The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is truly an experience like no other!
By: Lucero Shauna
Tags: Peru, Journey, Travel, Inca Trail, Machu Picchu

The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is truly an experience like no other!

Hike the famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, the best trekking route in all of South America The Inca Trail is one of the most famous routes in the world. Lucero Shauna Dec 7, 2020·4 min read

Machu Picchu Peru

Our 4-day tour of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is the best alternative for small groups who want to experience a real adventure. Join travelers from all over the world who are looking for the same as you! Our package is perfect if you travel alone, with your partner, or with a small group of friends. We invite you to dream of the wonderful, join Salkantay Trekking, and live this unique and exciting experience.

We’ll start in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, in the community of Piscacucho, which is 2 hours from the city of Cusco. After a few hours, we’ll visit some archaeological sites such as Patallaqta. We’ll ascend to the Dead Woman’s pass that sits at 4,200 masl / 13,779 fasl, and then we’ll descend to the tropical jungle where the Machu Picchu Nature Reserve is located, home to more than 250 types of orchids, 450 types of birds, and the charming spectacled bear. We will also visit other impressive archaeological sites such as Pacaymayu, Runkuracay, Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca, Intipata, Wiñayhuayna, Intipunku, and, finally, Machu Picchu, which is considered one of the new 7 Wonders of the World.

Inca Trail — Camino Inca

Itinerary at a Glance

DAY 0 — Pre-Departure Briefing

Cusco

DAY 1 — Cusco — Km 82 — Llactapata — Huayllabamaba — Ayapata

Km 82 Llactapata Huayllabamaba Ayapata

On your first day, you will be collected from your hotel in Cusco at around 4:30 am for private transportation to Piskacucho located along the Machu Picchu railroad and the Inca Trail’s starting point.

at around 4:30 am for private transportation to Piskacucho located along the Machu Picchu railroad and the Inca Trail’s starting point. During the first few hours of walking, we follow the famous Urubamba River’s course before stopping to admire the archaeological site of Patallacta.

The hike on the first day takes around 7-hours along meandering streams, ancient Inca sites, and the Andes’ stunning views until Ayapata, the first campsite at 3300 m.

DAY 2 — Ayapata — Dead Woman’s Pass — Runcuraccay Pass — Chaquiccocha

Ayapata Dead Woman’s Pass Runcuraccay Pass Chaquiccocha

After a nutritious breakfast, climb a challenging ascending trail with increasingly fantastic views and an evident change of vegetation as you gain altitude.

This day we will be hiking towards the Inca Trail’s highest point, Dead Women’s Pass (4,215 meters). Once you reach the summit, your porters will be waiting with a hot glass of tea, and you will have some time to enjoy it.

In the afternoon, as you descend to your campsite at Chaquiccocha. Enjoy spectacular views and different microclimates, with amazing views of the mountains.

DAY 3 — Chaquiccocha — Phuyupatamarca — Wiñaywayna

Chaquiccocha Phuyupatamarca Wiñaywayna

Today is the most impressive and exciting because of the number of archaeological complexes and cloud forest we will find as we walk.

We walk down along an incredibly well-preserved section of the Inca Trail with great white granite slab walls and staircases all impressively set in the high jungle to our final campsite at Wiñay Wayna

Explore the Magic site of Wiñaywayna, an impressive Inca complex made up of an agricultural center with numerous terraces, a religious sector, and an urban sector, and all close to where camp will set up that evening.

DAY 4 — SUNGATE (Inti Punku) — Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu

SUNGATE (Inti Punku) Machu Picchu Aguas Calientes

Wake around 03:30 to reach the Sun Gate as early as possible. It takes around an hour of hiking along a trail of flat stones that traverse these cliffs of the highland jungle,

Inti Punku , or Sun Gate . From this point, you will get your first glimpse of the spectacular city of Machu Picchu below you.

, or . From this point, you will get your first glimpse of the spectacular city of below you. Uncover the mystical secrets of Machu Picchu. Here, you will have a complete guided tour around the site, taking approximately two hours, after which you can enjoy some free time to rest and stroll around the citadel.

Why Take the Inca Trail?