Hiking to Machu Picchu along the Inca Trail is an incredibly spiritual journey that you won’t soon forget. Trekking through the beautiful cloud forest, sleeping at campsites overlooking the magnificent Andes mountains and the sense of personal achievement when finally reaching the Sun Gate leading to Machu Picchu make the challenge completely worthwhile. We want you to leave with wonderful memories but also with some knowledge of the history and culture of Peru and the ancient Incas.
At your hotel
We will meet you early in the morning at your hotel in Cusco. This is where you will meet your dedicated guide. At this meeting we will give you a full briefing, and collect your next of kin, passport and insurance information. You will be given a duffel bag which can take 6 kg of gear, the rest of your bag will be held safely at the hotel in Cusco. The porters will carry your duffel bag ahead of you on the walk and you can access them each night when you arrive at the camp. You will need a daypack to carry your water, snacks, sunscreen and anything you may want to use during the day.
We travel from Cusco by private minibus to the start of the 43km trek that leads to one of the new wonders of the world - Machu Picchu. From there we hike 10km, an estimated 7 hour mainly uphill hike to the first campsite which sits at 3,100m above sea level. On the way you will marvel at the Incan ruins of Huillca Raccay, Canabanba and Llactapata.
Accommodation: Camping in a 2 person tent with an inflatable mattress.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Activities: Expert English speaking guide, professional chef and porters.
Transport: Private minivan to the start of your trek.
Today is the most challenging day of the trek, we will walk 12 km in total starting at 3,100 m above sea level. At half way, after approximately 4 hours, we will arrive at our lunch spot at Llactapata where we will provide a delicious meal and more water for your bottles. We will then walk up a steep track to cross what is known as the ‘Dead Woman’s Pass’ at 4,215m above sea level (the highest we will go on this trek). Here you can see the sweeping views across the Pacaymayo Valley, it's a great photo opportunity. We will then start the descend to the second campsite at 3,650 m above sea level after approximately 1 hour 45 minutes.
Accommodation: Camping in a 2 person tent with an inflatable mattress.
Meals: Breakfast,lunch and dinner.
Activities: Expert English speaking guide, professional chef and porters.
Today we hike 16 km, first through the valley and then crossing the second mountain pass, Runkurakay Pass which sits at 3,980 m above sea level. After that, we descend down to another valley where we explore the Sayacmarca archaeological site. We then cross our last pass at 3,7000 m above sea level, here we find ‘The Town above the Clouds’, Phuyupatamarca at 3,550 m above sea level. An approximate 2.5 hour hike down the Inca steps takes us to our final campsite next to the Winay Wayna archeological site.
Accommodation: Camping in a 2 person tent with an inflatable mattress.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Activities: Expert English speaking guide, professional chef and porters.
We wake up before the sun today at 3:45am to hike approximately 1.5 hours to the Sun Gate. We set off early to the final checkpoint which opens at 5:30am to hike the last 2.5 hour stretch of the Inca Trail before entering the Machu Picchu site through the famous Sun Gate. Here we can find a spot to take in the magnificent views and watch the mist roll through the mountains around the Machu Picchu citadel. Now we have the time for a private tour with your guide who will bring the city to life with his expert knowledge of this new wonder of the world. There will be plenty of time for pictures.
Finally, we travel back to Ollantaytambo on the glass roofed tourist train then onto Cusco in a private minivan. That's the end of the trip, celebrate your successful completion of the Inca Trail or head straight off to your next adventure!
Meals: Breakfast.
Activities: Exploring Machu Picchu with your private English speaking guide.
Transport: Return tourist bus ride from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu, Glass roofed tourist train to Ollantaytambo, Private minivan to Cusco.
At your hotel
Check the itinerary above to see what is included for each day
Meals: 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 dinner
Accommodation: 3 nights with basic camping facilities.
Activities: Entrance to Machu Picchu, Inca Trail permits.
Transport: Train from Aguas Calientes, bus to and from Machu Picchu, private minivan.
Expert guide: Professional, English-speaking, Inca Trail qualified guide.
Radios: For coordination of logistics, customer safety, our crew and guide are in constant communication throughout the trek.
Oxygen tank: To deal quickly with any high altitude issues (only used in emergencies).
First Aid Kit: To deal quickly with immediate basic first care.
Tents: We provide 2-person tents suitable for all kinds of weather.
Inflatable hiking mats: For your comfort in the tents, waterproof and insulated.
Dining equipment: For meals we have a tent, table, chairs, tablecloths, dishes, glasses, cutlery.
Kitchen staff: Specialized cook, trained in food hygiene, can accommdate dietary requirements.
Porters: Helpful, local crew with extensive experience that will carry your bags and other equipment for you.
Duffel bags: We lend these to you to carry up to 5kg of clothes and other essentials.
Hiking poles, sleeping bags (but you can rent them from us).
Tips for crew and guide.
Air travel.
Any extra personal expenses and optional activities.
During weekends I’m usually at Machu Picchu now so we can discuss that too. Middle of the week I am in Cusco.
Please do get in touch as soon as possible to secure your dates and inca trail permits, price may vary a little but we will give you the latest and best price per person or per group of people. We need a minimum of 2 people to be able to go ahead.
Keep in mind Inca Trail permits are limited and tend to sell out months in advance, though we see good availability right now. Get in touch to secure your preferred dates as early as possible.
We will be trekking at high altitude. Some people may suffer from altitude sickness. Altitude sickness can affect anyone regardless of fitness level or age. However our guides will share ways to mitigate these symptoms such as staying hydrated and limiting alcohol intake.
There will be early morning starts.
You will need to bring suitable clothing for trekking. You need hiking boots, comfortable outdoor clothing and warm waterproof gear.
A moderate level of fitness is required as we walk for up to 8 hours a day on mountain paths. Your duffel bag will be carried for you, however you will need to carry a small day pack with your daily water, jacket and snacks.
Wow! What an amazing experience! I booked this as an opportunity for our students to "travel" and learn about a place we are unable to visit in person. Michael did an excellent job on this tour. He created a truly unique educational experience for our students and families. I have received many notes of positive feedback stating how much they enjoyed this experience. Michael was communicative through the whole process ensuring that the tour would meet the needs of our group. He was patient as we worked through some technical difficulties on our end. I would 100% recommend this tour. Thank you Michael for bringing the beauty of Peru and Machu Picchu to our homes.
Thank you so much Rachel for your review, I'm really happy to hear everyone enjoyed it. It was an absolute pleasure hosting you and your students virtually at Machu Picchu!