Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in 5 Days

Pick-up from your hotel in Cusco around 04:00 and departure at 05:00 in our private transport to Km 82, the starting point of the Inca Trail. Your chef prepares breakfast before you start walking. The trail follows the left bank of the Urubamba river on flat ground to the community of Miskay (2,800 m). The first two hours are easy and lead to the first Inca site and checkpoint, Patallacta, where the route to Machu Picchu begins. Lunch in the canyon, then a relaxed walk with stories from your guide and about two more hours to our camp at Hatunchaca (3,300 m), in the Huayllabamba area.

An early start for the climb to Dead Woman’s Pass (Warmiwañusca), with views of snow-capped mountains and cloud forest. This is the hardest part of the trek: a steep ascent of about nine kilometres to the first pass of the Inca Trail. We stop at Llulluchapampa to rest and buy any last essentials. Deer and hawks can sometimes be seen here, along with llamas and alpacas grazing on ichu grass. At the pass (4,215 m), enjoy the views and a cup of coca tea. From here it is all downhill: about two hours to the Pacaymayo valley, where we have lunch and a free afternoon at camp.

After breakfast we climb the opposite side of the valley towards the second pass, with waterfalls, flora and fauna along the way. Halfway up we visit Runkurakay, an Inca watchtower, before reaching the Runkurakay pass. We descend into the cloud forest and, after about an hour, reach Sayacmarca, one of the most beautiful sites on the Inca Trail, for a one-hour guided visit. Lunch at Chaquicocha, then a gentle walk along the "Inca flat" with views of the Vilcabamba range. About two more hours bring us to our last camp, Phuyupatamarca (3,680 m), with our first view of Machu Picchu Mountain and the Urubamba river, and a sunset over the snow-capped peaks.

Weather permitting, one of the most spectacular sunrises on the Inca Trail. After breakfast, a guided visit to Phuyupatamarca and a long descent down stone steps. On the way we visit Intipata (Terraces of the Sun), with views of the valley, and Wiñay Wayna (2,650 m), the largest site on the Inca Trail after Machu Picchu, with terraces and religious and urban sectors. Last lunch with our team and a traditional thank-you ceremony for the porters and cooks (you can leave them a tip if you wish). About an hour along a stone path through the high jungle takes us to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) and our first view of Machu Picchu, and another hour to the citadel. We enjoy the late-afternoon views without the crowds before taking the bus to our hotel in Aguas Calientes. Private groups can arrange to camp this night instead.