Pre-scheduled group tours depart:
Private custom departures are available every month except February (when the trail closes for archaeological/ecological maintenance).
To inquire on a custom date, please contact us!
8 Days / 7 Nights (hiking on the Inca Trail for 4 Days / 3 Nights)
4 Nights in Hotels* / 3 Nights in Tented Camps along the Inca Trail
*choose between a 5 Star hotel package option or a 3 / 4 Star hotel package option instead
Moderate*
Activities: multi-day hiking on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (total trekking distance: ~28 miles / ~45 km)
*Please refer to our Trip Activity Level Guide for more information
Bienvenidos a Peru! Upon arrival at Cusco International Airport, you will be greeted by a member of our team. Experience the scenery and history in the beautiful capital city of Cusco as you are then transported to your hotel. This afternoon and evening, after settling in to your hotel, you will have free time to explore this extraordinary high-altitude city (~11,000 feet / ~3,350 meters above sea level). Later, you will enjoy dinner with a special VIP guest at one of our favorite restaurants in Cusco. Additionally, your guide will coordinate with you to provide a detailed pre-trek Inca Trail briefing on Day 1.
Today is your first full day in Peru! Following a delicious breakfast, you will set out to explore Cusco on a private half-day van/walking tour. During this tour, you will be able to truly experience the sights, sounds, and main attractions of one of South America’s most impressive cities (which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The tour will take you to visit the heart of this city and its emblematic highlights. You will travel by van to explore the archaeological sites at Sacsayhuaman, Tambomachay, Pukapukara, and Q’enqo, and will travel by foot to the Cusco Cathedral and the incredible Qorikancha temple.
On your tour, you will undoubtedly be struck by the unlikely yet intriguing intersection of antiquity and modernity in this ancient capital city of the Inca Empire, as fashionable Cusqueñans share the sidewalk with rural campesinos on busy avenues and plazas, the latter often dressed in traditional garb and sometimes leading parcel-laden alpacas or donkeys.
Following this tour, you will have the afternoon and evening to explore the city on your own. Later, for lunch and dinner, you will be able to experience the gastronomy of the city at your leisure, at restaurants of your choosing.
At last, today you will begin your hike of the Inca Trail – one of South America’s most famous treks! Following an early wake-up, you will drive from Cusco to the trailhead at KM 82 to begin this incredible journey. While most other trekkers cross the Urubamba River at KM 82 (~8,694 feet / ~2,650 meters above sea level), you will continue downriver and cross at KM 88. As a result, this will set the tone for the rest of the trek (having the landscape to yourself, avoiding the crowds, and a more tranquil and immersive experience) and create some space between you and other groups as you warm up your hiking legs. Later, you will take your first break at the ruins of Q’oriwayrachina, consisting of nearly 200 ancient stone structures.
In the early afternoon, camp will be set and you will enjoy lunch at our campsite of Chamana (near a small village that is part of the Llaqtapata Community), at 8,481 feet / 2,585 meters above sea level. As evening approaches, you can visit the nearby archaeological site of Llaqtapata. Finally, at the end of the day, we are delighted to be able to offer you a warm dinner after the day’s trek!
Daily trekking distance: approximately 6.3 miles / 10.1 kilometers (i.e. ~5 hours of hiking)
Wake up to a steaming cup of coffee or tea and trail-worthy breakfast at your campsite before embarking again on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. You will continue the journey up the narrow Cusichaca Valley, passing farmhouses and rural homesteads, until finally reaching the Andean community of Huayllabamba. From here, the cobble-stoned Inca Trail ascends steeply through an ancient native forest bursting with melodic birdsong.
Later, the trail begins to level out at the campsite at Llulluchapampa (12,336 feet / 3,760 meters), situated just below the first pass. At this point, while enjoying a delicious dinner, you can experience breathtaking views of Mt. Huayanay and a first glimpse of the rare Andean cloud forest of Quenua, or Polylepis trees. Their reddish bark peels into paper-like sheets, hence their familiar name “Paper Tree.”
Daily trekking distance: approximately 7.3 miles / 11.8 kilometers (i.e. ~7-8 hours of hiking)
Fuel up on a hot breakfast for the big climbs later today. Breathtaking vistas along the way will also give you energy as you head into the heart of the Andean mountains. The day’s hike begins with a steady ascent up to Warmiwanusqa Pass (‘Dead Woman’s Pass’), where you will enjoy panoramic views of the terrain you have just conquered from this challenging high point (13,871 feet / 4,228 meters, nearly 5,905 feet / 1,800 meters higher than Machu Picchu itself!).
