Inca Trail 7 days package to Machu Picchu

Upon your arrival in Cusco, our representative will welcome you and escort you to your hotel. After a brief orientation, you’ll have the rest of the morning to relax and acclimate to the altitude. In the afternoon, feel free to explore Cusco on your own, taking in the sights of the Inca capital and its blend of indigenous and colonial heritage at your leisure. In the evening, immerse yourself in Cusco’s vibrant nightlife and savor the local cuisine at one of the many traditional Peruvian restaurants.

3 Accommodation*: Maytaq Wasin or Waman Qorikancha
4 Accommodation*: Costa del Sol Ramada, Casa Andina Private Collection, or Novotel Hotels
Recommendations: We highly suggest taking a stroll around the main plaza and visiting the San Pedro Market.

We begin our day at 7:30am when your guide picks you up from your hotel in Cusco in our private van. Our journey to the Sacred Valley of the Incas starts with a stop at the Mirador of Taray, where we can enjoy a panoramic view of the Urubamba Valley and its traditional farming communities. You’ll notice how agriculture in this region has remained largely unchanged for centuries. Next, we head to the archaeological site of Pisac, where you can observe an ancient Inca cemetery with over 2,000 tombs, marvel at the intricately designed farming terraces, explore the Inca tunnel, and visit the religious sector of this significant citadel. We’ll spend approximately two hours exploring the Inca city before heading down to the colorful Pisac market for a 20-minute visit, followed by a drive to Urubamba for lunch.

Our journey continues to the archaeological site of Moray, often referred to as “The Greenhouse of the Incas.” This site features a deep basin with terraces carved into a massive bowl, each terrace having its own microclimate depending on its depth. Archaeologists believe that the Incas used this site to experiment with and perfect growing conditions for various crops.

Next, we visit the colonial town of Maras to view the ancient “pre-Inca salt mines,” known as Salineras. These salt pans have been in use for salt extraction since before Inca times, with the process passed down through generations. A hot spring at the top of the valley supplies a stream of salt-laden water that flows into the pans, where the water evaporates, leaving behind salt. This is one of the few places in the world where naturally pink salt is produced!

Finally, we make our way to Ollantaytambo, where we’ll explore the well-preserved Inca village and the massive ruins with a guided tour. Visit the impressive Sun Temple at the top of the terraces and learn about the significance of this site during the early stages of the Spanish conquest. You’ll spend the night at a hotel in Ollantaytambo, preparing for the Inca Trail the next day.

2 Accommodation*: Veronica View Hotel
3 Accommodation*: Pakaritampu Hotel or El Alberge
Note: There are no 4* hotels in Ollantaytambo.

Today marks the beginning of your incredible adventure: the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu!

We’ll pick you up from your hotel at 6:00am in our private van and head to Piskacucho, known as kilometer 82, the starting point of the Classic Inca Trail.

Upon arriving at kilometer 82 around 8:30am, we’ll take some time to get organized, use the restrooms, apply sunscreen and insect repellent, and prepare for the trek. At the first checkpoint of the Inca Trail, you’ll need to present your entrance tickets, passports, and student card (if applicable for a student rate).

We begin the trail at an altitude of 2,720m/8,923ft, crossing the Vilcanota River and following its path to the right. The first day is relatively easy, offering a chance to acclimate to the Inca flat terrain. You’ll be treated to stunning views of the Incan Fortress Huillca Raccay, the expansive Inca site of Llactapata (officially called Patallacta), the Urubamba mountain range, and the majestic snow-capped peak of W’akay Willca (5,860m/19,225ft), also known as Veronica.

Our first campsite, Ayapata, is located about 1.5 hours beyond the small village of Wayllabamba (3,000m/9,842ft) in a temperate green valley of the same name. Nighttime temperatures here typically drop to around 5ºC, depending on the season.

