The 4 Day Inca Trail is one of the most amazing hikes worldwide and Machu Picchu is the final destination of this sensational track. Its total distance measures 43 kilometers and it takes 4 days to complete it, a visit to the Santuary of Machu Picchu including. It was was build and used by the Incas to reach Machu Picchu so that you will walk on an authentic Inca path! Trekking on the Inca Trail will gives you the most awesome first views of Machu Picchu since you will reach it from the Sun Gate. This first view of the Inca citadel remains being the same as the people who arrived at Machu Picchu experienced over 500 years ago. The Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4 Days is among top-popular and famous tracks worldwide. It can pride in being surrounded by breathtaking views of snowy peaks of the Andes mountain range in combination with mysterious and hardly accessible Inca remains which any other track in the world cannot offer! The architectural art of the Incas matches in perfectly with the natural landscape. Moreover, you can experience changes of ecological floors incessantly decorated with rising snow, rivers and a fantastic flora and fauna. This all makes it without any doubts an unforgettable experience that you will enjoy from the beginning to the end!
Day 01: Cusco - Ollantaytambo - Km 82 (Head trail) - Wayllabamba - Llulluchapampa camping
Day 02: Llulluchapampa - Warmiwañusca (Dead Women pass 4200m) - Pacaymachu Valley Camp
Day 03: Pacaymayu - Runkurakay - Phuyupatamarca - Wiñaywayna camppsite
Day 04: Wiñaywayna - Inti Punko (sunrise) - Machu Picchu
Service Level: Comfortable tourist-class accommodations with character, extra porters and private transport.
Physical Rating: 3 - Demanding - Some high-altitude hikes or more strenuous activities, but accessible to most healthy travellers
Age requirement: 10+ / All travellers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
4 Day Inca Trail Tour Operator: Tierras Vivas
Inca Trail Permits: It is included in your hike + Machu Picchu ticket. In the peak season the trail is booked months in advance
Crew: A professional bilingual Tour Guide, a Cook
Extra Porters: Our porter will carry your personal belonging, included sleeping bag and sleeping roll mattres.
Accomodation: 3x campsite.
Meals: 3x breakfast, 3x lunch, 3x dinner, 3x afternoon tea
Transportation: Transportation by private van, 1x train (Expedition Class).
Group Available: Small Group - Min: 2 - Max: 8
We pick you up early morning from your hotel to later continue by our private transport to the 4-day Inca Trail trailhead - so called "Km 82" (2,350 m). Before you start hiking, your Guide briefs you about the next Machu Picchu trek. Afterwards, you pass through the checkpoint of the Classic Inca Trail and you begin a walk along the river of Urubamba. One of the first Incan archaeological sites to be visited is Willca Raccay. Later on, you are guided around the enormous Llactapata - another Inca complex. Then, you climb up towards the canyon of the Cusichaca River providing you fanstastic views of the east side of the Andean mountain range; especially, the mountain Veronica (5,850 m). You stop in the community of Chamana to have lunch. After that, you keep trekking along the Cusichaca River where you can appreciate many Incan irrigation canals and agricultural terraces. Later on, you walk through Wayllabamba - a picturesque village where you start a climb-up experiencing eco-system changes on the way. In the end, you reach a place of our first camping at the Llullucha Pampa village (3,850 m). You are served dinner there and then you can go to rest at our special highland tent.
After breakfast, you are off to many important Inca remains passing through a splendid subtropical vegetation. When you get over the Phuyupatamarca Pass (3,670 m), you may admire the first Inca site of this day: Phuyupatamarca (3,600 m). There, you received a guided tour around this most complete and best conserved complex of the Classic Inca Trail. Its name in Quechua is translated as the "Town Above the Clouds" which reflects its location atop a mountain. Then, you enjoy lunch amidst this mysterious place. Afterwards, you climb steeply down through a cloud forest admiring a variety of beautiful orchids and bird species. Eventually, you arrive at Wiñay Wayna (2,700 m) to receive a guided tour of this impressive Inca complex. The Guide shows you its urban and religious sectors as well as an agricultural centre having many stepped terraces. Our staff pitch a campsite there so that you can have dinner. In the end of the day, you go to sleep to gain some energy for the tomorrow´s visit of Machu Picchu.
You are served breakfast in the campsite and get ready for the last section of this "Inca highway". You ascend antique steps towards the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) from where you can appreciate the best the extraordinary sunrise above Machu Picchu. Afterwards, you are guided around the "New Wonder of the World" for 2 and half an hour. When you finish, you are given free time so you can take more pictures and/or ascend either the Machu Picchu Mountain (a 1,5 hour ascent) or Wayna Picchu (a 45-minute climb) to take some panoramic photos of Machu Picchu (please note that both climbs are optional and need to be booked in advance!). The Clasic Inca Trail ends by a descend to Aguas Calientes. In this small town, you get on a train to Ollantaytambo where you change for our private vehicle bringing you back to Cusco. Upon an evening arrival, you are taken back to your hotel.
