Popularly known as the Classic Inca Trail, the 4 day Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu offers an authentic experience. You will be retracing the footsteps of Incas to visit Machu Picchu. It is a lifetime experience and tops the bucket list of many travellers.
The twenty six miles Inca trail trek to Machu Picchu is recognised by National Geographic Travel magazine as one of the top twenty five treks globally. To maintain the trail, local authorities now restrict the access to 500 people a day. This includes porters, guides, cooks so barely 200 trekkers can experience this in a day.
Often Inca trail permits tend to sell six months in advance. We highly recommend you to book it as soon as possible.
Inca Trail could be challenging to most depending on your physical condition. We recommend you to spend 3-4 days in Cusco and acclimate before the trail to avoid altitude sickness.
Heidi Travel Peru, is a fully locally owned tour operator in Cusco. We are certified local guides with an excellent knowledge of Incas history and culture. As natives, our guides will be sharing some of the astonishing facts on this Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
We offer the experience, both as a small group tour and as a private tour. We invite you to take a moment to check out our reviews on Tripadvisor.
Cusco Hotel Transfer
0600 AM
At 0600 AM, we will be picking you up from your hotel in Cusco. Then in our private transport, we will be driving you through the Sacred Valley of Incas to Ollantaytambo train station. Here you will be boarding the tourist train to KM 82, the trail head.
Once at the trailhead, our guide will be assisting you to clear the security control. Here you will have to present your original passport and Inca Trail permit to the authorities. We will then start with a gradual hike to Miskay. Along the way we will be visiting some archaeological sites.
At Miskay we will be stopping for lunch. After lunch, we will be continuing the trail to our campsite. We will also be visiting the archaeological complex of Llactapata.
Early in the morning, after relishing a typical breakfast, we will begin the full day hike to Pacaymayo. We will begin with an uphill hike to the highest point of Inca Trail – Warmi Wanusca or the Dead Woman’s Pass at 4200 metres (13780 feet).
After lunch, we will continue trekking down to our second night’s campsite in Pacaymayo.
After breakfast, we will begin the trail with a hike up to the second highest pass of the trail at 3850 metres (12631 feet). We will be stopping at many archaeological sites including Runcuracay ruins.
We will then visit the complexes of Sayacmarca and Phuyupatamarka. After lunch, we will be hiking to the Wiñay Wayna ruins. In Quechua it means forever young. We will be camping closer to the complex.
The most interesting day of the Inca Trail. We will be leaving the campsite early in the morning. We will be hiking to Inti Punku or the Sun Gate. From here you will get the first view of Machu Picchu citadel, lost city of the Incas.
This view at sunrise is exclusive to those on Inca Trail. We will then hike down the hill to the citadel. Here our local expert will be giving you a guided tour of the citadel. After the tour, you will have some free time.
If you have booked to hike Huayna Picchu mountain or Machu Picchu mountain our guide will be directing you to the entrance. You will need to book in advance to hike Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu mountain. Huayna Picchu also houses the temple of the moon.
After the full day trip, we will then take the bus down to Aguas Calientes town. It takes 30 minutes.
Here you will be boarding the train back to Ollantaytambo. Our representative will be meeting you at the train station and will be driving you back to your hotel in Cusco.
