The Inca Trail 4 day trek is known as one of the most famous and popular hiking trails, not only in Peru but also worldwide. It consists of a 4-day hike from km 82 to Machu Picchu (43 km/26.719 miles). The main attraction of the Inca Trail 4 day trek is the beautiful combination of Inca ruins, majestic mountains, exotic vegetation, and amazing ecological diversity. The trail leads through high passes with unforgettable views, a cloud forest, and finally down into semi-tropical vegetation.
The highest point above sea level is 4,200 m, so everyone who comes from the coast is advised to spend 2 days in Cusco before traveling to acclimatize to the altitude. The 4 day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu includes a professional tour guide, trekking chef, super porters carrying all high-quality camping equipment, and your personal belongings.
The Machu Picchu sanctuary is home to more than 250 species of orchids and many species of rare birds, animals, and reptiles, as well as some species that are on the verge of extinction. If you want to hike the Classic Inca Trail, we recommend you book in advance, as there are only 500 slots available every day.
Sustainable Tourism: Inca Trail Machu is very keen and happy to promote and practice sustainable tourism by being eco-friendly and supporting local communities and also, this year we has planting more 30´000 native plant in Cusco.
Physical Activity: 3-Moderate to difficult - Some points are high.
Service Level: All Inclusive.
Age Requirement: 4+. Please note: all participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Permits: Included the Inca Trail permits and Machu Picchu ticket.
Inca Trail Machu Staff: Professional Tour Guide, Trekking chef and Porters.
Personal Porters: Our porters will carry personal belongings up to 7 kg per person!
Accommodation: 3x campsite.
Meals: 3x breakfast, 3x lunch, 3x dinner, 3x afternoon tea.
Transportation: Transportation by private vehicle, 1x train ticket;
Camping equipment: A double tent, therm-A-Rest mattress, a pair of hiking poles, and a sleeping bag;
Day 01: Cusco - Km 82 - Ayapata
Day 02: Ayapata - Pacaymayu
Day 03: Pacaymayu - Wiñaywayna
Day 04: Hiking to Machu Picchu
If you are planning to hike the Classic Inca Trail 4 Days in 2025, we recommend you book in advance. In mid-October, availability for the Inca Trail 2025 will reopen, and you can secure your permits for the next year. Don’t wait until the last minute; book your Classic Inca Trail now.
Starting the 4 Inca Trail Trek: We pick you up from your hotel and transport you by bus to the trailhead at km 82. There a briefing takes place at 2,350 metres. them we pass a checkpoint and hike along the Urubamba river visiting the collection of archeological sites of Wilkarakay and the marvelous Inca ruins of Patallacta. We later continue up the Cusichaka River Canyon offering some magnificent views of the Cordillera Oriental, particularly, Veronica Mountain (5,850 m). We have lunch in Chamana, to continue afterwards following the trail and the Cusichaka river observing several Inca agricultural terraces and irrigation channels. Then, we visit the picturesque village of Huayllabamba. From this point, we start ascending while appreciating different eco-systems along the way. In Ayapata, we set up the first campsite (3,700 m) and have afternoon tea and finally dinner before we go to sleep.
Estimated trekking time: 7 hours
Trekking distance: 14 km
Max. elevation: 3,250 m
Min. elevation: 2,600 m
Difficulty: Moderate
After wake-up and breakfast, we start hiking up the trail toward the first pass Warmiwañusca (4,200 m) passing through the cloud forest of Yunkachimpa and Corralpunku enjoying excellent views of snowcapped peaks. From the pass, we descend to the Pacasmayo Valley (3,300 m) to have lunch there. We continue hiking through the valley to reach the Inca ruins of Runkuracay where we have another guided visit. Afterwards, we climb up to get over the second pass (3,860 m) and follow the "Royal Inca Highway" down to see the Inca site of Sayacmarca. Then, we pass the Yanacocha lake and camp in Chaquicocha.
Estimated trekking time: 8 - 10 hours
Trekking distance: 16 km
Max. elevation: 4,200 m
Min. elevation: 3,300 m
Difficulty: Strenuous
We start climbing up the trail and pass through beautiful subtropical vegetation on the route to the archaeological site of Phuyupatamarca. There we have lunch at an altitude of 3,600 metres to later steeply descent through a cloud forest having opportunities to see stunning orchids and different varieties of birds before we reach the wonderful Inca remains of Wiñay wayna (2,700 m) where our guide shows us around. We spend the third night near the ruins.
Estimated trekking time: 5 hours
Trekking distance: 10 km
Max. elevation: 3,680 m
Min. elevation: 2,700 m
Difficulty: Easy
In the early morning, we begin our hike to Machu Picchu, overlooking the Urubamba River on the way to the Sun Gate or Inti Punku for a sunrise view of Machu Picchu. We enter the site early in the morning for the best photo opportunities and then spend the rest of the morning visiting the Inca citadel via the Circuit 3 of Machu Picchu and exploring the lower part of the citadel. Once the guided tour is finished, we descend by tourist bus to Aguas Calientes for lunch, a town located below the Inca citadel. In the afternoon, we return to Cusco by train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, and then continue by private vehicle to Cusco
Included in the Inca Trail 4 Days is a circuit 3 of Machu Picchu ticket. This ticket allows you to explore the lower part of the Inca citadel. According to the new regulations, you can stay for only 2 hours and 30 minutes, and this Inca Trail ticket does not have an exact entry time.
