INCA TRAIL TO MACHUPICCHU

Pick up from your hotel between 4:30-5:00 am. and travel to Km 82, arriving at about 7:00 am. After a hearty breakfast, we shall pass the checkpoint to begin our trek (please make sure you have your original passport with you to enter the Inca Trail). The first 2 hours of the trek are relatively easy as we make our way to our first Inca site, Patallacta which is an ancient Inca checkpoint for the approach to Machu Picchu. From Patallacta it is another 2-hour hike to our lunch stop. After lunch, it is another 2 ½ hour’s hike before we hours until we reach the first night’s campsite at Ayapata (3300 meters).

Your porters will wake you up early with a hot cup of coca tea to get you ready for the day. Today is our longest day and we will start early. We shall hike for roughly 4 hours to the highest pass of the trek, Dead Woman’s Pass (4215 meters/13829 feet). After lunch, we begin ascending again to the second pass of the trek. It is 2 hours to the pass and along the way, we shall stop at a small Inca site (Runcu Raccay) and see two huge waterfalls cascading down the opposite side of the valley before we continue downhill to the magnificent Inka site, Sayacmarca and further on to our campsite.

We begin early again, waking up at 6:30 am to begin what is commonly felt to be the most beautiful day of the whole Inca Trail. We hike for 2 hours along gradual inclines and begin to enter the jungle, known as the Cloud Forest. As we walk we will have the opportunity to see the majesty of Salkantay, the second highest snow-capped mountain in the Sacred Valley, and a fantastic panoramic view of the Vilcabamba mountain range. Towards the end of the Inca flats, we begin to make our way up to the last peak at Phuyupatamarka (3600 meters) from where we’ll have great views overlooking the Urubamba River. Down the valley, we get our first views of Machu Picchu Mountain but the site itself is still hidden from view. From Phuyupatamarka it is a 3-hour walk down a flight of steps to our last campsite, close to Wiñay Wayna (‘Forever Young’). Wiñay Wayna is the most spectacular Inca site on the trail after Machu Picchu and the most popular campsite because of its proximity to Machu Picchu.

After an early breakfast, we begin our hike to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku). From here we have spectacular views of the mountains and Machu Picchu in all its glory. We reach the Sun Gate by 6:30 am and then it’s just an hour trek downstairs to reach the Lost City of the Incas. At about 7:40 am we’ll reach the final checkpoint and enter Machu Picchu to begin our 2 hours private guided tour. Return by the expedition train to Ollantaytambo in the afternoon and onward transfer to Cusco.
Unless you arranged for an upgraded train, we will book the Expedition class train departing Aguas Calientes at 4:20 pm. Please make sure you are on the platform at least 30 minutes ahead of time. This train will be 2 hours to Ollantaytambo where our driver will meet you and drive you back to the city with our van.

All of our treks include your porters who are responsible for carrying and setting up all equipment. They will also carry your personal duffel, which you will receive at your briefing the night before your trek. This duffel cannot exceed 7kg/14lbs and must include your sleeping bag and air mat.