Our guide will visit your hotel a day before the trek for your briefing. Our guide will provided the duffel bag for your personal belonging,
Note: It is very important let us know, where you will be staying in Cusco;
Experienced bilingual Tour Guide. They all grew up in this region and have a true passion to teach others about their heritage. They are fun yet professional, and will ensure you are safe and happy.
Note: A group up to 8 participants has 1 Tour Guide, a groups over 8 participants receives 2 Tour Guides
Our tents are of the brand Eureka Mountain designated for 4 seasons. We provide with 3 person capacity tents; however, just 2 trek participants use it! In this way, we provide you more space and comfort. In case of a single traveller, we provide with a 2 person capacity tent.
We provide with inflatable mattresses of the brand Therm-A-Rest. The mattresses are 3 cm heigh that will ensure you a sufficient isolation from the cold earth!
This inflatable mattress for more comfort to sleep in the trail
We use only feather sleeping bags that are suitable up to minus 16°C. This means you do not need to be worry about cold as temparature at night at each trek reaches just up to 0°C (maximum -5°C)!!
Included the Inca Trail Permit and Machu Picchu.
3x breakfast, 3x lunch, 3x dinner, 3x afternoon´s hot beverages, Snack
The Tierras Vivas chefs cook delicious meals that many previous trekkers have raved about. If you are a vegetarian or have any restrictions, our chef will prepare special food, please advise us in advance. A vegetarian meal option is for NO extra cost. Food is typically served and buffet.
Excluding the first 4 hours of the trek when you need to bring your own, Tierras Vivas will supply all the water needed. This water will be boiled, filtered and then cooled, before distributing. You must supply your own water bottles or camel back. We recommend carrying about 3L worth. We will refill our waters at each meal.
Our porter will carry your personal belonging + Sleeping bag + Inflatable sleeping roll mattress and other porters will carry all camping equipment,
Tierras Vivas DOES NOT permit this exploitation!! We guarantee that our porters carry only an amount given by the Peruvian law!!
From Machu Picchu to Ollantaytambo, there are two companies train (Incarail and Perurail),you can choose two time of your train return to Cusco
If you take the train return at 14:55, you will be in Cusco at 18:00
If you take the train return at 19:00, you will be in Cusco at 22:00
On the high season, it is very important let us know in advance, because it is very difficult find spaces available.
Tables and chairs, cooking tent with cooking equipment, dining and toilet tents and bottled gas
A shuttle bus down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes Town
Our guide has received training in first aid from a physician. Your tour guide will always have a first-aid kit for basic medical problems (traveler’s diarrhea, cuts, scrapes, etc.) and oxygen.
It is a part of a network of authentic Inca paths connecting the Inca Empire. The paths used to served for various purposes such as personal, logistic supply, trade, religious and military. Their frequent users were runners (chasqui) to deliver important messages accross the empire. The Clasic Inca Trail is the most famous part of the network nowadays since it leads to the "Lost City of the Incas". Its next attractions are other Inca sites that can be seen on the way and which are accessible on foot only. The sites are the following: Runcuracay, Llactapata, Sayac Marca, Phuyupata Marca and Winay Wayna, Moreover, the trail offers splendid natural sceneries and panoramic views. Camping is allowed in tents only, there are not any other constructions on the way. Due to its protection purpose, only humans are allowed to walk on the path so that Porters are employed to carry camping equipment, food and personal belongings. During these 4 days of hiking, participants usually make new lifetime friendships.
The Traditional or Classic Inca Trail takes 4 days to complete it since it is 43 kilometers long and it is located in a high altitude. For that reason, you need to be physically fit and get acclimatized prior the trek in Cusco (or, another high-placed site). All the trek is divided in to sections that need to be done during individual days (visits of archaeological site including). On the way, trekkers hike through the Andean mountains, cloud forests and outskirts of the Amazon Rainforest where Machu Picchu is located. On the last day, you enter the famous Inca citadel through Inti Punku (Sun Gate) and enjoy its private guided tour. After finishing the Inca Trail, participants usually return to Cusco on the same by train. Some trekkers like to extend their trip so that they spent a night in one of many hotels and hostels of Aguas Calientes - a town just below Machu Picchu. However, such a decision must be done in advance due to a train availability which is problematic sometimes.
The Classic Inca Trail is regarded as difficult not only because of its length, but especially for its altitude. The highest point is called Abra Warmiwañusqa, which means the Dead Woman´s Pass in Quechua language, and it rising up to 4,200 metres above the sea level. It needs to be overcame on the second day of the trail.
