!!
Sustainable Tourism: At Tierras Vivas, we are happy to promote and practice sustainable tourism by being eco-friendly and supporting local communities. We are again supporting Sernamp this Inca Trail 2023 with picking up trash and clearing the trail
Service Level: Superior service all inclusive, extra horses for your equipment and private transport.
Physical Rating: 3 – Demanding – Some high-altitude hikes or more strenuous activities, but accessible to most healthy travellers
Age requirement: 12+ / All travellers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Inca Trail Tour Operator: Tierras Vivas Travel
Crew: A professional bilingual tour guide, a cook and porters
Accommodation: 3x Campsite, 1x Hotel.
Meals: 4x breakfast, 4x lunch, 4x dinner, 4x afternoon tea.
Transportation: Transportation by private van, 1x train (Expedition Class).
Caming equipment: It is included on our trek the double tent, sleeping bag, therma a rest mattress, pillow andblanket.
Group Available: Min: 2 – Max: 8
Day 01: Cusco – Km 82 – Llullucha Pampa
Day 02: Llullucha Pampa – Chaquicocha
Day 03: Chaquicocha – Wiñay Wayna
Day 04: Wiñay Wayna – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes Village
Day 05: Machu Picchu – Cusco
Departure Point: Cusco – We pick you up from your hotel.
Departure Time: 05:30
Briefing Point: Our guide will visit your hotel 2 or 1 day before the trek
Briefing Time: Between 17:00 – 18:00
Return Point: Cusco – Our driver will drop-off in your hotel or Airbnb department
If you want to book the Inca Trail 5 days hike to Machu Picchu, we recommend to contact by WhatsApp +51 984004472, Our staff will give the information for the Inca Trail availaibilty. Once you confirmed your departure day, our sales department will send you an email with the link payment and you capy pay online.
Once confirmed your payment, our info department will send an email confirming your Inca Trail tour, that is all. are you ready to book?
Inca Trail News: On October 10th 2023, the Ministerio de Cultura (Peruvian goverment) enabled the Inca Trail permits for the 2024. There are 500 spaces available for everyday, Its included travellers, professional guide, chef and porters.
Early morning, we pick you up from your hotel and take you by our private transport to the starting point of this Inca Trail hike – Piscacucho, also called Km 82 (2,350 m). There, your Tour Guide gives you a briefing about the following Machu Picchu tour and after that, you cross the checking point of the Inca Trail hike. 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, Veronica Mountain (5,850 m). You have lunch in Chamana to later continue the Inca Trail walk 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 ecosystems along the way. Later in the afternoon, you get to the village of Llullucha Pampa, the place of your first campsite (3,850 m). There you have dinner and 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 Machu Picchu hike ascending towards the highest point of the trail – Abra Warmiwañusqa (= Dead Woman´s Pass) at 4,200 meters 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 walk the Inca Trail through the valley until you get to the Inka´s ruins of Runkuracay where a guided tour follows. Afterward, 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 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 5 days Inca Trail. 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 sleep to get ready for hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu!
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
We start trekking the Inca Trail early morning after breakfast. We first climb antique steps to Inti Punku (the Sun Gate) to see the sunrise above the long-expected citadel of Machu Picchu! Then, we spend the rest of the morning exploring the Inka citatel on our own. For those interested, we meet up in the below town of Aguas Calientes to have lunch together. To get to Aguas Calientes, you can either take a slow descend (recomended to take some lovely panoramic photos; it takes about an hour) or a shuttle bus (approx. 20 minutes; it costs $12 which is not included in the Inca Trail package). Afterwards, you can visit the local hot springs (entrance fee of 10 Soles is not included in any of our Inca Trail packages). You spend the night in a comfortable hostel where you can enjoy hot shower!
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
No Inca Trail hike expects today, just a walk and a ride as we take a shuttle bus after a very early breakfast. The bus leaves us in front of the gates of the mysterious city of Machu Picchu and we enter for the early morning best photo opportunities! Then, you enjoy a 2 and half an hour guided visit to the so-called “Lost City of the Incas”!! Afterward, you have an opportunity to climb either the peak of Huayna Picchu (45 minutes up and the same time back optional) or Machu Picchu Mountain(1 hour, 30 minutes up and down optional) on your own to take some panoramic pictures of Machu Picchu!! This Machu Picchu tour finishes by afternoon’s descent to the town of Aguas Calientes where we take a train back to Cusco. Arrival in the evening.
End of the service! Hope you have enjoyed this one of the longer Inca Trail tours!!
