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CLASSIC INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU: 4 DAYS
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- CLASSIC INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU: 4 DAYS
4-Day Inca Trail: Explore the Land of the Incas
The perfect way to explore ancient Incan citadels, magical Andean mountain ranges, tropical cloud forests, lush vegetation of the jungle, and the world-renowned Machu Picchu.
Walk with us along one of South America’s most iconic trekking routes: the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, a legendary lost city hidden for centuries in Peru’s Sacred Valley. This 4-day guided hiking tour arranges everything for you, including permits, transportation, delicious meals, and experienced local guides.
In total, we’ll walk 40 kilometers (26 miles) over 4 days along the famous original stone path that was built over 500 years ago during the height of the Incan Empire. Along the way, we’ll:
→ Traverse through diverse landscapes and microclimates, starting from the alpine tundra of the Andes and ending in the subtropical forest surrounding Machu Picchu. These ecosystems are home to many plants and animals, some of which are found only in Peru. Our guides will look closely for the spectacled bear that inspired Paddington; llamas, alpacas and deer; chinchillas; hummingbirds; over 400 kinds of butterflies; carnivorous flowers and unique orchids (of which there are over 3,000 species in Peru); and more!
→ Explore 8 different Inca archaeological sites like Wiñay Wayna, Runkurakay, and Phuyupatamarca. These hidden gems are generally untouched by mass tourism due to their location along the Inca trek to Machu Picchu. With our history-buff guides by your side, you'll feel like you're trekking through a living outdoor museum.
→ Eat delicious meals and snacks. Our chefs provide all food and drink along our trek, including 3 meals a day, snacks, tea in the mornings and afternoon, and purified drinking water. Expect creative and nutritious food options that both sustain and entertain.
→ Stay at our campsites, chosen for proximity, comfort, and views. We use high-quality gear and camps are set up when you arrive so you can rest and enjoy
→ Hike to Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. The Classic Inca Trail tour is the only hiking route that provides direct access to Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate (Inti Punku), instead of the standard tourist entrance via Aguas Calientes. This exclusive arrival on Day 4 is often described as the most magical moment of the trek.
Why hike with us?
→ We are a proud Peruvian-owned company, made up of experienced local guides who are deeply passionate about their work and committed to the sustainability of the land, the preservation of history and traditions, and the well-being of the communities along the route.
→ We keep our groups small so that your experience feels personal — you’re never just a number or part of a (llama) herd. Our guides emphasize conversation and connection, ensuring your questions are answered (even the ones you didn’t know you had) and no stone is left unturned — metaphorically, of course.
→ We take care of all permits, logistics, and transportation, so you can truly relax and focus on the trail. Once you’ve booked with us, no planning required: just show up and enjoy the adventure.
Whether you're an adventurer, a history lover, or a nature enthusiast, this small group guided hiking tour to Machu Picchu offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You’ll not only witness the breathtaking fusion of nature and culture at the heart of the Andes—you’ll also uncover a deeper connection with yourself.
- Want to experience the Inca trek and Machu Picchu, but short on time? Check out our 2-Day Inca Trail Trek.
- Interested in glaciers and high-altitude mountain passes? Check out our 5-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu.
TRIP DETAILS
Day 1: Cusco → Patallaqta → Willkarakay → Wayllabamba
- Pick-up time/location: 5:00 - 5:30 am, from your accommodation in Cusco
- Included meals/snacks: 3 meals (including breakfast), snacks, afternoon tea, drinking water
- Distance we will hike: around 12 kilometers or 7.5 miles
- Terrain type: more gentle, easy walking through dry, high-altitude terrain
- Campsite: Wayllabamba (3000 m / 9842 ft)
Our 4-day Inca Trail adventure begins early in the morning. We will pick you up from your accommodation in Cusco between 5:00-5:30 am. From there, we will drive about 2 hours to kilometer 82, the hike’s official starting point. Our chefs will provide you with something to eat before we set off from the trailhead, situated at 2,642 m or 8,867 ft.
Today’s section of this guided trekking tour to Machu Picchu is relatively gentle and gradual. Consider it a warm-up for the days to come. We'll have time to take in the spectacular Andean scenery, from the snow-capped La Veronica mountain to the rushing Urubamba River. Bathrooms can be found in the small villages and rest stops, which you can use for 1 to 2 soles.
