Álvaro Mella
1 year ago
The Classic 4-day, 3-night Inca Trail is the most legendary historical hiking route in South America, following 500-year-old stone-paved highways and royal staircases. Throughout its 43 km (26.7 miles), this premium trek challenges you to conquer the famous Dead Woman’s Pass (Warmiwañusqa) at 4,215 m (13,828 ft), explore remote ruins like Runkurakay, Sayacmarca, and Phuyupatamarca with full support from our Quechua mountain porters, and walk directly into the Machu Picchu Citadel through the historic Sun Gate (Intipunku) before returning to Cusco via the classic train.
Tread the legendary stone highway built by the Incas five centuries ago. Cross dramatic mountain passes, camp under alpine stars, and enter Machu Picchu directly through the historic Sun Gate.
If permits for this ancient route are sold out, your best alternative is the Salkantay Trek 5 Days. If you are short on time, you can opt for the Short Inca Trail 2 Days.
| Feature | Classic Inca Trail 4D | Short Inca Trail 2D |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Effort | Very High (steep stone stairs uphill) | Moderate (shorter and gentler trail) |
| Overnights | 3 nights in mountain campsites | 1 night in an Aguas Calientes hotel |
| Historic Sites | Patallacta, Runkurakay, Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca | Chachabamba, Wiñay Wayna, Intipunku |
| Machu Picchu Entry | Walk in directly through Sun Gate | Walk to Sun Gate, overnight, entry next day |
| Porters & Gear | Porter service included for camp equipment | Daypack only (light hiking) |
We pick you up at 5:30 a.m. from your hotel in Cusco in private transport to Km 82 (official start point). We begin the hike by crossing the Urubamba River and advancing through a gentle valley until we spot the monumental Inca ruins of Patallacta (2,650 m / 8,694 ft) for a guided history briefing. We continue ascending gradually along the Cusichaca River until reaching the rural community of Huayllabamba (3,000 m / 9,842 ft) for dinner and overnight in our pre-set campsite.
The most challenging day of the trek starts early. We ascend at a steady pace through the cloud forest of Tres Cruces, hiking up original Inca stone staircases. We reach the summit of the legendary Dead Woman’s Pass (4,215 m / 13,828 ft), the highest point of the trek, boasting spectacular panoramic views of the range. We then descend via original stone steps to the campsite in the Pacaymayo valley (3,600 m / 11,811 ft) to enjoy a hot lunch, dinner, and well-earned rest.
A day of unrivaled archaeological beauty. We ascend towards the circular ruins of Runkurakay (3,760 m / 12,335 ft) and cross the second pass (3,950 m / 12,959 ft). We descend to the spectacular semi-circular cliff-top ruins of Sayacmarca (3,600 m / 11,811 ft). We walk along beautiful paved stone roads through cloud forests to Phuyupatamarca (3,680 m / 12,073 ft), “The Town in the Clouds,” with stunning views of the surrounding peaks. Finally, we descend 3,000 steps to the Wiñay Wayna campsite (2,680 m / 8,792 ft) for dinner and rest.
The grand finale! We wake up at 3:30 a.m. to hike the final flat jungle trail. We reach the historic Sun Gate (Intipunku) (2,730 m / 8,956 ft) to witness the unforgettable first sunrise view over the majestic Machu Picchu Citadel. We descend to the stone sanctuary and enjoy an elite 2.5-hour guided tour of its main temples and sacred sectors. In the afternoon, we descend to Aguas Calientes to board the classic train to Ollantaytambo, where our private driver awaits to return you directly to your hotel in Cusco.
Important details for the Classic Inca Trail tour:
Cusco
6:00 am
Due to the demand of this tour and at the request of UNESCO, the Peruvian government has limited access to 500 people per day among tourists and staff (guides, cooks and porters). For those interested in making the classic Inca Trail between the months of March and November, it is recommended to make a reservation up to 6 months in advance due to the high demand.
