Physical Difficulty
Cultural rating
Wildlife expectation
The classic Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu is one of the most famous treks in South America, and for good reason. Mixing history, wildlife and spectacular scenery, this four-day, three-night adventure is an unforgettable experience, with a final destination -- Machu Picchu itself -- that ranks among the world’s most impressive archaeological sites.
The classic Inca Trail is only about 42 km (26 miles) long, but it goes up and down and along mountains, rising up through three mountain passes, and generally takes a circular route through the tricky terrain of the region in this part of Peru. That makes it a more strenuous 42 km than most, but also one with spectacular scenery, passing through various Andean environments including cloud forest and alpine tundra.
Along the trail, you’ll be trekking through an area of great biodiversity. At any moment you could come across orchids, foxes, cocks-of -the-rock (Peru’s national bird), spectacled bears, deer and many more species of flora and fauna. As you trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, you’ll also pass by other impressive Inca ruins, such as Wiñay Wayña and Phuyupatamarca. It’s an incredibly rich trekking experience, and that’s before you even reach your destination; the sublime mountaintop Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.
It’s impossible to overstate the beauty of Machu Picchu, from its incredible architecture to the surrounding mountains and mist-filled gorges. But we won’t describe it all here. Far better if you come with us on the classic Inca Trail, with our professional guides, porters and talented cooks, and discover this magical trek for yourself.
Special features of our Trek along the Inca Trail & Machu Picchu:
Type of Tourism: Trekking, Hiking and Cultural
Places To Visit: Cusco, Inca Trail, & Machu Picchu
Duration: 7 Days and 6 Nights
Type of Service: some tours are small group service tours and other tours are private
Accommodation: 4 star hotels at every destination that you will visit. These hotels had been carefully chosen and we can guarantee that you will feel comfortable and pampered
Arrival to Cusco with a transfer to your hotel; a welcome meeting will be organized by your guide for a quick briefing of the tour. The rest of the day can be spent exploring Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, set in the Andean Mountain range. Discover Spanish churches and mansions that sit alongside Inca remains, visit the local market of San Pedro and their array of products from handicrafts to vegetable products, fresh juices and items for traditional Andean ceremonies....
After breakfast, enjoy a free day to explore Cusco at your ease. The capital city of the Inca Empire is now the undisputed archaeological capital of the Americas, as well as the continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city. You may visit the local archaeological sites of Saqsaywaman, Tambomachay and Qenqo or you can take part in a Peruvian cooking class or chocolate making class, depending on how you want to spend your free day. We can help arrange and suggest all activities a...
Breakfast: is not included on this day.
Our Inca Trail adventure begins at 4:30 a.m., when we’ll pick you up from your hotel. We will then drive to Piscacucho, also known as Km 82, where the Inca Trail begins. Here we need to visit the control point and do all the official bureaucracy before we can enter the trail, so you’ll need your passport and ticket. This is a good place to use the bathroom and put on insect repellent and sunscreen, as once we’re o...
It’s another early start on the second day of the trek, as we wake around 5:30 a.m. Our cooks will prepare a hearty breakfast to get your energy levels up, and you’re going to need it. Day 2 on the classic Inca Trail is generally regarded as the toughest day, as we have a steep ascent ahead of us. We’ll be following the Inca Trail along a route that was sacred to the Incas, as it rises up into the Apus, where the mountain spirits dwell.
After a fe...
After another energy-filled breakfast, we’ll set off on a relatively gentle uphill trek to our first stop of the day: the archaeological site of Phuyupatamarca, "The City Above the Clouds," located at around 3,680 m. This enchanting Inca ruin features terraced slopes and five small stone baths that contain constant fresh running water during the wet season. From here, we have incredible views of snow-capped peaks in the distance, including Salkantay and Veronica.
H...
Today we want to get moving as soon as possible, so we’ll wake at 4:30 a.m., have breakfast and then set off along the last section of the trail. We’ll walk for about 1.5 hours until we reach Intipunku (the “Sun Gate”), arriving before the first rays of the sun reach Machu Picchu. From the Sun Gate, at around 7 a.m., we can watch as the sun comes over the mountains, lighting up the surrounding landscape, slowly revealing Machu Picchu and our first sighting of o...
After breakfast enjoy your last day at leisure before your transfer to the airport for your return flight home, via Lima.