Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Challenge

This route was first examined by Hiram Bingham in 1911 and was opened for hikers in 1970. The legendary ruins of Machu Picchu are not the only historical remaining parts within the region, many other fascinating sites are in places that are only accessible on foot and have barely been explored.

The Machu Picchu hike is starting early in the morning, our guide will pick you up from your hotel and transfer by driving toto Piskacuchu, an area situated on the 82nd km waymarker (51mile) of the Cusco (2,680 meters from sea level) – Machu Picchu railroad- the beginning of the Inca Trail. After a briefing you will cross a bridge and walk together with the bank of the Urubamba River as it streams north-west with the Sacred Valley along a horizontal landscape, then turning right and moving up abruptly from the river. After passing through a small village, the relics of the Inca hillfort Huillca Raccay appear high above the mouth of the river Cusichaca (happy bridge). When the Incas conquered this area they constructed a fort here as the site commands a wonderful vista across the Urubamba Valley and guarded the entrance to the Cusichaca Valley. You will also visit the very large Patallacta. You will have lunch in Chamana and then carry on along the river observing various Incan agricultural stepped terraces and irrigation channels until reaching the attractive village of Wayllabamba. After that in the afternoon you reach the village of Llullucha Pampa, the location of your first campsite (3,850m). You will have dinner and a rest.

Distance: 17 km
Estimated time: 7-8 hours
Maximum altitude: 12,630 feet /3,850m
Campsite: Llullucha Pampa

1st Night campiste: Llulluchapampa campsite

Inca Trail Hike: Patallacta

The second day is the hardest but one of the most fascinating days, you reach 4,200 m, traversing the first and highest Warmiwañusqa Pass and later the second pass at 3,800 meters above sea level but also get to see more exciting sites, like Runquracay, the site is fenced with alcoves that might have been little resting locations, guard posts or ceremonial places, If feeling the effects of the altitude when crossing the first high pass its best to not stop or descend quickly to the valley of the Pakaymayu River, where you have lunch. Then you continue hiking through the valley to the Inca ruins of Runkuraqay and then climb up over the second pass – Abra Runkuraqay. After that you descend down to Yanacocha (The Black Lagoon) and then trek up a trail with stone steps to arrive at another cluster of distinct buildings. This location is called Sayaqmarka, a pre-Hispanic site with slender streets and buildings that stand at different levels; sanctuaries, patios, canals and an outside protective wall. From the top of the arch end, you can see various buildings that look like they once were temples and an astronomic watchtower with constant water supply and superior food storage.

Sayaqmarka is a location brimming with enigma and enchantment; the rough distance from Runkuraqay is about 5km. It takes about 2 hours. This site covers over 3,600 meters above sea level. There’s a wonderful trail and a tunnel traversing across the site. We walk past beautiful subtropical vegetation and great archaeological sites. We get over the Phuyupatamarca Pass and just behind it are the Phuyupatamarca ruins which are better preserved than the ones we have seen up to now. A few km’s down a steep descent and via a cloud forest takes us to the last campsite at Wiñay Wayna Visitor’s center where you can purchase food and drink and use the restrooms.

Distance: 21 km
Estimated time: 9-10 hours
Maximum altitude: 13779.53 feet /4,200m
2nd night campsite: Phuyupatamarca or Wiñaywayna campsite

Inca Trail Hike: Runquracay, Pakaymayu, Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca, Wiñaywayna

The third day begins at 3 am when we hike the last 4 km to Machu Picchu. Pursue the path indicated which is plainly marked by the signposts (and be careful not to wander too near to the edge of the cliff). Cherish your time at the most valuable masterpiece of the continent. You have plenty of time to enjoy your visit to Machu Picchu. In the afternoon we take the train back to Cusco.

If you go straight from the town of Machupicchu (Aguas Calientes), its only 2km from Puente Ruinas station to Machu Picchu. It takes about 20 minutes to go down a narrow path which runs side-by-side to the rail line.

