Inca Trail Peru: 4-Day Trek to Machu Picchu (Official Route)

Experience the legendary Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. A 4-day ancestral journey through breathtaking landscapes, ancient ruins, and the Sun Gate. Book your official 2026 permit today!

Itinerary: Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4 Days and 3 Nights

Day 1: Cusco – KM 82 – Wayllabamba – Ayapata

We depart from Cusco (3350m) in our private transport at 5:30 am. Along the way, we will observe vast farmlands and traditional villages that preserve their ancestral customs.

Kilometer 82 marks our meeting point with the support team (porters) and the official starting point of the Inca Trail, also known as the Inca Trail Peru, a part of the millenary Caminos del Inca route.

After a three-hour hike, we will have lunch in Hatunchaka (3000m), a small village where you can buy water, snacks, and use the facilities.

We continue our trek to the Wayllabamba campsite (3100m), the last inhabited village on the route to Machu Picchu, and then push on for one more hour to the Ayapata campsite (3300m), where we will spend the night.

This segment represents one of the most authentic entrances to Machu Picchu via the Classic Inca Trail.

• Hiking time: 06 – 07 hours.

• Included: Lunch and Dinner.

Day 2: Ayapata – Llulluchapampa – Warmihuañusca – Pacaymayu – Runcuracay – Chaquicocha

At dawn, we will wake up to a cozy and enigmatic landscape. We resume our journey climbing through the Ayapata valley (3300m) and Llulluchapampa (3850m) to reach the highest point of the trek: the “Warmihuañusca” Pass (Dead Woman’s Pass) at 4200m, where we will witness the stunning Veronica Glacier. This iconic stretch is a symbol of the spiritual journey along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

After enjoying the panoramic views, we descend into the Pacaymayu valley (3500m) for lunch. Afterward, we continue hiking to Chaquicocha, where we will camp for the night, crossing part of the historic path that leads to the citadel.

• Hiking time: 10 – 11 hours.

• Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Day 3: Chaquicocha – Phuyupatamarka – Intipata – Wiñayhuayna

This is the shortest and most beautiful day due to the constant changes in the ecosystem. In the morning, we continue toward the Phuyupatamarca Pass (3600m), where we will visit the archaeological site of the same name. We then descend to our final campsite, Wiñayhuayna (2650m), for lunch and our last night under the stars.

We will explore the Wiñayhuayna historical complex, a legacy site on the Inca Trail Peru renowned for its connection to ancestral history. This path belongs to the sacred Inca road network that defined the splendor of the Empire.

• Hiking time: 05 – 06 hours.

• Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Day 4: Wiñayhuayna – Machu Picchu – Cusco

After an early wake-up call, our porters will provide a box breakfast. At 3:30 am, we head out with our flashlights toward the checkpoint, waiting until 5:30 am for the gates to open. We then hike to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) at 2780m, where the sunrise over Machu Picchu and HuaynaPicchu mountain is revealed by surprise. This magical entrance is where many travelers truly discover the majesty of Machu Picchu, one of the world’s most important archaeological jewels.

At 8:00 am, we begin our 2-hour guided tour of the Machu Picchu Inca citadel (2400m), enriching ourselves with its history and culture in harmony with nature. Afterward, we take the bus down to Aguas Calientes for a final lunch (not included) before boarding the train (regular departure at 2:55 pm) to Ollantaytambo. From there, a bus will take us back to Cusco (3350m), arriving at approximately 7:00 pm.

• Hiking time: 3 hours.

• Included: Box breakfast.