Such a high altitude can obviously cause a high altitude sickness (Soroche). Its typical symptoms are headache, nausea, lack of energy, vomiting, loss of appetite, sleeplessness and breathing difficulty. To avoid it, every participant of the Inca Trail is recommended to spend at least 3 days in Cusco (3,300 m.a.s.l.) or another high-situated place prior the trek. Other prevention is to drink lots of coca leave tea, water and other liquids (not coffee or Coca Cola), eat plenty of sweets such as chocolate, biscuits, bonbons, etc. There are also medicaments against soroche; however, they might have side effects. A great prevention is to chew natural coca leaves during the Inca Trail. In addition, our Tour Guides have many experience of how to act in a case of soroche.
Machu Picchu as well as the entire Inca Trail Network is a part of the Cultural and Natural World Heritage of the UNESCO. In addition, a use of the Inca Trail is subject to the strict Inca Trail Regulations issued by the Peruvian Ministry of Culture in 2001. Since then, it has been prohibited to walk independently on the Inca Trail Network! The trail can be realized only by means of either a travel agency or an official Tour Guide. Moreover, both need to meet certain requirements and consequently, they obtain an authorization!
The Inca Trail is open 11 months a year. The only month when it is closed is February. Why February? As it is the peak of a rainy season and it is difficult and dangerous to walk on the trail. For that reason, this month is used to make a maintenance of the track as well as Inca complexes along the way. All works are ready before the 1st March. So, when planning your Inca Trail, you might book it any time, excepting February.
Basically, there are only two year seasons in the south of Peru. It means a rainy season and a dry season. The rainy season starts in November and finishes in March while the dry season runs between April and October. The majority of people interested to make the Inca Trail prefers to do so during the dry season. Nevertheless, arriving at Machu Picchu within the rainy season has also its own magic since everything turns green. Besides, the only month when it is impossible to trek is February (as mentioned above). Therefore, if you go on the Inca Trail during the rainy season, you have to get ready for it. For example, with a rainy coat, waterproof trekking shoes, waterproof backpack.
Put your body to the test with this 4-day demanding trek. Why is the Classic Inca Trail a challenge? Since some of its parts reach over 4,000 m.a.s.l., some sections include stone steps climbing, others require steep uphill hiking. Moreover, there are climate changes starting in the mountain cold climate and changing in to the subtropical jungle climate. That is why, you can test yourself until arriving at the Sun Gate (Inti Punku), a gateway of the Inca wonder – Machu Picchu.
You will be delighted by the natural beauty and a diversity of the Inca Trail route from the beginning to the end. You can admire high snow-capped peaks, still esplanades, parched hills, rivers, currents, a dense subtropical jungle and fruit plantations. On the way, you will be carried away by bird singing and insect sounds while you will be fascinated by stunning orchids that decorate a big part of the track. Imagine these all sunlit.
Even a thousand of pictures cannot capture the beauty of the trail. For that reason, we recommend you to make space in your mobile phone/camera/video camera memory. Do not hesitate to sit back, meditate and feel the atmosphere of the Inca Empire. It will be a lifetime opportunity!
Another attraction of the Inca Trail are many mysterious Inca Complexes along the track. These Inca remains are only accessible by foot and thus, only for those making the trail. The first Inca site to be visited is Willca Raccay. It is followed by the enormous Inca complex of Llactapata. The first day is completed by observation of Incan irrigation canals and agricultural terraces along the Cusichaca River. On the second day, you are able to admire the circular stone building of Runkuracay that served as a food storage and a resting point for Inca messengers “chasqui”. Later, you experience the small fortress of Sayacmarca. The third day surprises you by an observation of the most complete and best conserved complex of the Classic Inca Trail: Phuyupatamarca. In the end of the day, you camp near the mysterious Wiñay Wayna. On the last day, you hike through Inti Punku (Sun Gate) – a gateway of Machu Picchu. Then, the highlight of the Classic Inca Trail expects you: a guided tour of the New Wonder of the World with its exquisite architecture!
Enjoy this adventure with your close: friends and/or your family. Assemble them and plan all details together. Check the 4-day Inca Trail availability. Get in touch with our team to make this experience come true. Then, hike together, visit Inca sites, get yourselves amazed by a variety of fauna and flora and take thousands of pictures together. After all, be fascinated by the tremendous stone citadel: Machu Picchu! The Classic Inca Trail is an adventure that should be done once in your life at any rate!
If you are student, you can present the UNIVERSITY STUDENT CARD and we can offer the student discount or who is 17-years-old less, We require a copy of your passport. These copies is for your book your entrance fee to Machu Picchu. Please send all to travel@responsiblepeople.org
To complete your book, we will require your personal details for each travellers.
Please note: It is very important that you will complete all information correctly to obtain your Inca Trail permits and Machu Picchu tickets! Except of this, please do not forget to read and accept our service policies before clicking on the Registration & payment option.