Throughout the day, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of the snow-covered Veronica mountain, the lush green valley, and a rich diversity of flora and fauna.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks, Afternoon Tea, and Dinner
Accommodation: Camping facilities
Distance: 12kms/7.5 miles (approximately 6 hours of hiking)
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate

We start early today, waking up between 5:00 and 5:30am for a hot breakfast before beginning our challenging ascent to the highest point of the trek: Abra de Warrmihuañusca, also known as ‘Dead Woman’s Pass’ (4,200m/13,779ft). Reaching the summit is a significant accomplishment, and after a well-deserved break, we’ll descend to our lunch spot at Pacaymayu (3,550m/11,646ft).

During our ascent, we’ll encounter a variety of hummingbirds and other bird species, and you’ll have plenty of time to admire the diverse native plants and the unique Polylepis or Q’ueuña trees in the cloud forest (3,650m/11,972ft).

After lunch, we’ll continue with a steep two-hour climb to Runkuraqay pass, which sits just below 4,000m/13,123ft. We aim to reach our campsite by 5:00pm, where nighttime temperatures are typically around 4ºC.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, and Dinner
Accommodation: Camping facilities
Distance: 16kms/10 miles (approximately 9 hours of hiking)
Difficulty: Moderate/Challenging

Day three of the trek offers some of the most breathtaking views, so keep that in mind as you ascend! We’ll start the day with breakfast at 6:00am, followed by a gentle climb to the archaeological site of Phuyupatamarca, meaning ‘Town in the Clouds.’ Here, we’ll reach the third highest point on the Inca Trail (3,680m/12,073ft), offering stunning views of the mountains, canyons, and surrounding landscape.

The Inca site of Phuyupatamarca is just a short walk from the third pass. After exploring this site, we’ll descend 3,000 steps through the cloud forest to the impressive agricultural Inca site of Intipata. After spending some time here, we’ll continue on to our third campsite at Wiñay Wayna (2,680m/8,792ft). Today’s hike is relatively short, taking about 4 to 5 hours, and we’ll arrive at camp by lunchtime. Nighttime temperatures here are around 12ºC.

A short walk from our campsite is the famous Inca site of Wiñay Wayna, meaning ‘Forever Young.’ Even if you’re feeling tired after the day’s trek, this site is a must-see, as it is one of the most impressive on the Inca Trail.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, and Dinner
Accommodation: Camping facilities with hot showers
Distance: 10kms/6.2 miles (approximately 5 hours of hiking)
Difficulty: Moderate

On this final day of the Inca Trail, we’ll wake up at 4:00am, have breakfast, and start our hike to reach Machu Picchu by 6:00am. This is the last leg of your journey, culminating at The Sun Gate, where you’ll witness the awe-inspiring beauty of the Machu Picchu Citadel spread out before you – an unforgettable sight. Imagine what the Inca people must have felt as they approached this sacred site.

From the Sun Gate, we’ll descend towards the Machu Picchu Citadel (2,400m/7,872 ft.). After a 40-minute walk, we’ll enter the citadel through the “House of the Guardians,” where you can capture the iconic postcard images of Machu Picchu. From there, we’ll proceed to the control point to register and store our belongings.

Your guide will provide a detailed tour of the citadel (Circuit 3), explaining the history and significance of the ruins over approximately two hours. You’ll visit most of the important sites within Machu Picchu and learn about its division into three sectors: agricultural, residential, and religious.

After the guided tour, those who have pre-booked the additional hike to Huayna Picchu will have the opportunity to explore on their own. This hike takes approximately 2 hours round trip, and offers a spectacular perspective of Machu Picchu. For others, there is time for further exploration or simply soaking in the atmosphere of this ancient wonder.

In the afternoon, we’ll take the bus down to Aguas Calientes for lunch, before boarding the Vistadome Train back to Ollantaytambo. From Ollantaytambo, our private van will return us to Cusco, arriving at approximately 7:00pm.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Distance: 6kms/3.7 miles (approximately 2 hours of hiking)
Difficulty: Easy
3 Accommodation*: Maytaq Wasin or Waman Qorikancha
4 Accommodation*: Costa del Sol Ramada, Casa Andina Private Collection, or Novotel Hotels

Depending on your departure time, our transfer team will take you to the Cusco airport for your journey home or to your next destination.

Meals Included: Breakfast