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The trek to Machu Picchu is four days of epic adventure as you embark to reach the Lost City. Each day, you’ll see the seasons change before your eyes, while scaling challenging peaks and exploring impressive ruins along the way. You’ll sleep under the same stars that the Incas meticulously charted. Each stop is an experience unto itself until your journey culminates at the ultimate destination — Machu Picchu.
If you are traveling with a family or just want to spend more time at each ruin, you can opt for an extra day of hiking and take things slow!
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Before sunrise, you’ll be picked up from your hotel by your guide and transferred to the Sacred Valley and Ollantaytambo, where you’ll make a 45-minute break to collect porters and equipment. Visit the town of Ollantaytambo and drive to the trailhead KM 82. From there, you’ll see a great view of the Andes along the way. Start off your 4-day adventure by hiking for two and a half hours. It will be pretty flat until you arrive at the Inca site of Llactapata at 2,550 m/ 8,365 ft above sea level. You will have the first taste of Incan culture and learn about the history of Peru. After another hour and a half, eat lunch, rest, and continue for another two and a half hours until you reach the first camp at Wayllabamba. You’ll spend the night in a tent, sleeping under the starry skies that the Incas spent so much time observing.
Walking distance: 6.2 miles/ 10 km (5-6 hours)
Campsite altitude: 9,845 ft/ 3,000 m above sea level
Meals: Lunch, dinner -
After an early breakfast, embark on the most challenging day of your hike through the Valley of Huayllabamba. Hike towards the highest point of the Inca Trail—the Dead Woman’s Pass (4,215 meters/13,830 ft). It will be a four-hour climb through different microclimates, with amazing views of the mountains. Once you reach the summit, head downhill for another hour and a half and you’ll arrive at your lunch spot. Continue with the hike for another four hours with plenty of breaks until you will reach your campsite at Pacaymayo, where you’ll finish the day off with dinner at the campsite.
Walking distance: 9.94 miles/ 16 km (9-10 hours)
Campsite altitude: 11,811 ft/ 3,600 m above sea level (chilly weather)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner -
Start the day with an early rise and you’ll be on your way through the cloud forest, scaling the last peak of your adventure, the Runkurakay at 3,860 m. Visit Sayacmarca and the complex of Phuyupatamarca where the Incas charted their star maps. With Machu Picchu just out of reach, you’ll explore Wiñayhuayna, an orchid paradise, and admire the many terraces of Intipata. You’ll spend the night in a tent.
Walking distance: 9.94 miles/ 16 km (7-8 hours)
Campsite altitude: 8,530 ft/ 2,600 m above sea level (chilly weather)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner -
Today’s the day! You’ll finally reach the Lost City of the Incas. Seeing the first sun rays from the Sun Gate (Intipunku) is a life-changing experience, so you’ll wake up hours before sunrise. You’ll get the chance to explore the ruins and either start your Huayna Picchu hike, or wander around on your own. At the end of your journey, you will return to the Poroy station, and take a train back to your hotel in Cusco. You should be back around 7 or 8 p.m.
Walking distance: 4.3 miles/ 7km (2-3 hours)
Meals: Breakfast
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