4-Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Itinerary
If you’re looking for an authentic, adventurous experience on a trek to Machu Picchu, our 4-day tour of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is the perfect option for small groups. Come and join like-minded travelers from across the globe on the trip of a lifetime. This package is a superb option whether you’re traveling by yourself, with a partner, or with a small group of friends.
As you set out on your 4-day adventure in the mountains and lush jungle, you’ll feel a thrill knowing that you’re going to witness some incredible sights. Your trek will start in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, in the quaint community of Piscacucho, around two and a half hours from Cusco. You’ll witness some interesting archaeological sites like Llactapata. You’ll head up to the highest part of the trek, Dead Woman’s Pass, before descending into the tropical jungle where the marvel that is Machu Picchu is located.
Along the rest of the route, you’ll be able to observe some truly stunning local flora and fauna, including over 250 types of orchids, 450 species of birds, and perhaps the spectacled bear, who Paddington was based on! You’ll also stop off at other fascinating archaeological sites, which include Runkurakay, Sayaqmarka, Phuyupatamarka, Intipata, Wiñay Wayna, and Inti Punku or Sun Gate.
On the last day, you’ll be entering Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate, something that only those who opt to hike the Inca Trail get the chance to do. Spread your arms as if you were a condor getting ready to take flight across this incredible New Wonder of the World. Explore the ancient Inca citadel with your guide and learn about its history and secrets. Take your time and relax as you soak up the magic of the Incas in this wonderful site before heading back to Cusco.
DAY 01: Cusco – km.82 – Patallacta – wayllabamba – Ayapata
We will start the Inca Trail 4 day hike by picking you up at your hotel at 05:30 AM to drive from Cusco to Ollantaytambo and then to Km 82. Here, we will have to register to enter the Classic Inca Trail path and will meet all the staff members that will do the trek with us. From Km 82 we will take a gentle hike for 2 hours until we arrive to our first Inca site: Willca Raccay and the enormous Patallacta, which is an ancient Inca checkpoint for the approach to Machu Picchu. From Patallacta it’s another 2 hour hike to our lunch stop. After lunch we will hike for another 2½ hours until we reach the first night’s campsite at Ayapata (3,300 meters). On this last stretch we pass through 2 small communities. If you want to buy any energy drinks or snacks you can do so here, you can also buy any essential items such as batteries that you may have forgotten. We’ll arrive to our campsite by 5:00PM and after settling in for a bit you can relax and have a hot drink and snack with your team of porters, chef and guide. By 7:30PM your dinner will be ready, and afterwards you can get some well-deserved rest.
- Walking Distance – 14km / 8.7 miles
- Campsite Elevation – 3,850 meters / 12,631 feet
- Difficulty Inca Trail Hike Day 1: Moderate
- Max. elevation: Ayapata 3,850 meters / 12,630 feet
- Min. elevation: Starting Point (Km 82) 2,350 meters / 7,709 feet
- Meals: Lunch & Dinner (Plus snack and afternoon tea)
- Accommodation: Camping
- Weather: Warm and windy
Day 02: Ayapata – Chaquicocha
During the morning, we will drink coca tea to help us acclimate further to the high altitude. Soon after, we will have a hearty breakfast prepared by our trail chef. With this energy, we will start our second day’s adventure! We will hike Inca Trail Tour for around 4 hours to the highest pass of the trek, Dead Woman’s Pass (4,215 meters/13,829 feet). On reaching the pass we’ll stop for a short break to enjoy the views before setting off again to descend to the next valley (Pacaymayu Valley – Hidden River). It’s another hour and a half down the side of the valley to our lunch spot. After lunch we begin ascending again to the second pass of the trek. It’s 2 hours to the pass and along the way we’ll stop at a small Inca site (Runcu Raccay) and see two huge waterfalls cascading down the opposite side of the valley. After the second pass, it’s another hour downhill hike to reach the magnificent Inca site, Sayacmarca (an otherwise inaccessible village).
We’ll stop here for a rest and have a quick tour of the site and then watch the sunset over the Vilcabamba mountain range. It’s then just another 20 minutes until we stop for the night at our second campsite Chaquicocha (3,600 meters/11,811 feet). After dinner, if you’re not too exhausted, we can do some star gazing and we’ll point out the fascinating Inca constellations. In the magnificent Southern Hemisphere sky, away from all the artificial lighting, this sky is something to behold!
