Classic Inca trail hike to Machu Picchu (5CIT)

Day 1

Piscachucho – Patallacta – Huayllabamba

We’ll have an early start in Cusco and will transfer you by van to Piscacucho (Km. 82), passing by Ollantaytambo, where we’ll have a short stop, to go on a bit later, to the trailhead. This first hiking day is the easiest, because the trail is more flat than uphill and on the way, we´ll see some archaeological sites like Salapunku, Kanabamba, Patallacta and Huillca Racay and after hiking for almost eight hours, we’ll arrive at Huayllabamba, our first campsite. Lunch and Dinner.

Day 2

Llulluchapampa – Warmiwañusca Mountain Pass – Pacaymayo

For everyone who is dreaming about this trek, the second day is considered as the most strenuous of all, because of the uphill hike to that famous, but badly reputed Warmiwañusca Mountain Pass (4,200 m./13,776 ft.). Now, there also are good reasons to enjoy our walk today and there won’t be any hurry, as this is not a race to Machupicchu and besides, the hike includes many stops to observe birds, plants and landscapes or places like Yuncachimpa, the cloud forest, Corralpunku and Llulluchapampa that offer stunning views which are perfect excuses to stop and relax. Later on, we’ll arrive at the mountain pass after almost seven hours of uphill hiking and afterwards, the descent will be of another two hours, to get to our next campsite, in Pacaymayo. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 3

Runkurakay – Sayacmarka – Chaquicocha – Phuyupatamarka

Today, there is another uphill hike awaiting us, but it won’t be as long and hard as yesterday’s, as it will take us about two hours to reach the second mountain pass. On the way, we’ll walk past Runcuraccay and after the pass (3,950 m./12,956 ft.), there will be more vegetation all around us, as well as other archaeological sites to see, like Sayacmarka, Conchamarka, Chakicocha and Phuyupatamarka, where we’ll camp for the night. Really, this is the start of the best part of this Classic Incan Trail to Machupicchu. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 4

Intipata – Wiñaywayna – Intipunku – Machupicchu

This morning, instead of starting the hike uphill, we´ll walk on many steep downhill path and Phuyupatamarka will be the first archaeological site we´ll see, just a few minutes after leaving the campsite. Going lower, we´ll walk by Intipata and later on, by Wiñaywayna, to go on to Intipunku (The Sun´s Gate) and from there, we’ll have a chance to see Machupicchu, for our first time. After it, a less than a hour walk to the site just for a few quick pictures of the Lost City of the Incas, we´ll move on to take a bus to the locality of Aguas Calientes and spend the night at a hotel. Breakfast and Lunch.

Day 5

Machupicchu – Cusco

Very early this morning, we’ll start the day taking the a bus from Aguas Calientes, to  contemplate the sunrise and also have a guided tour exploring  the Inca city.

Afterwards, in the afternoon, we’ll board the train back to Ollantaytambo and get later a van ride to Cusco town. Breakfast.

Availability for the Inca trail

If you want to hike to Machupicchu ensure this:

• Only 500 people per day are permitted to depart upon the Inca Trail to Machupicchu.
• The permits are sold out extremely quickly (6 or more months in advance) especially from May to October.
• The permits are issued on a first come-first served basis.

The Inca trail authorities requires your passport number to sell you a permit. Once you are going to get into the trail these authorities would ask you again for your passport. Take for your hike.

Therefore ANDEAN EXPEDITIONS AND ADVENTURES (ANEXA)  requires for your hike to Machupicchu as a booking condition the following information:

• Complete name (as in your passport is).
• Passport number.
• Passport issue and expire dates.
• Genre.
• Nationality.
• Date of birth.

Once you will have a Inca Trail permit ANDEAN EXPEDITIONS AND ADVENTURES (ANEXA) reminds you this:

The permit will have the name and number of your passport attached so just you and no one else have to use it. After booking is forbidden to endorse or change of user of this permit.

No refundable permit fee would be applied.

In case you will have a new passport for your trip take the old one also (the one that you used for the Inca Trail booking).

Book as soon as possible to have an unforgettable experience hiking to Machupicchu!!!!

Weight restrictions for the Inca Trail hike

The Instituto Nacional de Cultura (INC) is in charge of the Incan Trail´s Administration and one of this governmental institution´s labors is to control the weight each porter has to carry, which is limited to 20 kilos (44 pounds) of equipment, such as tents, food, their personal belonging and your camping equipment. Therefore, in order to respect our trekking porters, ANDEAN EXPEDITIONS AND ADVENTURES (ANEXA) asks you to please pack as light as possible, with a limit of 8 kilos (18 pounds), as you will have to carry any excess weight.

Accomodation on hike and hotel

Accomodations are based on double occupancy for tents and hotel. If you are willing to share accommodation, we will attempt to match you with a room-mate of the same gender. A single accommodation will be available for an additional cost, giving us prior notice for it.

We will add the single supplement to your final bill.