If you want to explore the entire Inca citadel, we recommend getting the additional Machu Picchu Circuit 2 ticket. With this ticket, you can have a traditional guided tour of the Inca citadel. If you want to get this ticket, please let us know. The extra cost is $62.
For a more comprehensive experience visiting Machu Picchu, we recommend getting the Huayna Picchu or Mount Machu Picchu ticket. These tickets cover different circuits, and you can only get one ticket per visit. If you want to visit both mountains, we recommend staying an extra day to explore these circuits. The extra cost for each ticket is $80.
Huayna Picchu is located on a high mountain overlooking the citadel, offering a different perspective of the Inca citadel.
Mount Machu Picchu is an alternative to Huayna Picchu. From this mountain, you can view Huayna Picchu, Putucusi mountain, and the winding Vilcanota river.
Pre-Departure Briefing
Our guide will be meeting in your hotel for an orientation talk prior to the trek. You are provided there with a duffle bag too.
Transport
We picked up from your hotel/Airbnb in the morning and transferred by private vehicle to Km 82 (head trail of the 4 Day Inca Trail).
On the last day of the Inca Trail 4 days, you take a train to Ollantaytambo. There, our driver picks you up taking you to your hotel in Cusco.
Experienced Tour Guides
We keep our groups as small as 2-8 participants. Every group gets a tour guide, who is English speaking, with a university background, and is officially licensed. Your guide explains to you the culture and surroundings along the entire route. He/She keeps you safe following the government health and safety protocols, so you can enjoy the trekking without any worries and just focus on the beauty of the trail!
Super Porters
A personal Super Porter is included in the tour and is responsible for carrying a duffel bag filled with your personal belongings (up to 7 kg/11 lbs). There is no additional fee for this. There are also other super porters to carry all the camping equipment and tents.
Inca Trail and Machu Picchu Ticket
In the Inca Trail 4 Days, there are Inca Trail Permits and entrance fee to Machu Picchu citadel already included.
Eureka Double Personal Tents:
2 people occupy each 4-person tent which allows higher comfort and luggage security. Our tents are of 4 seasons and are always disinfected and highly maintained to ensure excellent performance during the treks. They are of the brand Eureka Mountain.
Camping Equipment for the Hike
All camping equipment during the Inca Trail. Dining and kitchen tents, tables, chairs, a toilet tent, and all cooking equipment (carried by porters) are included.
Air Sleeping Roll Mattress
We use air mattresses of the top-quality brand Therm-a-Rest.
Sleeping Bag
All our sleeping bags are of feathers and suitable for up to -16°C! It means you do not need to worry about cold as the temperature at night does not fall below 0°C!
A Duffel Bag for 2 Persons (7 kg per person)
You receive a duffel bag at your briefing (1-2 days prior to the trek) to fill your things in. These bags are carried by our porters during the Inca Trail. But you receive them at each campsite. Every duffel has a maximum weight of 7kg! 5kg of it should be for your personal belongings and the other 2kg are meant for your sleeping bag and pad.
Please note: You do not have access to your duffel bag until you arrive at the evening campsite!
Trekking chef during the hike to Inca Trail
A trekking chef specialized in cooking on the trail along with his/her Assistant prepare all of your delicious meals along the track to replenish your energy. You never go hungry!
Meals
3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners, snacks, and 3x afternoon tea. A vegetarian, vegan, or special diet is available at NO extra cost! Every afternoon before dinner, the trekking chef will provide popcorn, biscuits, coffee, hot chocolate, tea, hot water, etc. After a long day of hiking, you do not have to wait until dinner to relax, warm up, and enjoy a bite!
Wake-Up Coca Leaf Herbal Tea
Every morning at the campsite, you are wakened up with a cup of coca leaf herbal tea! Our staff brings the tea to your tent so that you can warm up from inside before you start the day. The herbal tea helps to breathe in this high mountain altitude of the Andes.
Water During the Hike
Beginning from your first lunch until your last breakfast, Inca Trail Machu will supply all the water needed. This water will be boiled, and then cooled, before distributing. You must supply your own water bottles or camel back. We recommend carrying about 3 Liters worth. We will refill our waters at each meal.
Tourist Train Ticket
From Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, there are two railway companies (Inca Rail and PeruRail), in the Inca Trail 4 days is included the train ticket to Ollantaytambo
Machu Picchu Bus Ticket
A shuttle bus down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes Town.
Hiking Sticks or Hiking Poles
On the trailhead, our porters provide you with a pair of hiking sticks for your use during the trek.
A Blanket per Person
We provide you a thermal blanket to warm you up every night!
Air Pillow
At every campsite, you find inside your tent your sleeping bag and inflatable pillow.
Rain Ponchos
Usually, it is raining on the Inca Trail. Our porters provide a rain-poncho in case you need it.
A Hot-Water Bottle
A hot-water bottle is a rubber container that you fill with hot water and put in a sleeping bag to keep it warm.
A Machu Picchu T-shirt of the
It is a special t-shirt to remember your experience and survival of the hike.
Medical Kit & Oxygen Bottle
Our crew brings a first-aid kit and an oxygen bottle to be ready in case of an emergency.
Native Tree Planting Project
Inca Trail Machu is a responsible travel company and tour operator. Every trek and tour includes a project to plant native trees in communities throughout Cusco, Peru. More information, click on Responsible Travel
During the Inca Trail Tours, our staff will provided the following:
Solo Traveler: Please note that if you have booked the "Solo Traveler" option for this trek, you receive your own single tent for all nights.