Tour Inca Trail Classic 4D / 3N

Day by Day Itinerary

• Day 1 Cusco | Piscacucho (KM 82) - Canabamba - Llactapata - Huayllabamba - Ayapata

  Today, you’re off on the trek of a lifetime, and you’ll need to be up early so your guide and driver can pick you up from your accommodation in Cusco between 4:30 and 5:00 am. If you’re in Urubamba, you’ll be collected between 5:30 and 6:00 am, and if you’re in Ollantaytambo, it’ll be between 6:30 and 7:00 am.

  From Cusco, you’ll head for one hour and a half a Ollantaytambo, where we'll enjoy a scrumptious breakfast. Then, we'll head Piscacucho - KM 82, the starting point of the hike. Here, we’ll meet the whole trekking team, consisting of cooks and porters. They’ll accompany you for the entire exciting adventure, along with your guide, to ensure you have the most fantastic time and take home some unforgettable memories from the sacred mountains.

  Important: Remember, you’ll need your original passport here to pass the control point and enter the trail, so don’t forget it!

  The first couple hours of walking are relatively easy to help ease you into the tougher parts. We’ll stop in front of a small Inca site called Canabamba. Here, you’ll learn about the water canals and appreciate the spectacular glacier La Veronica. Then, we’ll head to Wilkarakay and see the magical archaeological site of Llactapata, whose stone walls peek out amid the lush vegetation on the other side of the Urubamba River. We’ll continue for another 20 minutes to our lunch spot in Tarayoc. You’ll be amazed at the delicacies we’ve prepared for you in the middle of the mountains!

  This afternoon, you’ll keep hiking for another three and a half hours to our first campsite at Ayapata (3,300 m / 10,827 ft). Don’t worry if you forgot to pack some batteries for your camera or didn’t stock up on snacks and drinks; in this last section, we’ll pass by 2 small communities where you can buy any last-minute supplies.

  We’ll get to our campsite around 5:00 pm. Here, you can rest your tired legs, relax, sip on a hot drink, and nibble on some snacks while you reflect on your first day’s hike. You’ll eat dinner around 7:30 pm and then head to bed for a good night’s rest before trekking again tomorrow.

  

  

  

  

  • Meals

    Lunch and Dinner

  • Accommodation

    Camping

  • Difficulty

    Moderate

  • Walking Distance

    12 km. / 7.5 miles.

  • Walking Time

    5 - 6 hours

  • Maximum Altitude

    2954 masl. / 9694 ft.

• Day 2 Ayapata | Dead Woman’s Pass - Pacaymayu – Runkurakay Pass – Sayaqmarka - Chaquiqocha

  You’re in for another early start when we wake you up in your tents with a hot cup of coca tea. Coca has been consumed since the age of the Incas and is a great way to start the day and get rid of any altitude tiredness you might have. There’s a challenging day ahead and the most exhausting on the route. Make sure you enjoy all that’s on offer at breakfast to fill yourself with energy.

  We’ll start hiking uphill for 4 hours to the highest point on the trek, the Dead Woman’s Pass (4,215 m / 13,829 ft). From here, you’ll get the most amazing views of the immense mountains, so open up all your senses and soak it all in. You’ll feel the spirit of the ancient Incas who walked these paths hundreds of years ago and were at one with nature. We’ll then descend for one and a half hours to the other side of the valley, to Pacaymayu, where we’ll find our lunch spot. Remember, at every mealtime, you can fill up your water bottles.

  After a tasty lunch, we’ll ascend for around 45 minutes to the Inca site of Runkurakay. We’ll take our time and explore this little complex, where you can observe two impressive waterfalls on the mountain slopes. Then, we’ll continue uphill for another 45 minutes to the summit at Runkurakay Pass. You’ll rest here and enjoy the last beautiful views of the Andes section of the trek. This is an excellent spot to perform a small ceremony for Mother Earth and the mountains by leaving an offering.

  Once we start walking again, we’ll go downhill for about an hour until we reach the next archaeological site of Sayaqmarka. It’s almost inaccessible but is well worth the visit. You’ll learn all about the site's secrets from your knowledgeable guide as the sun descends and lights up the Vilcabamba mountain range with a red hue.

  From there, you only have 25 more minutes to walk to our campsite for the night in Chaquiqocha (3,600 m / 11,811 ft). After another fantastic meal, take the opportunity to observe the clear Andean sky and stars and learn about the constellations of the Incas. The sky at night in the mountains is truly a fantastic sight to behold.

