The Inca Trail

Degree of difficulty

• Considered a moderately difficult challenge, the Inca Trail requires multiple days of consecutive hiking.
• Altitude plays a significant part in the difficulty of this challenge, reaching heights as high as 4200m above sea level. 
• This is a non-technical trek, and should be achievable by anyone with a reasonable degree of fitness.

Accommodation on the Inca Trail

• Accommodation in Cuzco is in a comfortable hotel in the city. 
• During the trek, accommodation will be in the form of camping using high-altitude mountain tents. 
• Meals are taken in a separate mess tent, which can be used as a communal area in the evenings. 

Eating and drinking

• Special menus have been designed to ensure that the demands of trekking at altitude are covered by appealing, healthy meals with ample provision for energy.
• Breakfast is a hearty affair, with ample offerings and tea and coffee.
• A hot lunch is prepared freshly each day
• Following each day of trekking, afternoon tea is served with snacks and hot drinks to replenish calories.
• Evening meals consist of three courses, offering hearty starters and a main course with fresh vegetables and carbs such as rice, pasta or potatoes. 
• Water is boiled and filtered each morning to fill bottles for hiking. It's a good idea to bring purification tablets, but this isn't essential.
• Coca tea is available on the trek, which is commonly drunk to alleviate the effects of altitude sickness. 

Season

• Jan
• Feb
• Mar
• Apr
• May
• Jun
• Jul
• Aug
• Sep
• Oct
• Nov
• Dec

Meeting point

Alejandro Velasco Astete Cusco International Airport (CUZ)
Av. Velasco Astete
Cusco
08006
Peru

Getting to Cuzco

• Fly to Cuzco International Airport in Peru (CUZ)
• It is usual that flights from Europe will need to connect through Lima. Lima is serviced by KLM, BA and Iberia from UK Airports, with connections in Amsterdam with KLM or Madrid with Iberia. 
• From Lima, domestic flights to Cuzco are provided by LATAM, Avianca, Star Peru or Peruvian Air. LATAM are the preferred option due to the capability of their planes to land in foggy conditions. 

The Inca Trail Itinerary

• Day 1 | Arrival in Cuzco

  Fly to Cuzco International Airport. Take a transfer to the hotel.

• Day 2 | Acclimatisation in Cuzco

  Spend the day in Cuzco to assist with acclimatisation. Take a half-day walking tour of the city in the morning with the afternoon free to relax or explore independently. Pre-trek briefing in the evening. 

• Day 3 | Cuzco to Km 82 to Ayapata

  Leave Cuzco at 5am by private bus heading to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Make a short break in the beautiful town of Ollantaytambo for breakfast. The official beginning of the Inca Trail is called Km 82. Here the group will meet the crew and register for the trek. After crossing the Rio Urubamba start the legendary Inca Trail. The first day of the trail is relatively easy and a good warm-up for the following days. On the way you will pass a beautiful archaeological site called Llactapata before we reach Tarayoc. After that, you will continue the hike to Ayapata (3300m), the camping site where the group will spend the night, passing Wayllabamba on route.

• Day 4 | Ayapata to Choquicocha

  Leaving early in the morning, the trail first leads through the Valley of Llulluchapampa (3750m). The first 4km trekking is steep and takes approximately 2 hours. From Llulluchapampa, the path continues less steeply for another 2 hours until reaching the Warmihuañusca Pass (Dead Woman Pass), the first of three passes on the Inca Trail and the highest point of the trek at 4200m. This climb is the most difficult part of the Inca Trail. After a short break at the summit, continue the hike down with a long and steep descent to the Pacamayo River where the group will have lunch overlooking the cloud forest. After a well-deserved break and feeling re-energised, climb up to the oval-shaped ruin of Runkurakay, which is believed to have once been an Inca Tambo or post house. From here, continue to ascend to the summit of the second pass, Runkurakay Pass at 3900m. From here you will be rewarded with spectacular views of the entire snow-capped Vilcabamba range, before another steep descent down to the campsite for the night.

• Day 5 | Choquicocha to Winay Wayna

  This morning the group will climb up to the third pass, to Phuyupatamarka, an Inca ruin named “The Town in the Clouds” from where there are great views of the Urubamba river far below. From Phuyupatamarka, continue to descend into a beautiful orchid-filled cloud forest, visiting the site of Intipata (Terraces of the Sun), before reaching the campsite at Wiñay Huayna. Arriving here by early afternoon you will have plenty of time to explore the nearby ruins and have a lesson in cooking Lomo Saltado, a Peruvian speciality.

• Day 6 | Winay Wayna to Machu Picchu

  An early start, taking breakfast around 0430, before hitting the trail. Hike along the final section of the Inca Trail to the Sun Gate, Inti Punku, which offers the first views of the lost city of Machu Picchu. take a guided tour of the site, with an option to climb Huayna Picchu, the famous mountain behind the ruins. In the afternoon, take a train from Agua Calientes to Ollantaytambo to catch a transfer to the hotel in Cuzco.

