Inca Trail Backpacking Tour

Our journey to Machu Picchu through the classic Inca track begins at your hotel, where you are picked up after breakfast between  6.00 and 6.30 am to set out a 2-hour ride to the trail's starting point, at so-called 'Km 82'. There, every trekker needs to present their Inca Trail permit along with their own original passport and ISIC card (if applicable) at the checkpoint. After passing the check, the Inca Trail begins with a 2-hour flat and beautiful walk while enjoying the incredible surrounding flora and landscape till we reach Miskay, a place where we are going to have a nice lunch.

After lunch, we keep hiking for another two hours to Wayllabamba (3,000 m) and then walk for 60 minutes until our campsite at Ayapata where we arrive at around 6 pm. At 6:30 pm, our professional chef prepares us a tasty dinner. Afterwards, we settle down in our tents and spend the night very well covered by a feather sleeping bag and a blanket.

Estimated trekking time:  7 hours
Trekking distance:  14 km
Max. elevation: 3, 250  m
Min. elevation: 2, 600  m
Difficulty:  Easy to moderate

This is the most difficult and at the same time most rewarding day of this 4 day hike to Machu Picchu! We find spectacular Andean landscapes and vegetation all around us. We begin the day at 5 am and after a good breakfast, we start the ascent for 4 hours to the highest point of the trail - Abra de Warmiwañusca (Dead Woman Pass) reaching 4,200 metres. During the ascent, we can appreciate varied vegetation consisting of native plants and trees such as Polilepys or Q'euña, which grow in cloud forests at an altitude of 3,650 m. After this climb, we celebrate together having reached the highest point.  

We have a short break there to get rest before descending for an hour and a half until the second point Pacamayo (3,550 m) where we have lunch. Afterwards, there is another 2-hour climb towards the Runkuraqay Pass at an altitude of 3,900 m. Once at the pass, we have a rest to be able to continue, this time just a descend awaits us so after 1 hour and a half we reach Cachicocha, our second campsite (3,600 m).

Estimated trekking time: 10 hours
Trekking distance: 16  Km
Max. elevation: 4, 200  m
Min. elevation: 3, 250  m
Difficulty:  Challenging

We get up at 6 am. Breakfast is served by the chef at 6.30 am. At 7 am, we start hiking. The third day takes us for only a 5-hour hike. Our first stop is at Phuyu Patamarca, the third-highest point on the way located at 3,680 m. The views from there of the mountains, canyons and the surroundings simply spectacular! After a short break, our guide shows us around the near archaeological site of Phuyu Patamarca which means "City of the Clouds". Then, we continue walking through a cloud forest until we get to the impressive Inca agricultural site of Intipata. 

From this point, we have an easy 2-hour descend to Wiñay Wayna (2,680 m) that stands for "Forever Young" to receive a guided visit of this Inca archaeological site with lots of stepped terraces. We set a camp just 10 minutes away from the site and our chef prepares us a nice buffet dinner. Then, we go to sleep to be fresh for the last day. 

Estimated trekking time: 4 - 5  hours

Trekking distance: 10  Km
Max. elevation: 3, 680  m
Min. elevation: 2, 700  m
Difficulty:  Moderate

On the final day, we wake up at 3:30 a.m. and have breakfast at 4:00 a.m. After saying goodbye to the trekking cooks and porters, we began hiking to be among the first at the last checkpoint at 5:30 a.m.

After being checked, we hiked for about an hour more to reach the Sun Gate (Inti Punku), where we enjoyed our first breathtaking view of Machu Picchu and the surrounding mountains. After a short 20-minute break, we walk downhill for another hour to reach the Lost City of the Incas.

Near the Guard House of Machu Picchu, there is an opportunity to take panoramic photos and admire the impressive landscapes surrounding the citadel. Then, we continue down to the final checkpoint of the Inca Trail. There, you can take a short break, have a coffee, store your heavy backpack (for 10 soles), or use the restroom (S/2 or USD 1).

Once you are ready, we will officially re-enter Machu Picchu. According to the new regulations, the Inca Trail does not include an entrance ticket to the citadel. However, with the Inca Trail Backpacking Tour, we provide an additional ticket, which is reserved according to the availability at the time you book your trek.