To complete your booking, we require a deposit of 50% of the total amount! The remaining balance can be paid in cash upon your arrival to Cusco.
To pay your deposit, you can choose one of the following methods:
All bookings are made with Responsible People (RUC: 20603955618 / Peruvian Government) (us/we). and Responsible People will contact and book your trip with Tierras Vivas tour operator. By booking a trip with us you are deemed to have agreed to these Booking Conditions (which constitutes the entire agreement between you and us) and your booking will be accepted by us on this basis. The services to be provided are those referred to in your booking confirmation invoice.
Book your trip with Responsible People and send us your personal information required by email. Once confirmed our staff will send a email for the next step to payment and it issue a confirmation invoice. A contract will exist between us from the date we issue the confirmation invoice or if you book within 2 days of departure the contract will exist when we accept your payment.
Please refer to your booking confirmation invoice for details regarding payments. If this balance is not paid on or before the due date we reserve the right to treat your booking as cancelled.
We will require the 50% pre-payment, this is per person per trip for your booking to be confirmed. This pre-payment is for your Hotel, Train and Machu Picchu ticket.
The remaining balance you can pay in our office in Cusco at least 2 days or 1 day before your hike. However, it can also be paid in advance through PayPal or you can deposit our account bank. Please notify us if paying by wire transfer.
You can pay in cash in our office in Dollars or Peruvian soles. We do not accept any torn bills. If you are not arriving to Cusco 2 days before your tour begins, please arrange your payment with the Responsible People team before your arrival.
If you deposited, we needed to book any trips with Tierras Vivas. For all full itineraries which include hotels, the needed deposit is 50%. The deposit can be made through PayPal or Bank Account. All deposits are fully non-refundable and non-transferable. In the event that you need to cancel your trip, cancellation fees will be assessed as outlined below under our cancellation policy. If canceling, you may not transfer your deposit to another person’s trek.
Responsible People reserves the right to cancel a program in case any of the following circumstances occur:
Please note that the program deposit is non-refundable. The deposit is used to purchase the space within the group and once a space is purchased it cannot be resold afterwards.
Inca Trail or any trek including the Inca Trail (i) Cancellation up to months or prior to departure:
Cancellations regarding custom itineraries and Inca Trail programs will depend on each specific program and will therefore be agreed upon between Responsible People and the client by e-mail accordingly. Responsible People reserves the right to modify the above-mentioned cancellations and refund policies. All modifications will be immediately informed to the affected client through written communication.
The client must be in possession of a valid passport and all visas required for the whole of the journey and the client accepts responsibility for obtaining the same. Any information or advice given by the company on visas, vaccinations, climate, clothing, baggage, special equipment, etc is given in good faith but without responsibility on the part of the company.
The company shall not be liable for any damage or loss if the failure to carry out the contract is:
1) Attributable to the client
2) Attributable to a third party unconnected with the provision of the services contracted for and the event is unforeseeable or unavoidable
3) Due to unforeseen and unusual circumstances beyond the company's control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all due care had to be exercised
4) Due to political disputes, industrial action, climate or other matters of a similar nature and any other force majeure
5) Due to an event, which the company, even with all due care could not foresee or forestall. Any liability is limited to the full price paid for the tour. In all cases the company specifically excludes all liability for indirect or consequential loss or expense including loss of profits.
If a client has a complaint against the company the client must first inform the trek guide or company representative while on the tour in order that the guide/representative can attempt to rectify the matter. Any further complaint must be put in writing to the company within 7 days of the end of the tour. I have had sufficient opportunity to read this entire document. I have read and understood it, and I agree to be bound by its terms.
Optional activities not included in the trip price do not form part of the trip or this contract. You accept that any assistance given by your group leader or local representative in arranging optional activities does not render us liable for them in any way. The contract for the provision of that activity will be between you and activity provider.
Travel insurance is mandatory for all our travellers and should be taken out at the time of booking. Your travel insurance must provide cover against personal accident, death, medical expenses and emergency repatriation with a recommended minimum coverage of US$200,000 for each of the categories of cover. We also strongly recommend it covers cancellation, curtailment, personal liability and loss of luggage and personal effects. You must provide proof of your travel insurance on the first day of your trip; you will not be able to join the trip without it. If you obtain travel insurance through us you acknowledge that you are satisfied with the level of insurance we have arranged.
After your travels, we want to hear from you! Your feedback information is so important to us that we'll give you 5% off the price of your next Responsible People trip if your feedback is completed on-line within 30 days of finishing your trip. Your tour evaluation will be e-mailed to you 24 hours after the conclusion of your trip. If you do not receive the tour evaluation link in the days after your tour has finished, please drop us a line at travel@responsiblepeople.org and we will send it on to you.
Av. Tupac Amaru PP-10B Santiago - Cusco - Peru
Phone: +51 84 217 551
Mail: info@responsiblepeople.org