Classic inka trail Inca Trail 4Days/3Night
Price
22Days
22Days
from
590USD
590USD
reservas@leadingperutravel.com
EXPEDITION OVERVIEW
Classic inka trail Inca Trail 4Days/3Night
This trail is very famous. Many of people would like to go but we have just 500 hundred spaces per day. The Inca Trail follows in the ancient footsteps of the Inca´s towards the world famous “Lost City of the Incas”, Machu Picchu. The Inca Trail links a range of stunningly preserved Inca ruins. Along the way the natural scenery is breathtaking, with views of snowcapped mountains and the cloud forest. The four day tour includes a guided visit to the ruins of Machu Picchu. A truly unforgettable experience! Very Important: “The Inca Trail is closed during February, because of maintenance and the rains. Since March 01 you can reserve your spaces to the Inka Trail” * Even though the Inca trail is closed this don’t mean Machu Picchu is as well , There are the other options to visit Machu Picchu: Train, alternative trekking and others.
Leading Peru Travel will pick you up from where ever you are staying in Cusco, Urubamba or Ollantaytambo. Pickup
from Cusco will be at 4:30AM, from Urubamba 5:30 AM and if you stay in Ollantaytambo, you get to sleep in a bit with your pickup at 6:30 AM. At your briefing, these times will be confirmed as they might fluctuate based on where you staying. We will then drive to Km 82, arriving at about 7:00AM. After a delicious breakfast prepared by your cook, we’ll go through the first Inca Trail checkpoint to begin our trek (please make sure you have your original passport with you to enter the Inca Trail). The first 2 hours of the trek are relatively easy as we make our way to our first Inca site, Patallacta which is an ancient Inca checkpoint for the approach to Machu Picchu. From Patallacta it’s another 2 hour hike to our lunch stop. After lunch we will hike for another 2½ hours until we reach the first night’s campsite at Ayapata (3300 meters). On this last stretch we pass through 2 small communities. If you want to buy any energy drinks or snacks you can do so here, you can also buy any essential items such as batteries that you may have forgotten. We’ll arrive to our campsite by 5:00PM and after settling in for a bit you can relax and have a hot drink and snack with your team of porters, chef and guide. By 7:30PM your dinner will be ready, and afterwards you can get some well-deserved rest.
- Walking distance: 8.7 miles/14 km (6-7 hours)
- Campsite altitude: 3300 meters (high) above sea level
- Considered: Moderate day (getting used to the Inca Trail)
- Weather: Warm and windy
Your porters will wake you up early with a hot cup of coca tea to get you ready for the day. Today is our longest day and we will start early. We’ll hike for roughly 4 hours to the highest pass of the trek, Dead Woman’s Pass (4215 meters/13829 feet). On reaching the pass we’ll stop for a short break to enjoy the views before setting off again to descend to the next valley (Pacaymayu Valley – Hidden River). It’s another hour and a half down the side of the valley to our lunch spot and a chance to refill our water bottles. After lunch we begin ascending again to the second pass of the trek. It’s 2 hours to the pass and along the way we’ll stop at a small Inca site (Runcu Raccay) and see two huge waterfalls cascading down the opposite side of the valley. After the second pass, it’s another hour downhill hike to reach the magnificent Inca site, Sayacmarca (an otherwise inaccessible village).
We’ll stop here for a rest and have a quick tour of the site and then watch the sunset over the Vilcabamba mountain range. It’s then just another 20 minutes until we stop for the night at our second campsite Chaquicocha (Dry Lake, 3600 meters). After dinner, if you’re not too exhausted, we can do some star gazing and we’ll point out the fascinating Inca constellations. In the magnificent Southern Hemisphere sky, away from all the artificial lighting, this sky is something to behold!
- Walking distance: 9.94 miles/16 km (7-8 hours)
- Campsite altitude: 3600 meters (high) above sea level (chilly weather)
- Considered: Top day (you will have survived the two highest passes)
- Area: Andes and Cloud Forest
- Weather: Cold and rainy
Completing Day 2 and beginning Day 3 certainly deserves a pat on the back! We begin early again, waking up at 
6:30am to begin what is commonly felt to be the most beautiful day of the whole Inca Trail. We hike for 2 hours along what we like to call “Inca flat” (gradual inclines) and begin to enter the jungle, known as the Cloud Forest. As we walk we will have the opportunity to see the majesty of Salkantay, the second highest snow-capped mountain in the Sacred Valley, and a fantastic panoramic view of the Vilcabamba mountain range. Towards the end of the Inca flats we begin to make our way up to the last peak at Phuyupatamarka (3600 meters) from where we’ll have great views overlooking the Urubamba River. Down the valley we get our first views of Machu Picchu Mountain but the site itself is still hidden from view. From Phuyupatamarka it´s a 3 hour walk down a flight of steps to our last campsite, close to Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young). Wiñay Wayna is the most spectacular Inca site on the trail after Machu Picchu and the most popular campsite because of its proximity to Machu Picchu.
During the descent we visit 2 Inca ruins, Phuyupatamarka (Town in the Clouds) and Intipata (Terraces of the Sun). We arrive at our campsite around 1:00PM to have lunch and then relax for the entire afternoon so that you’re relaxed and ready for your final day at Machu Picchu. At around 4:30PM your guide will give you a short orientation and you will visit the Inca ruins of Wiñay Wayna, spending about an hour and a half there. We will explain the significance of the site and combine all the information given during the trek so you’re fully prepared for your visit to Machu Picchu the following day.
We like to spoil our guests as we enjoy our last feast with the porters and chefs. It’s an Inca Trail tradition to organize a ceremony in the evening to introduce the team to the tourists once again and to thank them for the great job done (if you wish to provide tips for them then you can do so at this time). It is advisable to go to bed at a reasonable time in order to get up in the early hours of the morning to arrive to Machu Picchu at the crack of dawn in the hopes that the weather will give us a beautiful sunrise over the ruins at Machu Picchu.