Soon we’ll reach the archaeological site of Patallaqta (“Hummingbird Village in Quechua), a stunning complex of 116 buildings, representative of the charm and artistry of the Andes. In 1536, retreating Inca leaders destroyed access to Patallaqta to hinder the advancing Spanish army. Due to efforts like these, the Spanish never discovered the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, nor the numerous other settlements that it connects. Let our guides tell you the rest of the story!
Our route through the Urubamba valley will also take us to Willkarakay (also spelled Huillca Raccay), an important cultural and religious center whose foundations predate the Incan empire.
After a lunch stop around 2 pm, we'll continue trekking to Machu Picchu, reaching our first campsite at Wayllabamba. Our porters will set up your tent by the time of your arrival, so you can get comfortable before partaking in some afternoon tea and snacks. Our tour company provides all the refreshments and drinking water you need, though villagers in Wayllabamba also sell bottled drinks and treats (in case you’re craving an Inca Kola).
In the evening, we will debrief for tomorrow, have dinner together, and rest in our tents beneath the stars.
Day 2: Wayllabamba → Dead woman’s pass → Pacaymayo
- Included meals/snacks: 3 meals, snacks, afternoon tea, drinking water
- Distance we will hike: around 11 kilometers or 7 miles
- Terrain type: Steep with some stairs, though not overly technical. Weather will be a little colder and possibly wetter than yesterday.
- Campsite: Pacaymayo (3600 m / 11700 ft)
Day 2 of our Classic Inca Trail guided tour is considered the most challenging — but also one of the most rewarding. In the early morning, we will wake you up at your tent with a warm cup of coca tea, which decreases symptoms of altitude sickness and gets your muscles and spirit ready for hiking. We will have a hearty breakfast at camp before beginning the steep ascent to Dead Woman’s Pass (Warmiwañuska in Quechua). This pass is the highest point of the Inca trail, at 4216 m / 13828 ft.
Don’t let the name fool you: we will not only survive the traverse through Dead Woman’s Pass, but we will enjoy it! Our Inca Trail tour guides will go at your pace and create a supportive and motivating atmosphere. Plus, despite backpacker’s rumors, the name of this pass doesn’t have fatal origins: pre-Colombian communities gave the pass this name because the outlines of the surrounding mountain summits appear to form the silhouette of a woman lying down.
We will summit the top of the pass at around mid-day, where we can view one of the most beautiful and dramatic landscapes of the world. Indeed, an advantage of the stone-made Classic Inca Trail is that it’s easy to look back and see how far we’ve come.
Today’s tip: Remember to bring and wear layers — we are above treeline and are exposed to the elements, and the warmth of the sun can be powerful at this altitude!
From here we will make our way to Pacaymayo, where our porters and chef will await us with lunch and our fully set-up camp. We will eat both lunch and dinner here, as well as spend the night, so you have the opportunity to recuperate and relax, explore the area on foot, or do some bird watching. Andean Condors, Copper-Bellied Puffleg hummingbirds, and Robin-like Andean thrushes may be flying above our heads. After another family-style dinner, we’ll say good-night and get some well-earned sleep.
Day 3: Pacaymayo → Phuyupatamarca → Wiñaywayna
- Included meals/snacks: 3 meals, snacks, afternoon tea, drinking water
- Distance we will hike: around 16 kilometers or 10 miles
- Terrain type: Majority downhill, with some uphill sections
- Campsite: Wiñaywayna (2650 m / 8694 ft)
Many folks who have done the Inca Trail hike tour with us have described this day as the best day of the whole trek, even rivaling the day we experience Machu Picchu! Today’s hike spans pristine cloud forests, towering mountain vistas, and lesser-known archaeological sites that are well worth the visit. It’s a truly unforgettable immersion into Peru’s profound history and landscapes. Although we will put more distance under our feet today, the trekking will seem easier — consider it a victory lap after yesterday’s accomplishment.
After another hearty breakfast at our camp, we will continue our hike to Machu Picchu by ascending, very gradually, for two hours until we reach a mountainous Peruvian jungle, called the Cloud Forest. This section is where the Andes meets the Amazon, and it is a picturesque environment.
En route, we’ll catch glimpses of the jagged, snow-capped Salkantay Glacier which stands at 6,271 meters (20,574 feet). Not only is it the second highest mountain in the Cusco area, but it’s also considered an Apu — a sacred figure in the Inca Culture.