Distance: 4 km
Estimated time: 4-5 hours
Inca Trail Hike: Sun gate Machu Picchu (Intipunko), Machu Picchu

• Pre-trek briefing (Our guide will visit your hotel a day before the trek for your briefing);
• Transfer by private vehicle to the initial point of the Inca Trail at Km 82;
• Accommodation: camping (2 nights);
• Inca Trail Permits;
• Entrance fee to Machu Picchu;
• Meals: 2x breakfast, 2x lunch, 2x dinner, 2x 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 Cook;
• Porters to carry food, camping, cooking equipment and and 5 kg of each passenger's stuff;
• Camping equipment: Eureka Mountain Personal double tents (4 person tent which allows for greater comfort, and also storage of backpacks);
• Inflatable mattress (Term-a-Rest Mattress); 
• A sleeping bag (for up to -5°C);
• A blanket per person
• A pillow
• Day Pack Rain Covers;
• Water every day (excluding the first 4 hours of the trek when you need to bring your own);
• Tables and chairs, cooking tent with cooking equipment, dining and toilet tents and bottled gas;
• Rain Ponchos;
• Duffel bag (for your personal belongings);
• A T-shirt of the Inca Trail;
• Tourist train (Expedition Class) from Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) to Ollantaytambo;
• A shuttle bus down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes Town;
• Tourist bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco;
• First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle.

• Breakfast on the first day and last lunch in Aguas Calientes Town,
• Travel insurance;
• Entrance fee to Huayna Picchu ($80);
• Tips to local staff (please note: it is a custom to give tips in Peru; however, it is not obligatory);
• Other extras not mentioned.

Solo Traveler: Please note that if you have booked the "Solo Traveler" option for this trek, you receive your own single tent for all nights.

Local flights: No local flights are included in the trek´s price! If you need the flight, let us know, we can help you to get the best price!

Inca Trail Porters: In the 3 day Inca Trail is included the personal porter. If you want to take extra equipment. The extra Porter to help you carrying up to 15 kg of your personal belonging (USD 130; the Extra Porter can be shared between 2 persons);

In the 3 day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu it is very important to have a meeting with your guide before the trek: Our tour guide will explain about the route and recommendation for this challenge.

A Tierras Vivas tour guide will be meeting with you 2 or 1 day before the trek in your hotel or Airbnb. It is very important to send us your hotel information. Also our guide will provide the duffel bag for your personal belongings.

The distance between Cusco Peru and Machu Picchu is 73 km. Leaving Machu Picchu requires a lot of logistics, which are all included in your tour.

• Our guide will provide the ticket bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes town and he/she will coordinate to meet in the restaurant in the town, there you will find your duffel bag. Once you finish your visit to the Inca citadel, you can go outside to the principal door and there you will find the bus down. These buses leave every 5 min.
• Once you meet with your guide in Aguas Calientes, he/she will take to the train station and you will take the train return to Ollantaytambo
• Train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo is 2 hours
• Train from Aguas Calientes to Poroy is 3.5 hours
• Once you arrive at the Ollantaytambo train station, our driver will be waiting there with your name. Transfer to Cusco
• Our driver will drop you off at your hotel or Airbnb.

Peru in January and February: Rainy season - heavy rain and temperatures between 15 and 25°C depending on the region. The coastal region is an exception - here it is sunny and dry at around 35°C

Peru in March and April: Transition from rainy season to dry season - still cool and rainy in March, then increasingly drier in April and the temperatures rise

Peru in May and June: Dry season - cloudy and cold on the Pacific coast, warmer and drier in the Andean regions

Peru in July and August: Dry season - ideal weather for active travel and trekking tours, cool and humid on the coast

Peru in September and October: Transition from dry season to rainy season - the fog and the cold on the coast are easing, in the Andean regions the first heavy rains of the upcoming Peruvian summer can occur

Peru in November and December: rainy season - rainy Andes and Amazon region, ideal for sightseeing trips and beach holidays in Peru.

Best time to hike the 3 day Inca Trail

The Peruvian summer lasts from December to March. Then it rains a lot, you are then in the middle of the rainy season. In February, the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is completely closed. All alternative hikes to Machu Picchu (multi-day)  are then possible, but we strongly advise against doing so.

Many arguments for a trip during the rainy season are that Peru is beautifully green and the sun still shines almost all the time. Of course that's true. Above all, you can avoid the tourist crowds. But: If you are planning hikes, I recommend that you switch to other months. 

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.

Appropriate clothing along this hike

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. Machu picchu has a warm climate, getting only cold at night. The rest of necessary implements are included in the “What we recommend that you bring your Inca Trail” list.

