Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Tour 5 days
Trekking the Inka Trail
TRIP SUMMARY
The 5 days Inca Trail trek is a stunning combination of the region’s ruins, mountainscapes, and cloud forests. Our trek begins along an ancient Inca trail through beautiful mountain valleys filled with wild orchids and vividly colored birds. After crossing two high passes, we descend nearly 2,000 cut stone steps and arrive at Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate, the sacred entrance of and lookout down to the incomparable Machu Picchu citadel with sunset view.
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Tour 5 days Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco – Km82 – Llactapata
Today has a relatively relaxed start for the Inca Trail and the walking is easy going to help you settle into the trek. Beginning at Km82 we slowly make our way along the banks of the Urubamba River with great views of the snow-capped peak Veronica (5900m / 19000ft) and with a variety of native plants and birdlife around us. We’ll have a visit to a small Inca fortress called VilcaRaccay that is off a side spur of the main Inca Trail before heading to our main destination, the extensive Inca site of Llactapata (Patallacta)
which is also where we will camp.
Llactapata (2650m / 8692ft) is mostly passed by as it is not on the main Inca Trail. As we are taking the Inca Trail at a relaxed pace further along the trail than most groups go; as we’re camping further up the trail the next day’s trek up to the pass is a little easier for us and with fewer tourists at the campsite we can enjoy the peace and tranquility of this beautiful place
Day 2: Llactapata – Llulluchapampa
Today is another relatively easy day. Most groups would be powering ahead along the Inca Trail today and would be heading over Dead Woman’s Pass, the highest point on the trek and one of the hardest and longest climbs on the Inca Trail. We’re going to take things at a more leisurely pace and our goal for today is a campsite just before the pass, Llulluchapampa, this breaks the hardest stretch over two days making the climb significantly easier.
On the way to Llulluchapampa we’ll once again go off the beaten track to visit the least visited of all the sites on the Inca Trail, the Inca fort of Paucarcancha. As we climb up to Llulluchapampa we’ll pass through various biozones including the low sierra, cloud forest, and the high puna. There are many opportunities to see a variety of plant and birdlife and if we are lucky we may also spot White-Tailed Deer. Our campsite for the night is at 3800m / 12460ft. and just like before it is tranquil with most trekkers either camping in the valley below or on the other side of the pass.
Day 3: Llulluchapampa – Phuyupatamarca
Today is our longest day and crosses two high passes; luckily for us, we’re nearly at the first pass and once we’ve passed the second the walking is easy with very few ups and downs to contend with. Today sees some of the best views and scenery of the whole Inca Trail and includes visits to two Inca sites (Runcuraccay and Sayacmarca); with fantastic views of the high snow-capped peaks for most of the day and the cloud forest all around us, today is by far the most visually stunning.
Our campsite for tonight is at Phuyupatamarca (3680m / 12073ft) from where we’ll get our first views of Machu Picchu mountain far in the distance (the site itself is hidden from view). The views of the sunset from here are fantastic and once again the campsite is quiet with the majority of trekkers camping closer to Machu Picchu.
Day 4: Phuyupatamarca – WiñayWayna – Machu Picchu
Today is all about the Incas; we visit 3 major sites (Phuyupatamarca, Intipata, and WiñayWayna) before we finally arrive at Machu Picchu itself late in the day. With only a short distance left to cover you’ll have the opportunity to see these sites in detail and learn more about the Inca culture and Machu Picchu in preparation for your visit tomorrow. The area around these Inca sites is also rich in wildlife and with only a handful of people around on this stretch of trail at this time of day it is the perfect opportunity to try and spot some of the more elusive species.
The final stretch of the Inca Trail is completely deserted this time of day so our arrival to Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate (IntiPunku) is perfect. With good light and very few tourists about we can get some great photos of the citadel from a distance before carrying on down. After we arrive at Machu Picchu, we’ll head down to Puente Ruinas (the campsite near Aguas Calientes) to be greeted by our porters for our last night camping together. We’ve made it!
Day 5: Machu Picchu!
Waking up early we’ll take the first bus back up to Machu Picchu to enter the site as it opens. We’ll have a 2 hour guided tour of the site during which you’ll learn about the Incas and visit all the most important areas of the citadel. After your tour you’ll have free time to explore the site by yourself and if you have permits to climb either Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain. In the afternoon you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo from where you will carry on by bus back to Cusco.
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE TRIP?
Includes
- Pick-up from your hotel
- Professional English Speaking Tour Guide
- Assistant Tour Guide for groups
- Chef
- Porters to carry cooking and camping equipment
- Personal Porter to carry 9kg of personal items
- Transportation by bus to Km82
- Return transportation by train and bus to Cusco
- Water (excluding the first 4 hours of the trek when you need to bring your own)
- 4 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 4 Afternoon Snacks, and 4 Dinners. If you have a dietary request such as vegetarian foods please let us know.
- Dining tent with tables and chairs
- 4 man tent for every 2 trekkers
- Sleeping mattress (you need to carry this unless you hire a personal porter)
- Oxygen bottle
- First aid kit
- Entrance to the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu
- Return bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes
Doesn't include
- Sleeping Bag (Can be hired from us)
- Breakfast on Day 1 and lunch and dinner on Day 5
- Entrance to Huayna Picchu Mountain
- Tips
- Travel Insurance – you are strongly recommended to take out travel insurance for the duration of your trip.
Recommendations
- Original Passport
- ISIC card (if you are a student and want to qualify for the discount)
- Walking boots
- Waterproof jacket/rain poncho
- Warm jacket
- Hat and gloves
- T-shirts
- Comfortable Trousers
- Sun hat
- Sun cream & Insect repellant
- Toiletries and hand sanitizer
- Personal medication
- Camera and film
- Torch with spare batteries
PRICES Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Tour 5 DAYS
Private Price Service
- USD 999.00 dólares por persona (Base 2 y 3 personas)
- USD 915.00 dólares por persona (Base 4 y 5 personas)
- USD 850.00 dólares por persona (hasta 6 personas)
Discounts:
- Student Discount: US$25.00 (Requires ISIC Card to qualify)
- Under 18’s Discount: US$25.00
Additional /Extras Not Included (Need to book in Advance):
- Machu Picchu Mountain climbing: USD 55.00
- Huayna Picchu Mountain climbing: USD 55.00
- Vistadome Train Aguas Calientes-Cusco: USD 50.00
Optional Extras
- Sleeping Bag US$ 15.00
- Walking Poles (Par) US$ 10.00
- Air Mattress US$ 15.00
- Single Supplement Tent US$ 15.00
