Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Package (10 Days)

Introduction

Inca Trail Hike to Machu Picchu

Colonial Cusco, Peru

Trekking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Sayacmarca Ruins, Inca Trail

Ollantaytambo Ruins, The Sacred Valley, Peru

Machu Picchu, Peru

Luxury Peru Vacations

The Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, Peru

Llactapata Ruins, Inca Trail, Peru

Inca Trail Trek, Peru

Inca Trail, Arriving at Machu Picchu

Inca Trail Camping

4 Days Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Inca Trail Hike to Machu Picchu

Colonial Cusco, Peru

Trekking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Sayacmarca Ruins, Inca Trail

Ollantaytambo Ruins, The Sacred Valley, Peru

Machu Picchu, Peru

Luxury Peru Vacations

The Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, Peru

Llactapata Ruins, Inca Trail, Peru

Inca Trail Trek, Peru

Inca Trail, Arriving at Machu Picchu

Inca Trail Camping

4 Days Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

• 1

  Day 1

  International Flight Arrival, Overnight in Lima

  Today you will arrive to Lima from your international flight. Our local English-speaking ground representatives will be on hand to collect you and transfer you to the hotel district of Miraflores. Miraflores is a vibrant up-scale area where many of the city’s best hotels are located, along with a wide range of superb eateries.

• 2

  Day 2

  Morning Flight to Cusco, Light Orientation Walk

  In the morning you will return to the airport to take a short flight deep into the Andes, and onto the ancient city of Cusco. After settling in at your hotel, our expert guide will pass by your hotel to take you on a short orientation walk of Cusco. Today is designed to be an acclimatization day in preparation for the Inca Trail, so we purposely keep this day light. Your guide will take you on foot around the colonial center of Cusco, offering suggestions on things to do and see, and pointing out the best places to eat and drink. Using this time to acclimatize is essential for good preparation for the Inca Trail, so we simply leave you the late afternoon and evening free to relax and enjoy Cusco City.

• 3

  Day 3

  Tour of the Sacred Valley (Ollantaytambo & Pisac)

  Today we will collect you for a full day tour of the Sacred Valley. In a private modern vehicle, we will head out of Cusco in the direction of Pisac. After a 45-minute drive, you will stop at Awanakancha, a camelid farm where you will get to meet animals typical to the Andean Region. Alpaca, llama and Vicuña are among some of the animals in the park. After we’ll continue to Pisac. Following a winding access road, you will ascend to the mountain top ruins of Pisac. Here your guide will take you on a 1-hour tour of the ruins, taking in vistas of the impressive sweeping agricultural terraces, mountainside burial chambers, and a beautiful ritual area with functioning baths. After a buffet lunch (included) we’ll drive to the village of Ollantaytambo. The Inca ruins at Ollantaytambo are breath-taking, not only for the impressive size of the ruins, but also for the beautiful temple complex found at the summit of the site. Your guide will take you on a guided tour, recounting the story of the famous battle that took place there between the Spanish Conquistadores and the leader of the Inca resistance – Inca Manco Yupanqui.

• 4

  Day 4

  Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

  Today you will have an early start, leaving Cusco around 5.30 am for a 3-hour drive to the start of the Inca Trail. On route you will pass through the Sacred Valley and onto the town of Ollantaytambo. From here you will drive on another 1-hour to Piscacucho (also known as KM82), the start of the classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (2,680 m / 8,793 ft). Here we’ll take a moment to meet with your team of porters that will accompany you on the trail. You will pass through the check-point and cross a wooden suspension bridge which marks the start of this epic 35 miles (43 km) trek to Machu Picchu. For the next 3-hours or so, we’ll walk along fairly flat grassy terrain, following the natural course of the Urubamba River. From Miskay (2,660 m / 8,727 ft) the trail starts a gentle ascent to Willkaraccay, where we’ll stop to observe the sprawling Inca Ruins of Llactapata (terrace town). After another 10 – 15 minutes of trekking we’ll arrive at the lunch site, where our porters and chef will have prepared a nutritious lunch. In the afternoon we’ll continue on for another 3-4 hours of moderately challenging. Around 5 pm you will arrive at the campsite for the evening at Wayllabamba (2,999 m / 9,840 ft), where the porters will have already set up campsite (including your tent). A hot dinner is served in the dining tent.

  Distance: 12 kms / 7.5 miles
  Hiking time: 6-7 hours
  Difficulty level: easy / moderate

  NOTE: On this controlled route, campsites and routes may vary slightly in accordance with regulations set out by Peru’s Ministry of Culture (this applies to all 4 days of the trek).

