The great adventure of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is for those who live with passion, always looking for a new experience! This is a fascinating dream to fulfill and it is the most famous trek in all of South America. The beauty of the views and archaeological sites that surround our 4-day Inca Trail tour to Machu Picchu are second to none. This tour is ideal for those who are full of energy to trek to Machu Picchu on the trip of a lifetime!
As you set out on your 4-day adventure into the mountains and lush jungle, you’ll feel the thrill of knowing you’ll be witnessing some incredible sights. Your trek will begin in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, in the picturesque community of Piscacucho, about two and a half hours from Cusco. You will witness some interesting archeological sites like Llactapata. You will head to the highest part of the trek, Dead Woman’s Pass, before descending into the rainforest where the wonder that is Machu Picchu lies.
Along the rest of the route, you’ll see some truly impressive local flora and fauna, including over 250 types of orchids, 450 species of birds, and perhaps the spectacled bear, which Paddington was based on! You will also make a stop at other fascinating archaeological sites, including Runkurakay, Sayaqmarka, Phuyupatamarka, Intipata, Wiñay Wayna, and Inti Punku or Sun Gate.
On the last day, you will enter Machu Picchu through the Puerta del Sol, something that only those who choose to walk the Inca Trail have the opportunity to do. Extend your arms as if you were a condor preparing to take flight through this incredible New Wonder of the World. Explore the ancient Inca citadel with your guide and learn about its history and secrets. Take your time and relax as you soak up the magic of the Incas at this wonderful site before heading back to Cusco.
Today you will undertake the Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu for 4 days and you will need to get up early for your guide and driver to pick you up at your hotel in Cusco between 4:30 and 5:00 am. If you are in Urubamba, you will be picked up between 5:30 and 6:00 am, and if you are in Ollantaytambo, it will be between 6:30 and 7:00 am.
From Cusco, you will head for two and a half hours on a bus to Piscacucho – KM 82, the starting point of the trek. Here we will enjoy a delicious breakfast prepared by our talented chef and we will meet the entire team of the Peru Trek company, made up of cooks and porters. They will accompany you throughout the exciting adventure, along with your guide, to make sure you have the best time possible and take home some unforgettable memories of the sacred mountains on the Inca Trail 4 days.
An important thing is that you will need your original passport here to pass the various checkpoints along the 4-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, so don’t forget that!
The first few hours of hiking are relatively easy to help you get through the harder parts to come. We will stop in front of a small Inca site called Canabamba. Here you will learn all about the water channels, and you will be able to appreciate a spectacular view of the La Verónica glacier. Then, we will go to Wilkarakay and visit the magical archaeological site of Llactapata, whose stone walls peek out from the lush vegetation on the other side of the Urubamba River. We will continue for another 30 minutes to reach our lunch spot in Tarayoc. You will be amazed at the delicacies that our chef has prepared in the middle of the mountains!
This afternoon, you will continue hiking for another three hours to reach our first campsite at Huayllabamba (3,000 m/9,840ft). 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 will pass through small communities where you can buy any last-minute needs.
We will arrive at our campsite around 5:00 pm, and you will be able to rest your tired legs. It’s time to relax, have a hot drink, and a snack while you reflect on your first day of hiking and look forward to dinner. You will eat around 7:30 p.m. and then go to bed to get a good night’s rest before walking again tomorrow.
Another early start awaits you as we wake you up in your tents with a cup of hot coca tea or other hot beverages. Coca has been consumed since the time of the Incas and is a great way to start the day as it gives you an energy rush and takes away any altitude fatigue you may feel. There is a challenging day ahead, and it is the most exhausting of yesterday’s route. Make sure you enjoy everything that they offer you at breakfast to recharge your batteries to be ready and continue our adventure on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4 days.
We will start the day walking uphill for 3 hours to the point that will be our lunch at Llulluchapampa (3,800 m / 12,464 ft), Remember, at each meal, you have the opportunity to fill your water bottles.
After a delicious lunch, we will ascend for about 2 hours
to the highest point of the trek, Dead Woman’s Pass (4,215 m / 13,829 ft). From here you will get the most amazing views of the immense mountains, so open all your senses and take it all in. You will feel the spirit of the ancient Incas who walked these paths hundreds of years ago and who were at one with nature.
Once we have been at the top of the mountain, we will begin with a descent of approximately 3 hours towards the point of Pacaymayo, where our second night Inca Trail camp will be, we will have time to relax and enjoy the place before having dinner and going to sleep. The night sky in the mountains is truly an amazing sight to behold.
The most challenging day is today, but a beautiful reward awaits you!
After a good night’s rest, you will wake up today at 5:00 a.m. m. You will fill up with a hearty breakfast and we will ascend for around 45 minutes to the Inca site of Runkurakay. We will take our time and explore this small complex where you will be able to see two impressive waterfalls on the slopes of the mountains. We will then continue uphill for another 45 minutes to the summit at Runkurakay Pass. You will have the opportunity to rest here and enjoy the last beautiful views of the Andes section of the trek. This is an excellent place to perform a small ceremony to Mother Earth and the mountains, leaving an offering.
