Inca Trail Hike 4 days 
The popular Inca Trail Hike in Machu Picchu takes you through the Inca highway, past the Inca ruins, through cloud forests and moorlands, to its crowning glory, Machu Picchu.
You get to climb the endless Inca steps high up in the Andes and catch a glimpse of the Inca citadel from the Sun Gate.
The trail starts at railway line at the town of Pisqakucho, after which a modern suspension bridge over the Vilcanota river will be passed, small communities like Wayllabamba, Warmiwañuska pass at 4200 msnm (13,780 feet) will be passed along the way. From Warmiwañuska the trail descends to Pakaymayu, then ascends to the mountain pass of the same name, it descends again until it reaches Sayaqmarka, Phuyupatamarka, and Wiñaywayna where it goes along a flat path and then goes some steps leading to Intipunku. From here it finally leads into the Inca city of Machu Picchu.
Bear in mind that due to the huge number of people that come to the Inca Trail daily, the Peruvian Government has ruled the entrance to a maximum of 500 people in a day including tourists, tour guides, cooks, and porters.
Tour Type: Hiking, camping, adventure, history, culture
Total Distance: 43KM/26 Miles
Good For: Those who enjoy hiking and have a moderate level of fitness
Difficulty: Challenging
Considerations: Permit required
Short Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco- Km. 82 -Wayllabamba (5 hours walking aprox.)
Day 2: Wayllabamba – Pacaymayu (6 or 7 hours walking aprox.)
Day 3: Pacaymayu – Wiñayhuayna
Day 4: Wiñayhuayna – Machu Picchu
For the complete itinerary click on the tab Itinerary above ⇑.
Important Remarks
| DEPARTURE/RETURN LOCATION | Cusco | ||||
| DEPARTURE TIME | Please arrive at least 2 days before the trek | ||||
| INCLUDED |
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| NOT INCLUDED |
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Prices may vary according to type of accommodation, time of year and number of participants. Please Contact us for further information.
INCA TRAIL AVAILABILITY 2019
Itinerary: Classic Inca Trail Hike
Day 1: Cusco- Km. 82 -Wayllabamba (5 hours walking aprox.)
Day 2: Wayllabamba - Pacaymayu (6 or 7 hours walking aprox.)
Day 3: Pacaymayu - Wiñayhuayna
Day 4: Wiñayhuayna - Machu Picchu
WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING:
- Original passport (and *International Student card (ISIC) if applicable)
- Travel Insurance is essential
- Sleeping bag (not included but can be hired from us)
- Walking boots
- Waterproof jacket/rain poncho
- Warm jacket
- Hat and gloves
- T-shirts
- Comfortable trousers
- Sun hat
- Sun protection cream (factor 35 recommended)
- Insect repellent
- Water (only until lunch time on day 1)
- Toiletries and hand sanitizer.
- Personal medication
- Camera and films
- Torch with spare batteries (headlamps are useful)
- To qualify as a student, it is necessary to have a valid ISIC card, scan and email us at the time of booking.
- If desired train back to Cusco can be upgraded to Vistadome (+$40).
Optional items to take:
- Shorts
- Walking stick (with rubber tip)
- Plasters and bandages
- Sandals
- Extra money
- Bathing suit (for hot springs in Aguas Calientes)
How do I get the permit?
We purchase your permit for you. At the time we confirm your participation on this Machu Picchu trip, we register your complete name and your passport number (as these appear on your trip application) with park authorities on the official trek permit. The trek permit is a legal document with specific restrictions limiting changes. You must bring this same passport with you on the trek. If for whatever reason you cannot bring the passport that is registered on the permit at the time of your original booking, or if you change your passport and cannot bring the original document, or if the information you originally supplied differs from what actually appears on your passport, park authorities may refuse access to the Inca Trail.
How far in advance should I book?
We suggest you book the trip as far in advance as possible to secure your permits, as soon as you are certain of your travel plans. The required permits to trek on the Inca Trail are limited to 500 people per day. This includes all guides, porters, cooks & support staff, which leaves about 250 available for trekkers. Permits sell out very fast, 5 to 6 months prior to departure during the busy season (Apr-Sep), and otherwise 4 months in advance.
If permits are sold out, can I get onto a wait-list?
No, there are no waitlists, cancellation policies, etc. Once permits are sold out, that’s it. No person, no company worldwide will have permits; travel companies are not able to block or hold space, nor can you show up at the gate and purchase a permit. All permits are sold on a first-come/first-served basis, are non-negotiable, non-transferable, non-refundable.
However, we have several wonderful alternate treks available that do not require permits. Please consider one of these as an alternative. You still go to Machu Picchu, and routes are much less-traveled than the Inca Trail. Our past travelers have loved these treks!
What is included in the trek?
We include indicated meals, transport by train and bus, porterage of up to 6 kg personal gear, communal camp gear including tables and camp chairs, dining tent, spacious sleeping tents, Thermarest sleeping pad, water filter and other amenities.
