The Special Inca Trail is by far the most famous trek in South America and is rated by many to be in the top 5 treks in the world. In just 26 miles (45km) it manages to combine beautiful mountain scenery, lush cloud-forest, and subtropical jungle and, of course, a stunning mix of Inca paving stones ruins and tunnels.
Day 01: Cusco - Piskacucho Km 82 - Patallaqta - Wayllabamba
Day 02: Huayllabamba - Warmi Wañuska (Dead Woman's Pass) - Paqaymayu
Day 03: Paqaymayu - Runkuraqay - Sayacmarca - Phuyupatamarca - Wiñayhuayna
Day 04: Wiñaywayna - Intipunku - Machu Picchu
Day 05: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain - Aguas Calientes - Cusco
Day 01: Cusco - Km 82 - Wayllabamba - Yuncachimpa
Let’s start the adventure!!!!
Early pick up from your hotel will be around 5:30 am to 6:00 am. Make sure you carry your original passport & ISIC card if you book like a student.
A spectacular morning drive through the Sacred Valley of the Incas takes us to our trailhead at Km. 82 (Piskacucho). Along the way, we will stop in Ollantaytambo to stretch our legs, use the bathroom, and enjoy breakfast, before continuing to Piscacucho (2,680 m / 8,790 ft.). There we will meet our camp crew and the porters who will carry our belongings during the four days of the trek. Passports in hand; we pass the first official Inca Trail checkpoint, cross a suspension bridge across the Urubamba River, and begin our trek with a gentle climb.
We have three hours on relatively level terrain as we follow the course of the river, rewarded with superb views of snow - Cape Mountain Veronica (5,750 m). The easy walk passes through a forest of giant cactus and native bushes. At Miskay we take our lunch, you will continue hiking toward the large Inca settlement of Llactapata and appreciate the impressive farming terraces of this complex.
The Inca Trail follows the left bank of the Cusichaca side river up to the village of Huayllabamba at 9840 feet above sea level (3000 masl) where you will enjoy dinner and camp for the night.
Distance Covered: 10 km/ 6 miles
Approximate Walking Time: 5 -6 hours
Lowest elevation: 2,600m/ 8,525 ft
Highest elevation: 2,950m/9,676 ft
Accommodation: sleeping tents camping
Meals: Lunch, Dinner (Snack and afternoon tea)
Adventure: Absolutely, completely satisfactory
Day 02: Yuncachimpa - Llulluchapampa - Warmihuañusca pass - Pacaymayu - Runkurakay pass - Chaquicocha
Today is our challenging day; we can do it, my friends!!!
We wake up 6:00 am, with hot coca tea brought to your tents, to prepare for today's trek which is considered by many people, the hardest day of the Inca trail. You need to complete a steep ascent reaching an altitude of 13779 feet above sea level (4200 masl) at Warmi Wañuska pass.
After breakfast, depart from the campsite at around 07:00 hrs. The uphill hike through Llulluchapampa will give you the opportunity to appreciate several species of birds (with luck you may see hummingbirds, Falcons or some black-chested eagles).
From here the trail traverses a beautiful cloud forest full of Polylepis or Queñua's trees before entering the Puna, a zone characterized by treeless grasslands only found at this altitude across the Andes. Walk at your own pace, to catch your breath or to stretch a muscle. The last hard climb takes us the right to the highest pass of the Inca trail at Warmi Wañuska.
Once at the top you will be rewarded with spectacular views of the Andes, surrounding snow-covered peaks. You will also feel a great sense of accomplishment after conquering Dead Woman's pass, continue traversing the slopes on the left side of the valley all the way to our campsite in Paqaymayu at 11811 feet above sea level (3600 m.a.s.l.)
(About 6 - 7 hr. trekking).
Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner
Distance Covered: 12 km/ 7.46 miles
Approximate Walking Time: 6 hours
Lowest elevation: 2,600m/ 8,525 feet
Highest elevation: 3,850m/ 12,631 feet
Difficulty: moderate
Day 03: Chaquicocha - Phuyupatamarca - Wiñayhuayna
After a heartwarming breakfast!!