- Walking Distance: 16km / 9.94 miles (7-8 hours)
- Campsite Elevation: 3,600 meters / 11,811 feet
- Difficulty Inca Trail Hike Day 2: Moderate to Challenging
- Max. elevation: Dead Woman’s Pass 4,215 meters / 13,829 feet
- Min. elevation: Pacaymayu Valley 3,300 meters / 10,826 feet
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner (Plus snack and afternoon tea)
- Accommodation: Camping
- Weather: Cold and rainy
Day 03: Chaquicocha – Winaywayna
Completing Day 2 and beginning Day 3 certainly deserves a pat on the back! We begin hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu early again, waking up at 6:30 am to begin what is commonly felt to be the most beautiful day of the whole Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Tour. We hike for 2 hours along and begin to enter the jungle, known as the Cloud Forest. Towards the end of the Inca flats, we begin to make our way up to the last peak at Phuyupatamarka (3600 meters) from where we’ll have great views overlooking the Urubamba River. From Phuyupatamarka it´s a 3-hour walk down a flight of steps to our last campsite, close to Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young). Wiñay Wayna is the most spectacular Inca site on the Peru Inca Trail Tour after Machu Picchu and the most popular campsite because of its proximity to Machu Picchu.
- Walking Distance: 10km / 6.2 miles (5 hours)
- Campsite Elevation: 2,600 meters / 8,530 feet
- Difficulty Inca Trail Hike Day 3: Moderate
- Max. elevation: Phuyupatamarka 3,600 meters / 11,811 feet
- Min. elevation: Wiñay Wayna 2,600 meters / 8,530 feet
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner (Plus snack and afternoon tea
- Accommodation: Camping
- Weather: Warm and very humid
Day 04: Winay Wayna – Machu Picchu – Cusco
Wake up time is at 3:30AM. We’ll eat breakfast at 4:00AM and wait at the checkpoint to be one of the first to start trekking when they open the gates at 5:30AM. We’ll wave goodbye to our team of porters and chef and then it’s “Forward On” to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku). We will wake up early after a refreshing night to enjoy the serenity in the soft morning light as hike 2 hours from Wiñay Wayna to the Sun Gate or “Inti Punku.” Here, the Inca Trail 4 day trek officially ends. From here we have spectacular views of the mountains and Machu Picchu in all its glory.
We will walk downhill for 1 hour and enter the hidden Royal Citadel of the Incas! Here we will have a 2-hour guided tour through this incredible ancient city to visit temples, terraces, palaces, priest’s houses, the sundial, the industrial sector, and the farming fields. Be amazed at the engineering ingenuity of the Incas which was so far ahead of their time and still partially a mystery today! Without having modern tools or even steel and iron to work with, the people who built this city were genius in organizing this community in a sustainable and beautiful way on the side of a mountain, even bringing water in canals through its streets for the people to use.
After this tour, you are free to explore by yourself. Another option is walking to see the Incan Bridge. You will be able to stay and enjoy this magical city for as long as you need before taking the bus down to the town of Aguas Calientes. Here if you have left time before the train, you will be able to have lunch, visit the hot springs, and walk around the town and the artisan market. At 16:22 hrs (subject to availability), we will take the train to Ollantaytambo. A private bus will pick up our group and drop you off at your hotel in Cusco at about 20:00 hrs. Rest your feet and your body now, but we can assure you your heart will still be soaring for weeks and years to come!
- Considered: The most exciting and magical day (early wake up 3.30 AM)
- Area: High Cloud and Subtropical Forest
- Meals: Breakfast
- Weather: Hot and very humid (bring lots of water)
Frequently Asked Questions INCA TRAIL 4 DAYS TO MACHU PICCHU All-inclusive Door to Door service
When is the best time to do the Inca Trail 4 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 recommend. But the trail is open for 11 months. March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December. February closed for maintaining reasons.
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.
- Will the altitude affect me? When traveling throughout the Andes in Peru, some people will suffer some effects of it. If you plan to hike the Salkantay trail, we recommend arriving 2 or 3 days before start the trek to acclimate and rest while you can do day tours in Cusco
- What can I do to prevent the altitude sickness? We recommend to be in Cusco at least two days and drink as much water as you can and drink coca tea you can order at any restaurant, hotel. You can also prepare it yourself with boiled water and dried coca leaves. At least one day before the tour we recommend eating light food, and if you have any medication prescribed from a doctor you can take it, and the best thing that you can do is to keep in mind that you will be fine.
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.
AVAILABILITY OF THE INCA TRAIL
The exact information provided by you will be sent to the government institution in charge of regulating access to the Inca Trail and will be included in the official permit to enter the Inca Trail on the requested date. In case there is any change in the data mentioned above (ie new passport number), please inform the Reservations Department of Peru Adventure Trek Tour Operator by email as soon as possible. The government reserves the right to deny entry to any visitor whose data is not accurate to that of the official permit. Peru Adventure Trek Tour Operator excludes any responsibility for non-entry in case the passenger’s information has changed without prior notice.
Inca Trail permits are available. You can book your trip for this date, 2023 or 2024