6:30am to begin what is commonly felt to be the most beautiful day of the whole Inca Trail. We hike for 2 hours along what we like to call “Inca flat” (gradual inclines) and begin to enter the jungle, known as the Cloud Forest. As we walk we will have the opportunity to see the majesty of Salkantay, the second highest snow-capped mountain in the Sacred Valley, and a fantastic panoramic view of the Vilcabamba mountain range. Towards the end of the Inca flats we begin to make our way up to the last peak at Phuyupatamarka (3600 meters) from where we’ll have great views overlooking the Urubamba River. Down the valley we get our first views of Machu Picchu Mountain but the site itself is still hidden from view. From Phuyupatamarka it´s a 3 hour walk down a flight of steps to our last campsite, close to Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young). Wiñay Wayna is the most spectacular Inca site on the trail after Machu Picchu and the most popular campsite because of its proximity to Machu Picchu.
During the descent we visit 2 Inca ruins, Phuyupatamarka (Town in the Clouds) and Intipata (Terraces of the Sun). We arrive at our campsite around 1:00PM to have lunch and then relax for the entire afternoon so that you’re relaxed and ready for your final day at Machu Picchu. At around 4:30PM your guide will give you a short orientation and you will visit the Inca ruins of Wiñay Wayna, spending about an hour and a half there. We will explain the significance of the site and combine all the information given during the trek so you’re fully prepared for your visit to Machu Picchu the following day.
We like to spoil our guests as we enjoy our last feast with the porters and chefs. It’s an Inca Trail tradition to organize a ceremony in the evening to introduce the team to the tourists once again and to thank them for the great job done (if you wish to provide tips for them then you can do so at this time). It is advisable to go to bed at a reasonable time in order to get up in the early hours of the morning to arrive to Machu Picchu at the crack of dawn in the hopes that the weather will give us a beautiful sunrise over the ruins at Machu Picchu.
- Walking distance: 6.2 miles/10km (5 hours)
- Campsite altitude: 2.600 meters (high) above sea level (chilly weather)
- Considered: Easy day – all downhill!
- Area: High Cloud Forest
- Weather: Warm and very humid
Wake up time is at 3:30AM. We’ll eat breakfast at 4:00AM and wait at the checkpoint to be one of the first to start trekking when they open the gates at 5:30AM. We’ll wave goodbye to our team of porters and chef and then it’s “Forward On” to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku). From here we have spectacular views of the mountains and Machu Picchu in all its glory. We reach the Sun Gate by 6:30am and then it’s just an hour trek downstairs to reach the Lost City of the Incas. As we approach Machu Picchu the views of the city just get better and better! At about 7:40AM we’ll reach the final checkpoint and enter Machu Picchu to begin our 2 hour private guided tour. After the tour you’ll be given your bus tickets to make your way down to Aguas Calientes and you’ll have plenty of free time to explore on your own or climb one of the neighboring mountain – Huaynapicchu (must be arranged ahead of time). Your guide will offer to meet you down in the village of Aguas Calientes to enjoy your last lunch in a local restaurant. This is optional and not included. At lunch, he will hand out train tickets, so if you choose to skip, please arrange to get these before leaving him at Machu Picchu.
Unless you arranged for an upgraded train, we will book the Expedition 
class train departing Aguas Calientes at 4:20. Please make sure you are on the platform at least 30 minutes ahead of time. This train will be 2 hours to Ollantaytambo where an Alpaca driver will meet you and drive you back to the city in our bus, then we will drop you off at your hotel.
- Considered: The most exciting and magical day (early wake up 3.30AM)
- Area: High Cloud and Subtropical Forest
- Weather: Hot and very humid (bring lots of water)
- If you want to access to the Huayna Picchu mountain, contact us.
- All the buses the coming back from the Inca Trail leave the passengers one block from the main square, you are going to return to the hotel by yourself.
- Professional bilingual guide (English – Spanish)
- Cook
- Porters for the food and camping equipment
- Extra guide and assistant cook for groups bigger than 8 people
- Pre-departure orientation meeting, (5.30pm 2 days before departure).
- Pick up from accommodation in Cusco and transfer to kilometer 82
- Double occupancy tents and mattresses
- Camping Equipment: kitchen tent, dining tent, chairs, tables, toilet at all campsites
- All meals, snacks and coffee/tea breaks
- First Aid Kit with oxygen
- Entrance fees to the Inca trail and Machu Picchu
- Train back to Cusco (standard expedition Service, if you would like to make a change to the service, or request a specific departure time, please let us know).
- Transfer from the train station back to accommodation in Cusco
- Sleeping bag.
- Personal porters.
- A few meals are not included – Breakfast on Day 1 and Lunch Dinner on Day4.
- Tips for guides, porters and cooks.
- Back Pack
- Sturdy Hiking shoes
- Warm clothes, including jacket, fleece, sweaters and a pair of socks per day
- Rain jacket or a Poncho, waterproof trousers (especially for rainy season Nov-March)
- Plastic bags to store your spare clothes
- Sleeping Bag (can be rented with LEADING PERU TRAVEL)
- Flashlight and batteries, pocket knife, matches
- Camera
- Water bottle, preferably metal so it is more heat-resistant
- Hat and / or beanie to protect you from the sun and the cold
- High factor sun block & insect repellent
- Toilet paper
- Some extra snacks (biscuits, energy bars, chocolate)
- Towel
- Swimsuit (recommend for the hot springs)
- Some cash (soles or dollars)
- TIPS for porters, guides, cooks – (please see note below)
- Personal medical kit
