Day 1: Cusco – Trailhead at Km 82 – Ayapata

On the night before your trek, there will be a briefing with your trekking tour guide, at 6:30 p.m. at your hotel. This can be arranged at a different time, if needed. In the morning, we will pick you up from your hotel with our private transportation (time depending on your location). You will take a stunning drive to the trail head, KM 82 and see a great view of the Andes along the way. Your chef will prepare breakfast at the trail head and display your passport to the checkpoint. Finally, you will start the first two and a half hours of the hike. It will be pretty flat until you arrive to the Inca site of Llacatapata. This is where you will have the first taste of Incan culture, and where our tour guides will begin to explain the history of Peru and the Incas. After your first Inca lesson, it will be another hour and a half until we arrive at the lunch stop. After lunch, we will have some time to rest and then continue for another two and half hours until we reach our first camp at Ayapata.

Day 2: Ayapata – Dead Woman’s Pass – Pacaymayu – Chaquicocha

You will be woken up with a hot cup of coca tea at 4:45 a.m, followed by a nutritious breakfast. At 6:15 a.m., we will begin hiking towards the highest point of the Inca Trail, Dead Women’s Pass (4,215 meters). It will be a four hour climb, through different microclimates, with amazing views of the mountains. It is difficult trekking at this elevation, so there will be a lot of breaks along the way. Once you reach the summit, your porters will be waiting with a hot glass of tea and you will have some time to enjoy. You will then hike for another hour and a half downhill through Inca steps, until you arrive at your lunch spot. After lunch, you will have another four hours, including breaks, you will reach your campsite at Chaquicocha, You will get to visit two Inca sites, Runku Raccay and Sayacmarka. The day will be finished with dinner at the campsite.

Day 3: Chaquicocha – Phuyupatamarca – Wiñaywayna

You will be woken up with a hot cup of tea, followed by breakfast. Following, you will begin your two hour hike to the last pass of Phuyupatamarca, which is at 3,680 mm. This section has special views of the Vilcabamba mountain range and Salkantay mountain. On the three hour continuation to our campsite, we will visit two Inca sites, Phuyupatamarca (Village above Clouds) and Intipata (Terraces of the Sun).
Along the way, you will discover different types of plants, flowers and birds in the forest. After lunch, you may take the five minute walk to the most beautiful Inca site of the trail, Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young). This place is filled with impressive buildings and terraces. Around 5:30 p.m., you will go back to the campsite for your last happy hour and dinner, followed by a small ceremony to say “thank you and good bye” to your amazing “green machine” porters. You may leave an appreciation, if you choose. For more information, check our “What’s Included?” section.

Day 4: Wiñay Wayna – Sun Gate – Machu Picchu – Cusco

We will rise very early to complete the final stretch of the Inca Trail, which brings us to Inti Punku or the Sun Gate, the principal entrance of the crystal city of Machu Picchu. The trail here is fairly easy going and after about an hour we will arrive to Inti Punku (2,400 m/ 7,875 ft), an awesome location to observe the citadel of Machu Picchu and sunrise in the Andes.
From Inti Punku it is a further 40 minute downhill hike to the citadel of Machu Picchu. We will go to the classic “photo” spot and take pictures once we arrive. Then there will be a short break prior to starting our tour of Machu Picchu. The tour will last two hours. If you have elected to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain you should select the 10 AM time spot.
When you are finished exploring the extraordinary city of Machu Picchu you will travel to Aguas Calientes by bus. You will then take the train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo where our private van will be waiting to transport you back to your hotel in Cusco. Arrival time in Cusco depends on the time of your train ticket.