Today’s hike is beautiful because we will pass the ruins of Runkuraqay; Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca, Winayhuayna and we enjoy dramatic views of the Aobamba Valley. Start with a steady ascent to the second highest pass at Runkuracay reaching 12400 feet above sea level (3780 masl) and passing through a circular Inca control point that occupies a commanding position overlooking the spectacular Vilcabamba mountain range below. Catch your breath, and the rest of Inca trail is mostly downhill. Be careful with your knees as the descent from the pass to the ruins of Sayacmarca is very steep and you may feel the strain at the end of the day.
The name Sayacmarca means "inaccessible town" and describes the position of the site, awesome perched on the rocks. The one of a kind Inca trail, now a great structure of granite stones, continues through ever-changing layers of cloud forest full of rare orchids, hanging mosses, bromeliads, and tree ferns. Past the Inca tunnel, a gentle climb will take you to the third pass at 12139 feet above sea level (3700 masl), offering incredible views of several snow-capped peaks including Salkantay (20574 ft./6271m) and Veronica (18865 ft./5750m). Close to the pass you will find the impressive ruins of Phuyupatamarca (Cloud-level Town). A brief explanation of the mysteries of Inca architecture, before continuing along splendid Inca road to the important agricultural site of Intipata and up to the third and last campsite at Wiñayhuayna (forever young) located at 8856 feet above sea level (2700 masl). Wiñayhuayna, named after a variety of pink orchid that grows here, is the last official campsite before Machu Picchu. Tea time and Dinner.
Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner
Distance Covered: 15 km/ 9.32 miles
Approximate Walking Time: 7/8 hours
Lowest elevation: 3,300m/ 10,827 feet
Highest elevation: 3,850m/ 12,631 feet
Difficulty: moderate
Day 04: Wiñayhuayna - Machu Picchu - Cusco
Today is our big day !!!
We will get up very early around 4:00 am - to get to Inti Punku (the Sun Gate), to view Machu Picchu whit the first rays of the sun. That will be a hike of 1-2 hours, with significant upward stretches in the last half. You will be walking in darkness, so a headlight is strongly recommended. The trail is marked and takes about 1½ hours.
The trail contours a mountainside and drops into cloud forest before coming to an almost vertical flight of 50 steps leading up to the final pass at Intipunku (Sun Gate). Suddenly the whole of Machu Picchu.
A final short hike will bring us to the entrance and into the heart of Machu Picchu itself, where we spend the rest of the morning with 2 hours guided tour and some more exploring on your own. The shuttle bus ticket from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes is included, departs every 15 minutes and will be available for you descend to Aguas Calientes town.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Accommodations: Bed and breakfast
Distance Covered: 11 km/7 miles
Approximate Walking Time: 5 hours
Time: 5/6 hours
Lowest elevation: 2,040 m/6,691 ft
Highest elevation: 3,680 m/12,073 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Day 05: Wiñayhuayna - Machu Picchu - Cusco
Good Morning Machu Picchu!!!
After to relax in Aguas Calientes, we are going to have an amazing breakfast at our hotel around 4:30am after to enjoyed our breakfast, we are going to the bus station to take the first bus up to Machu Picchu that is going to arrive about 15 minutes before that Machu Picchu would be open In Machu Picchu, we are going to be one of the first groups to see the sunshine and to take pictures when nobody is there. The views from this part of Machu Picchu are complete different that you seen before from the Sun Gate, After to enjoy there we are going to climb to Huayna Picchu Mountain, this trekking take about 3 hours and a half up and down, from there you will have an impressive view of Machu Picchu and the Machu Picchu Valley. After you enjoyed there, we are going to take a bus down to Aguas Calientes to take the train back to Ollantaytambo and transfer to your hotel.
Approximate Walking Time: 2 -3 hours
Lowest elevation: 2,600m/ 8,525 ft
Highest elevation: 2,720m/8,923 ft
Accommodation: Hotel in Cusco
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel
Adventure: Absolutely, completely satisfactory