Once we start walking again, we will be descending for about an hour until we reach the next archeological site of Sayaqmarka. It is almost inaccessible but well worth a visit. You will learn all about the secrets of the site from your expert guide as the sun descends and illuminates the Vilcabamba mountain range.
From there, you only have 30 more minutes to walk to the site of Chaquiqocha (3,600 m/11,811ft). Take the opportunity to contemplate the wonder of this place.
Then you will walk for an hour and a half. Embrace the greenery and fantastic scenery as the jungle begins to thicken. You will be able to enjoy an impressive juxtaposition of the Salkantay glacier (the second most important in Cusco) on one side and the jungle on the other. Let yourself be surprised by the panoramic view of the Vilcabamba mountain range.
Once arrived at Phuyupatamarka (3,650 m / 11,975ft), it will be the point of our lunch. This is a mystical place above the clouds. Then, you will descend again for two and a half hours until you reach Intipata. This is an important agricultural place from where you can enjoy the impressive landscape pa
panoramic and contemplate the Sacred Valley of the Incas with the sacred river Urubamba running through the middle as if it were a snake.
There are only another 30 minutes of walking left until we reach our camp for the night near the archaeological site of Wiñay Wayna. You are now very close to the city of the Incas! The name of the complex, Wiñay Wayna, means “forever young” and is considered one of the most impressive stops on the entire route.
You’ll explore the site for about an hour as your guide conjures up images that bring it 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 teeming with life.
Take some time to think about everything they have done for you along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4 days. These guys work really hard to make sure you feel comfortable and relaxed every day. Use this as an opportunity to thank them for all they have done. This is also the perfect time to tip them as a token of your appreciation. Here you will also say goodbye to your porters.
Then it is time to go to bed early to rest well since the next day you will get up at dawn y continue the Inca Trail 4 days.
All your effort in the last few days will be rewarded with today’s most amazing prize.
You’ll need to get up early today at 3:30 am to make sure you get to Sun Gate early to catch the sunrise. At 4:00 am, we’ll provide you with water and a breakfast box, and you’ll be on your way. We will be one of the first groups to enter the checkpoint and walk an hour or so to Puerta del Sol. Get ready because once we are there, you will get your first views of the incredible wonder of Inca architecture and engineering.
Finally, you are inside Machu Picchu. Surrender to the sacred site that has patiently awaited your arrival, and it will change something deep within you. We will have an hour and a half guided tour of the most important points, while your guide will explain the fascinating history of the Incas and their mysteries.
As you walk through this fascinating creation, you will feel the intimate connection between humans and nature. You will see immense stones that harmoniously connect with each other to form temples, alleys, houses and aqueducts that are still working more than 5 centuries later. Machu Picchu was built in an inaccessible place to resist any attack and to remind modern men that only in true communion with Mother Earth, Pachamama, can we fully exist.
After the tour, you can climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain if you have tickets reserved in advance. You will then take the bus back to Aguas Calientes to have lunch at a restaurant of your choice and then board the train to Ollantaytambo or Poroy. Tickets are usually reserved at 2:55 p.m., depending on availability, and it is necessary to be at the station at least 30 minutes before departure. Once you are at your last train stop, a private bus will pick up our group and drop you off at your hotel in Cusco at approximately 8:00 p.m. Rest your feet and body now, but we can assure you that your heart will keep beating for weeks and years to come after this 4-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu adventure!
I used PERU TREK for the 4 days/3 nights Inca Trail trek. Our main guide, Isaacc, was extremely knowledgable, funny, and friendly. His positive attitude kept everyone going through the tough day (Day 2) and through a few bouts of rain. The chefs do an amazing job with the food (multi-course meals, including donuts and a mountaintop pie!) and are very considerate of any allergies or food restrictions. The doormen are all amazing, they fix everything so you barely have to think. Overall the trip was very well organized and trouble free. The hike itself was an amazing experience, with beautiful views and unforgettable sites. We also did the Huayna Picchu bonus hike, which was beautiful (but a bit scary if you’re afraid of heights). I highly recommend booking with PERU TREK.
Walking the Inka Trail with our amazing guides Alex and Samuel, along with our amazing chefs and porters, was one of the best experiences of my life. Our guides were very knowledgeable, organized, accommodating, everything you could ask for. His passion for making this experience the best it could be was obvious. The meals were delicious, never ate the same thing twice, lots of traditional dishes. Our porters made such hard work look easy and always had a friendly word for us when they passed us along the way. Our group had a wide range of experience and ability, yet our every need was not only met but anticipated well in advance. They all went above and beyond for us. Thanks to the PERU TREK team for making this adventure a reality.
Overall this was an amazing experience. It is an amazing way to learn more about the Incas and to really experience the Inca Trail. Our guides, Roy and Carlos, were in charge of managing our experience. They kept us up to date on what we would be doing each day. And he walked our group at the rest stops to make sure we not only made it but had an enjoyable hike. The tent and the equipment provided were great. I especially appreciated that we had our own bathroom tent, which is really very important. This was a 20th anniversary trip for my husband and I and we had an excellent time. I highly recommend PERU TREK company.
