Trek along the Inca Trail & Machu Picchu
Trek along the Inca Trail & Machu Picchu
Duration
7 Days / 6 Nights
Package Type
Adventure
Activity Level
Moderate
Travel specialist
Trip Overview
The classic Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu is one of the most famous treks in South America, and for good reason. Mixing history, wildlife and spectacular scenery, this four-day, three-night adventure is an unforgettable experience, with a final destination -- Machu Picchu itself -- that ranks among the world’s most impressive archaeological sites.
The classic Inca Trail is only about 42 km (26 miles) long, but it goes up and down and along mountains, rising up through three mountain passes, and generally takes a circular route through the tricky terrain of the region in this part of Peru. That makes it a more strenuous 42 km than most, but also one with spectacular scenery, passing through various Andean environments including cloud forest and alpine tundra.
While trekking the Inca trail, you’ll go through an area of great biodiversity. At any moment you could come across orchids, foxes, cocks-of -the-rock (Peru’s national bird), spectacled bears, deer and many more species of flora and fauna. As you trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, you’ll also pass by other impressive Inca ruins, such as Wiñay Wayña and Phuyupatamarca. It’s an incredibly rich trekking experience, and that’s before you even reach your destination; the sublime mountaintop Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.
It’s impossible to overstate the beauty of Machu Picchu, from its incredible architecture to the surrounding mountains and mist-filled gorges. But we won’t describe it all here. Far better if you come with us on the classic Inca Trail, with our professional guides, porters and talented cooks, and discover this magical trek for yourself.
PROMOTIONAL VIDEO
DAY BY DAY SCHEDULE
Arrival to Cusco with a transfer to your hotel; a welcome meeting will be organized by your guide for a quick briefing of the tour. The rest of the day can be spent exploring Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, set in the Andean Mountain range. Discover Spanish churches and mansions that sit alongside Inca remains, visit the local market of San Pedro and their array of products from handicrafts to vegetable products, fresh juices and items for traditional Andean ceremonies....
View all photosAfter breakfast, enjoy a free day to explore Cusco at your ease. The capital city of the Inca Empire is now the undisputed archaeological capital of the Americas, as well as the continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city. You may visit the local archaeological sites of Saqsaywaman, Tambomachay and Qenqo or you can take part in a Peruvian cooking class or chocolate making class, depending on how you want to spend your free day. We can help arrange and suggest all activities a...
View all photosBreakfast: is not included on this day.
Our Inca Trail adventure begins at 4:30 a.m., when we’ll pick you up from your hotel. We will then drive to Piscacucho, also known as Km 82, where the Inca Trail begins. Here we need to visit the control point and do all the official bureaucracy before we can enter the trail, so you’ll need your passport and ticket. This is a good place to use the bathroom and put on insect repellent and sunscreen, as once we’re o...
View all photosIt’s another early start on Day 2 as we wake around 5:30 a.m. Our cooks will prepare a hearty breakfast to get your energy levels up, and you’re going to need it. Day 2 on the classic Inca Trail is generally regarded as the toughest day, as we have a steep ascent ahead of us. We’ll be following the Inca Trail along a route that was sacred to the Incas, as it rises up into the Apus, where the mountain spirits dwell.
After a few hours hiking, we wil...
View all photosAfter another energy-filled breakfast, we’ll set off on a relatively gentle uphill trek to our first stop of the day: the archaeological site of Phuyupatamarca, "The City Above the Clouds," located at around 3,680 m. This enchanting Inca ruin features terraced slopes and five small stone baths that contain constant fresh running water during the wet season. From here, we have incredible views of snow-capped peaks in the distance, including Salkantay and Veronica.
H...
View all photosToday we want to get moving as soon as possible, so we’ll wake at 4:30 a.m., have breakfast and then set off along the last section of the trail. We’ll walk for about 1.5 hours until we reach Intipunku (the “Sun Gate”), arriving before the first rays of the sun reach Machu Picchu. From the Sun Gate, at around 7 a.m., we can watch as the sun comes over the mountains, lighting up the surrounding landscape, slowly revealing Machu Picchu and our first sighting of o...
View all photosAfter breakfast enjoy your last day at leisure before your transfer to the airport for your return flight home, via Lima.
Services Included:
Reguar Transport: Hotel – Cusco Airport (20 minutes) - Assistant SPS/ENG.
END OF THE SERVICES
IMPORTANT DATES
Booking window: From September 2021 to December 2021. Travel window: January 2021 to December 15th 2022.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Accommodation
- 3 Nights: Cusco – Jose Antonio Hotel or similar. Standard Room with private bath.
- 3 Nights: Inca Trail Camp - Tent per 2 people
Meals
- Day 1: Not Included
- Day 2: Breakfast
- Day 3: Lunch, Dinner
- Day 4: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 5: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 6: Breakfast
- Day 7: Breakfast
* If you would like vegetarian food or a special diet, please let us know in advance. Our included meals have a focus on locally owned restaurants that use local farmers and suppliers for their products.
Services
- Transportation from the airport to the hotel and vice versa
- Briefing to the tour one day before the trek at 19h 00.
- Shared transportation from Cusco to Km 81.
- Professional English-speaking guide service.
- An assistant guide for groups of more than 9 people.
- A chef trained for cooking on trekking routes and an assistant cook.