There are three Machu Picchu circuits available daily. The most popular is Circuit 2, which allows you to explore almost the entire citadel in about three hours. Since Circuit 2 sells out quickly, Circuit 3 is the alternative. It covers the lower section of Machu Picchu and includes a guided tour and hike, lasting approximately two hours.

Your guided tour of Machu Picchu will follow the route indicated on your ticket. Our professional guide will explain the history, culture, and significance of this magnificent Inca citadel, recognized as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Please note that visits are one-way only; you cannot return to the starting point, and independent exploration is not allowed.

For those looking to extend the experience, you can add the optional hike to Huayna Picchu Mountain (extra cost). This climb provides spectacular views of Machu Picchu from above and is one of the best spots for panoramic photos.

After finishing your guided visit, you have two options to go to Aguas Calientes town:

Walk down to Aguas Calientes – about 1 hour 30 minutes. Along the way, enjoy the beautiful cloud forest, admire the Vilcanota River, and take great nature photos.

Take the shuttle bus (not included) – a 30-minute ride from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes.

Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, you’ll walk to the restaurant where your guide will be waiting with your duffel bag (if you booked extra porter for your hike). Lunch is not included.

In the afternoon, we head to the train station and board the train back to Ollantaytambo. From there, our driver will meet you and transfer you to Cusco, where you’ll be dropped off near the Main Square. From there, you can walk to your hotel or take a taxi.

Note: If you prefer a direct drop-off at your hotel, please let us know in advance—depending on the group, we can arrange this service.

• The pre-trek briefing (our guide visits you at your hotel a day before the trek);
• Transfer by tourist transportation to the initial point of the Inca Trail at Km 82;
• Accommodation: 3x camping;
• Inca Trail permit;
• Machu Picchu ticket (according to availability at the time of booking your Inca Trail);
• Meals: 3x breakfast, 3x lunch, 3x dinner, 3x Snack and 3x afternoon hot beverages (If you are a vegetarian, please advise us in advance. A vegetarian meal option is for NO extra cost!);
• Experienced tour guide (a group of up to 8 participants has 1 Tour Guide, and a group over 8 participants receives 2 Tour Guides);
• A professional trekking chef;
• Super Porters to carry only the food, camping and cooking equipment; 
• Eureka tent: 2 people occupy each 4-person tent which allows higher comfort and luggage security
• Camping equipment: Kitchen tent, kitchen utensils, dining tent, tables and chairs, gas bottle, toilet tent;
• Confort sleeping roll mattress;
• Water will be provided at every campsite by our chef starting from the first lunch. However, it is important to bring your own water bottle.;
• Tourist train from return from Machu Picchu to Ollantaytambo;
• Tourist bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco;

• It is a special t-shirt to remember your experience and survival of the hike;

• First-aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle;
• All taxes and fees are included;

Radio Communication (Walkie-Talkie):

Our radios are connected directly to the Ministry of Culture and SERNANP. In case of an emergency, such as a natural disaster or trail blockage, we will be the first to receive information and take necessary precautions. If you experience a personal emergency during the hike, our guide and trekking cook can immediately contact the Inca Trail authorities to coordinate assistance, evacuation, or other preventive measures.

Medical Kit & Oxygen Bottle

Our team always carries a first aid kit and an oxygen bottle to ensure we can respond quickly in case of an emergency.

Sustainable Travel

When you book the Inca Trail with Inca Trail Machu, you are also contributing to social projects that support porter families and reforestation programs in Andean communities. Learn more about our commitment on our Responsible Travel page.

Additional Services during the Inca Trail

Our staff provides the following throughout your trek:

• Biodegradable soap
• Hot water each morning for personal hygiene, prepared by our cook

• First breakfast and last lunch in Aguas Calientes Town;
• Sleeping bag and sleeping bag liner, hiking poles, daypack (you can rent them us)
• Extra porters for your personal belongings are available for $90. A half porter can carry up to 7 kg, including your sleeping bag and roll mattress.
• A shuttle bus down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes (U$ 12);
• Huayna Picchu tickets (US$ 80 per person);
• Tips and extra expenses to buy souvenirs;
• Peru travel insurance 

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, but you will need to pay an extra US$ 50.

