Private Inca Trail Tours 4 days
Altitude Max.
4215 m.s.n.m.
Distance
42 km/26.198 miles
Difficulty
Difficult
Season
2026
Private Inca Trail Tours 4 days
Our Private Inca Trail Tours to Machu Picchu is an adventure in your life that brings you to explore the originality of Inca engineering, which led them to construct an unparalleled Inca stone trail that crosses mountains, rivers, Inca ruins, and Rain forest until getting the Sun Gate, from where you will admire a unique view of the new 7 wonders of the world.
Hike the Inca Trail 4 days at your own pace with a private team of porters, cooks, and head guides. This private tour is perfect for couples, families with kids, or a group of friends who would love to have private service.
HIGHLIGHTS
This Private Inca Trail Tours allows you to visit the most magnificent ruins such as LLactapata, Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca, Runkuraqay, and Winawayna, and then enter on foot through the Sun Gate as the Incas did. And on the last day, you will visit Machu Picchu (Seven Wonders of the Modern World) with a private guide.
We follow the “Health Guidelines for COVID-19 for Private Inca Trail Tours” issued by the Peruvian government.
Why should you hike Private Inca trail Tours with American Trekking?
- Top-notch equipment. Including Eureka tents, Mountain wear Sleeping bags, Black Diamond trekking poles, and sleeping pads. We only use top brands and quality to guarantee ache-less nights up in the mountains.
- Portable toilets. We provide you Eco-friendly, comfy & clean portable toilet. It is difficult to walk to the public toilet during the night
- Hotel to Hotel service. Direct pick-ups and drop-offs from your hotel in Cusco City. We will never leave you stranded before or after any of our tours.
- Our amazing porters are treated with a lot of respect. They get all their equipment for free from our local Company American Trekking. We give them a fair salary, a decent tent with a pad, enough meals, hiking shoes, trekking pants, and a Winter hut. We care for their health, well-being, and the health of their families, and we are committed to social projects to improve their lives.
- We are an honest, practical, punctual, reliable Travel Agency, welcoming individuals or groups. Check out our excellent reviews on Google Reviews, We Travel, and Trip Advisor.
- We pay on time At American Trekking, our porters, tour guides, drivers, and Cooks receive their salaries as soon as they finish their job.
- Satellite phones. We provide you with satellite for any emergency on hiking Inca Trail private tours in 4 days.
- 100% Local Company. American Trekking is A 100% locally owned Travel Agency and fully licensed Inca Trail operator.
- Highly Trained Guide. Our Guides pride themselves on being up-to-date and have a comprehensive continuing professional development program. We love showing what a fascinating and unique Inca trail is.
- Ground logistics. transportation, Machu Picchu tickets, Inca Trail permits, train tickets, and bus tickets. We book, secure, and deliver all minuscule details of your hike for you—worry & stress-free.
- Vistadome Train. After hiking for 4 days in private service, you will come back on Vistadome train, This train has window in its ceiling so you will enjoy the mountains much better. Also you will see peruvian dances in the train. We will book at 02:55 pm or 3:20 pm from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo. So you will get to Cusco early so you will sleep enough to do any other tour the next day such as Rainbow Mountain.
Our American Trekking team will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco City at 4:30 a.m. for your Private Inca Trail tours 4 days. if you stay in Ollantaytambo or Urubamba; we will pick you up after 6:00 a.m. Next, We will drive to Ollantaytambo where we will have our breakfast which is Included. After our delicious meal, we will keep driving until km 82 (Piscakucho) to start the 4-day Private Inca Trail tour to Machu Picchu. First, you will meet our amazing cooks, strong porters, and knowledgeable guides. Then we will go to the checkpoint to show our passports and start our adventure to the New 7 wonders of the world.
After passing the checkpoint gate, we will start our Inca Trail trek. In the beginning, the Trail is relatively easy about a 3-hour hike to Llactapata ruins(the first Inca ruin along the Inca Trail trek). We will visit the upper part of this amazing site and we will take pictures of the lower part. Then we will hike for 1 hour to Hatunchaca campsite, where our American Trekking team will be waiting for a tasty lunch made from fresh local ingredients.
After our delicious lunch, we will keep hiking for about 4 hours to Ayapata(first campsite) where you are going to arrive around 5:00 p.m. Your tents will be already set up, then you will have hot tea waiting for you.
