Amazing Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

04 Days/03 Nights

The real Inca Trail is a walking route that leads through the mountains above the Urubamba river, following (at least partly) the course of an old Inca roadway leading to the city of Machu Picchu. The various ruins along the way serve to heighten the hiker’s sense of anticipation as you approach the amazing Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu.

The Inca Trail, with Machu Picchu as it’s final destination, is the best known and most popular hike among tourists. The total hike is about 45 kms and it takes four days all together, including a one day visit to the ruins.

The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is beyond a doubt one of the most beautiful trails in America and also it gives you an unforgettable experience not to be missed. The Inca trail leads through the protected wild nature of the peruvian jungle and forest steppe, passes several archeological Inca sights and offers impressive views. The Incas used this itinerary for their pilgrimage to the sacred citadel Machu Picchu.

Route: Closed in February

Itinerary

We will transfer you from the hotel to Km. 82, where we will meet our porters and equipment. We start our trek escorted by the porters, going through semi-arid terrain along the Uruamba River with magnificent views of snow-capped mountains.

We will leave the Urubamba valley and will have an overview of it before setting off up to the Kusichaca River to our first camp site in Huayllabamba (around 3000 m.a.s.l – 9842 f.a.s.l).
Lunch and dinner included.

Km. 82 to Huayllabamba: 11 km
6 hours approximately.

After a healthy breakfast, we will begin to walk to the Warmihuañusca pass (4200 mts – 13860 ft. approximately). After a short time, we will reach the top of the pass.

From this place, it is possible to see the other side of the way leading to Runkurakay ruins. At the end of a gorge, we will stop at a place called Pacaymayo (3600 mts. – 11181 ft.), our second camp.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Huayllabamba-Pacaymayo: 7 km
7 hours approximately

We depart from Pacaymayo and a while later a zigzagging but short ascent will take us to the Runkurakay circular ruins. There is no sign of human life, only great forests and abrupt hills.

After a good rest, we will start our way down and then we will clearly notice that the Inca Trail is well preserved from this point. In a short while, we will get to the steps which go up to Sayacmarca ruins (3620 mts – 11946 ft approximately).

From Sayacmarca the stone road begins to go into the jungle, continuing our trek towards Phuyupatamarca ruins. The trail crosses the “Lago Seco” and for brief moments we will go up and down. We will then cross “The Tunnel”, a natural cavity produced by a landslide but adapted by the Incas.

The Inca Trail well-traced borders continue on the hills full of moss and ferns. After crossing a small pass, we will see some steep steps and under them the Ceremonial Center of Phuyupatamarca ruins (3650 mts – 12045 ft approximately). Here we will have our last campsite.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Pacaymayo – Phuyupatamarca: 5 km
5 hours approximately.

We will start early in the morning going down the trail hiking for 3 hours until reaching Wiñaywayna (2700 mts – 8,856 ft approximately), the main archaeological site after Machu Picchu in the Inca Trail, we will visit the site, from where we can see the Urubamba valley and the river.

The path goes down to WiñayWayna ruins (2650 mts – 8745 ft approximately), the most important ruins after Machu Picchu, heading then towards Inti Punku (2740 mts – 9042 ft approximately), the Gate of the Sun, our last pass.

From this place, Machu Picchu (2450 mts – 8085 ft approximately) looks unreal and beautiful. We will visit the citadel. Then we will head down Aguas Calientes town from where we will take our train back to Cusco. Arrival to Cusco late at night. Breakfast included.

