Inca Trail 5 days To Machu Picchu

We will depart from your hotel at 7:00 AM for the 5-day Machu Picchu Inca Trail tour in private transportation. After about 1 hour and 30 minutes, we’ll stop in Ollantaytambo to explore the town. We’ll then continue driving for approximately 40 minutes to the Trailhead. The starting point of the Inca Trail is located beyond the Ollantaytambo village, about 3 hours from Cusco, making for a long but beautiful drive. We’ll arrive at the checkpoint after all 4-day hike groups have left (around 2 hours ahead). Once everyone has their entrance permits validated (including the support crew porters), we will start our hike by crossing the suspension bridge and continuing along the left bank of the Urubamba River.

The trek is relatively easy for the first couple of hours as we make our way to the Mesqay where we will have our lunch. After our meal, we will hike to  Inca site named Patallacta. This is the place that welcomes everyone for the rest of the adventure on the Inca trail with great views above the Urubamba river. After getting the explanation, we will hike to our campsite. The campground for the first night is at the Hatunchaca. We will spend the with very few people because the 4 day group sleep in Huayllabamba and Ayapata campsites.

• Elevation Gain: 455 m / 1492ft.
• Elevation Loose: 292 m / 958 feet.
• Distance: 12 km (7,45 miles)
• Hiking time: 4 – 5 hours
• Maximum altitude point: 2,847 m (9,340 ft)
• Campsite altitude: 2,847 m (9,340 ft)

Our American Trekking will wake you up at 6:00 am, giving you 30 minutes to get ready and have breakfast at 6:30 am. We will start the hike at 7:00 am and head toward Wayllabamba. The path is mostly flat until you reach the town of Huayllabamba, which is the last village along the Inca Trail. During this part of the hike, you will still have access to private toilets and small shops where you can buy snacks and water.

Once you pass the town, the trail becomes steeper as you hike uphill to the Ayapata resting point. The views of the snow-covered mountains and cloud forests are breathtaking. The first section of the trek goes through lush vegetation, and the path climbs steadily higher. After resting in Ayapata, we will continue hiking to Llulluchapampa, where we will enjoy a delicious lunch.

After lunch, we will continue to the first and highest point of the hike: Abra Warmiwañusqa, or “Dead Woman’s Pass” in Quechua. Reaching the top of this mountain is challenging, but the reward is the beautiful green valley beyond. It will take about an hour and a half to reach the summit, and then another two hours to descend to the Pacaymayo campsite, where we will have dinner. At the summit, there will be very few people, so you won’t have to deal with crowds to take pictures with the “Dead Woman” sign. With some luck, we may also spot Andean deer and local birds along the way.

• Elevation Gain: 1374 m / 4507 ft.
• Elevation Loose: 628 m / 820 feet.
• Distance: 09 km (5,59 miles)
• Hiking time: 7 – 8 hours
• Maximum altitude point: 4,200 m (13,786 ft)
• Campsite altitude: 3,600 m (12,113 ft).

On the third day, our team will wake you up at 6 a.m., and you will have 30 minutes to get ready. We will have breakfast and begin our hike around 7:30 a.m. We will start walking on the Inca Trail, heading towards the second pass. Along the way, we will see amazing waterfalls, plants, and animals. Shortly after we start, we will reach an Inca site called Runcu Raqay, where our guide will explain its history before we continue our hike, far from any modern cities, through valleys covered in bushes. At the top of the pass, you’ll be able to take incredible photos of snow-capped mountains and stunning natural landscapes.

After that, we will begin the descent down to the Sayac Marca Inca Complex. As we go, we will gradually enter the jungle, where the plants will start to surround the path. At Sayac Marca, we will have a guided tour, followed by a visit to Qonchamarca for another guided tour. We will then continue hiking to Chakicocha, where we will stop for lunch. After lunch, we will keep hiking to Phuyupatamarca. The trail has both uphill and downhill sections. In the afternoon, we will watch the sunset and get a view of Machu Picchu Mountain and the Urubamba River down in the valley. After dinner, everyone will go to bed early to rest for the next day’s beautiful sunrise observation.

• Altitude Gain: 570 m / 1,870 ft.
• Altitude Loose: 503 m / 1650 ft.
• Distance: 07 km (4,36 miles)
• Hiking time: 6 – 7 hours
• Maximum altitude point: 3,944 m (12,939 ft)
• Campsite altitude: 3,645 m (11,958 ft).

Today, after breakfast, we’ll head down the stone steps from the Inca site of Phuyupatamarca to Wiñay Wayna, where we’ll have lunch. On the way, we’ll visit the Inti Pata viewpoint, which overlooks an important agricultural area for Machu Picchu. After exploring Intipata, we’ll continue down to Wiñay Huayna, one of the largest Inca sites outside Machu Picchu. This site features impressive architecture, with upper and lower sections connected by a long staircase, and stunning terraces. It also offers close views of the Urubamba River. Lunch will be at the campsite near Wiñay Huayna

It is customary on the Inca trail to make a farewell ceremony for our Inca trail porters and cook, so if you have prepared some tips or have something to say, then that is the right time. Afterward, we say farewell to our crew team and continue our hike to the Sun gate through a leveled Inca path for about 1 hour 30 and reach the magic sun gate overlooking Machu Picchu for the first time in life. As the sun goes down, we will slowly make our way to Machu Picchu. Once we arrive, we will explore Circuit 01, which is the upper part of Machu Picchu. Here, we will visit three of the best viewpoints to take a postcard Picture of Machu Picchu. After that, we will go down to the checkpoint, take a bus to Aguas Calientes, have dinner (which is included), and stay there overnight.

• Altitude Gain: 224 m / 734 ft.
• Altitude Loose: 1440 m / 4724 ft.
• Distance: 12 km (7,45 miles)
• Hiking time: 6 – 7 hours
• Maximum altitude point: 3,600 m (11,692 ft)
• Hotel altitude: 2,000 m (6,561 ft).

We will wake up early today to reach Machu Picchu before it gets crowded. Around 5:30 AM, we will take one of the first buses to the site. These buses operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so everyone lines up with their permits ready. Once we arrive at Machu Picchu, you’ll show your permit at the checkpoint. After passing through, we’ll follow Circuit 03 and visit key attractions, including the Temple of the Sun, the Inca’s House, the Water Fountain, the Agricultural Terraces, the Sacred Rock, the Callancas, the Storehouse, and the Temple of the Condor. Our guide will explain each place during a tour lasting 2 to 3 hours. After the guided tour, you will take a bus to Aguas Calientes, where you can have lunch. Lunch is not included, but there are many restaurants to choose from. Afterward, you will take a train back to Ollantaytambo. There, a representative from American Trekking will meet you and drive you to your hotel in Cusco.

If you have permits for Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, the guide will show you where the trail starts. They will help you register and give you tips for the hike and directions for returning to catch the bus back to Aguas Calientes. There, you will meet the guide again, and they will give you your train ticket.