Inca Trail (4 Days 3 Nights)

We will depart from the city of Cusco at 5:30 a.m. on a tourist bus towards the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Before reaching the starting point of the hike, Km 82, we will make a brief stop in Ollantaytambo for breakfast. This place, also known as Km 82, will be the beginning of the Inca Trail. Here we will register to enter the trail. Then, we will cross the Urubamba River (2,200 m) and begin walking. The first day of the Inca Trail is easy and will serve as a warm-up for the following days. In Miskay, we will have lunch next to a small river, where we will rest and the guide will share his knowledge about the Inca archaeological center of Llactapata. After the explanation, we will continue our walk towards Wayllabamba (3,100 m) and climb to Yucachimpa (3,300 m), where we will camp and spend the night. From this place, we will enjoy a beautiful view of the mysterious Veronica mountain.

• Walking time: 6-7 hours
• Total distance: Approximately 11 km.

The second day of the journey is intended for hikers to walk at their own pace, although they will not feel isolated as during breaks they will have the opportunity to interact with other group members. Early in the morning, the trail will lead us to the beautiful valley of Llulluchapampa (3850m). During the first 3 kilometers, we will enjoy the lush vegetation and the sound of small rivers flowing through the area. After three hours of walking from Llulluchapampa, we will reach the highest point of the journey, the Warmihuañusca Pass (4200 m). This stretch is considered the most challenging part of the Inca Trail. After a brief rest at the summit, we will continue the journey with a prolonged and steep descent towards the Pacaymayo river, until we reach the Runkurakay Pass (3050 m), where our campsite called Chaquicocha (3650 m) is located. Here we will end the day with a well-deserved rest, while enjoying the impressive view of the mountains and the landscape.

• Walking time: 8-9 hours
• Total distance: Approximately 15 km.

The third day is the most beautiful of the hike. You can notice a change in the ecosystem as we enter the tropical forest of Wiñaywayna. We will pass by two small lakes on the top of the second pass (3950 m). The trail is a gentle ascent through a beautiful cloud forest and a small Inca tunnel before reaching the pass (3700 m) from where you have a magnificent view of the valley and the Urubamba River. The nearest archaeological site is Phuyupatamarca, “the city between the clouds” (3600 m), a well-preserved Inca site where you can enjoy impressive ancient engineering. We will pass another Inca tunnel before visiting the ruins of Wiñaywayna, “always young” (2650 m). The stone stairs transform into a zigzag trail until we reach our last campsite.

• Walking time: 5-6 hours
• Total distance: Approximately 10 km.

After breakfast at 4:30 am, we will head, equipped with our flashlights, to Inti Punku (Sun Gate) for the first view of Machu Picchu and to witness the sunrise over Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu. The final triumphant descent will take almost an hour before visiting the Machu Picchu citadel (2400 m) around 08:00 am. There, you can enjoy the spiritual charm of Machu Picchu during a guided tour of around two hours, which will help you understand the meaning and ancient use of the different buildings. After this visit, you will have enough time to explore the archaeological site on your own, for example, visiting the Inca Bridge, exploring the variety of buildings, or climbing Wayna Picchu to get an incredible panoramic view. Then, we will return by bus to Machupicchu Pueblo, where you can relax in the hot springs of the town and distance yourself from any discomfort or pains. Later, we will take a train that will take us to the Ollantaytambo station, a 2-hour journey, where our transfer will be waiting for us with a sign indicating our names to take us back in a tourist bus to the city of Cusco.

• Hiking time: 2-3 hours
• Total distance: approximately 7 km.