INCA TRAIL To Machupicchu 4 Days 3 Nights
- Details
- Category: Trekking Hits: 571
We recommend the city tour of Cusco Inca archaeological sites. Also the sacred valley of the Incas full day tour.
The Inca road system was the most advanced and intricate transportation system in pre-Colombian South America. The network covered a territory of over 5,000,000 square kilometers with approximately 60,000 kilometers of primary and secondary trails. The most essential roadway was theCamino Real (Royal Road), which spanned 5,000 kilometers and traversed the Andes mountain ranges of Peru. Along this important trail, the Incas built countless religious retreats and military stations, in addition to multiple reststops and administrative areas. Only people on duty, or with the permission of the government, were able to travelover this critical route.
The most important Inca roads began at the sacred plaza of Aucaypata in Cusco (the capital of the Inca Empire). From here, the road network connected the four sides of theTawantinsuyu Empire.
Join us for the different Inca Trails and alternative Inca Trails .Choose your program and options.
DAY ONE:CUSCO,KM82,Huayabamba
DAY TWO:HUAYABAMBA;PACAYMAYU
DAY THREE:PACAYMAYU;WIÑAYHUAYNA
DAY FOUR:WIÑAYHUAYNA TO MACHU PICCHU
- ITINERARY
- TRIP ITINERARY:
Itinerary
Enjoy one of the original Inca trails as you travel through ancient ruins to the treasured city of Machu Picchu. Explore some of the most diverse flora and fauna in the world with ten wildlife zones alone. Choose to hike these mystical grounds from the sacred city, Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu(optional hike about 230 minutes)Day One: CUSCO, PISCAYCUCHO, HUAYABAMBA
We depart from Cusco at 8:30 am, driving northeast for about 2 hours until we reach the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Here, we will see the archaeological site of the once great city of Ollantaytambo. After this stop, we’ll continue driving for an hour until reaching the kilometer 82 marker(Piscaycucho,2,570 meters), where we’ll have lunch and prepare our kits. The local porters will be helping us carry the hiking gear, camping equipment, and commissary goods. 
Now we are all set and ready to enter the National Park. From this point onward, the Inca Trail is noted for having beautiful archaeological sites and an abundance of orchids, bromeliads, and humming birds. The rich Andean vegetation is also home to the Chilca (bacharis peruviana), Molle (Schinus molle), andTara (Caesalpina spinosa)plants: frequent sources of many local medicines. After a three-hour hike, we will arrive at the beautiful site of Patallacta (alt.2,740 meters) where we will stop for lunch and a tour of the remains. Then, we will resume our hike by following the gorge of the Urubamba River(one of the main sources of the Amazon River). In total, the hike will last about 6 hours (including the tour of the site) and cover approximately 9 kilometers of different terrain (flats,ups, and downs). Along the way, we will come across incredible views of the Vilcanota mountain range and its towering snow peaks. At the end of hike, we’ll arrive at our first camp, Huayabamba (2,850 meters), where hot drinks, delicious food, and a beautiful setting await you.
Day Two:HUAYABAMBA,PACAYMAYU
Day two begins with a hot breakfast and the chance to watch the sunrise between 6:30 and 7:30 am. Because we are camping in the middle of the mountains, it does take the sun a bit longer to emerge from the surrounding peaks. Prepare for a breathtaking experience as this majestic landscape is brought back to life in the morning light.
After finishing breakfast and packing up, we’ll begin our hike for the day: a 12-kilometer trail that will last about 8 hours. The hike will be mainly uphill on granite rock steps with a gradient between 30 to 45 degrees.
Enjoy the physical challengewhile taking in the masterful Inca stonework, along with the unique diversityof the interandean valleys. Marvel at the multiple ecosystems, including the Andean semidry forest with its abundant scrub bush vegetation of asteraceas, bromeliads, and muss. Observe the rich birdlife as finches, seedeaters and hummingbirds flutter past you. After about two hours, we will arrive at Yuncaypata (3,200meters), where we will have an ideal view of the snow peaks of Huayanay (alt 5,188meters).
Later on, we will encounter another ecosystem as we head into the Unca woodland (Myrcianthes oreophyla). This area marks the beginning of the cloud forest and is rich in ferns, orchest, bromeliads, and muss.After another two-hour hike, we will take a break at the Andean Páramo (alpine tundra) called LLulluchapampa (3,650meters). Grab a bite to eat and get in some bird watching with the abundant finch and hummingbird populations.Then, we’re off toour first pass at Huarmiwañusta(4,221meters),the highest point of our expedition. After stopping to take in the incredible views, we will continue down for our final stretch of the day (about 2 hours) until reaching Pacaymayu(3,300meters), where we will set up camp (B, L, D).