What is not included?
Personal trekking gear and sleeping bag; tips to guide and trek staff; city services; air Lima/Cuzco/Lima ($150-$350) depending on time of year and fares at the time of booking.
Must I bring my own sleeping bag and pad or can I rent from you?
You can bring your own sleeping bag if you like, or you can rent one from us for $20. We provide mummy-style, winter-weight synthetic-fill sleeping bags, with sheet liners. We launder the liners between each trek. Rental sleeping bags should be requested well in advance of your departure, and preferably at the time you confirm your trek with us. If you are taller than 6 feet, please request an extra-long bag.
I’m a single traveler. Do you charge a single supplement?
If you are traveling alone and are willing to share a tent, we will pair you with another trekker of the same gender and you pay no supplementary charge. If you prefer a tent to yourself, the surcharge is US$98.
How do I prepare for the high altitude?
So that you have sufficient time to acclimate prior to starting the Machu Picchu tour, we strongly recommend that you arrive in Cuzco or similar elevation for a minimum of two days prior to the trek. This is a 45-km/28-mile trek with a maximum elevation close to 4,200 m/14,000 ft.
If permits are sold out, what options do you have?
We offer several other treks (which either include visiting Machu Picchu or we can add it on) such as our Moonstone to Machu Picchu Trek, Ausangate Trek, Salcantay Trek, Lares Trek. These are wonderful off-the-beaten-track trekking routes in remote beautiful Andes mountains. On our Salkantay to Machu Picchu Trek (5 days, weekly Sunday departures May-Oct) you arrive at Machu Picchu via the Train from Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. It’s a wonderful alternate trek, with no permits required. Please look on the website at our other Peru treks for details.
Tour Reviews
Ivan, I would like to thank you for a perfectly planned and executed Peru 2015 expedition.
Indeed, I now think of you as Ivan the Spiritual Adventurer! … and your adventurous spirit is truly contagious!
Please note that due to time constraints on our departure, I was not able to fully express myself on the feedback form so please :
Pass on my thanks to those expert tour guides, especially Puma and Saul and the so very spiritual John Carlos ( Lake Titicaca where I was moved to tears by his deep love for PachaMama). Felix the Cat was very informative and evidently proud of his country and ancestry on our tour of MP.
Their pride in their heritage and their country is amazing and touches the heart!! Their knowledge and ability to share same was so very much appreciated by us all.
Congrats to Carlos on his fantastic team!
Dear Joel and Carlos
Thank you for organising our trip so well. You did a great Job. The bus trip to La Paz worked out well, however, I cannot recommend anyone to stay in La Paz. It is not a pretty city and there is not much to see!!
Under which website can I register with Trip Adviser? I will definitely give you a superb report as you made our stay in Peru a huge success!!
Best regards
Susan
We did the Machu Picchu 4 days tour in august 2011, and we were very happy with everything! Our guide Ramiro and Carlos form Best Andes Travel came to our hostel in Cuzco a couple of days before we were to go on the tour, and here they explained us about the tour, what we had to bring, the route and so on. Everything worked out fine and we felt that they knew what they were doing. All in all we are happy to recommend Best Andes Travel to any one who wants to do the Inca Trail.
Alfredo was amazing. Very supportive and informative and made us an feel very at home. the whole trip was amazing well organised and team was very obuainca re fight chancies etc The porters were really helpfull and cannot prase them enough and the chef cooked a feast every day. Transport was very well organised.
We did the Machu Picchu 4 days tour in august 2011, and we were very happy with everything! Our guide Ramiro and Carlos form Best Andes Travel came to our hostel in Cuzco a couple of days before we were to go on the tour, and here they explained us about the tour, what we had to bring, the route and so on, and at the end we took care of the payment. Everything worked out fine and we felt that they knew what they were doing.
All in all we are happy to recommend Best Andes Travel to any one who wants to do the Inca Trail. From home we were a bit concerned with the price of the tour because it was cheaper than many other companies and we feared that it would be a discount version of the trip but it really wasn’t. The issue with porter welfare is always difficult to address, but all we can say is that we saw no signs of them being treated worse than by other companies, and they seemed happy even though the work they do is in some ways inhuman and incredible.
Thanks for a great tour, we hope to be able to return to Peru some day!
Greetings from Denmark,
Our Inca Trail trip was the most amazing trip we’ve ever been on! The preparation materials sent in advance by Best Andes Travel helped us prepare and know exactly what to expect. Our guide, Miguel, was the BEST! As it turned out, we were the only two people on our trek, and Miguel was the best guide we ever could have hoped for. As soon as we would start to feel a little tired, he would instantly offer that we should take a rest. Similarly, he perfectly balanced talking and giving us info during the hike and allowing us quiet time to just soak up the beauty of the trail. She was incredibly knowledgeable, encouraging, kind, and an overall pleasure to be around. The porters were so strong, organized, and kind. We are immensely grateful for them. This was the trip of a lifetime for us. Thank you Best Andes Travel!
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