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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.
Note if there is no availability for the day and you still wish to visit Machu Picchu, you can contact us for alternative treks such as the Salkantay 4 day Trek, Salkantay 5 day trek, 4 days Inca Jungle Trail or the 2 days Short Inca Trail.
Itinerary: Classic Inca Trail Hike
Day 1: Cusco- Km. 82 -Wayllabamba (5 hours walking aprox.)
There will be a pickup for you at your hotel at 6 am. You will then travel by bus to Piskacucho (you will hear this be called kilometer 82) where the Inca trail starts. On arrival at kilometer 82 (around 08:30 am), you must show passports entrance tickets, and if you are paying a student rate; your student ID.
The trail which is about 2720m starts when we cross the Vilcanota River and continue on its route to the right. The first day is quite easy, and you will get to see incredible views of the site of an Inca Fortress (‘Huillca Raccay’); the incredible and vast Inca site ‘Llactapata’ (also called ‘Patallacta’), the Urubamba Valley range that divides the jungle and the Andes and the beautiful snow-capped peak of ‘W’akay Willca’ (5860m), known in books as Veronica.
Our first campsite will be in Wayllabamba (3000masl) where we spend the first night.
Day 2: Wayllabamba - Pacaymayu (6 or 7 hours walking aprox.)
Day 3: Pacaymayu - Wiñayhuayna
This is the most impressive day (in our opinion!!!) so just keep thinking of that on the ascent on day 2 Again we wake up for breakfast at 6 am, and start the day with a gentle climb to visit the archaeological site of ‘Phuyupatamarca’ (meaning ‘Town in the Clouds’) and to reach the third highest point on the trail (3680 m). Views of the mountains, canyons and surrounding area, from these points, are spectacular.
The Inca site, ‘Phuyupatamarca’ , is located a few minutes walk from the third pass and after visiting this, we continue walking (3000 steps). we arrive at our third campsite Wiñay Wayna (2680m)(forever young). This day we have only walked about 5 or 6 hours.
Day 4: Wiñayhuayna - Machu Picchu
We leave the last campsite at about 5.30am on the final day (breakfast 4.30-5am). It is an early start in order to get to ‘Inti Punku’ (‘Sun gate’) (2730 masl) before sunrise. This is the place from where you will have your first view of Machu Picchu (2400 masl) with the sun rising over it, After some time there, we will walk down the last part of the trail to the spot where you can take the classic photo (picture postcard shot) of this ancient city. Finally we visit Machu Picchu.
A walking tour approximately 2 hours is given by your guide and after this you can explore the mysterious city by yourselves. If you still have energy you can climb Huayna Picchu (2720masl) It takes 50 minutes to reach the top.
In the afternoon back to Cusco by Expedition train.
If desired, an extra night in Aguas Calientes can be arranged. This option is very popular as it allows more time to explore Machu Picchu. You can also go to the thermal springs in the town.
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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)
Prices may vary according to type of accommodation, time of year and number of participants. Please Contact us for further information.
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,
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