Day Three: pacaymayu, Wiñay huayna
Today, we have an early start as we have a lot of trail to cover! In the first part of the day, we’ll be traveling for about 8 hours over 13 kilometers of land, mainly uphill on the Inca’s built-in stone steps(30 to 45 grades). The steps will lead us through a succession of valleys and ecological levels as we near the second high pass of Runkurakay (3,780 meters). Here, we will rest while looking out at the stunning Vilcabamba mountain range in the distance.
Then, we’ll follow the stairs down to the remarkable archaeological site of Sayacmarca (a former religious retreat) with the chance to see some beautiful orchids (odontoglossum myanthum) and Aya zapatillan(Calceolaria cypripediiflora).
After Sayamarca, we will stop for lunch in Chaquicocha and continue on through one of the most beautiful sections of the trail, passing by incredible views of the Salkantay snow peaks (6,271meters) and the undisputed monarch of the cordillera: the snowcapped Humantay (5,900meters).We’ll continue on this route for about 3 hours until we arrive at the ruins of Wiñay Huayna (2,990meters), where we will put up camp for the night. Enjoy spectacular views of the Vilcanota mountain range, the Urubamba gorge, and the surrounding mountains of Machu Picchu as you settle in for the evening. (B, L, D)Day Four: wiñay huayna , MACHUPICCHU
Today, we set out for our final destination of Machu Picchu on an Inca stone trail carved out of granite. Along the way, we’ll see more fascinating Inca remains and unique cloud forest species, such as the orchest and bromeliad plants, andtanager and wren birds. Take a minute to behold the bird population… it is undeniably impressive… and beautiful. We’ll stop for a picnic lunch shortly after we come to the Sun gate (Intipunku 2,950 meters) to give you a better chance to absorb the beauty around you. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to take pictures of the city of Machu Picchu from above. These will be great mementos for the future. After lunch, we’ll continue down the hill for about 2 hours (5 kilometers) until we arrive at Machu Picchu, where we’ll start exploring with an incredible tour of the Citadel(about 2 hours) or an optional hike to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain (about 2 1/2 hoursround trip).In the late afternoon, we’ll take a bus down to the town of Aguas calientes(Machu picchu district), where we’ll have a nice dinner before taking the train back to Cusco City (arriving by 8 pm)(B; L;D).
- Include
- Included
- Sleeping bag(under 10 centigrades)
- Tents (Eureka ,double occupancy and mattresses)
- Meals, Snacks,cook
- Lunch and dinner tent.
- Radio communication, cell phone
- Portable toilets.
- Transportation in and out
- Bus up and down Machu picchu
- Train round trip
- Tours of the sites
- Porters (2 per person)
- Tickets for the park and Machu picchu
- Treks mountains (optional hikes in the Citadel)
- Guides (historical, natural)
- First aid kit, bottle of oxygen
- Prices
- Prices
2 people 650 dollars each other
3 to 5 people 550 dollars each other
6 to 8 people 500 dollars each other
9 to 12 people 450 dollars each other
13 to 16 people 400 dollars each other.
- What to bring
- What to bring
This is a list designed to advise you what equipment is appropriate to bring according to the weather conditions predominating at the time of your trip:
- Flashlights (at least one headlamp among them).
- Sun Block; Insect Repellent.
- Towels (Small; cotton and hygienic).
- Rain Gear (Pants and Jacket) though not necessary during the months of July and August.
- A couple of pairs of socks, perhaps even an extra pair.
- One pair of trousers for the evening plus two more pairs for trail use (zipp-offs).
- Sandals for River use or camp use (Teva types).
- Low ankle height hiking shoes or regular hiking boots (check the season).
- Reading material.
- Binoculars (always useful regardless of season and activity).
- Bathing Suit.
- Water Bottle (I liter capacity).
- Good Sun glasses, perhaps two sets.
- A bandana for neck protection.
- A couple of sets of underwear (perhaps an extra pair).
- Camera and plenty of film.
- Passport (plus a couple of Xerox copies).
- At least one short sleeve shirt and one or two long sleeve shirts (dark colors, depending on the place and destiny chosen).
One set of clothes for Machu Picchu
- And your regular medium to high altitude outer trekking clothes (Anorak-Wind Breaker, Pile or Down Jacket, Wool Hat, Gloves).
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