INCA TRAIL MACHU PICCHU 4 DAYS
The Inca Trail is one of the world's greatest adventure. During the Inca empire, the trail served as a kind of royal highway, linking Cusco with Machu Picchu. This trail runs across mountain sides, through a tropical cloud forest and over long inca stone stairs. It contains many buildings, including storage constructions, houses, temples and strategic observatories along the way.
- Return: 5:00pm
- Highest pass: 4200 m
- Trip grading: IV
- Machu Picchu trail distance: 45 km
- Walking per day: 5 to 9 hours approx
Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco - Huayllabamba
Distance to cover: 12 km between 5 to 6 hours hike
The Machu Picchu trail start at 6 am, where we collect the passengers up from their hotels. After 2 hours bus ride passing quaint villages of Chinchero, Maras and Urubamba we arrive to Ollantaytambo and take a little break to by the last minutes gear and personal items for this Machu Picchu trail. Piscacucho is the last stop and the beginning of the trek, here we will meet our porters and camp staff for the Inca trail. As our porters load the heavy gear, we head off down river alongside the rushing Vilcanota river through pretty cactus and gardens with a magnificent view of the Wakay Wilca snow peak. We arrive at the Inca town of Llactapata (Upper Town) and spend some time exploring this site before continuing up the Cusichaca (Happy breach) valley and to the hamlet of Huallaybamba, where we camp for the night within the view of the Vilcanota valley. (1 breakfast - 1 lunch - 1 dinner).
Day 2: Huayllabamba - Pacaymayu
Distance to cover: 16 km between 8 to 9 hours hike
Todays is the hardest in our Machu Picchu trail. We start an steep ascend towards the highest point of the the Inca trail. Vegetation changes constantly while hiking, we can apreciate variety of native plants such as Icchu and the beautiful Queuñas that is one of the few trees that has adapted to altitudes over 3000 meters sea level. Ascending steadily for another hour we arrive to the head of the mountain call the pass of Warmiwañusca (dead woman pass) 4200 m. A feel of satisfaction reach the hikers after finish with the most difficult part of the Inca trail. From this point is easy walking, descending to Pacaymayu where will be our second camp 3600 m. (1 breakfast - 1 lunch - 1dinner).
Day 3 Pacaymayu - Wiñay Wayna
Distance to cover: 11 km between 4 to 6 hours hike
From here takes two gentle hours walking up until over the second highest pass of the Inca trail, call Abra de Runkurakay 3685 m., here we pick up out first real signs of paved Inca road, an impressive carved stairway which connect the minor sites of Runkurakay and Sayacmarca. Continuing with this Inca stairway we cross the pass and drop down to the major and spectacular ruins of Sayacmarca for lunch. Our guide will explain some of the mysteries of Inca architecture and Inca life. We continue along an exquisite paved Inca road, passing through moss and orchid, laden cloud forest, we arrive to the impressive Inca ruins of Phuyupatamarca. Couple of hours more and we will be at Wiñay Wayna (Forever young) the last official last camp of the Inca trail, here there is a small place where you can buy water, beer and other things. (1 breakfast - 1 lunch - 1 dinner).
Day 4 Wiñay Wayna - Machu Picchu - Cusco
Distance to cover: 5 km between 2 to 3 hours hike
The day that everyone is waiting in this Machu Picchu trail. It takes 2 hours through tree fern laden cloud forest to Intipunku (the sun gate), where we can get our first and inspiring view of Machu Picchu citadel, form here take a couple of minutes more until the citadel itself. Machu Picchu are divided in two main sectors, the Agricultural and the Urban section. The Urban section is split into west and est sectors, separated by wide plazas and the agricultural Sector is subdivided into upper and lower sectors. We linger here and then wander through Machu Picchu itself, later after this great Machu Picchu trail we will meet with the rest of the group at the bus station and go by bus down to Aguas Calientes to catch the train to Ollantaytambo where there will be a bus waiting for us to go to Cusco. (1 breakfast).
What's included
Machu Picchu trail entrance fees, english speaking professional guide, 2 people per tent, sleeping mattress, cooking equipment, experienced cook, meals (3 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 dinners) vegetarian option, porters (to carry the tents, food, and cooking equipment), dining tent, kitchen tent, Accommodation for our porters and cooks, first aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle, bus from Machu Picchu ruins down to Aguas Calientes, train backpacker cerrojo, bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco. The price of the trek includes all local sales taxes.
What's not Included
Breakfast on the first morning, lunch in Aguas Calientes the final day, entrance fees to the thermal springs in Aguas Calientes, sleeping bags (may rent in our office $12), tips.
What to bring
Sleeping bag (menus 15 degrees) you can rent this for 12 USD at the office, mosquito repellent, hiking shoes or trainers, hat, socks, worm clothes, gloves, woolen hat to cover the ears, rain coat, sun Block PFD 40, flashlight, bottle water to fill the bottle up with water. Personal medical kit and items that you consider very important during the Inca trail.
*We recommend bringing pills for altitude sickness, and stomaching problems, this is the most frequent trouble for travelers during the Machu Picchu trail
Important
- Personal porters can be hired to help carry your personal items. The services of a third porter is US$45. Still you need to take a day pack to carry your essential items. Note that due to new government regulations the maximum number of porters that we can use in each group has now been reduce. This is why we have had to limit the maximum amount of personal equipment that you can give to a porter to carry for you to kg or lb per person. The maximum amount that each porter can carry on the Inca Trail has also been limited to kg or lb per porter. Approximately 30% of our clients hire the services of an extra third porter.
- An extra night in Aguas Calientes can easily be arranged for you if required.
INCA TRAIL REGULATIONS
Current Inca Trail Regulations.
As described above, no more than 500 people per day are allowed to hike the Inca Trail. This number includes all support staff (ie. porters, cooks and guides) and is very strictly controlled. Once this limit of 500 people is reached, the Trail is completely closed off for the day and no further bookings can be made. Reservations are not held on the Inca trail and all permits to hike must be bought as far as possible in advance with complete and correct personal information, and no modifications can be made. Any attempts at modifications result in a loss of the permit and any money paid.Inca Trail trekking booking.
*When booking any trip involving the Inca trail, please book as far in advance as possible in order to increase the possibility of securing space on the Inca trail during the high periods of the year. We ask in order to proceed with the Inca trail booking your personal Information.
1. Full name (exactly as it appears on the passport)
2. Date of birth
3. Passport number
4. Nationality
5. Date of passport expiry
Please Note: The passport number and name that is provided to River Explorers E.I.R.L, at time of confirmation, will be used to purchase the Inca Trail permit. This passport number and name will be used to identify yourself as you enter the checkpoint at the start of the trail and during the hike. If this information does not match the information you have provided at time of confirmation, then you will be subject to delay, fine, and/or cancellation of admission to the Inca Trail.
Thank you for your understanding.
PRICE PER PERSON 2009-2010 5% DISCOUNT FOR GROUPS OF 6 PEOPLE OR MORE
USD 479 EUR 340 ISIC card $ 20 discount
ASK FOR OUR PRIVATE SERVICE
This tour can be combined with our rafting tours and multi-sport trips