- Elevation Gain: 993 m / 3,257 ft.
- Elevation Loose: 339 m / 1112 feet.
- Campsite Altitude: 3303m(10828ft).
- Highest altitude: 3300m(10,826ft).
- Distance: 14 km / 8.69 miles.
- Hiking time: 6 – 7 hours.
- Accommodation: Camping in tents.
- Difficulty: Moderate.
We will wake you up early in the morning with hot tea or coca tea. The second day is the most challenging of the Private 4-day trek to Machu Picchu. We will hike for around 4-hour to Dead Woman’s Pass (4215m / 13829ft), the highest pass of all the Inca Trail Trek. At the top, we will enjoy the amazing landscape that surrounds us. Also, our guide will make some offerings to the Apus (local Gods). After appreciating the views, we will start hiking down to Pacaymayu Valley for about 2 hours, we will have our amazing lunch prepared by our chef.
After our meal, we will hike another 1 hour and a half to the second pass called Runqurakay (4000m / 13123ft). Before getting the pass, we will explore the Inca site Runqurakay. Then we will hike down to Sayacmarca ruins which we will explore too. After visiting those Inca sites, we will keep hiking to our second campsite Chaquicocha ( 3600m / 11811 ft.), where you can enjoy an amazing sunset over the Vilcabamba mountain range before our dinner. Also, this campsite is the perfect place to observe the Milky Way.
- Elevation Gain: 1272 m / 4,173 ft.
- Elevation Loose: 1055 m / 3,461 feet.
- Campsite Altitude: 3,550m(11,646ft)
- Highest altitude: 4,195m(13,763ft)
- Distance: 10 km / 6.21 miles
- Hiking time: 8 – 9 hours
- Accommodation: Camping
- Difficulty: Difficult.
Today is a more relaxing day. It is only 5 hours of hiking to reach the last campsite. At the beginning, there is a Peruvian flat for about 2 hours, and then you will hike all the way down to the campsite. Along the way, you will hike through several different ecosystems, and admire the amazing panoramic view of the Salkantay glacier (the second-highest mountain in the Cusco region). We are going to explore 2 Inca ruins, Phuyupatamarka, and Intipata.
From the Intipata ruins, you could already see the last campsite. Before heading to the campsite our guide will explain the site. We will arrive at the campsite at approximately 12:30 p.m. You will have your meal, then you can go to take a shower and take a siesta to relax. Around 4 pm, we will hike for 5 minutes to explore the Inca ruins of Wiñaywayna, where our tour guide will explain this amazing site and you will have free time to take amazing pictures. Then we will come back to the campsite to say goodbye to our amazing porters and enjoy our dinner. After enjoying the meal, we will go early to sleep and prepare for the next day.
- Elevation Gain: 239 m / 784 ft.
- Elevation Loose: 1096 m / 3,595 feet.
- Campsite Altitude: 2679 m – 8,789 ft
- Highest altitude: 3652 m – 11,981 ft
- Distance: 09 km / 5.59 miles
- Hiking time: 5 – 6 hours
- Accommodation: Camping
- Difficulty: Easy.
Today is the day you have been waiting for, we will wake up early to head to the last checkpoint of the Inca Trail. We will pass the checkpoint at 05: 30 am. Then, we will hike to the Sun Gate for one hour and 20 minutes, the Trail is up and down, so no more crazy uphills and downhills. Once you get to the gate, you will observe an amazing sunrise over Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate. We will begin our 45-minute final descent toward the lost city of the Incas. You will get to the Mapi checkpoint around 8:00 a.m.
Our tour guide will take you for a 2-hour guided tour of the citadel. Once we finish visiting the city, we will take a tourist bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes where you will have your lunch. Then you will take the train at 14:55 or 15:20 pm. At the Train station, our American Trekking team will wait for you to return to your hotel in Cusco or the Sacred Valley. You will arrive back to Cusco around 07:00 pm
If you hike to Huayna Picchu Mountain (Permits must be reserved as far in advance as possible). You will hike by yourself and our guide will tell you where you will have lunch and where you will pick up your duffle bag then take the train.
- Elevation Gain: 185 m / 606 ft.
- Elevation Loose: 451 m / 1479 feet.