- Complete set of kitchen equipment and utensils.
- Dining room equipment which includes tables, chairs, and a dining tent.
- Water (you need to bring water for the first morning then we will provide you with drinking - previously boiled - water).
- As soon as we receive your details and deposit, we will purchase your permits (pending availability). These permits are for a specific date and in your name. They can’t be changed once they are confirmed. Only your passport number is allowed to be updated. The permit includes your entrance ticket to Machu Picchu.
- Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo. This train ticket is Expedition Train; the train leaves Aguas Calientes station at 15h20.
- First aid kit
- Shared transportation from Poroy train station to your hotel in Cusco
- 24/7 support and emergency line available throughout the itinerary.
- Camping equipment such as tents.
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
- Evacuation: in the event of a serious medical injury, we will coordinate with your travel insurance company to arrange evacuation.
- Meals and drinks other than those mentioned in the itinerary (Please let us know if you would like any extra meals included.).
- Tips and gratuities.
- Optional excursions.
- Items of a personal nature such as souvenirs and telephone calls.
- Travel insurance.
- Damages caused by the client to the bus or to the camping equipment.
- Trekking equipment such as walking stick, sleeping bags.
- Personal porter who is responsible for carrying your duffel bag. (You will not have access to your duffel bag until your evening campsite).
OPTIONAL FOR RENTING
Details:
Now featuring our exclusive Atmos Foam to further reduce weight and boost compressibility, the ProLite is the lightest and most compact three-season mattress available. Self-inflation keeps set-up super-easy and its die-cut foam packs small, easily fitting inside the most ultralight packs. It's ideal for high-mileage, high-speed journeys where every gram counts. Stuff sack included.
Specifications:
- Lightweight: The lightest self-inflating mattress available.
- Compact Warmth: Diagonal-cut foam and tapered shape provides efficient warmth withlimited bulk.
- Highly Packable: Our exclusive Atmos Foam and a tapered shape keep the ProLite mattressextremely pack friendly.
- Self-Inflating: Expanding foam core self-inflates; top off with just a few breaths forpersonalized firmness.
- Lightweight: The lightest self-inflating mattress available
- Compact Warmth: Diagonal-cut foam and tapered shape provides efficient warmth with
Dimensions:
- 20 x 72 x 1.5 in
Packed Size:
- 11 x 4.8 in
Claimed Weight:
- 1 lb 4 oz
Highlights:
Those in search of a true once-in-a-lifetime experience can choose to make their pilgrimage to Machu Picchu in comfort with our sure-footed horses as their ideal traveling partners. Guests on horseback may choose to use along a uncrowded route that led early Incas to the great city of Machu Picchu.
Duffle bags for packing on cargo horses on relevant trips
Experienced Quechua Wranglers (muleteers) to look after all stock
No include Riding helmets (you may bring your own if you want)
Specifications:
- Size: LZ to RZ
- Total Weight: 1,8kg/65oz
- Fill Weight: 280g/10oz
- Packed Size: 16cm x 25cm
Temperature Specifications:
- Extreme: -15°C/5°F
- Comfort Limit: 2°C/36°F
- Comfort: 6°C/43°F
- Good Nights Sleep: 0°C/-5&32;F
Important Note:
Note that our sleeping bags are feather for those that are allergic
These poles are designed to help you endure long treks into rugged, remote areas with a heavy pack. If you need a little extra support when walking, an adjustable folding walking stick is ideal. It has an aluminium body with plastic handles and base, it folds away neatly for easy storage when not in use.
Features:
- Material: Aluminium
- Length: 67–135cm
- Shaft diameter: 16/14/12mm
- SpeedLock Adjustment System
- Flextip with interchangeable basket
- Weight: 528g-650g (Pair)
Highlights:
Inca Trail Porters Protection Law No. 27607(Dec 6th 2001). Decreed Laws Numbers 19990 and 25897 Article 3 Conditions of work:
- Transport up to the point of departure to the end of the trip.
- Limit of load up of 20 kilograms.
- Warm equipment and accommodation
- Special belts to protect their backs from injuries
- Appropriate rest and sleep during the trip
- Provision of sufficient food, and appropriate clothing
- (warm jacket, rain ponchos, walking boots and backpacks)
- Fair and decent Payment on time on Day 4 at 10am
- Life / Accident Insurance the Social Security of Health
- Social Assistance to our Porter`s families not only in Christmas.
QUESTION IS, WHO ARE THE PORTERS?
Porters are indigenous Cusqueñian people who have lived in Cusco, at 4,000 meters high, all of their lives relying on the land of the Andes. Due to economic problems, it is important for these local indigenous people to continue working in the mountains they know so well, rather than give up their jobs in the country to move to the city. They prefer to stay in their local villages and support the education of their children by working as porters on tours.
Sadly, many tour operators don't give them the recognition they deserve. Often tour operators do NOT provide porters with adequate clothing or gear for carrying things while paying them very low salaries. Because of this, you will see thirsty, hungry porters with a low morale along the Inca Trail. Our government has created the Law of the Porter, which requires tour agencies to treat porters better and provide necessary resources for them, but sadly, many of these regulations are not met. Please make sure that the agency you book through respects the Porter Law and be sure to ask for proof of this. Otherwise you could be contributing to the ill treatment of these hard-working porters.
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