Local flights: No local flights are included in the trek’s price! If you need to fly from Lima to Cusco, contact us!! and our info department will help you to get it.

All Inca Trail Machu travel groups are accompanied by their Inca Trail Machu tour guides, a representative or our personal staff. The aim of our Tour Guides is to take the hassle out of traditional trips and have the best trip experience as is possible. The Tour Guides provide information on places visited, offer suggestions of what to see and do, recommend a good place to eat and introduce to his/her colleagues. The Guides have a broad general knowledge of each country visited during a tour, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. We also work with local Tour Guides in the tours where we think that more specific knowledge could help to add more enjoyment to the visited places.

Inca Trail guides

Our guide will take the oxygen tank, first-aid kit, and portable communication radios. These portable radios are to contact the trekking chef and porters. We use these radios to coordinate your food, campsite, and any emergency during the hike. Also, these radios are programmed with the Sernanp and Ministry signs.

The 4-day trekking on the Inca Trail requires a good level of fitness and stamina for walking times of 5 - 8 hours and a maximum of 1,400 m in ascent and a maximum of 1,280 m in descent. We cross two passes at 4,200 m and 4,480 m. Although the tour is designed in such a way that we can acclimatize well, the risk of altitude sickness should not be underestimated. Your heart and circulation should be healthy. For acclimatization, we recommend you stay in Cusco 2 days before the trek.

An accompanying team sets up and takes down the tents and takes care of our physical well-being. Our porters will transport all the luggage and camping equipment so that we only carry the essentials (pullover/fleece, drinking bottle, photo equipment, etc.) in our hiking backpack.

Although this Inca Trail in group service is best to experience the Machu Picchu hike, it does not mean that we at Inca Trail Machu provide our customers with poor camping equipment. To the contrary! Our tents are of the top brand EUREKA MOUNTAIN PASS 3XTE designated for 4 seasons! We give our trekkers 3-person capacity tents; however, just 2 persons use it! Like this, we provide you with more space and comfort. If you are a solo traveler, then we give you a 2-person capacity tent. After our Cheap Inca Trailtours, we always very carefully check the tents, clean them with an antibacterial agent as well as fix them if necessary. Inca Trail Machu also supplies a warm and clean sleeping bag, an inflatable pillow, and a blanket. 

Extras

The Inca Trail is considered the dream destination among hiking enthusiasts and should therefore be booked as early as possible. The number of visitors has been limited to 500 permits per day since 2004 to protect nature and culture. Of course, if you travel with Inca Trail Machu, you don't have to worry about anything; however, we also have to reserve early. Around six months before the travel date, we have to decide whether the trip will actually take place. A trip to the Inca Trail, therefore, requires some advance planning in your planning.

We have developed a special timing for the trek: We walk 3-4 hours with the group and often have the path to ourselves.

Because Peru is in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are opposite to ours, but less pronounced due to its proximity to the equator. The months of June, July and August record the lowest temperatures, particularly in the Andes, when visibility is at its clearest (bright blue skies during the day) and the least to no precipitation is expected. Due to the strong solar radiation, it can get warmer than 20 degrees on sunny days, but at night it cools down to minus 15 degrees in the highlands. There may be snowfall on the passes. In the months before and after, temperatures are more moderate and there are fewer travelers on the Inca Trail, which can be an advantage. In April and May it is already harvesting time, in October spring begins. In May, September and October/November it is still the dry season in the Peruvian highlands, i.e. little precipitation is to be expected.