- Highest altitude: 2700m -8858ft
- Distance: 7 km / 4.34 miles
- Hiking time: 2 – 3 hours
- Difficulty: Easy
Included
- 10 kg of your personal belongings for your personal porter
- Satellite phone.
- Pick up and drop off at your hotel or Airbnb. .
- Private tourist van from Cusco to Kilometer 82 (the starting point of the hike).
- English speaking tour guide with Satellite phone. .
- Foam mattresses.
- Profesional cook.
- Kitchen equipment.
- Dining and kitchen tents with chairs and tables.
- Portable toilet (The Pett).
- 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners, 3 snacks with option for vegetarians, vegan, gluten free, Pescatarian, lactose Intolerance and any food allergy.
- 4 season Tents for two people (tent with capacity for 4 people used as doubles – Eureka).
- Porters. As detailed in the table authorized by the Ministry of Culture. (To carry our camping equipment and food) we never overload our porters.
- Inca trail Permit and Machu Picchu ticket.
- Bus ticket from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes town.
- Vistadome train ticket(14:55 Hrs.) from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo.
- Private van from Ollantaytambo train station to Cusco.
- Emergency tank of oxigen and first aid kit.
- Pre-departure Inca Trail orientation, presented by our guides at 6:00 pm at the office one day before departure.
- Wake-up tea. Hot herbal tea or Coca tea brought to your tent, each morning.
- A duffle bag, where you put your 10 kg / 22 pounds of personal items per person (personal cares, personal items, sleeping bag are within this 7 kg / 14 pounds).
- We provide hot water bins each day to help our clients clean and feel good at night.
- Rain Poncho to protect from the rain.
- Two hours of guided tour in Machu Picchu
- Boiled water to fill in your water bottles or Camelback (our cook will give you clean water after every meal)
- Day pack cover to protect your personal backpack.
- Sleeping bag
Not Included
- Lunch – Day 4.
- Hot springs entrance in the town of Aguas Calientes (US $ 5).
- Gratitude for the staff (optional).
We would like to inform you of the regulations put in place by the Peruvian Ministry of Culture and SERNANP regarding access to the Inca Trail. Please ensure that you have a permit that matches your full name, passport number, nationality, and age, issued by the Ministry of Culture.
The number of visitors to the Inca Trail is tightly controlled with a maximum of 500 people per day, including support staff such as authorized porters, cooks, and tour guides. It’s important to note that when the daily visitor limit is reached, the Trail is closed off, and no further reservations can be made. We highly recommend booking permits a year in advance if possible.
Please note that only licensed Inca Trail Travel Agencies like AMERICAN TREKKING can secure permits, which are not transferable at any point. In case of a change in the start date, a new permit must be purchased. We strictly adhere to the regulations set by the government of Peru.
In the event that permits are sold out for your desired start date, we are happy to suggest alternative treks to Machu Picchu, including Salkantay Trek, Inca Quarry Trek, and Lares Trek. Please feel free to contact us for further assistance.
Private Inca Trail 4 day News
Important Update About the Inca Trail – New Rules Starting May 27, 2025
Starting May 27, 2025, the Ministry of Culture has introduced new rules for people doing the Private 4-day Inca Trail hike. From that date on, the permit for this hike will no longer give full access to the Machu Picchu citadel.
With the new rule, hikers will still be able to walk to the famous viewpoint to take the classic photo of Machu Picchu. After that, they can follow Circuit 1, which goes around the outside part of the site. However, they will not be allowed to enter the main citadel or visit the inside ruins.
These changes will not affect anyone who booked their Inca Trail permit before May 27, 2025. If you booked before this date, your permit still includes full access to Machu Picchu, including Circuit 3.
For those booking after May 27, 2025, we want to make sure you still get the full experience. That’s why we are arranging extra tickets that include Circuit 2, which lets you enter the main part of the citadel. This way, you can still enjoy the famous viewpoint and also explore the interior of Machu Picchu.
Things to know
- To ensure a comfortable and enjoyable Inca Trail hike, we recommend breaking in your trekking shoes beforehand.
- We advise spending two days in Cusco prior to the hike, especially for those not acclimatized to the altitude.
- For peak season bookings in June to August, it is essential to reserve permits a year in advance.
- Along the trail, bottled water is available for purchase on the first and second days, but not again until Machu Picchu.