  

  

  

  

  • Meal

    Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

  • Accommodation

    Camp

  • Difficulty

    Moderate to Challenging

  • Walking Distance

    13 km / 8.1 miles

  • Walking Time

    6.5 to 7 houra approximately.

  • Maximum Altitude

    4200 masl / 13779 ft.

• Day 3 Chaquiqocha | Phuyupatamarka - Intipata - Wiñay Wayna

  After a good night’s rest, you’ll wake up at 6:30 am giving you a bit of a lie-in. You’ll fill up on a hearty breakfast and then walk for an hour and a half. Embrace the greenery and fantastic landscape as the jungle begins to thicken. You’ll enjoy a stunning juxtaposition of the Salkantay glacier on one side and the jungle on the other. Allow yourself to be amazed at the panoramic view of the Vilcabamba mountain range.

  You’ll then ascend toward the final summit of the route in Phuyupatamarka (3,650 m / 11,975 ft), a mystical place above the clouds. Then, you’ll descend again for two and a half hours until we reach Intipata. This is a significant agricultural place from which you can take in the impressive panoramic lookout over the Sacred Valley of the Incas, with the Urubamba River running through the middle like a serpent.

  Next is only another 30 more minutes of walking to our campsite, close to the Wiñay Wayna archaeological site. You’re now very close to the city of the Incas! You’ll arrive early enough to enjoy a well-deserved lunch before visiting the site. The name of the complex, Wiñay Wayna, means “forever young” and is considered one of the most impressive stops on the whole route.

  You’ll explore the site for about an hour as your guide conjures images to bring it all to life. This makes it easy for you to imagine what life was like hundreds of years ago and what the site would have looked like, full of life.

  Back at camp, you’ll be spoiled with a small celebration with all your trekking team of guides, porters, and cooks. Take time to think about all they’ve done for you along the route. These guys work extremely hard to make you feel comfortable and relaxed daily. This is also the perfect opportunity to thank them with a tip as a sign of appreciation. You’ll also say goodbye to your porters here.

  Afterward, it’s time to get to bed early to rest well, as you’ll be up at dawn the next day. Relax and contemplate all the amazing efforts you’ve made until now. Tomorrow you’ll visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World. We always like to arrive as early as possible so you can see the sunlight up the site as it rises, a magical spectacle sure to captivate your heart.

  

  

  

  • Meal

    Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

  • Accommodation

    Camp

  • Difficulty

    Moderate

  • Walking Distance

    16 km / 9.95 miles

  • Walking Time

    8 hours approximately.

  • Maximum Altitude

    3,900 masl / 12,500 ft.

• Day 4 Wiñay Wayna - Sun Gate - Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes - Cusco

  All your efforts over the last few days will be rewarded with the most amazing prize today. You’ll need to wake up today at 3:30 a.m. to ensure you get to the Sun Gate early to watch the sunrise. At 4:00 a.m., we’ll provide you with water and a boxed breakfast, and you’ll be on your way. We’ll be one of the first groups to cross the control point and walk an hour or so to the Sun Gate. Prepare yourself because once we’re there, you’ll get your first views of the incredible Inca architecture and engineering marvel.

  Congratulations, you finally made it to Machu Picchu! Surrender to the sacred site that patiently awaited your arrival and will change something inside you. We will have a two-hour guided tour of the most remarkable points while your guide explains the fascinating history of the Incas and their mysteries.

  As you wander around this creation, you’ll feel the intimate connection between humans and nature. You’ll see immense stones connecting harmoniously to form temples, alleys, houses, and aqueducts that still work over 5 centuries later. Machu Picchu was built in an inaccessible location to resist any attack and remind modern men that we can fully exist only in true communion with Mother Earth, Pachamama.

  After the tour, you can climb Huayna Picchu or Huchuy Picchu Mountain with pre-booked tickets. Then, you’ll take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes for lunch in a restaurant of your choice and then board the train to Ollantaytambo. Tickets are usually booked for 14:55 hours, depending on availability, and you need to be at the station at least 30 minutes before departure. Once you’re at your final train stop, our transport will be waiting for you to take you back to your accommodation in Cusco.

  

  

  

  • Meal

    Breakfast.

  • Accommodation

    Camp

  • Difficulty

    Easy

  • Walking Distance

    6 Km. / 3.7 miles.

  • Walking Time

    3 to 4 hours approximately.

  • Maximum Altitude

    2429 masl / 7972 ft.