From here to our next campsite, we will trek through 5 different Andean cities of the past. Our guides will animate the region with fascinating tales and context, bringing meaning and life to what you’re seeing. To give you a teaser of what’s to come, here’s some basic info about the sites, in order:
→ Phuyupatamarca (“The Town of the Clouds” in Quechua): has lookout platforms, fountains that collect rainwater, and great views of the Urubamba river.
→ Intipata (“Terraces of the Sun” in Quechua): is an astounding example of terracing, a style of construction which enabled the Inca to cultivate crops and control erosion at high altitudes and inclines.
→ Runkuraqay (“Abandoned/Collapsed House” in Quechua): is known for its distinctive circular buildings, and probably served as a storehouse and resting spot for foot messengers during the Inca Empire. From here you can see the shape of the woman lying down that makes up Dead Woman’s Pass, which we ascended on Day 2.
→ Sayaqmarka (“Inaccessible Town” in Quechua): appears to levitate on the side of the mountain, given its position high up on a mountain ledge. Many of its windows are angled towards the solstice, hinting at its past function as an observatory.
→ Wiñaywayna (“Forever Young” in Quechua): boasts residential sections, terraces, fountains, and baths.
We will have lunch and dinner at our campsite beside the site of Wiñaywayna. Between meals, we will have time to relax, enjoy the nearby waterfall, and explore more of Wiñaywayna with our guides, as it is the second-most important archaeological site on the Inca Trail after Machu Picchu.
After our dinner together, we will head to our tents early in anticipation for tomorrow, when we enter Machu Picchu!
Day 4: Wiñawayna → Sun Gate → Machu Picchu → Cusco
- Included meals/snacks: breakfast, water
- Distance we will hike: 6 kilometers or 3.7 miles
- Terrain type: gradual until the final stairs before the Sun Gate
- Campsite: Our private driver will take you back to your stay in Cusco (usually 6:30pm - 7:30pm)
The final day of this all-inclusive Inca Trail tour begins early so we can reach the iconic Sun Gate (Inti Punku) just in time to witness the sunrise over Machu Picchu — an unforgettable reward at the end of your Inca Trail trekking tour.
Today, we will hike the shortest distance of all the four days, and… we will also have the earliest start! Our wake-up call is hours before sunrise, and after having a breakfast to fuel you up, we will begin hiking in the dark (so remember to bring your headlamps!)
After an hour or so of walking along mild, undulating terrain, we will encounter a big flight of steps. At the top of these steps sits the Sun Gate, the official entrance used by the Incas to connect Machu Picchu with the rest of the empire. The size and steepness of the steps are intentional: the Inca designed them this way to prevent enemies from staging an attack.
After overcoming the steps, we will officially pass through the Sun Gate. You will need to show your original passport at this checkpoint. From this point, a series of astonishing views will open up to you, including the site of Machu Picchu itself, the beautiful landscape of the Urubamba valley, and the mountain Huayna Picchu.
A note: Morning fog often settles in the valleys around Machu Picchu, but usually clears once the sun rises. In moody-weather months, the fog shifts, briefly hiding and revealing parts of the view before lifting. If this day is foggy, it is still very likely you will be able to take an iconic “postcard” photo of Machu Picchu, if you have patience. After all, the most famous viewpoints are on our route!
After taking in the panoramic views, we’ll descend to the Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu itself, where your guided tour of Machu Picchu begins. You’ll explore sacred temples, urban plazas, terraces, and ceremonial spaces while learning about the history and daily life of the Incan civilization.
Later, we will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes, where you will be able to explore the town, have some food, and buy souvenirs before boarding the train to Ollantaytambo and then our bus back to Cusco. Lunch in Aguas Calientes is the only meal not included with us. All transportation tickets are included in our tour, saving you from worrying about logistics on this memorable day.
At this point, you’ll have completed one of the most renowned guided trekking tours in the world, a journey that combines ancient history, breathtaking nature, and personal discovery. Don’t miss this chance to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and create memories that will last a lifetime.
$750.00/per
MAIN FEATURES
Tour TypeAdventure and cultural
Duration4 Days / 3 Nights
GroupSmall group
DifficultyDifficult
AccommodationCamping
LanguagesEnglish, Spanish
