Detailed Itinerary
Inca Trail Itinerary:
Day 01: Cusco - Piscacucho km. 82 – Llactapata – Ayapata
(5:00-5:30am. Cusco Hotels) The Qeros Tours Team will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco or Sacred Valley in our private van.
(6:30-7:00am. Sacred Valley Hotels) We will then drive to Km 82, our private van normally stops at the town of Ollantaytambo for about 45 minutes to have breakfast, get energy drinks, snacks or any essential you may need (batteries you may have forgotten for example). Arriving at km 82, we will go through the first Inca Trail checkpoint to begin our trek (please, make sure you have your original passport with you to enter the Inca Trail).
In the first two hours we make our way to our first Inca site, Patallacta: an ancient Inca checkpoint for the approach of Machu Picchu. From Patallacta, another 2-hour hike will take you to our lunch stop.
After lunch, we will hike for another 2½ hours until we reach the first night’s campsite in Ayapata (3,300m.a.s.l) at approximately 5pm, to allow you to settle in for a bit, relax and have a hot drink and snacks with your team of porters, chef and guide.
By 6:30pm, your dinner will be ready and the Guide will present our plans for the next great day. Have a good night!
The first day of the trek is relatively easy and serves as training for the days to follow.
- Meals included: Lunch, Dinner.
- Total distance: 12 km. (7,47 miles).
- Estimated walking time: 5-6 hours.
- Maximum altitude: 3,300 m. (9,840 ft).
Day 02: Ayapata – Dead Woman Pass – Pacaymayu - Chaquiccocha
The Qeros Tours Team will wake you up early with a cup of coca tea and breakfast to get you ready for the most difficult day of the trail. We will start early and hike for roughly 4 hours to the highest pass of the trek: Dead Woman’s Pass (4,215 meters/13,829 feet), where we will enjoy a short break to enjoy the amazing scenery before setting off again.
During this part of the trail, hikers are exposed to the Andean elements: first scorching sun and then, closer to the pass, freezing winds. Once at the top, hikers can celebrate having completed the most difficult section of the trail, and now descend to the next valley (Pacaymayu Valley – Hidden River). Another one and a half hour, down the side of the valley willl take you to our lunch spot and a chance to refill your water bottles.
After lunch, we begin ascending again (for approx. 2hours) to the second pass of the trek. On the way, we will stop at a small Inca site (Runcu Raccay). An hour of downhill hike after the pass to reach another magnificent Inca site: Sayacmarca. We’ll stop here for a rest and have a quick tour of the site, and then watch the sunset over the Vilcabamba mountain range. Your second campsite, Chaquicocha (Dry Lake, 3600 meters), is only 30 minutes, away. After dinner we will plan the next day with the guide, if you are not too exhausted, starwatching is fascinating in this area of clear skies: observe the Inca constellations.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
- Total distance: 11 km. (6,84 miles).
- Estimated walking time: 6-7 hours.
- Maximum altitude: 4,200 m. (13,776 ft).
Day 03: Chaquiccocha to Wiñaywayna
Once again, we begin early, 6:30am, to start the most beautiful day of the whole Inca Trail. From now on, the route becomes a clearly defined path made of flat boulders and you begin to enter the jungle, known as the Cloud Forest. You will have the opportunity to observe the majestic Salkantay peak, the second highest snow-capped mountain in the area, 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 (3,600 meters) from where we’ll have great views of the Urubamba River. A 3 hours walk down a flight of steps later, arrive at our last campsite, close to Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young). During the descent we visit 2 Inca ruins: Phuyupatamarka (Town in the Clouds) and Intipata (Terraces of the Sun). We arrive at our campsite around 1pm to have lunch and then relax for the entire afternoon, so that you’re relaxed and ready for your final day at Machu Picchu. At around 4pm, our guide will explain the significance of the site and combine all the information given during the trek. The ruins comprise magnificent agricultural terraces set in an impressive location. There are also many buildings of good quality stonework and a sequence of 10 baths, suggesting that the site was probably a religious centre associated with the worship of water. Ritual cleansing may have taken place here for pilgrims on the final leg of the trail to Machu Picchu.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
- Total distance: 16 km. (9,94 miles).
- Estimated walking time: 8 hours.
- Maximum altitude: 3,950 m. (12,792 ft).