• 5

  Day 5

  Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

  After a specially designed hi-carb breakfast (around 8 am), you will leave camp and start a 1-hour gentle ascent to the Ayapata Valley (3,300 m / 10,827 ft). Along the way you’ll pass through beautiful woods following a path which crisscrosses a small stream. Today is generally considered one of the toughest days of the Inca Trail, as you will ascend some 1,200 m / 3,937 ft to Warmiwañusca Mountain Pass, famously known as Dead Woman’s Pass. The ascent is completed in 2 sections, broken up by lunch about half way. The first section through the Llulluchapampa Valley takes approximately 2-3 hours. With spectacular views all around, you ascend through cloud forest and polylepis woodland famous for the small Andean Qeuñas and Chachacomos trees. Keep your eyes open as black-chested buzzard eagles, tiny hummingbirds or even the Peruvian Condor are frequently spotted. After a relaxing lunch at Llulluchapampa, you will continue the challenging ascent for another 2-3 hours to Dead Woman’s Pass (4,200 m / 13,778 meters). After taking some time to relax at the top and take in the incredible vistas, we’ll now start of 2-hour descent to Pacaymayo Valley and onto the campsite for the evening for a well-deserved rest and dinner.

  Distance: 12 kms / 7.5 miles
  Hiking time: 7-8 hours
  Difficulty level: moderate / strenuous

• 6

  Day 6

  Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

  After breakfast (7am), you will depart the campsite with a steep 1-hour ascent along well preserved Inca trail to the ruin of Runcuracay. Built on a vantage point looking out over the valley, Runcuracay was a tambo used by chaskis (Inca messengers) to rest whilst en-route to Machu Picchu. It was also most likely used as a military checkpoint and a look-out post. Following a steep ascent for a further 1-hour, we’ll arrive at the second main pass of the Inca Trail – Abra de Runcuracay (3,950 m / 12,959 ft). Beyond the pass the trail descends in altitude quickly passing through a short tunnel and following a series of tight switch backs. At the small Inca town of Sayacmarca we’ll stop for a short break and an explanation of the ruin and area from your guide. The trail meanders down further to the Chakicocha campsite (3,400 meters / 11,156 ft), where we stop for lunch. After a well-deserved rest you will continue to the beautiful ruin of Phuyupatamarca (town in the clouds) and finally to ruin of Wiñaywayna, a small but breath-taking Inca citadel. Just 5-minutes from Wiñaywayna you will arrive at the camp site of the same name. Dinner will be served around 6pm.

  Distance: 16 kms / 10 miles
  Hiking time: 7-8 hours
  Difficulty level: moderate

• 7

  Day 7

  Inca Trail to the Sun Gate, Guided Tour of Machu Picchu

  Today you will hike the last stretch of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. With an early start around 5 am, you will pass the final check point of the Inca Trail and onto Intipunku (the Sun Gate). From this high vantage point and Inca ruin you will get your first glimpse of Machu Picchu as the rays of sun break through the early morning mist. The trail down to Machu Picchu itself takes another 45 – 60 minutes, where you will arrive at the Caretaker’s Hut. After storing your luggage near the entrance, your guide will take you for a guided tour of Machu Picchu lasting about 2-hours. We’ll have a couple of hours to explore this magnificent Inca ruin, before heading down to our hotel in Aguas Calientes for a well-deserved rest.

• 8

  Day 8

  Re-visit Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu Trek

  Today we include re-entrance tickets to Machu Picchu, so you can go back and visit this epic UNESCO World Heritage site at your leisure. We also include entrance tickets to the Huayna Picchu Mountain Trek, so you can get an aerial view of Machu Picchu from another perspective. In the afternoon you will travel onto Cusco by train and road, arriving in the early evening.

• 9

  Day 9

  Free Morning in Cusco, Afternoon Flight to Lima

  After completing the Inca Trail, we think that you probably deserve a rest. Therefore, this morning we leave as free time. Take some time for some last-minute shopping, head out for a spot of lunch, or perhaps sign up for a relaxing massage at a local spa. Consult our luxury Peru travel team for ideas on great things to do in the city. In the afternoon we will collect you for a mid-afternoon flight to Lima. On arrival in Lima, we will collect you and transfer you to your hotel in Miraflores for the evening. This evening is a good opportunity to head out for a well-earned meal and discover why Lima is considered to be the gastronomic heart of South America.

• 10

  Day 10

  Morning Tour of Lima, Transfer to Lima Airport

  Lima City is integral part of the history of Peru and showcases more than 4,000 years of South American history. It was official founded in 1535 pre-dating most other well-known South America cities, and was once one of the most important trading, political and administrative settlements of the Spanish Viceroyalty. Today we will take you on a half day tour of the city offering an insight to its complex and colorful past. The tour combines visits to Plaza de Armas, the Church and Convent of Santo Domingo, the pre-Columbian Temple of Huallamarca in the business district of San Isidro, and the modern day El Parque del Amor.