Personal camping equipment included in the 5 Day Inca Trail
Solo Traveler: Please note that if you have booked the “Solo traveler” option for this trek, you also receive your single tent.
Local flights: No local flights are included in any of our Inca Trail packages!
Every year, thousands of people do the Inca Trail. They usually complete the 43-km trail in 4 days. For most of them, the trip is their lifetime experience and fulfillment of their personal ambitions. The satisfaction of having completed the trek and visiting the spectacular Incan city of Machu Picchu is hard to beat. Although, this feeling is even better if you know that all porters helping you along the way have been treated well and with the respect they deserve.
Tierras Vivas DOES NOT permit this exploitation!! We guarantee that our porters carry only an amount given by the Peruvian law!!
In case the Hiking the Inca Trail is fully booked, you can still enjoy one of our amazing Alternative Treks!!
During the Hiking of the 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 in Machu Picchu. All of the hotels we use in Aguas Calientes are located within walking distance of the train stations.
Design simplicity meets expedition standards. The best features of Eureka’s backcountry and expedition tents combine for an extremely durable tent that sets up fast. Designed with a focus on weather tightness and durable coatings ideal for frequent use in cool, wet environments and during the shoulder seasons of late fall and early spring.
Our tents are of the brand MOUNTAIN PASS 3XTE or DOITE EXPEDITION designated for 4 seasons. We provide 3 person-capacity tents; however, just 2 trek participants use them! In this way, we provide you with more space and comfort. In case of a single traveler, we provide a 2 2-person capacity tent. After each trek, we carefully check our tents and fix them if necessary!
You will spend a night in the best campsite on the Hiking Inca Trail:
Accommodation during the 5 day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
These following hotels are used to accommodate you during your tour:
Hotel Renato House Machu Picchu
Please Note: Hotel in Aguas Calientes town is not a 3 star hotel but it is clean, safe and comfortable with a friendly and very helpfully staff. They have private Twin, Double and Triple rooms, with small private bathrooms and hot gas water system. Hotel has one of the best locations in town, only few blocks from Train and Bus Station and you don’t have to do anymore long uphill hikes to get to your room! It is about 10 minutes from the hot spring pools. We try to include an economical accommodation option for this trek to make it accessible for everyone but recommend that if you are wanting better accommodation in Aguas Calientes to celebrate your accomplishment of the trek.
We recommend the early booking of single supplements and of pre/post-tour accommodation. Single accommodation can be arranged for a supplement, subject to availability. Please request this at the time of booking.
HIKING THE INCA TRAIL UPGRADE HOTEL:
If you would like to upgrade your accommodation, the discount is U$ 20 per person (Double or Single room). We can recommend the following hotel in Machu Picchu or you can choose and book the hotel by yourself and you will have a discount for your accommodation:
Accommodation | Accommodation | ||
MACHU PICCHU HOTELS | STAR | SINGLE | DOUBLE |
Santuary Lodge Machu Picchu | 5 Star | U$ 1500.00 | U$ 1500.00 |
Casa Andina Machu Picchu | 3 Star | U$ 218.50 | U$ 218.50 |
Tierra Viva Machu Picchu | 3 Star | U$ 110.00 | U$ 150.00 |
Ferre Machu Picchu | 3 Star | U$ 230.00 | U$ 230.00 |
Santuary Lodge Machu Picchu: The accommdation is Standard Patio
Casa Andina Machu Picchu: The accommdation is Standard Traditional
Tierra Viva Hotel Machu Picchu: The accommodation is Standard
Ferre Machu Picchu Hotel: The accommodation is Standard
Solo Traveller: 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.
IMPORTANT TO ACCOMMODATION: You must present your passport with the TAM immigration slip (copy) to all hotel accommodations. The national sales tax (18%) is charged to all Peruvian citizens and foreigners staying 60 consecutive days or more. In case the room is shared by both a taxable and non-taxable guest at the same time, the sales tax will be applied to the whole room. So please take every caution to not lose this piece of paper. You need to bring it to the Cusco office for your checking.
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.
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. Machupicchu has a warm climate, getting only cold at night. The rest of necessary implements are included in the “What we recommend that you bring” list.
Important note: Personal shared porter must be reserved in advance at the time of booking your trek.
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 and hotel provided in 4 night
The Inca Trail hike is included the extra porter. Only you will need to carry your a daypack with Camera, water bottle, snacks, and a poncho in case of rain (unlikely in Dry season May to October)- but for your camping equipment, our porter will carry all the trail.
