Camps Accommodation
Up to 10 People Group Size
CUSCO LOCATION
Moderado Difficulty
Go a bit slower on this Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 5-day/4-night trek
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu treks generally follow the same itinerary as our Classic 4-Day Inca Trail Trek, but at a more leisurely pace. You can spend more time at each ruin along the way. This is a great option for those worried about their hiking capability and speed, as well as families with younger hikers.
You can relax and enjoy a stress-free experience when you trek with Alpaca Expeditions. We take care of everything, from offering the best campsites to serving delicious and nutritious meals and providing top-notch equipment. Our dedicated team of a friendly guide, talented chefs and helpful porters will manage your experience flawlessly, so you can appreciate the stunning scenery and make unforgettable memories!
Tour Type: Hiking, camping, adventure, history, culture
Total Distance: 43 km/26 miles
Good For: Families with children, or those who wish to take their time
Difficulty: Moderate, but challenging
Considerations: Permit required
Cusco – Ollantaytambo – KM 82 – Hatunchaca
We will depart for your Machu Picchu Inca Trail Tour from Cusco at 5 a.m. in private transportation and head toward KM 82, the starting point of the Inca Trail. After this beautiful drive, your chef will prepare breakfast before you start your trek. We start our hike walking along the left shore of the Urubamba River, following the trail along a flat terrain, to the community of Miskay (2800 m /9184 ft). The first two hours of the trek are relatively easy as we make our way to our first Inca site and checkpoint, Patallacta. This site will start the approach to Machu Picchu. After we arrive at Patallacta, we will make our way down into the canyon to enjoy lunch and the views of Patallacta. From Patallacta, we will continue on the trail at an easygoing pace, while enjoying the scenery and haring stories from your guide. It’s about a two-hour walk to reach our camping site at the village of Hatunchaka (3,300 meters).
Hatunchaca – Dead Woman’s Pass – Pacaymayo
We wake up early to begin our ascent to Dead Woman´s Pass. The views of the snow-capped mountains and the cloud forest are fantastic. This first stretch is the most challenging part of the trek. It consists of a steep ascent that stretches for nine kilometers, which will bring us to the first mountain pass in the Inca Trail, Abra Warmihuañusca (Dead Woman’s pass). We will stop at Llulluchapampa to relax and to buy any last essentials. We may be able to see deer and falcons in this area. We will have the chance to spot domesticated llamas and alpacas, who graze on ichu (one of the few plants that grow at that altitude). After the two-hour walk up to the pass, we can enjoy the beautiful views and a refreshing cup of coca tea. After we have made it to the pass, it´s downhill the rest of the day. After about two hours, we´ll stop for lunch, and have a free afternoon in the Pacaymayo Valley.
Pacaymayo – Runcu Raccay Pass- Sayacmaraca Ruins – Phuyupatamarca
After breakfast, we will continue our hike up the opposite side of the valley, as we make our way towards the second pass on the trek. Along the way, we will see fantastic views of waterfalls and flora and fauna. Halfway up, we will stop and visit the Inca site of Runcu Raccay (an Inca watchtower), and to catch our breath before we continue our climb to the pass (4,000 meters). From the pass, we will once again begin our descent back into the cloud forest. After about an hour, we arrive at Sayacmarca, one of the most beautiful ruins on the Inca Trail, where we’ll have a one hour, guided tour. From Sayacmarca, we will continue to our lunch spot at Chaquicocha (dry lake). Here you will see some of the fantastic flora and fauna the Inca Trail has to offer. From Chaquicocha onwards, we will walk along Inca flat (gradual inclines), as we make our way towards our final campsite, Phuyupatamarca (3,680 meters). This area of the Inca Trail had stunning views of the Vilcabamba mountain range, as well as abundant flora and fauna. After another two hour walk, we’ll arrive at our campsite, where we’ll get our first view of Machu Picchu mountain and the Urubamba river. We’ll settle into our campsite, and have the chance to explore the Inca site. As the sun goes down, we can enjoy the beautiful sunset over the snow-capped peaks.
Phuyupatamarca – Wiñay Wayna – Sun Gate – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes
Today, we will have the chance to enjoy one of the most spectacular sunrises on the Inca Trail, weather permitting. After breakfast, you´ll have a guided tour of Phuyupatamarca. We will then start our way down the long descending stone steps to Wiñay Wayna 2,650m/8,692ft, where we will have lunch. As we near the bottom of the staircase, we will visit the site of Intipata (Terraces of the Sun). This site has beautiful views of the Sacred Valley and was an important agricultural site for Machu Picchu. After Intipata, we will continue to Wiñay Wayna, the archaeological site that is the largest on the Inca Trail besides Machu Picchu. It consists of an impressive complex made up of an agricultural center, with numerous terraces, a religious sector, and an urban sector. This site offers spectacular views over the already narrower Urubamba River valley. After our visit, we will have our last lunch with the porters. Following, it is a tradition on the Inca Trail to have a thanking ceremony for all the hard work the porters and cooks have provided. If you wish, you may leave a tip for them at this time. After we´ve said goodbye to our team, we will carry on to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku), where we will get our first views of Machu Picchu. It takes about an hour of hiking along a trail of flat stones in the highland jungle to reach the Sun Gate. From there, it is about another hour down to the site itself. Upon arrival, we´ll have a chance to enjoy the sunset and to see views of Machu Picchu without crowds, before taking the bust to your hotel in Aguas Calientes.
The Lost City of The Incas – Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo – Cusco
We will wake up early and board one of the first buses to Machu Picchu, to enjoy the sunrise at the citadel (if the weather allows). These buses are first come, first serve, starting at 5:30 a.m. You’ll have a two-hour tour of the Inca citadel, and then some free time to explore. If you have purchased permits for Huayna Picchu, your guide will show you where this climb begins. It will take you 45 minutes to the top and another 45 back down. Priced at $75 per person and will need to be booked in advance. After the citadel tour, you will take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes, and meet for our last lunch in town. Having lunch with your group is optional and is not included in the trek cost. Following, you will take the afternoon train back to
Ollantaytambo, where our private bus will be waiting to take you back to Cusco and drop you off at your hotel.
When is the best time to do the Inca Trail 5 Days?
It is a difficult question to answer as Peru has a variety of conditions. The best time is the dry season runs from May to November, and this is typically the time that we recommended. But the trail is open for 11 months. March, April, May, June, july, August, September, October, November, December. February closed for maintaining reason.
Do I need to bring my passport for this tour?
For the Inca Trail, you must take the original passport because you need to show it at the main gate of Machu Picchu also to board the train, to pass the Inca trail
What type of transportation do you use?
-All the vehicles that we use for this type of tour are the Sprinter Mercedes Benz modern minibusses that have all the documentation required by the national authorities, all the cars are maintained daily to keep them in good conditions and clean, and each vehicle has a logo of Peru Adventure Trek.
How do I reserve a space for the Inca trail?
Just click on the BOOK THIS TOUR button and fill out all the required information and one of our sales advisors will contact you immediately and if you want to talk by WhatsApp with a specialist, you can contact to this number. +51 990 272 027
Do you require a deposit?
Yes. We require a non-refundable deposit of 250 dollars per person for The Inca trail. The money of the deposit we use to purchase the Machu Picchu entrance tickets and the train tickets Permission for the Inca trail
What happens after I make my deposit?
Once we confirm the deposit, we are going to confirm your reservation through email sending you all the details about the tour.
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