Now, the hard-earned descent to the Pacaymayo River lies ahead. After a hearty lunch, you will ascend again to the ruins of Runkuraqay and a second pass (13,018 feet / 3,968 meters). From here, you will then walk down to the site of Sayacmarca on the original Inca Trail, passing a dry lake and the first signs of the mist-filled Andean cloud forest. Many plants and animals thrive in the cloud forest, including endemic species found nowhere else on Earth! You may spot hummingbirds, butterflies, and delicate orchids of various brilliant hues. This stretch of trail along a steady ridge offers a bit of a respite from the day’s arduous ascents and descents, in addition to offering incredible views of the beautiful Aobamba Valley below.
You will continue along the ridge through undeniably amazing landscapes and views of snow-capped Mt. Salkantay on the western side, as well as Mt. Pumasillo silhouetted to the north. Follow the flagstoned trail until you eventually arrive at your campsite at Phuyupatamarca (12,008 feet / 3,660 meters), whose name in the Quechua language means “village at the edge of the clouds.”
Daily trekking distance: approximately 7.5 miles / 12.1 kilometers (i.e. ~8-10 hours of hiking)
At last, you have arrived at the day that you will get your first glimpse of the iconic citadel of Machu Picchu! You will wake up early for a glorious sunrise view just a short hike up the hill from the campsite, where porters will await you with steaming cups of tea. This site is known to deliver some of the most surprisingly radiant sunrise views in the entire area. Following breakfast you continue on your journey, passing the ruins at Phuyupatamarca. These ruins contain an irrigation system that was built over five centuries ago, and which still functions to this day!
At this point, the flagstoned trail begins to wind sharply downwards, leading you into the cloud forest to the well-conserved ruins of Wiñay Wayna (‘Forever Young’) located just below the ridge. Following in the Inca’s footsteps, along the very same trail they once used, you will now pass through dense, misty cloud forest until at last reaching a viewpoint of Machu Picchu at Inti Punku (the Sun Gate) around 3:00-4:00 PM. After soaking up the glorious view, you will continue down past the archaeological site to the transportation area, in order to board a group shuttle down to the village of Aguas Calientes (which sits at the base of Machu Picchu, at an elevation of 6,692 feet / 2,040 meters above sea level). When you arrive in the town, you will enjoy a hard-earned shower and rest at your hotel.
Daily trekking distance: approximately 6.8 miles / 10.9 kilometers (i.e. ~8 hours of hiking)
Now that you have experienced the beautiful Inca Trail, you will hike Huayna Picchu (or Machu Picchu Mountain) and then further explore the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu (7,972 feet / 2,430 meters above sea level) on a three-hour guided tour. As part of the enhanced experience, you will then do the Circuit 2 tour route (the longer route through the citadel). Having the privilege of wandering the various sectors and entering some of the houses and temples will really bring this iconic site to life, and therefore leave you with a sense of reverence and awe for what the Inca were able to achieve so long ago. This tour will later be followed by a lunch, then a scenic train ride to Ollanta Station. From there, you will be transported by private vehicle to your hotel in Cusco.
Today you will enjoy your last morning in Peru, before later being transferred by private vehicle from your hotel to Cusco International Airport for your flight home.
Please contact us for a complete detailed itinerary.
Bedding down in a former convent isn’t necessarily what you might expect. Lovingly restored, 17th-century architecture gives each artistic room and suite a distinctly colonial feel. Recline on a four-poster bed splashed with hand-embroidered silk coverlets. Bathe beneath hand-painted frescos using soap perfumed by the Palacio’s own flowers. Some suites feature original Inca stonework; others boast balconies with hypnotic views of Cusco’s distant, mist-wrapped mountains. Hotel website
Sitting in the shadows of the Lost City, our lodge is an oasis of calm before or after a day exploring Machu Picchu. Unwind with a yoga session, take part in a traditional shaman ceremony in the garden, or sip muña tea in the Tampu Bar. Tranquility, wonder and beauty are at the heart of our unique experience. Cool botanical fabrics are offset by cherry-colored woods. King-sized beds provide space to unwind. Outside your windows, the mountains ripple into the distance.Signature dishes like a Jungle Landscape salad or Sacred Valley grilled trout evoke the Andean setting. Take a seat and let our authentic menu kickstart your Peruvian adventure. Hotel website
One of the finest hotels in Peru and part of Starwood Resorts’ Luxury Collection, the Palacio del Inka is a 16th century mansion once occupied by Gonzalo Pizarro, half-brother of Francisco Pizarro (the Spanish conquistador who conquered Peru).