• Passport: the most important thing!
• Immigration Card: you are given when crossing the borders/arrival at a Peruvian airport.
• ISIC card: if you booked as a student.
• Excellent hiking shoes: comfortable and useful for every surface.
• Waterproof gear: especially during the rainy season.
• Sunscreen: to get protected against the ultraviolet rays.
• After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body;
• Hat or a peak as a protection against the rain, sun, or cold;
• A backpack;
• Warm clothes (alpaca wool sweaters, jackets, fleeces, thermal clothing for sleeping);
• Sufficient supply of underwear;
• Sandals (while at campsites);
• Cash in Peruvian Soles (PEN);
• Mobile phone/camera and batteries (please note: batteries consume quicker under cold conditions);
• Flashlight/headlamp and batteries;
• Insect repellent – minimum recommended 20% DEET (Please note: No malaria risk has been reported!);
• Paper tissues;
• Toilet paper;
• Small towel;
• Swimsuit (if you wish to visit the hot springs in Aguas Calientes);
• Snacks (e.g. energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, biscuits, etc.);
• Water container and water bottle for the first morning. (Important notice: plastic water bottles are no longer allowed in Machu Picchu!); 
• Optional: water-sterilizing tablets in case you like to use water from streams or rivers along the trail (Anyway, we provide filtered boiled water which is safe to drink and has not reported any health problem.);
• Optional: walking sticks or poles (Please note! Rubber covers are required to prevent damage to the Inca Trail!).

Here is everything you need to know about Inca Trail Group service to Machu Picchu.

Where Is Machu Picchu Situated?

Machu Picchu is located in southern Peru, belonging to the department of Cusco. Machu Picchu lies on 112.5 kilometer northeast of Cusco City, reaching an altitude of 2,350 m.a.s.l.

Altitudes of the Inca Trail?

During our Inca Trail tour to Machu Picchu, we will get over the following altitudes:

• "Wayllabamba" at 3,000 m.a.s.l.
• "Warmi Wañusca" (Dead Woman Pass) at 4,200 m.a.s.l.
• "Pacaymayu" at 3,600 m.a.s.l.
• "Runkurakay" at 3,900 m.a.s.l.
• "Runku Pass" at 4,000 m.a.s.l.
• "Sayacmarka" at 3,580 m.a.s.l.
• "Chakicoccha" at 3,600 m.a.s.l.
• "Phuyu Patamarka" at 3,600 m.a.s.l.
• "Wiñay Wayna" at 2,600 m.a.s.l.
• "Machu Picchu" at 2,430 m.a.s.l.

How Many Kilometres/Hours Is It Walked per Day?

• Km 82 (the trailhead) to Ayapata: 14 km - 7 hours.
• Ayapata to Chaquicocha: 16 km - 10 hours.
• Chaquicocha to Wiñay Wayna: 10 km - 5 hours.
• Wiñay Wayna - Machu Picchu: 4 km - 2 hours.

What Does "Machu Picchu" Stands for?

The name came from the native language of Quechua and it means 'Old Mountain'. The Inca Citadel was known to local people but it was never revealed to Spanish conquistadors since native people had a bad experience with them because they destroyed all Inca monuments and temples. In this way, the New Wonder of the Wonder has been preserved for our generation. When you visit it yourself, you will understand it would be an irreversible pity for this world to lose this gem.

How Difficult is the Inca Trail in group?

The Inca Trail is considered an intermediate difficulty trek. Some difficulty, however, might be added by carrying your personal belongings. Although there is no rock climbing, you need to get ready for the altitude of over 4,000 metres! If you get acclimatized in Cusco prior to the trek, then you do not need to have any previous experience.

Is It Possible to Do the Inca Trail Myself?

NO, it is NOT possible! Peruvian government regulations do not allow this. Since 2001, hiking on the Inca Trail has been banned!

The regulations stipulate that every tourist must be accompanied by a qualified professional guide. Each travel company must meet certain requirements in order to obtain an annual licence to operate this route. An updated list of authorized agencies and guides is available on the official website www.machupicchu.gob.pe.

Is There a Shorter Version of the Classic Inca Trail?

Yes, indeed. Whatever is your reason to not be able to hike the 4-day trail, you can still hike one of our cheapest 2 day Inca Trail!

Are There Any Inca Trail Alternatives?

Oh, yeah! Excepting our Cheap Inca Trail tours, there are also many other so-called Alternative Treks to Machu Picchu!

• Lares Trek to Machu Picchu, 4 days;
• Salkantay Trek Peru, 4 days;
• Inca Quarry, 4 days;
• Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, 5 days;
• Deep Salkantay Trek Expedition, 5 days;
• Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Trek, 9 days.

Moreover, you can do some alternatives that do not lead to the famous Inca citadel but take you to not less interesting places such as the 5-day Choquequirao Trek showing you the real lost city of the Incas and so-called "Sister of Machu Picchu"!