Phuyupatamarca – Machu Picchu: 9 km
7 hours approximately

What’s included:

Transportation from your hotel in Cusco to km 82.
Tourist train from Aguas Calientes to Cusco (Poroy)/or Ollantaytambo and bus to Cusco.
Bus going downhill from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes where the train station is situated
Transfer from the train station in Cusco to your hotel in Cusco.
Entrance fees to the Inca trail and Machu Picchu.
Professional bilingual guide (Spanish and English).
Camping equipment (professional two-persons tents: Doite, model Cima 4, extra light/4kg, Doite, model Kailas 3, extra light/4.5kg and Doite, model Himalaya, extra light/4.5kg; sleeping mats, dining tent equipped with a table and chairs, a sanitary tent).
Cook, cooking equipment, meals (3 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 dinners).
Food includes pancakes, omelettes, soups, fresh fruit and spaghetti, chicken, fish, meat and rice, all rich in carbohydrates and very suitable for trekking, hot drinks including coca leaf tea which is excellent for the altitude.
Tea and snack time every day (tea, coffee, wantan, popcorn, cracker).
Porters to carry the main luggage (all the equipment and cooking stock).
First-aid kit and oxygen bottle.

Not included:

Hotel in Cusco.
First breakfast at the beginning of the trail and last lunch in Aguas Calientes.
Bus downhill from Machu Picchu ruins to Aguas Calientes where the train station is situated (additionally you can pay the cost of US$12 for this service. Other possibility is a walk of an hour).
Sleeping bag (if you don’t have a sleeping bag there is the possibility of renting one for $ 35, 4 days).
Tips.
Personal expenses.
Travel insurance.
Ticket Huayna Picchu Mountain.
Flights.

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Important

Visit to Huayna Picchu:
For Huayna Picchu mountain requires to be booked long time in advance however we charge additional $ 67, and then we’ll guarantee your entrance for Huayna Picchu as well (This new State law began since the 18th of July, 2011).
Extra porter:
According to the law (26702) and supervised by the Ministry of Employment, the collaboration of an extra porter is given under the conditions the customer requires. However, the customer’ luggage mustn’t exceed 15 kg, since the porter is only allowed to carry 20 kg. The Service costs $ 140.00, and includes transport, entrance fee to the Inca Trail, food and camping equipment.
Tips:
Tips for porters, cooks and guides are always welcome. The porters are also very grateful for a small donation, for example clothes or school equipment for their children.
Camping sites:
The camping sites on the Inca Trail can be different from the ones described in our itinerary (Yuncachimpa, Chaquicocha and Wiñaywayna). This is due to a limitation of the places (Wiñaywayna is almost always fully booked). The camping sites (especially Wiñaywayna) are well known with the public. Therefore, they will book their places well in advance (certainly when you want to go in the high season from May to September you have to book months in advance). If there isn’t any place anymore, the Ministry of Culture (entity of the government which supervises and controls the availability of the quotas for entering the Inca Trail) will assign other camping sites (Wayllabamba, Pacaymayu and Phuyupatamarca).
Return ticket:
We will leave Aguas Calientes by train either at 2:55pm or at 6:45pm. This depends on the ticket availability and on how far in advance you booked your trip.
During the afternoon you will have time to have lunch in one of the nice restaurants in Aguas Calientes. Moreover, you can visit the Hot Springs to relax a bit.
You will be back in your hotel either at about 6:00pm or at about 10:00pm.
Your health:
It is a common misconception that because many people do the Inca Trail it must be easy. It is not. The Trail is 45km (26 miles) long and involves great physical exertion to complete. Combined with high altitude and extreme weather the trek can be hard work. Therefore, we strongly recommend ensuring that you are well acclimatized, in good shape and healthy. This way you will enjoy your trip from the beginning on. A participant must declare if he/she has any sickness or medical disorder and must bring his/her own medicines.
Weather:
The Andean weather can be unpredictable, despite the sharp divide between dry and wet seasons. The dry season runs from May to October or November; the rainy season goes from December through April. Nevertheless, Inca Trail lies in the forested.

If you travel to Cusco do not forget to bring the following:

Rain poncho.
Waterproof jacket
T-shirts
Woolen cap
Sun hat
Earmuffs
Trousers, shorts, swimsuit
Underwear, socks, Gloves, scarf
Sneakers, trekking shoes, sandals.
Sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repelent
Small towel, Bottled water
Personal medication.
Passport
Cash in soles
Camera
Charging cord
Extra batteries.

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