Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

The Inca trail is of course the most famous trek in South America, but what makes it unique is that it is the only trek in the world that takes you to a major archaeological site, which is Machu Picchu, visiting three major sets of Inca ruins reachable on foot along the way. In addition to this, the landscape is breathtaking, as it takes you from cloud forest to puna grasslands across to major passes, and back to cloud forest as you reach the mythical citadel of Machu Picchu. Access to the trail is heavily regulated. Permits need to be purchased in well in advance and the trek has to be outfitted by a licensed company. Campsites are pre-assigned, and in peak season they can be busy. Therefore, we highly recommend hiking the trail off season.

Good time to travel: March – January (the Inca Trail is closed in February). Absolute Best time: March - May

Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

Day 1

Arrival Lima

On arrival from your evening international flight, you will be collected by our English-speaking representative and driven to Country Club Lima Hotel, a wonderful property dating back to the 1930's where it was the gathering spot for the Lima elite or you could also try the cozy Casa Inca Hospedaje.

Transfer to the airport to take your 1-hour morning flight to Cusco (3,400m/11,220 ft). On arrival into Cusco, you will be transferred to the Urubamba Valley (1 hour drive), which lies at lower altitude and makes acclimatization easier. The Urubamba river valley is dotted with villages, markets and archaeological sites. On the way to your hotel you will visit the wonderful ruins of Pisac and its famous market. Lunch at a local restaurant. Spend the remainder of the afternoon at leisure to acclimatize.
Overnight at El Albergue de Ollantaytambo.

Day 3

Urubamba Valley: Chinchero, Maras y Moray

You will be collected by your private guide and driven to the small village of Chinchero, with impressive Inca walls and a lovely colonial church. The local vegetable and craft market at Chinchero is also very picturesque (major market day is Sunday). Lunch will be at a local restaurant. In the afternoon you will walk from the salt pans of Maras to the Inca site of Moray. This day is meant to provide lots of walking and acclimatization opportunities for your big trek!
Overnight at El Albergue de Ollantaytambo.

You will be collected from your hotel and driven 1 ½ hours until you reach your trail head, at Km 82 of the railway line to Machu Picchu. You will meet your porters and begin your trek following the left bank of the Urubamba River. After a couple of hours of gentle hiking you reach and visit the Inca ruins of Llactapata (2,600m/8,580ft). You continue hiking, this time away from the Urubamba River ascending and following the Cusichaca River towards the village of Huayllabamba, a small agricultural settlement, where you will have a picnic lunch. Total trek today: 6 hours (12 km). Please note this is a fully outfitted trek at the highest standard. You will only carry your camera and water bottle. Food is plentiful and made from fresh ingredients. Cooked breakfast and dinner, picnic lunch and morning and afternoon snacks with hot beverages.
Overnight in tents.

Day 5

Huayllabamba (3,200m/10,560ft) – Pacaymayo (3,600m/11,880ft)

After a relaxed breakfast and enjoying the beauty of your campsite, you will register at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary control station to continue on a tough ascending trail with increasingly fantastic views and a clear change of vegetation as you gain altitude. You will pass through an interesting protected cloud forest of native trees before reaching your lunch spot at Llullucchapampa. Continue the tough ascent toward the highest pass of the trail, called “Warmiwañusta” or Dead Woman’s Pass (4200m/13,360ft). Spectacular views lead your way in the afternoon as you descend to your campsite at Pacaymayo. Total trek today: 7 hours (17 km).
Overnight in tents.

Day 6
Pacaymayo (3,600m/11,880ft) – Phuyupatamarca (3,500m/11,550ft)

After breakfast you will start your walk and soon encounter the original cobblestone paved trail left by the Incas. You will be able to appreciate the sudden changes in vegetation and geology as you pass through different ecological zones. Today is a long but very interesting and rewarding day, since you will be encountering both original Inca cobblestone trail as well as magnificent archaeological sites on the way. You will climb up and over the second pass, the Abra de Runrurcakay, (3,950m/13,035ft). Masterful Inca engineering is visible along the trail and the Inca remains of Sayacmarca (3,640m/13,035ft) are a true highlight. Explore the site, have a picnic lunch and continue to the incomparable campsite of Phuyupatamarca, (“the place above the clouds”) at 3,680m/12,144ft. Total trek today: 8 hours (22km).
Overnight in tents.

Sunrise in Phuyupatamarca is considered one of the highlights of the trek. Today you will reach Machu Picchu after approximately 6 hours or 8 km/5mi walk. The highlights today are the beautiful cloudforest scenery, and the visit of the remarkable Inca site of Winay Wayna, ('forever Young" ) and of course the descent toward Machu Picchu, which you will view for the first time from Inti Punku ("Sun Gate) approximately two hours prior to your arrival at the site (at approximately lunch time). Machu Picchu's location is spectacular. It is nestled in the Andean cloud forest on a high ridge straddling between two mountains, with the Urubamba River curling like a snake below it. The site itself is also spectacular, with some of the finest and more complex Inca architecture known. After a brief visit to the site with your guide, you will have the luxury of staying at the beautiful Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel, located in Aguas Calientes, 30 minutes away from Machu Picchu by bus. Alternatively there is the charming El Mapi.

Day 8
Cusco

In the morning you will be collected by your guide for a half day walking tour of Cusco. Visit the Cathedral, Korikancha (the Sun Temple) and walk around this wonderful city observing the juxtaposition of Inca and colonial architecture and getting the feel of its wonderful atmosphere. Lunch at leisure. Afternoon visit of Sacsayhuaman and other Inca sites around the city.

Transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Lima.  Enjoy a full day at your leisure with an “Aracari insider/friend” in Lima. Your day could involve browsing around shops and art galleries, stopping for coffee and lunch at locally frequented spots and perhaps even going to a museum or exhibition. Your schedule will be planned around your particular interests. You will have a vehicle, “friend” and driver at your disposal to go wherever you prefer and a day-use room for your convenience. In the afternoon, you will transfer to the airport to catch your evening international flight home.