Located in the heart of Cusco, Palacio del Inka is walking distance to shopping, restaurants, and museums. It is also located across from the Koricancha, the most sacred temple in the Inca Empire. The spacious rooms are exquisitely appointed, combining Peruvian art, handcrafted furnishings, as well as state-of-the-art technology. The on-site restaurant, Inti Raymi, serves particularly authentic Andean specialties, with ingredients organically grown in the Sacred Valley. Take advantage of the full service spa that draws on the ancient healing mysticism of the Andes. Hotel website
Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel is an intimate Andean village with terraced hills, waterfalls, stone pathways and 83 whitewashed adobe casitas tucked away in the cloud forest. The property has 12 acres of exquisite natural beauty, where 214 bird species – such as the golden-headed quetzal and the iconic Andean cock-of-the-rock – as well as the world’s largest native orchid collection (372 species) have been registered. The hotel also features an on-site restaurant overlooking the river, as well as a relaxing spa and sauna.
Additionally, the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Resort was rated the #3 hotel in Central and South America in Travel and Leisure’s 2015 World’s Best Awards. Hotel website
The centrally located Novotel Cusco hotel is the perfect base for exploring this historic city and the surrounding area. The colonial and modern architecture continues in the spacious rooms, which offer free wifi. Relax under the shade of the canopy on the patio of this old colonial house while sipping coca tea. Hotel website
Step into the smart, contemporary and cozy confines of El Mapi, amidst the picturesque Machu Picchu Pueblo. Discover an efficient, lively and friendly atmosphere, welcoming guests expecting an unfussy, down-to-earth break. The flowing lobby creates a sense of vitality. Lofty ceilings, panoramic windows and an open café allow natural light to filter between tall eucalyptus dried branches, creating an ambience of order and wellbeing. Relax in a pleasant and wholesome ambience after your enlightening visit to Peru’s most famous destination: the Machu Picchu archaeological site! Hotel website
“Moving villages” are exactly as they sound: deluxe camps that move with you while you hike the Inca Trail. Following long days of trekking, you will enjoy comfortable tented campsites at incredible locations with breathtaking views. When booking your trip, you will have the option to choose between Eureka tents or higher-volume Big Agnes tents (the latter at additional cost).
We go above and beyond in handling every aspect of campsite operations, so that you can therefore focus on enjoying your time on the trail. All of the campsites feature dining tables in a dining tent (for breakfast & dinner, and lunch as well in the event that it is raining), fresh meals, beverages, your extra baggage, as well as two-person tents with sleeping pads already set up and awaiting your arrival. We also provide snacks before the trek each day, and we bring warm water and soap to your tents each morning for washing.
Furthermore, other luxuries – such as privacy toilet tents – will also be present at campsites on this trip. Optional shower tents can be arranged (at additional expense) if you elect to include them as part of your trekking experience while on the trail. Full adventure teams support these impressive accommodations and can generally consist of up to 15-20 porters, cooks, and guides for a 12-person trip.
The experience of relaxing in camp, sharing an evening meal with your fellow adventurers, and looking down across seemingly endless green valleys will undoubtedly stay with you for a long time.
There is no other operator in the travel industry that will provide the same level of personal attention to you before your Inca Trail tour. We get very involved with our clients before each trip by offering a series of pre-planning calls in the months and weeks before departure. This therefore provides you with an opportunity to hear directly from us on preparation, trip experience, and training. It also gives you the platform to ask questions about any aspect of the trip.
Furthermore, our knowledgeable support staff take care of the details of your in-country transportation, lodging, meals, tours, permits, and other activities. We also provide a comprehensive pre-departure information package that includes trip details, all applicable forms, and a packing list.
On this trip, you will also have the luxury of hiking the Inca Trail with support from our team of experienced guides, cooks, and porters. During the trekking portion, our porters carry the camping equipment, food, and everything but your small personal day packs. This means that you can hike ‘pack-free’ along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
The Explorer’s Passage is a proud member of Sustainable Travel International, a partner/supporter of the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, as well as a supporter of the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST). In addition to ‘Leave No Trace’ principles, the concepts of sustainability and responsible trekking are at the forefront of each Inca Trail tour. As part of this commitment, we: minimize single-use plastic; pack out all our litter; charge equipment using portable solar panels; use biodegradable soaps; prioritize the use of organic, locally-sourced ingredients for our meals; compost food scraps; minimize disruptions to wildlife and Sacred Valley communities (this includes noise moderation); do not allow collecting of plants, rocks, or other items from the trail; and we only use authorized paths to prevent erosion and damage/disrespect to archaeological and cultural sites.
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