Day 04: Wiñaywayna to Machu Picchu/Return to Cusco
Our team wakes you up at 3:30am for breakfast, to head off on the trail by 5:30am and get to Machu Picchu before sunrise. Wave goodbye to our team of Chef and porters, and “forward on” 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 6:30am and just an hour later, the Machu Picchu Citadel. As we approach Machu Picchu, the views of the city just get better and better, and you'll have plenty of time to take photos of Machu Picchu from the classic viewpoint. At about 7:50am, we will reach the final checkpoint and enter Machu Picchu to begin our 2 hour private guided tour. After the tour, our guide will provide every trekker with the bus tickets to Aguas Calientes, and you will have plenty of free time to explore on your own the Inca citadel or climb the Wayna Picchu peak. Our guide will offer to meet you down in the village of Aguas Calientes to enjoy your last lunch in a local restaurant. This is optional and is not included. Before lunch, he will hand out train tickets to return to Ollantaytambo, and then on to Cusco. Please, make sure you are on the train station at least 30 minutes ahead of time. The train ride to Ollantaytambo is approx. 2 hours in duration. At your arrival, a Qeros Tours Transfer will meet you and drive you back to your hotel in Cusco in our private van.
Important Note for the Huayna Picchu climb: if you booked the Inca trail trek including this additional short hike in the Machu Picchu area, you need to ask to our guide to provide you facilities and help.
The Huayna Picchu permit needs to be booked well in advance (several months), and its not included on the trek.
Suggestions:
- Take the bus (departures every 15 min.) to Aguas Calientes, at no later than 3pm (assuming that train departs at 15:55). You must be at the train station 30 minutes prior to departure.
- Check with your guide for train schedules, so you can have time to visit Wayna Picchu (climb/descend 1hr, 45 min.), explore Machu Picchu, dip in thermal waters, or have lunch before departure from Aguas Calientes.
- Total distance: 5 km. (2,55 miles).
- Meals included: Breakfast.
- Estimated walking time: 2 hours.
- Maximum altitude: 2,700 m. (8,829 ft).
Very important Note:
The above trek itinerary is typical of the majority of our services on this 4-day trek. However, campsites used during the trek may be subject to change depending on availability of spaces as issued by the UGM (government authorities controlling access to the Inca Trail). The UGM is responsible for allocating campsites to the various trekking companies. Although we try to make Wiñaywayna our last campsite (from here, a 2-hour hike to Machu Picchu) it is not guaranteed as on occasions we have been allocated space at Phuyupatamarka (nearly 5 hours from Machu Picchu). These matters, unfortunately beyond our control, apply to all trekking companies and travel operators.
Important
What you need to take on the Inca Trail ?
- Original passport.
- Original International Student Identity Card (in case of student discount).
- Optional: walking sticks or poles (rubber covers required in order not to damage archaeological sites).
- Small towel.
- Swimsuit (if you wish to go to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes).
- Cash in Soles and/or US $.
- A backpack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek.
- Rain gear (jacket & pants if available) or rain poncho (plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cusco).
- Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots recommended.
- Sandals or jogging shoes for a higher comfort while at camp.
- Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces. Thermal clothing is also recommended, especially for sleeping.
- Flashlight/headlamp and extra batteries.
- Camera, films and extra batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold weather).
- Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain, wind & cold.
- Sunblock.
- After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face & body.
- Insect repellent – minimum recommended 25% DEET – no malaria risk has been reported.
- Handkerchiefs.
- Toilet paper.
- Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, Muesli, etc.
- Non-disposable canteen (Nalgene type) and water for the day.
- Optionally: water-sterilizing tablets or pump, in case you pick up water from streams/rivers along the route.
- Personal medication.
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Environmental Impact:
Qeros Tours Peru's Team is a supporter of environmental conservation. We operate with a minimal impact policy on our Peruvian trips. This can include different cooking methods, packing out the group waste, taking less invasive routes and never building fires at our campsites. All the guides work together to minimize the group's impact and will speak about the local environment and some of its challenges and threats. Read more...
Community Projects:
The vision and purpose of Qeros Tours Peru is to promote and sustain the Andean Cosmovision, the indigenous identity & culture of the Q’eros native people of Peru for the next generations. Our primary goal is to bring life-sustaining relief to the Q’eros People. Read more..
