Cusco – Trailhead at KM 82 – Ayapata

Inca Trail - Your guide will pick you up at your hotel in Cusco at 4:30 a.m. to drive to the trailhead at Kilometer 82. The early start is rewarded by the most beautiful drive through the Sacred Valley with dawn breaking around us.

Our drive take us to Ollantaytambo, where we will stop briefly to take advantage of photo opportunities and breakfast (not included).

We then arrive at the trail head at Kilometer 82, where the Classic Inca Trail begins. Our porters and chef will meet us here to embark on the trek.

The trek starts easily with 2.5 hours of relatively flat terrain to reach the Wilkaraqay Inca site. Here we will have spectacular views of the Llactapata ruins. Your guide will talk about the history of the site as well as provide an overview of the history of the Inca trail.

Back on the trail, we hike for two more hours to Hatunchaca (2,598 m/8,525 ft) where we will have a delicious lunch.

In the afternoon, we will hike for another 2.5 hours until we reach our campsite at Ayapata.

Patallacta - Archaeological excavations have led to suggestions that it was a rest stop and shrine on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, and would have been used frequently by travelers and pilgrims. It’s also believed it was an administrative support site for Macchu Picchu, and possibly had some kind of ceremonial or religious importance of its own, given its solar alignments. The site’s agricultural terraces probably also helped feed Macchu Picchu’s inhabitants.

The site was discovered by the American Hiram Bingham in 1912: at the time, he described having found 10 or 12 dwellings and what they thought was the home of an Inca chieftain.

Ayapata – Dead Woman’s Pass – Pacaymayu – Chaquicocha

Inca Trail - After breakfast, we begin our hike to the famous Dead Woman’s Pass! For the first 2 hours we will be in the cloud forest, passing through various bio-zones, including the low sierra and the high Puna.

After this 2-hour hike we reach Lluchapampa (3,800 m/12,460 ft). After a 15-min. break here we will continue on the trail.

The portion of the trail leading to “Dead Woman’s Pass” at (4,215 m/13,825 ft) takes around 2 hours through the most beautiful mountain scenery. We will pause at the top of the pass to admire the majesty of the the Inca trail.

We then descend to the Pacaymayu camp for lunch. After lunch, we climb approx. 45 min. to the Inca site of Runcuraccay. Your guide will provide a tour of the ruin before we continue uphill for an additional hour to the Runcuraccay pass (3,950 m/12,959 ft).

After a 90-min. descent we arrive at the Inca site of Sayacmarca (3,657 m/12,000 ft).

From here it is just 25 min. to our campsite for the night at Chaquicocha (3,600 m/11,800 ft).

Sayacmarca - The Inca ruin of Sayacmarca was discovered by the American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1915. Sayacmarca is sure to wow visitors with its stone staircases and buildings carved directly into the rock walls, which were integral components of Incan urban architecture during the 15th century.

Chaquicocha – Phuyupatamarca – Wiñay Wayna

Winay Wayna - Day 3 of the Classic Inca Trail starts with a 2-hour hike to the Inca ruins at Phuyupatamarca (3,680 m/12,073 ft). From here we will enjoy spectacular views of Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu Mountain, and Huayna Picchu mountain, before getting a guided tour of the ruins.

Now it is time to head into the rain forest! We will walk downhill for 2 ½ hours until we reach our camp. During this stretch of the trail we will visit Inti Pata. Many people feel that the most beautiful pictures of the entire Inca trail can be taken from here. Leaving Inti Pata it is then just 40 minutes to our campsite at Wiñay Wayna (2,680 m/8,792 ft).

Arriving at the campsite we will have lunch and then enjoy some time relaxing before visiting the archeological site that bears the same name as the camp. Wiñay Wayna is the largest and most beautiful archeological site on the Inca trail and means forever young in Quechua, and we are one of the few companies that provide a guided tour of Wiñay Wayna.

Winay Wayna - At Wiñaywayna, Inca Trail hikers will be able to explore a massive terracing structure, thought to have once been used as a farming boundary. The site even features its own dark caves, and archaeologists speculate that this part of the complex was used as a spiritual retreat.

Wiñay Wayna – Sun Gate – Machu Picchu – Cusco

Machupicchu cusco - We rise very early on our final day to complete the last few kilometers of the Inca Trail. Leaving after breakfast, the trekking here is fairly easy going for around an hour, and brings us directly to the “Sun Gate”.

This is the ancient entrance of the sacred city and gives us our first incredible views of Machu Picchu and (weather permitting) the spectacular sunrise over the Andes.

Our trek ends with one final 45-min. downhill hike to the entrance gates of the city. We will go to the classic photo spot for pictures as soon as we arrive. Then there will be a short break before starting our 2-hour guided tour of the site. All of our guides are experts in the history and mythology of the site, and really bring the visit to life!

After the tour we travel to Aguas Calientes by bus and then train to Poroy where our private vehicle will be waiting to transport you back to your hotel in Cusco. Arrival time in Cusco is 8 pm where your adventure on the Classic Inca Trail has come to an end.

• Private transportation
• Lunch
• Dinner
• Sleeping tents and air mattress – Four person tent for every two people
• Breakfast
• Support staff including professional cooks and porters to carry all the camping equipment
• Pre trek briefing
• English speaking tour guide
• Emergency supplies, including first aid kit, oxygen, and emergency radios

• Sleeping Bag – can be rented from us
• Hiking poles – can be rented from us
• Tips for porters, chef, and guide
• Personal Porter

The Classic Inca Trail is the most famous hike in South America – perhaps the world. It is a must-do and one of the biggest highlights of your trip to Peru. It offers 4 days of trekking along original paved Inca pathways and a range of spectacular Inca ruins along the way. The stunning scenery is breath taking. The Classic Inca Trail spans through altitudes in the valley from 2,700 m (8,856 ft) to mountain passes of 4,215 m (13,825 ft). Finally it passes through the cloud forest to arrive at the majestic Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu itself.

Hiking the Inca Trail is one of those things that everyone should do once in their life. Be you young or old, the Inca Trail is for everyone!

• What to Bring
• Original passport (if you have acquired a new one after you made your booking, bring both)
• Down or synthetic feather sleeping bag (can be rented from us)
• Clothes (trekking boots, warm fleece jacket, a few t-shirts, socks, sun hat, warm underwear, light long pants, gloves, rain jacket)
• Toiletries (toilet paper, wet wipes, personal towel)
• Sunscreen SPF 35+ recommended
• Head lamp
• Sunglasses
• Camera with spare batteries (batteries run down faster at high altitudes)
• Binoculars
• Book to read (you will have some spare time at every camp to read your favorite book)
• Trekking poles (recommended especially for the steep descents, can be rented from us)
• Bug repellent

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.