- Please keep in mind that individuals with back problems are discouraged from taking part in this 4-day trek.
- Departures are available daily for groups of two or more, with no departures in February due to trail maintenance.
- wheelchair access is not available on the trail.
- DON’T FORGET THE ESSENTIALS: Original passport, insurance card, and personal medications.
Duffle bag
As part of our service, we will provide you with duffel bags that can be collected from our office after the briefing. These duffel bags will be carried by your porters and will only be accessible at the campsites. We suggest placing your non-hiking attire and personal items in the duffel bag, allowing you to carry your essential items, such as water, snacks, first aid kit, and rain gear, separately in your day pack.
We ask that you ensure that your duffel bag does not exceed 10kg, of which only 7kg should be allocated to your personal belongings. The remaining 3kg should be reserved for your sleeping pad and sleeping bag. By allocating the weight correctly, you will ensure a comfortable and enjoyable hiking experience.
Strikes
We would like to inform you that, at times, strikes and roadblocks may occur in Peru which may cause disruption to our Private Inca Trail to Machu Picchu hike and rail service to and from Machu Picchu. We understand the importance of your journey and want to ensure that any changes to your travel plans are kept to a minimum.
If a strike occurs on the first day of your Private Machu Picchu 4-day tour, we will take you to the trailhead the night before your start date, ensuring a smooth start to your journey. In the event that a strike occurs on the day of your return from the Private Inca Trail 4-day hike, we will send our vans to Hidroelectrica, where you will be required to hike an additional 2 hours from Aguas Calientes to Hidroelectrica. From there, we will transport you by van to Cusco and drop you off at your hotel.
We are committed to providing a comfortable and enjoyable travel experience, and we thank you for your understanding should any unforeseen circumstances arise.
Returning from Machu Picchu to Cusco.
At American Trekking, we have taken care of all the logistics for your return trip from Machu Picchu to Cusco. We have arranged for a bus to take you from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes, with buses departing every 15 minutes. From there, you will take a train to either Ollantaytambo or Poroy train station. Our guide will provide you with your train tickets and we ask that you arrive at the station at least 30 minutes before departure time.
The journey to Ollantaytambo is estimated to take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, while the journey to Poroy will take approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes. Once you arrive at the train station, our transfer will be waiting for you with the American Trekking logo and will take you back to your hotel in Cusco.
Inca trail weather
When hiking the Private Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, it is important to understand that the weather in the Andes can be unpredictable, with rain falling during the dry season and sunshine during the rainy season. As a professional, we recommend hikers prepare for variable weather conditions by bringing essential gear such as a rain jacket, rain pants, poncho, and waterproof gloves. Additionally, hikers should be aware that the trail has various microclimates that can change throughout the day, so it is important to dress in layers that can be easily adapted to temperature changes. Hikers should also bring a down jacket for the early morning and evenings when the weather is colder. Overall, being prepared with the right gear and clothing will ensure a safe and enjoyable experience along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
Travel Insurance
We highly suggest that you acquire travel insurance as it offers essential coverage for unforeseen circumstances during your Private 4-day Inca Trail tour. It can provide reimbursement for your pre-paid, non-refundable Inca Trail permit in case of last-minute cancellations. Additionally, having travel insurance can offer peace of mind as it can cover medical emergencies that may arise while traveling far away from home. In the event of a covered medical emergency, travel insurance can reimburse for necessary medical expenses incurred. Therefore, it is advisable to purchase travel insurance to ensure that you have adequate protection throughout your journey.
Physical requirements
We highly recommend that individuals embarking on this trek be in good physical condition due to the strenuous nature of the hike. The classic Inca Trail boasts elevation changes that challenge even seasoned hikers, featuring three passes throughout the trek. It is important to prepare and take into consideration the physical demands of the trail in order to fully enjoy your experience.
Pre-departure briefing
We would like to remind you that a pre-departure briefing is essential for a successful and unforgettable Inca Trail experience. The briefing is scheduled at our Cusco Office, located at Marquez Street 250, Second Floor, Office 03 in Cuzco, Peru. The session takes approximately 30-45 minutes where your guide will be introduced to you and provide you with detailed information about the upcoming private tours to the Inca Trail, such as the list of essential items to bring, rental equipment, and answer any questions you may have. Should you have any difficulty attending the scheduled briefing, please contact the American Trekking team via email to coordinate an alternative time. We look forward to welcoming you to our Cusco Office at 06:00 pm one day before your departure to ensure everything goes smoothly.
