A girl in a hat looking out of a window in the ruins at Machu Picchu

Classic Inca Trail

Max 8 people Moderate difficulty Beginner experience

Overview

The government has sanctioned a small portion of the thousands of miles of Inca Trail preserved for this trek. This popular classic route is 26 miles and takes 4-days. Due to the altitude of this trek, it is highly recommended that you spend at least 2 days for acclimatization at higher altitudes. You may consider our Inca trail with rainbow mountain and humantay lake trip option for adequate prior acclimatization.

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Trip host

Raul C

Reviews: 288

Raul Ccolque, has lived in the Andes all of his life. Since he was 18-years-old he has worked on the Inca Trail on every trek to Macchu Picchu, as both a porter and a tour guide. Born and raised in a small village called Seque Raccay, Ccolque attended a Quechuan speaking elementary and high school. He then went on to Cusco University to further his studies in tourism. Growing up in a small Quechuan village ignited his passion for hiking the surrounding mountains and exploring his heritage.

Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco - KM 82 - Ayapata (8.7 miles, camp at 10,300 feet)

On the night before your Machu Picchu hike, there will be a briefing with your trekking tour guide, at 6:30 p.m. at your hotel. We can arrange this for a different time if needed. In the morning we will pick you up from your hotel with our private transportation (time depending on your location). You will take a stunning drive to the trailhead KM 82, and see a great view of the Andes along the way. Your chef will prepare breakfast at the trailhead and display your passport to the checkpoint. Finally, you will start the first two and a half hours of the hike. It will be pretty flat until you arrive at the Inca site of Llactapata. You will have the first taste of Incan culture, and learn about the history of Peru. After your first Inca lesson, it will be another hour and a half until we arrive at the lunch stop. After lunch, we will have some time to rest and then continue for another two and a half hours until we reach our first camp at Ayapata.

Day 2: Ayapata - Dead Women’s Pass - Pacaymayo - Chaquicocha (10 miles, camp at 11,800 feet)

Day 3: Chaquiccoha - Phuyupatamarca - Wiñay Wayna (6 miles, Camp at 8,500 feet)

Day 4: Wiñay Wayna - Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes - Return to Cusco (3.11 miles / Machu Picchu Elevation 7,873)

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Accommodations

On day 1, for 3 days

Tent Camping

Pricing

Included:

Transfers

Accommodation

Admission fees

Porter

Guide fees

Excluded:

All meals

Alcoholic beverages

Gratuities

Flights

Visas

Travel insurance

Personal gear

Luggage transfers

Do not forget to arrange for the requisite passport, visa and travel insurance, if you are booking an international trip.

We try our best to ensure accurate and up-to-date guide information, but in some cases this may change due to emergencies or other unforeseen guide scheduling challenges. In any case, another highly-rated, certified guide with similar experience would lead your trip and you will be kept informed of any such case.