• Passport original
• Original International Student Identity Card (in case you have applied for a student discount)
• Cash in soles
• Rain gear (jacket and pants if available)
• Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots recommended
• Sandals or jogging shoes for a higher comfort while at camp
• Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces. Thermal clothing is also recommended.
• Flashlight/headlamp and batteries
• Camera and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
• Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold
• Sun block
• After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body
• Insect repellent – minimum recommended 20% DEET – no malaria risk has been reported
• Handkerchiefs
• Toilet paper
• Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc. Please note that we do provide a daily morning snack and our meal service is very complete and well supplied. This recommendation applies for all clients being used to a specific snack, as it may happen that it is not included in our selection
• Water container and water for the first morning. Important notice: plastic water bottles are no longer allowed into Machu Picchu. Plastic water containers (ie. Nalgene) or metal ones are recommended
• Optionally: water- sterilizing tablets in case you pick up water from streams or rivers along the route. Otherwise, we provide filtered boiled water, which is safe to drink and has not reported any health problem so far
• Small towel
• Swimsuit (if you wish to go to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes)
• Optional: walking sticks or poles (rubber covers required in order not to damage the Inca Trail)

During the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu we spend two 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.

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.

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 40 will have to be paid. If you want an upgrade any service to the train 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.

3 Day Llactapata Trek to Inca Trail is a new hiking to Machu Picchu. This hike involve 2 important Inca Path. The Quechua word “Llactapata” means "High City". Llactapata shows us her incredible condition and Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. On the Inca Trail, you will discover the Patacancha, Wiñaywayna archeological site and the last day you will arrive to Machu Picchu. Visit our website Llactapata trek to Inca Trail

Llactapata Trek to Machu Picchu

The 3 day Salkantay Hike to Machu Picchu challenge was created for the intrepid travellers, who like to explore and discount the sacred mountain on the short time.. After the Inca Trail, the Salkantay Trek is the second most popular trek to Machu Picchu, is listed as one of the 25 best treks in the world by National Geographic Adventure Travel Magazine visit our hike to 3 day Salkantay Hike

3 Day Salkantay Trek

This Sacred Valley tour to Inca Trail 3 days tour was created especially for you, offers the possibility of combining a traditional guide tour of the Sacred Valley with an adventure hike, this links the famous Sacred Valley of the Incas and the 2 day Inca Trail course towards one of the seven wonders of the modern world Machu Picchu. Visit and Book Now Online the Sacred Valley to Inca Trail

Sacred Valley to Inca Trail 3 days/ 2 nights

Lares is a small town located on the north of Cusco. We start in the Sacred Valley of the Incas (In Huaran). Then, we will go up to the narrow path and we will have the chance to see stone houses with thatched roofs surrounded by herds of llamas, alpacas and guinea pig. The road is moderate compared to the Inca Trail. This road has two passes of 4000 MAMSL or 13,000 feet. In this trip the trek is about 7 to 8 hours daily at an altitude of 2900 MAMSL where we have impressive panoramic views of different snowy mountains. We also have beautiful lagoons. We will camp in a community where we can appreciate the art and textile industry that are well-preserved in this places. You will discover the quechuan culture in the heart of the Inca land. After finishing our hike we will take the train to Aguas Calientes and visit the famous Inca fortress of Machu Picchu world heritage site. Please visit:

Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

This 4 day trek is an open-air adventure that offers a challenge of spectacular natural beauty and spirituality. Salkantay (that means “Wild Mountain”) is located at 6,271 MAMSL. It is the highest peck of the Vilcabamba and one of the highest of the Andes and it is located on the north-west of Cusco. The famous Salkantay Trek is considered one of the 25th best treks in the world by National Geographic Adventure Travel Magazine. It is a trek open for all the people and without space limits at least for now. This trek connects Cusco Town with Machu Picchu. Salkantay trek is an ancient and remote path located on the snowy mountains and it’s surrounded by an exuberant tropical rain forest. The experience of walking through this path is so amazing that you can easily get lost in the beautiful landscapes. Our tour is customized so it is not the usual path, this is a new path for trekkers who are looking for more privacy and authenticity. Visit the Short Sallkantay Trek 4 days

Short Sallkantay Trek 4 days