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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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What you get in this adventure:
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- A local English speaking professional guide
- 2-5 days of hiking with a guide
- Permits and campsite fees
- Accommodations in camps and hotels as indicated by itinerary
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner as indicated by itinerary
- Meals cooked by a local chef
- Boiled water
- Porters to transfer your belongings
- Transfers to and from the hotel
- Bus Machu Picchu—Aguas Calientes
- Foam mattress
- First-aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle
Meals: Your professional cooks will prepare meals that incorporate elements of the western diet and traditional Peruvian delicacies. Please communicate with your guide/cook during the trek if you have a preference for certain types of dishes. If you have any special requirements, contact us to make arrangements
What’s not included:
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- Transportation to Cusco
- Accommodation prior and after the trip
- Huayna Picchu entrance fee ($70 per person)
- Visit to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes
- Sleeping bag (available for rent)
- Inflatable mattress (available for rent)
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While previous hiking experience is unnecessary for hiking the Inca Trail, you’ll need to be in considerably good shape. Each day you will hike between five and nine hours, on your most challenging day, you’ll traverse almost 10 miles. There are no flat areas on the entirety of the trail — it’s either uphill or downhill. Prior to your trip, you can prepare by exercising on steep inclines or even stairs.
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Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring for hiking to Machu Picchu:
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- Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 25-40L bag)
- Hiking poles — optional
- Water storage for 2-3 liters
- Sleeping bag (can be rented)
- Inflatable mattress (can be rented)
- Quick-dry towel
- Battery charger (there is no place to plug in while trekking!)
- Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
- Sunglasses
- Camera — optional (but recommended)
Clothing and gear list:
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- Hiking boots (lightweight with good soles)
- Shoes for camp
- 2-3 dry-wicking t-shirts
- 2-3 pairs of hiking pants
- 4 sets of undergarments
- 4 sets of hiking socks
- Fleece jacket
- Warm down jacket
- Rain jacket and pants
- Sun hat
- Wool hat
- Headlamp
- Waterproof gloves
- Waterproof jacket/rain poncho
- High quality sunglasses
- Trekking poles (can be rented for $30)
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
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There is no other way to experience the legendary Inca trail than with a guide. To keep the history intact, not even horses are allowed on this one-of-a-kind thru-trek. Due to strict government regulations, a guide must be present on all Inca Trail trips. For you, this is a guarantee that you’ll get the most out of your hike. Not only will you learn all about the history behind the sites you’ll pass along the way, in case of inclement weather, your guide will know just what to do.
Permits go fast, so it’s best to book well ahead of time to secure your preferred dates of choice. Some important considerations are:
- Permits for the Inca Trail are in your name and can not be transferred to anyone else under any circumstances. Change of dates is also not possible once a permit has been purchased.
- Permits are non-refundable and non-transferable. The deposit will be forfeited. Please note that this is a regulation of the Peruvian government and not the agency.
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Indeed you can! It would be a sin to go hiking in Peru without paying a visit to the spectacular Rainbow Mountain. If you haven’t heard of it yet, the name tells you all about it—it’s this incredible multi-colored mountain that leaves everyone speechless with its rainbow-like appearance. These colors are created by the sediment of minerals, giving the mountain turquoise, lavender, gold, and other hues. Up until several years ago, it was a hidden gem completely covered in snow! Today you’ll find it in National Geographic’s “Top 100 Places To Visit Before You Die”.
So, your guides have prepared a choice between two one-day treks to the Rainbow Mountain as an extension to your trip. You can add it to your booking upon checkout, but here’s what you can expect.
You can choose between the Vinicunca and the Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain tour.
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- Vinicunca is the more difficult, steeper, more strenuous, and longer hike to the most famous viewpoint. Depending on the weather, you might even see the highest mountain in the Cusco region in the distance, Ausangate Mountain.
- Palcoyo tour offers a more gentle climb at a slightly lower altitude, and it’s also a shorter hike, making it significantly more suitable for beginners. With this tour, you’ll get to see three different colorful mountains along the way! It’s also worth noting that it’s less crowded, and it’s the perfect opportunity to get a glimpse into the Andean culture and their way of life.
- The price for Vinicunca is $100, while for Palcoyo it’s $120.
What’s included in these tours?
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- Professional bilingual English-speaking tour guide
- Pre-departure briefing
- Pick-up from your hotel and transportation to the trailhead
- Return transportation
- Breakfast and lunch at a local restaurant
- Emergency oxygen bottle & medical kit
- One trekking pole
- Entrance fees to Rainbow Mountain
What’s not included?
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- Personal snacks
- Guide gratuities — optional
- Horses — available to hire one if you need them at the beginning of your trek
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Group sizes and prices:
- For this group adventure, groups usually consist of up to 16 people.
- It takes at least 5 people for the tour to operate.
- If you are traveling alone, you will be placed in a group of people with similar abilities and skill levels.
- All pricing is per person. The cost does not decrease as the group grows.
Hiking in Peru can be arranged for private groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
- If you are older than 17, you’re good to go.
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To get to Cusco, most people fly into Cusco International Airport. From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service to your accommodation.
Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, usually at your accommodation in Cusco, and take you to the trailhead. At the end of your adventure, you will return to Cusco via train.
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It is advisable and important that you arrive at Cusco at least 2 days prior the trek, in order to acclimatize to the altitude. The city of Cusco is located at 3,400 meters above sea level so you may feel slightly ill or dizzy due to altitude sickness, known as “soroche.”
A few tips on dos and don’ts for adapting to the altitude:
- Do not eat heavy food the day before traveling to Cusco.
- Make sure you drink between 6-8 glasses of water the days before your trip and during your stay in Cusco.
- Once you arrive at your hotel, lie down a few minutes before going out to explore the city.
- Once you are ready to go out and explore the city, try not to become agitated climbing stairs or walking fast. The best thing is to enjoy every corner of Cusco with calm and respect.
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Generally, Peru is safe to visit. Like all countries, it has some bad neighborhoods, crime and political instability. However, there is no need to be concerned about political unrest.
We had a chance to catch up with our local guide Roland Llave, co-founder of CrossoverPeru Tours, who shared a few thoughts on the current political climate in Peru: “At the core, these protests are a way for the people in South America to express themselves and fight for what they believe in. We recognize this might be unnerving for travelers, but this is part of our culture.”
Roland let us know that the protests have stopped for now. Roads, airports, and lives are back to normal. As always, there is potential for more unrest because, as he mentioned, protesting is part of their culture and how they honor their beliefs and rights. If you have any concerns about traveling to Peru or South America, please reach out and we will help you navigate the best option for your travels.
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57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re travelling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Peru, please refer to the Peru Travel websites or the U.S. Embassy in Peru websites.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
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