Inca Trail Tour 5 Days 4 Nights

Will pick you up from your hotel at 6:00 AM them we are going to take our bus together with our team (our chef and porters) will drive approx. for three hours to kilometer 82, we will pass through the sacred valley of the Incas like Chinchero and Ollantaytambo where we will stop for breakfast from here we have 45 more minutes to kilometer 82 here we will have some time in order to get ready for our hike! Then we will approach our first Inca trail checkpoint where you have to show your original passport if you booked as a student your ISC CARD (please make sure you have your original Passport if you booked as a student you must have your ISIC CARD as well) the first two hours will be following the Urubamba river and it is relatively easy as we make our way to first Inca site call Patallacta this is one of the largest sites along the Inca trail this was a checkpoint for the approach to Machu Picchu. From this amazing Inca site, we have thirty more minutes to go to our first lunch stop. After lunch is another one-hour of hike until our first campsite in this last section we will pass through the village of Wayllabamaba where you will have options to buy any energy drinks, water, or any items that you need. We will spend the night here.

you will have a wakeup call with nice hot coca tea then you will have thirty minutes in order to get ready (pack your duffle bag and your day pack) once you are ready you will have breakfast and after breakfast, you will start hiking you take a fork for about 45 minutes in order to visit one of the less visited Inca site (Paucarcancha) you will explore and they come back to the village where you camp in order to continue the Inca trail from here will uphill you will pass through beautiful native forest and amazing view you will stop at LLulluchapampa for lunch this is another campsite the highest one alone the Inca trail (3800m 12500ft) after lunch is time to conquer the highest mountain along the Inca trail (dead women’s pass 4215m 13828ft) is two hours approx. from lunch in order to get to the pas,s the view is outstanding you will have time to get some pictures after you enjoy you have to go down for another two more hours in order to get to our second campsite Pacaymayu. Where our super porters will be waiting for us! Get ready for us.

You will have a wakeup call with hot coca tea then you will start packing your belongings once you are ready you will have breakfast after a nutritious breakfast you will start with the hike this day you have to conquer another day which is not as high as dead women’s pass you will hike uphill for approx. two hours till halfway you will find a small Inca site called us (Runku Raccay) you will visit this Inca site and still have to climb for forty-five more minutes to pass with the same name as the Inca site (Runku Raccay).

This is the second highest point 4000m 13123ft you will have time to enjoy the view after that you will start with your hike downstairs for one hour until the Inca site called Sayacmarka (inaccessible place) don’t miss out on this it is a lovely site with an amazing view to the jungle after this Inca site you will get to Chaquiccocha this is our lunch stop after lunch through you will continue hiking towards the most beautiful scenery of the Inca trail, we will hike for two hours locally call (Inca flat) and begin to enter the jungle or cloud forest. As we hike will be able to see the majesty of Salkantay Mountain the second highest snow-capped mountain and a fantastic panoramic view of the Vilcabamba mountain range on our right side we will see Veronica glacial ones again twenty more minutes get to the third pass and last one along our trek Phuyupatamarca (3600 meters) this will be our campsite one of the best ones along the trek because of the outstanding view! Once more our amazing super porters will be waiting for you to give you a warm welcome to the camp.

We will enjoy breakfast with a spectacular view of the Andes Mountains, This campsite is considered one of the best ones along the Inca trail as well from here you’ll have the first view of Machupicchu mountain On the way down you will visit three Inca sites the first Puyupatamarcathis Inca site is an astronomical observatory due of the location once you explore you will start descending for about two hours to Intipata the sun terraces from here you will have an outstanding view of the Urubamba valley then you will continue to your last lunch stop Wiñaywayna in where you will say goodbye to your super porters and your tour guide will organize a small ceremony after lunch you will visit the last Inca site one of the most beautiful ones according to most of the Inca trail hikers.

Your tour guide will show you this amazing place after this you will continue to  Machu Picchu from Wiñay wayna campsite you have to hike one more hour to the sun gate from where you will have the first view of Machu Picchu you’ll be there in the afternoon which is good because will be fewer people here and at Machupicchu from the sun gate you have to go downstairs for forty-five minutes once you arrive to Machu Pichu you will get your postcard picture this day you won’t visit the place you will take a bus to Machu Picchu pueblo and your tour guide will take you to the hotel and you have time in order to enjoy your shower after you will go to the restaurant in order to enjoy your dinner in a restaurant them back to the hotel to rest for the following day to explore Machu Picchu!

Today is the final day of your 5 day Inca Trail tour and includes a guided tour of Machu Picchu.

Getting to Machu Picchu

After a restful sleep in your carefully selected hotel, you will have breakfast at a reasonable hour before we make our way to the bus stop at 7:15 AM. While many companies say that you need to board one of the first buses to Machu Picchu, or even be there are dawn, we disagree. At Apus Peru, we believe that rest and a good breakfast are important so that you are not too tired to really enjoy your once-in-a-lifetime visit to Machu Picchu.

We will have to wait in line for a bit to board the bus up to this marvellous site, but we will aim for an 8-9 AM entry. 8 o’clock is the best time to visit Machu Picchu because any clouds that often cloak the ancient city in the morning will have burned off by this time, and the site is likely to be a little less busy. It’s the best time of day to visit Machu Picchu, with great views, and a window of time between the Classic Inca Trail hikers and the day trippers arriving by train at around 11 AM or 12 noon. If you book late or have different requirements, we may need to buy a different entry time.

Your Machu Picchu Tour & Return to Cusco

Once we reach Machu Picchu, your tour guide will give you a 2 hour guided tour of the Inca citadel. After the tour of Machu Picchu has completed, we will head to the Tinkuy Restaurant located inside the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge hotel, just outside the grounds, and enjoy a wonderful buffet lunch while you reflect on your visit and all that you’ve achieved on the 5 day Inca Trail hike.

Then we will take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes. (If you are feeling adventurous you can walk, but your bus ticket is included.) There are lots of markets that keen shoppers can browse while you wait for your train.

We will take a 2-hour train ride to Ollantaytambo and then connect with our private transport back to Cusco. (Total travel time is around 4 hours.) Our carefully chosen train schedule sees you travelling during the day, getting to enjoy the stunning scenery of the Urubamba Valley and the Sacred Valley mountains.

Feeling Adventurous?

You may wish to hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, but take note: this requires an extra permit, and they can sell out well in advance! Be sure to tell us at booking if you would like to add one of these short hikes, and your Travel Consultant will discuss how adding one of these Machu Picchu hikes may change the itinerary of Day 5 of your 5-day Inca Trail trek.

Not sure which hike to choose? While Huayna Picchu Mountain is the more famous of the two hikes, we think that Machu Picchu Mountain offers better views, plus an incredible understanding of why the Incas built this sacred city in such a special place. For more details about each hike, see our Machu Picchu Hikes blog.

For more tips on what to expect at Machu Picchu, check out our Comprehensive Guide on Visiting Machu Picchu as well as our blog on things to do at Machu Picchu.

Want even more time to explore?

Ask your Travel Consultant about adding an extra day at Machu Picchu.