Tipping
We kindly remind our valued guests that it is customary to tip Inca Trail Trail tour staff, including our hard-working porters and skilled chefs. On the third afternoon of the tour, we will bid farewell to these incredible individuals and it is at this time that we request you provide a gratuity, if you so choose. Please note that tipping is voluntary and should never be a source of discomfort or coercion.
Typically, our guests choose to combine their tips for the chefs and porters, while tips for the tour guide are reserved for after the Machu Picchu guided tour. Additionally, we recommend providing tips in Soles for our chefs and porters, while both Soles and U.S. dollars are acceptable for the tour guide.
To assist in guiding your gratuity amount, we suggest considering a range of 50-90 Soles per porter and 120-150 Soles per chef. As always, any additional amount is greatly appreciated by our staff members. Thank you for your consideration, and we look forward to providing you with an unforgettable Inca Trail experience.
Typical meals on the trek
Our commitment to offering the ultimate culinary experience during your trek to Machu Picchu is unwavering. To ensure that our meals are always of the highest quality, we regularly provide our cooks with intensive training during the low season. The menus we prepare are designed to showcase the freshest local ingredients and provide you with a range of dietary options, which includes vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options upon request at the time of booking.
For breakfast, indulge in hot porridge, quinoa, or oats, accompanied by a variety of freshly baked bread, fried eggs, omelets, and pancakes. To complete the meal, enjoy fresh fruit and a selection of hot beverages like coca tea, coffee, and hot chocolate.
Our lunch and dinner course offerings, a combination of traditional dishes and international cuisine, are served in two courses. The first course is typically a vegetable-based soup or a stuffed avocado, followed by hearty options such as beef stew, quinoa, and hamburgers. Finally, cap off the dining experience with a selection of desserts like chocolate pudding, vanilla cake, or fresh fruit.
During the trek, snacks such as candies, cookies, fruit juices, and a variety of Peruvian fruits, like bananas, chirimoya, and apples are also available to satisfy any cravings or keep up your energy levels.
To reserve your Inca trail 4-day private service, please find the “book now” button on our website. once you click the button, you will be redirected to a booking platform where you can choose your desired departure date and provide essential personal information about each participant. the payment process can be completed using either a credit card or a debit card.
If you are interested in additional options like the Huayna Picchu mountain hike, we recommend booking them simultaneously with your Inca trail reservation. this approach ensures that you don’t miss out on any possible opportunities due to the rapid-selling Inca trail permits. You can rent walking sticks in Cusco 1 day before your trip.
We will send you a confirmation email once the Inca trail permit has been secured to ensure a meticulously organized and successful trip. we guarantee that it will proceed as planned once the start date is confirmed.
We are happy to offer special discounts for groups of three people or more. As the group size increases, the discount also increases, which means the price per person becomes more affordable. This allows families, friends, or small groups to enjoy a private experience while benefiting from better value.
Please feel free to send us an email with the number of participants and your preferred travel dates, and we will gladly provide you with detailed pricing information and availability.
Certainly! During the 4-day Inca trail private trek to Machu Picchu, we provide a luggage storage facility at our office. we kindly request that you only bring the essentials necessary for the duration of your hike to Machu Picchu.
We would like to inform you that settling your outstanding balance can be done efficiently and securely with our various payment options. you may choose to pay in cash, either in USD or soles, one day prior to your trip. for your convenience, credit card payments can also be made with a 5% service fee. please let us know your preferred payment method in advance.
Please note that cash payments must be made one day prior to your trip without exception. we appreciate your prompt attention in settling your outstanding balance and look forward to providing you with the best service possible.
Please note that individuals who are 18 years or older must present a valid student card in order to be eligible for discounts on the tour. for students aged 11-17 years, a discount of $30 USD applies, while children aged 2-11 years can avail of a discount of $ 40 USD. in order to obtain the student discount.
We regret to inform you that the Inca trail permits are non-transferable and non-refundable, according to the regulations set forth by the government. we would like to clarify that the only information allowed to be modified is the passport numbers. please let us know if there are any other questions we can help answer or concerns we can address. thank you for your understanding.