Important note: Personal shared porter must be reserved in advance at the time of booking your trek.
It’s very important to take EXTRA MONEY. You need to take at least 200-300 soles emergency money:
Many are the routes that are included in Machu Picchu Vacation Packages, but none is like the Inca Trail, the most famous pedestrian path in the Americas. After flying from the capital of Perú, Lima, you will arrive in Cusco to walk for four days along a path through forests and dense fog, millenary stone steps and discovering the ruins of ancient fortifications and Inca cities, and all the time enjoying majestic views.
Few travel excursions will top as many bucket lists as the Inca Trail Tours to Machu Picchu and for good reason. Combining sub-tropical jungle, lush cloud forests and staggering alpine scenery, the 44-kilometre trek is ranked among the finest in the world.
But there are certain drawbacks. With an increasing number of travellers looking for their piece of the action – 2012 saw 62,789 pass the main gate of the trail. This is one adventure that’s fast becoming the most popular trek in the world.
In a bid to minimise environmental impact, the Peruvian Government now issues just 500 permits a day (with up to 300 of those going to cooks, porters and guides), meaning those looking to travel in peak season, May to September will often need to apply for permits months in advance. But to avoid crowds and red tape, a great option is to look at some of the lesser-known alternative treks. The exhilarating, high-altitude Salkantay Trek is steadily growing a reputation.
Encompassing five different ecosystems over the same number of days, the ancient path offers a mind-blowing mix of snow-capped glacial mountains, lush tropical rainforests and vast Lord of the Rings-style plains across Mt Salkantay rising 6,271 metres above sea level.
And while the Salkantay may not possess the international brag factor of the Inca Trail, its advantages are many. The Salkantay Trek offers a different experience to the Inca Trail and delivers the best vistas of the Salkantay mountain as well as superb hiking.
Also, you don’t need porters. Most travellers on the Salkantay Trek use animals, such as mules or horses. You get close to the majestic Mt Salkantay, and it’s possible to stay either in lodges or camps. It’s important to note the Salkantay Trek will require a permit from 2015. It doesn’t lead directly to Machu Picchu though it does still culminate at the site following a brief transfer from nearby Aguas Calientes on the final morning.
The Salkantay Trek is also a more strenuous alternative to the Inca Trail, the altitude is higher in several places and there is some steep, rugged terrain to tackle. That said, a little bit of prior fitness training goes a long way and people of all ages, in good physical condition, with some hiking experience will do fine on this trek.
If you have the time and energy many people trek both trails as they a really both unique unto themselves.
The Lares Valley is rich with a unique culture, closely connected to the Incas and largely preserved by the isolated nature of the location. This hike passes through many villages, famous for their brightly dyed and hand-woven traditional clothing. Another highlight of the Lares valley is the medicinal thermal springs. The valley is full of beautiful nature, including lakes and waterfalls, and herds of llamas and alpacas. Finally, there is a train to Aguas Calientes, and a tour of Machu Picchu the next morning.
Lares Trek to Machu Picchu.
This trek visits the ancient Incan ruins of the city of Choquequirao, the last fortress of resistance against the Spanish. Many fewer tourists visit this city compared to its sister city Machu Picchu, largely because of the remote nature of the site and the inability to access it by train or bus. While challenging, this trek is incredible, scenic, and culturally and historically fascinating. Since this site is much less busy, there is plenty of time on this trip to explore the city individually, in addition to a guided tour. This trip leaves almost an entire day to the appreciation of the city called the Cradle of Gold.
Choquequirao Trail 5 Days
Despite the trails being very closely located, Salkantay is less well known than the much more popular Inca Trail, so each individual traveler has a more personalized, less commercialized experience. There are incredible views along the trail, which travels along mountain passes, past scenic waterfalls, and through lush cloud forest. There are also a variety of options available to make the trip an ideal experience for each hiker, such as optional trips to additional ruins or a town with relaxing hot springs. The final night is in the city of Aguas Calientes, with a trip to and tour of Machu Picchu the next day.
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu
This world famous trek to the even more widely known Wonder of the World, the lost Incan city, passes through the variety of climates and ecosystems that are in such close proximity in Peru. It includes visits to a multitude of other Incan sites along the path, and from 4,200 meters above sea level to 2,680m. This trek begins at Km 82. The final day of hiking is a very early morning, in order to enter through the Sun Gate to see Machu Picchu at sunrise. There is no night in Aguas Calientes included, rather the extra day just means that there is more of a relaxed hiking experience along the historical path.
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