+51 984 004 472
info@tierrasvivas.com
3 Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is the most famous and popular hike in Peru and even one of the most favorite treks in the world. Discover one of the most pristine landscapes of Peru and experience an Andean journey to the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. Hike through high mountain passes, highland meadows, and tropical cloud forests. This 3-day hike to Machu Picchu ends up by entering this Incan sanctuary through the famous Sun´s Gate (“Inti Punku” in Quechua native language). Be one of the many adventurers from around the world, who has successfully, done this moderate to difficult Machu Picchu 3-day hike!
3 day Inca Trail tour is one of the best hikes to reach the ancient Inca Trail in a short time. Enjoy the best scenery on this original Inca path. With paved stone paths and stairs cut into mountain -sides, the trail passes Inca citadels such as Runkurakay, Wiñaywayna, Phuyupatamarca, and Machu Picchu, through cloud-forest speckled with orchids and fauna, across high Andean plains and up on to the oxygen-starved Warmiwañusca Pass (4200 m / 13,780 ft).
At Tierras Vivas, we are happy to promote and practice sustainable tourism by being eco-friendly and supporting local communities
Tierras Vivas Travel.
Comfortable, tourist-class accommodation, tourist-class train, and private transport.
4 – difficult – moderate; Some high altitude points and strenuous walks, but accessible to healthy travelers.
4+. Please note: all participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
It is included in the Inca Trail permits and Machu Picchu tickets. Please note: the trail is fully booked months in advance during the high season.
A professional Tour Guide.
2x breakfast, 2x lunch, 2x dinner, 2x afternoon tea (Food on the Inca Trail).
All inclusive camping equipment!
Private van, 2x train (Expedition train service).
Min: 2 – Max: 16
IMPORTANT NOTE: A FEE FOR MONEY TRANSFER IS ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PRICE!
Day 01: Cusco – Km 82 – Llullucha Pampa
Day 02: Llullucha Pampa – Wiñaywayna
Day 03: Wiñay Wayna – Machu Picchu – Cusco
If you want to know about the 3 days Inca Trail Challenge available in real-time in 2022 and 2023, you can contact us by WhatsApp at +51 984 004472. We will reply ASAP or you can fill about Request Information.
Inca Trail Hike: 3 days vs 4 Day
The 3-Day Inca Trail Hike is the best alternative trail for the 4-Day Inca Trail trek. This itinerary was created for all trekkers who have a short time to hike the classic trail to Machu Picchu. This trail is the same route as the Inca Trail and the difference is that you will walk more hours to complete the challenge, we recommend that before booking the Machu Picchu 3-day hike, you exercise during the day. Book Now!!, There is limited availability.
If you want to hike the challenging trails to Machu Picchu. The 7-day Inca Trail or Choquequirao to Machu Picchu hike is for you! Or hike to the Classic Inca Trail or Short hike, we recommend you the following treks:
If you want to book the 3-day Inca Trail Hike 2023. Please click below.
Inca Trail Frequently Asked Questions
Before you book, maybe you have some questions about the Inca Trail.
What is Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountains?
Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu mountains are not included in our service, it is extra, in our trek only included the Inca Trail permits + Machu Picchu ticket.
Inca Trail Booking Policies
If you would like to cancel, please visit our Inca Trail Booking Policies
How to Book and Send Payment
To complete your booking, we will require your details, full name, passport, nationality, and day of birth. Once sent, our booking department will require a 50% pre-payment for booking your entrance fee and train ticket. Inca Trail Book and Payment you will find the next step to book and payment.
Tierras Vivas is a fully licensed tour operator and has 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor. The copy of our Inca Trail Hike Tripadvisor reviews below proves our experience and enthusiasm to offer our customers the best Inca Trail Tours.
Check our Inca Trail Hike Tripadvisor comments below:
3 DAY INCA TRAIL Incredible team!! Inca fam 🙂
Candice R wrote a review Aug 2021: “Efrian was a spectacular guide!! His knowledge on all the flora and fauna was incredible not to mention the animals. It happened to be pacha mamas birthday on the day we hit the summit and he conducted the most beautiful ceremony!! He took us at a good but steady pace for us to finish successfully in 3 days!! The porters were magnificent, they even managed to make me a birthday cake at 3,800 meters without an oven!! Thanks Pedro and your amazing team, Andreas, Mateo and Estefan. You all made the Inca trail an unforgettable memory 🙂“
Islanders Hike the Mountains
Cafetk Wrote a review in October 2021: “What an incredible trip! Our guide Efrain was amazing and very knowledgeable. The food provided by Andres was delicious every day (and he was very entertaining as well) Enrique, Miguel, Ardril, and Christian were a great team of porters and always smiling. We never saw other groups on the trail. Efrain was informative but also gave us space to be on our own. We even learned some Kechuan! Thanks again and highly recommend it.”
An unforgettable Tour!
Pavel Wrote a review September 2021: “An unforgettable experience! Our tour guide Efrain was great. His knowledge and professionalism was beyond expectations. Even though we booked a group tour, we were treated as on a private one, with maximum individual attention and accommodation during the entire tour.
Special thanks to porter Juan and chef Pedro.
I would definitely recommend Tierras Vivas!”
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 northwest 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 rest.
Distance: 17 km
Estimated time: 7-8 hours
Maximum altitude: 12,630 feet /3,850m
Campsite: Llullucha Pampa
1st Night campsite: 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 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 a 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 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)
On 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 the route and recommendations for this challenge.
A Tierras Vivas tour guide will be meeting with you 2 or 1 days before the trek in your hotel or Airbnb. It is very important to send us your hotel information. Also, our guide will provide a 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.
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, and 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 t, hat’s true. Above all, you can avoid tourist crowds. But: If you are planning hikes, I recommend that you switch to other months.
If very important you take the best cover backpacker because the weather on Inca Trail is change every date, and we can’t predict whether it rains or no. If you don’t have one, we recommended 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 rain gear 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 the necessary implements are included in the “What we recommend that you bring your Inca Trail” list.
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 4 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 with a 2 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 to any service to the train or do you want to stay an extra night in Machu Picchu, contact us directly at info@tierrasvivas.com for this to be done and confirmed to you
incredible
