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The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is ranked as the best trek in all of South America. It is dotted with Inca ruins that you will visit on every day of your trekking, breathtaking mountain scenery that changes from the high Andes to lush cloud-forest and then to pristine sub tropical jungle. As you make your way through these various microclimates, you will likely encounter hummingbirds, condors, waterfowl, and the majestic Andean condor. If you are lucky you may get to appreciate the rare spectacled bear. There are also 345 species of orchids. The Inca Trail is 28 m / 45 km long usually takes about 4days to arrive to Machu Picchu entering through Intipunku, or “Sungate”.
The Inca Trail Trekking is suitable for a person that is reasonably fit and it is rated moderate by most standards. This means that most anyone can do this trekking. At an altitude of 13,780 ft / 4,200 m it is important that you have at least 2 days at altitude if coming from sea level before starting the trekking. There are many easy going tours that can be done in and around Cusco like the City Tour, Sacred Valley Tour, Maras and Moray Tour or the South Valley Tour. These tours are an excellent warm up for the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and also give great insight into the ingenuity of the Inca so you can fully appreciate the majesty of Machu Picchu.
Skillful months: from March to January
Departures: Daily
Prices from: $ 580: 00 USA
In the Urubamba Valley, Machu Picchu fits within the spectacular framework provided by the lush vegetation of the nearby jungle and the rugged landscape. The Inca Trail is only a small part of the Inca road system that integrated the four regions of the Empire of Tahuantinsuyo. This hike of 43 km, approximately lasts four days ending at the Citadel of Machu Picchu.
What makes this tour so special is the combination of Inca ruins, incredible views, exotic vegetation and extraordinary ecological variety.
We set out early in the morning, after breakfast, to start this epic Inca Trail adventure. After about a 1.5 hour car ride passing through the lovely Sacred Valley in private transport, we will arrive to the trailhead located at Km 82. Here we will meet up with our porters and do a short briefing before we pass through the first checkpoint and start marching to on the cusp of where the high Andes turn into a semi-tropical valley. The first highlight on day 1 of the Inca Trail is arriving to the impressive ruin site of Patallacta. Getting there is mostly flat and a good warm up for what the Inca Trail has in store. After the visit, we meet up again with our porters who will already have lunch set up. Enjoy sitting in a dining tent with tables, chairs, beverages and first class service. Throughout the day you will see impressive landscapes and the changing flora and fauna as we arrive to our campsite at Ayapata where your tent and gear will be waiting for you. We chose this campsite as it is a little further than the traditional Inca Trail route.
This means fewer tourists, peace and quiet in this beautiful place and makes for an easier day 2, the most challenging day of the trek. Shortly after arrival, a hot bowl of water for washing will be served to you. Enjoy tea time before dinner and the company of your fellow trekkers before resting for the night.
After a hearty breakfast, we will pass through different climatic and ecological zones. Day 2 is considered by many to be the hardest day of the trek with 2 high passes, including Dead Woman’s Pass (the highest at 4200m / 13779ft). You will soon realize the reward; incredible views of the Andes, visits to the ruin sites of Runkuracay and Sayacmarca, abundant plant life in the Polylepis forest and opportunities to spot hummingbirds and white tailed deer.
On this challenging day, your guides and porters will be with you, motivating and helping you along. Each step brings us closer to the campsite of Chaquicocha (11,800ft / 3600m) and well deserved dinner and rest. The sound of the nearby waterfall will add to your appreciation of the beauty and tranquility of the Andes. Watch the sun set over the mountains and breathe in the spirit of the Inca as your enjoy tea time and dinner with your fellow trekkers.
Day 3 is a more relaxing day to take in some of the most breathtaking scenery that the Inca Trail has to offer. This part of the Camino Inca, known as the Inca Flat has gentle ascents and descents. As we move deeper into the cloud forest, you will see a significant change in the landscape, new views of the mountains, a variety of orchids and hummingbirds.
A relatively short day trekking at lower altitude makes for a great opportunity to take photos and savor the experience. We will visit the sites of Phuyupatamarca and Winay Wayna.
Our porters will be waiting for you when we make camp at Winay Wayna (8,792ft / 2680m) early that afternoon. Once settled into our campsite, we will have an extended tour of the Winay Wayna site followed by tea time and dinner.
We will make camp at Winay Wayna (8,792ft / 2680m) fairly early in the afternoon. Once we are settled in to our campsite, we will have an extended tour of the site followed by tea time and dinner.
Day 3 is a more relaxing day to take in some of the most breathtaking scenery that the Inca Trail has to offer. This part of the Camino Inca, known as the Inca Flat has gentle ascents and descents. As we move deeper into the cloud forest, you will see a significant change in the landscape, new views of the mountains, a variety of orchids and hummingbirds.
A relatively short day trekking at lower altitude makes for a great opportunity to take photos and savor the experience. We will visit the sites of Phuyupatamarca and Winay Wayna.
Our porters will be waiting for you when we make camp at Winay Wayna (8,792ft / 2680m) early that afternoon. Once settled into our campsite, we will have an extended tour of the Winay Wayna site followed by tea time and dinner.
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Machu Picchu Trekking is a licensed tour operator comprised of certified and licensed local tour guides. We are a local company with professional employees and guides who are knowledgeable in traditional (Inca Trail) and alternative (Lares to Machu Picchu) treks; all tours booked with Machu Picchu Trekking are led and staffed by Machu Picchu Trekking employees. We value your trust and never pass our valued clients onto other tour companies.
Cancellations
You may need to cancel your Inca Trail Trek due to personal emergency, illness or flight delay. Because we schedule and purchase permits well in advance of your travel, we are not able to refund you your full amount.
To be refunded (see our refund chart below), please notify us as soon as possible in writing (email). Cancellation charges in addition to the non-refundable deposit will be applied as shown below, calculated from the day written notification is received by Cusco Native. (Please consider purchasing optional travel insurance to cover emergency cancellations.)
Our refund table is as follows:
| Days Prior to Start of Trek | Percentage Refund of Total Trek Price |
| 29 to 22 | 40% |
| 21 to 9 | 20% |
| 8 to 0 | 0% |
In the event of partial cancellations, meaning other members of your party will continue with the trek, the remaining passenger(s) be subject to pay additional charges (e.g. single room supplements or double-occupancy).