• Day 7 | Departure

  Take a transfer to the airport to begin the journey home. 

Included

• Airport transfers
• Your hotel stay for the nights before and after the trek
• Transfer to and from the trek start point
• Inca Trail permit, Machu Picchu entry and camping fees
• A fully supported trek
• All meals and drinking water on the trek
• A private portable toilet
• High quality mess and sleeping tents with a comfortable insulated sleeping mat
• Access to emergency oxygen and first aid kit

What's Not Included

• Flights
• Visa
• Tips for your guides and crew
• Personal items
• Travel insurance (you must be insured specifically for treks up to 4500m)
• Your personal trekking gear
• Your personal medicines or prescriptions
• Snacks on the trek
• Meals and drinks not on the trek

This trip takes responsibility seriously and ‘goes the extra mile’ to ensure that your presence in this country is entirely positive.

Central to this

• Caring for the crew
• Caring for the local environment
• Caring for the local communities

All guides and partners are hand picked to ensure that every aspect of your trip operates to the highest standard and reflect the strong values, ethics and joy of travel.

This commitment to Responsible Travel is mutually beneficial without compromising the countries and communities touched or the depth and uniqueness of your adventure.

Key values of this trip

• Leave nothing behind
• We’re the visitors, let’s be respectful at all times
• Deliver a breathtaking experience
• Let’s benefit local communities and environments

Let’s help keep these wonderful places precious.

Porters and crew

All crew are paid proper wages and are treated with respect and dignity. This trip with IMEC, IPPG and KPAP, all not-for-profit organisations that focus on improving the working conditions of porters.

Friends of Conservation

Travellers are given the opportunity to mitigate some of the environmental impacts of flying by supporting community and conservation initiatives.

Travellers Against Plastic

This trip is a proud supporter of the Leave No Trace and Travellers Against Plastic campaigns, which help educate travellers on the impact of travel and provide practical guidance for enjoying the outdoors responsibly.

Access to this route is restricted by permits to 500 people per day, which includes all the guides and porters. All permits go on sale in October and dates in the high season sell out on the first day. The earlier you can book your trek, the better chance we have of securing your permit. 

Costs

Rated 4.9/5 on Trustpilot based on 1,090 reviews.

Excellent customer service guides and porters couldn’t have been better ensuring a once in a lifetime trip. Claire Doherty

In summary – wow, wow, wow! The organisation from booking to transfers was impeccable. The first part of our trip was the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. I knew the scenery and Inca sites would be spectacular but the best part of the trail was our team. You could not fault them... it was such an amazing trip! Terrie Johnson

I enjoyed the Inca Trail very much. From the moment I landed in Cuzco the team were on it and everything was taken care off. The trek itself, although challenging was very enjoyable and made so by our guide Alex, who was fantastic and the really hard working porters, who carried our stuff and set up tents. They are practically super human, and the chef made amazing tasty meals on essentially a camping stove. The day in machu picchu was really well thought out with the restaurant after, with very Peruvian feel and the train ride to cap of the whole experience. Everything was really well thought-out and organised... CN

Very well organised trek thank you! Professional, experienced, and importantly fun guides! Jayden Hughes

This was made extra special by all the staff, each and everyone was so friendly, helpful and I would do this trip again in a heartbeat... Thank you for best adventure! Nohlene Fick

Great and memorable experience. Carmen Louise den Haan

The guides were fantastic and can’t fault anything. Thank you. We will book again on one of your other trips. Sangeeta

We had such a wonderful experience even though it was, hands down, the hardest thing we’ve ever attempted. There were 3 of us that joined others to form a group of 9. I absolutely loved having the big group because it allowed for many dynamics to be created, day to day or moment to moment! The guides were beyond top notch! They were so supportive and with 4 of them, a lead and 3 assistants, it allowed for a couple of individuals to have 1 on 1 support when needed. They were so knowledgeable about the mountain which was super helpful whether it was how our bodies were feeling, best way to traverse a particular area, what foods would be good to focus on as we climbed, educating us about the details and specifics of different plant life, etc etc! Maureen

The trip to Machu Picchu with this company was more than great experience. There are no words how to express my huge satisfaction. Despite the aching legs the expedition was GORGEOUS! Fantastic team were taking care of as every minute with great diligence. Amazing tour guide Jose who become our friend was more than perfect. His great knowledge, interesting stories and a sense of humor made the expedition very pleasant. Marcela

Freddie, our guide, was great as were all of the porters. The cooks were unbelievable. All meals were great, nutritious and delicious. Even had a cake at our last meal was unexpected. Garth Larson