4 Day - Inca Trail to Machu Picchu - Group Service

We will meet and pick you up from your hotel (less than 5 minutes from any hotel in Cusco!) at 4-4:30am (time to be confirmed at the briefing time) and travel by bus to Piskacucho (which is called kilometer 82) where the trail starts. There will be a breakfast stop in Ollantaytambo (6:30-7am) to load up on energy (breakfast is not included) Upon arrival at kilometer 82 (8:30am), we will have some time to organize ourselves (use of the restrooms, applying sunscreen, insect repellent, and more) and it will be necessary to show your entrance tickets, passports and (if paying a student rate) the student card at the trail’s first control point. To start the trail (2720m/8923ft), we cross the Vilcanota River and follow its route to the right. The first day is relatively easy (a warm-up along the Incan flat terrain) and will have great views of the site of an Incan Fortress ('Huillca Raccay'), the vast and incredible Incan site of Llactapata (officially called 'Patallacta'), the Urubamba mountain range that divides the jungle, the Andes and the beautiful snow-capped peak of 'W'akay Willca' (5860m/19225ft), known in books as Veronica. . Our first campsite (Ayapata) will be an hour and a half up the small village of Wayllabamba (3000m/9842ft) in the temperate green valley of the same name. Temperatures at night are around 5ºC (depending on the month).

After waking up at 5:30am (or 5:00 depending on your guide) and breakfast, we will start a steep ascent towards the highest pass (Abra de Warrmihuañusca or 'Dead Woman's Pass' at 4200m/13779ft). On this day, a real sense of achievement is felt upon reaching the top! After a rest here, we begin the descent to our lunch stop which is located at Pacaymayu (3550m/11646ft). On the way up to the pass, we will be able to see lots of hummingbirds and other birds. We will have the time to appreciate an incredible variety of native plants and trees such as the ´Polylepis´ or Q'ueuña trees which grow in the astonishing cloud forest located at 3650/11972m!! After lunch, begins the second two hour steep climb to Runkuraqay pass (almost 4000 meters), we arrive at our campsite by 5 pm. Temperatures at this campsite are around 4ºC during the nights

This is the most impressive day (in our opinion) so just keep thinking of that on the ascent on day 2! We wake up for breakfast at 6am and start the day with a gentle climb to visit the archaeological site of 'Phuyupatamarca' (meaning 'Town in the Clouds') and reach the third highest point on the trail (3680m). The views of the mountains, canyons and surrounding areas are spectacular! The Incan site of 'Phuyupatamarca', is located a few minutes walk from the third pass and after visiting this, we continue walking (3000 steps) through the cloud forest and the impressive agricultural Incan site of 'Intipata' until we arrive at our third campsite Wiñay Wayna (2680m/8792ft). Today, we will only walk about 4 to 5 hours and have arrive to camp by lunch time! A short distance from this campsite is located the Incan site of the same name 'Wiñay Wayna' ('Forever Young'). Even if you are tired after your day's trek, don't miss out on visiting the most impressive site on the trail. Temperatures during the night are about 12º C

We leave the last campsite at about 5:30am on the final day (breakfast is around 3:30-4:00am). It is an early start in order to get to 'Inti Punku' ('Sun gate') (2730m/8792ft) before sunrise. This is the place where you will have your first dramatic view of Machu Picchu (2400m/7873ft) with the sun rising over it! After some time there, we will walk down the last part of the trail to a spot where you can take the classic picture postcard shot of this ancient city. Finally, we visit Machu Picchu itself! A walking tour (2 hours) is given by your guide and after this you can explore the mysterious city by yourselves. You will meet your guide in Aguas Calientes (it can be reached by bus or on foot) for lunch and be given your train tickets back to Cusco. Train included in all tours is until Ollantaytambo and then by bus to Cusco. If desired, an extra night in Aguas Calientes can be arranged. This option is very popular as it allows more time to explore Machu Picchu. You can also go to the thermal springs in the town - a real treat after finishing the trail!!! Allocations or Itineraries are subject to change depending on time of bookings and campsites provided by INC (institution that runs the Inca Trail).