Itinerary

DAY 1: Cusco - Km. 82 - Huayllabamba

Your Trek Leader will collect you from your hotel very early in the morning, 5:00 a.m. Depart from the city of Cusco ( 3,350 m / 10,990 ft) and travel for one hour and a half by private bus to the village of Ollantaytambo, where we stop for 30 minutes, optional breakfast and   snack.  After you will drive to km 82, the starting point of the Inca Trail, which will take approximately one hour, on arrival passport control and after you will enter the MachuPicchu National Park. Begin walking along the left bank of the Urubamba River as it runs northwest along the Sacred Valley following the trail along a flat terrain, observe the  beautiful view of the snow capped mountain called Verónica, regarded as the highest point of the Urubamba mountain range.  Continue to the community of Miskay and the archaeological complex of Llactapata and after to the community of Tarayoc where lunch will be served. Continue walking to Huayllabamba, where evidence suggests that this might have been an important staging post on a network of roads extending from Cusco to Vitcos. Leaving the Urubamba Valley behind, you will walk approximately 2 hours to finally arrive to Huayllabamba (3,400 m / 11,154 ft), where you will make your first camp.

Meals :  Lunch - Dinner
Walking Time :  06 hours
Level :  Moderate
Accommodation :  Camp
Maximum altitude :  3,400 m / 11,154 ft
Campsite Altitude :  3,400 m / 11,154 ft
Average Temperature :  5° C - 10° C

DAY 2: Huayllabamba - Llulluchapampa - Pacaymayo

After breakfast, at 8:00 am you will leave Huayllabamba, and continue walking through the Llulluchapampa Valley (3850 m / 12631ft) with a steep four hour climb which will takes us through an area of rain forest. Lunch will be served. Continue walking  for approximately one hour to the highest point in the trek, the Abra Warmihuañusca pass “Dead Woman’s Pass” (4,200 m / 13780 ft), at this point, you will enjoy great panoramic views and see domesticated llamas and alpacas, make sure today you are well stocked with some chocolates and candies to keep your sugar level high, and help prevent altitude sickness. After a short rest, you will make your way down the deep valley of Pacaymayo (3580 m / 11745 ft), walk for approximately two hours before making second camp.

Meals :  Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner
Walking Time :  07 hours
Level :  Moderate
Accommodation :  Camp
Maximum altitude :  4,200 m (13,776 ft)
Campsite Altitude :  3,580m (11,745 ft)
Average Temperature :  (-1° C) - 12° C

DAY 3:    Pacaymayo - Wiñaywayna

Today is the most challenging day, and also the most interesting, visiting several archaeological sites and passing through some amazing cloud forest.

Very early in the morning, you will climb and walk 2 hours to the second pass, the Abra Runkuraqay, (3,970 m / 13022 ft), and half-way; you will visit the archaeological complex, a site consisting of a small oval structure that are believed to have served the purpose of a watchtower.

After going over the pass, you will descend towards Yanacocha (Black Lagoon) and enter the cloud-forest to finally arrive at Sayacmarca (3,624 m / 11,887 ft), a beautiful complex made up of a semicircular construction, narrow streets, liturgical fountains, patios and irrigation canals. You will then walk a further 30 minutes to Chakiqocha where you will stop for lunch.

Continue walking towards the third pass, the Abra Phuyupatamarka “Town over the clouds” (3,650 m / 11,876 ft). Along this climb, you will be able to admire the magnitude of the Incas´ ancient craft, by walking along paths semi-detached from the mountain, and rocks that fill up ravines in a perfect order, saving the trail from the rough geography of the Andes. Entering an Inca tunnel you will arrive finally to the complex that shares the same name as the pass and is regarded as one of the most complete and best preserved archaeological sites along the Inca Trail to MachuPicchu and from above, one can observe a sophisticated sacred complex made up of water fountains with solid foundations. Journey down along the long stone steps and appreciate the impressive view of the Urubamba Valley, before arriving to Wiñaywayna (2,650 m/ 8,694 ft), the biggest archaeological site on the Inca Trail besides MachuPicchu, which consists of an agricultural centre with numerous terraces, and a religious and urban sector. Here, you will camp and overnight.

Meals :  Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner
Walking Time :  08 hours
Level :  Moderate - Demanding
Accommodation :  Camp
Maximum altitude :  3,900 m (12,792 ft)
Campsite Altitude :  2,650 m (8,692 ft)
Average Temperature :  3° C - 15° C

DAY 4:    Wiñaywayna - Machu PIcchu - Cusco

After an early breakfast at 4.00 am, walk one hour and a half to Inti Punku “The Sun Gate” (2,710 m / 8,891 ft) regarded as the front door to Machu Picchu and from where you will have a spectacular view of the Inca citadel.  Upon arrival to Machu Picchu (2,400 m / 7,874 ft), you will have a guided tour of the ruins. After, free time to walk around or OPTIONAL: climb the small mountain of Huayna Picchu which offers an unreal and beautiful view of the citadel.  Later, a shuttle bus will take you to the town of Aguas

Calientes, where you will have time to relax and visit the hot springs and finally take the train back to Ollanta train station, arrival and transfer to the city of Cusco.

Meals :  Breakfast
Walking Time :  02 hours
Level :  Moderate
Accommodation :  Not Included
Maximum altitude :  2,710 m (8,891 ft)
Average Temperature :  10° C - 20° C


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What’s Included:

• Brief presentation prior to departure
• Transportation from your Hotel to the starting point of the Trek (Km. 82)
• Entrance fees to the Inca trail and Machu Picchu complex
• English-speaking trek guide.
• 2-person tent and sleeping mats.
• Cook for preparation of all meals.
• Cooking equipment, dining tent, tables and chairs.
• Meals as specified: 3 breakfasts (B), 3 lunches (L) and 3 dinners (D).
• Porters to carry camping and cooking equipment.
• Oxygen bottle and first-aid kit.
• One Way Shuttle Bus: Sanctuary / Aguas Calientes.
• Return ticket on tourist train from Aguas Calientes to Ollanta.
• Transfer from Ollanta train station to Cusco.

What’s Not Included:

• Services not specified in the program, extra expenses and tips.
• Lunch and dinner on day 4.
• Entrance fee for the hot springs in Aguas Calientes.
• Porter to carry your personal belongs (please note extra cost for Porter if required)
• Inflatable Mattress.
• Sleeping bag
• National flight tickets.

WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING:

• PASSPORT:  Passport will be requested on day y 1 to enter MachuPicchu National Park.  Passport needs to be the same number and name given at the time of booking your entrance for Inca Trek.  If you are travelling with a different passport you need to show previous passport.
• A backpack with a change of clothes for the whole trek.
• Recommended: T shirts, shorts, warm clothes, raincoat or poncho.
• Thermal clothing is also recommended specially for sleeping.
• Strong footwear, ideally waterproof trekking boots.
• Sandals or jogging shoes for a higher comfort while at camp / wool stockings. 
• Camera, films and batteries (wrapped in plastic bag - rechargeable batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions).
• Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain or cold.
• Sun block and after sun face and body cream.
• Good quality Insect repellent.
• Small towel.
• Flashlight / headlamp.
• Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, dried fruit, etc.
• Water bottle and water for the first morning and sterilizing tablets.
• Swimsuit (if you intend to go to the hot springs).
• Cash in soles or dollars.

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