Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4 Days / 3 Nights
The Inca Trail is the most popular in Peru and South America. It starts at KM 82, called Piscacucho, “the five corners.” This is also a distance indicator on the railway track that goes to Machu Picchu Pueblo. This place is within the Urubamba district of Cusco city. Once you start the journey, you have to walk 45 kilometers / 27 miles. Then on the fourth morning of your adventure, you will reach Machu Picchu, “the lost city of the Incas,” located northwest of Cuzco city.” The Classic Inca trail passes through beautiful mountains, valleys, rich jungles, the most exuberant cloud forest sites, and many Inca places.
Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco – Km 82 “Piscacucho” – Ayapata
An early morning departure from Cuzco
city, 3,300 m/11,000 ft., to Piscacucho, 2,663 m/8,735 ft., by bus (also known
as KM 82). We meet with our Inca porters and show our Inca trail
permits at the checkpoint. We walk alongside the Urubamba river with views of
snow-capped peaks before passing over the Llactapata Incan site. We then
continue hiking to our first campsite at Ayapata.
Meals: Lunch,
Dinner
Day
2: Ayapata – Dead Woman’s & Runkuracay Pass –
Chaquicocha Camp
Today is the most impressive and
challenging part of the Inca trail to Machu Picchu. You will climb up to
Llulluchapampa, where the hike becomes truly spectacular with vistas that more
than fill the description “adventure vacation.” All team members, including travelers and the team support, the porters,
reach the Dead Woman’s Pass “Warmiwañusca,” which is 4,200 m/13,779 ft. We
then descend down to the Pacaymayo Valley, 3,526 m/11,566 ft., where we
eat lunch. After lunch, we ascend to Runkuracay pass (one
hour and a half to climb to the top of the second pass). Also, today we explore Inca places such as Runkuracay, Sayacmarka,
Concha Marka, and some natural lookouts along the trail. The
second night’s campsite is usually at Chaquicocha. Be aware that this
is the coldest night, so bring a perfect sleeping bag and
warm equipment.
Meals: Breakfast,
Lunch, Dinner
Day
3: Chaquicocha – Wiñaywayna Camp
After a wake-up call of Coca tea in your
tents, we enjoy breakfast and continue following the most outstanding track of the Inca trail with many excellent vistas. We
have to move down more than up to conquer
the forest. We visit several places on this part of the
trek: Phuyupatamarka temple, Intipata Inca terracing system, and the
Wiñaywayna Inca site. The Inca trail becomes increasingly more dramatic as
it leads down to the next campsite of Wiñaywayna. We say goodbye to our Inca trail porters tonight because we will leave our camp early the following day for
Machu Picchu.
Meals: Breakfast,
Lunch, Dinner
Day
4: Last Day of Trek to Machu Picchu
On the last day of the trek, we
reach the Sun Gate, “Inti Punku.” Then we explore the Machu Picchu Inca site.
During the 2 hours guided walking tour, we explore temples,
plazas, the sundial, and more. Afterward, we take the shared tourist bus
down to Machu Picchu Pueblo to eat lunch (on our own) before taking the train
to Ollantaytambo village and transferring to your hotel in Cusco.
