Inca Trail 4 Days

About the Tour

Specifically, these are the characteristics of the Inca Trail (Cusco – Peru) 4D/3N Group Tour that you should know before starting this adventure: Tour type: Trek with overnight stay in camps, adventure, history, and culture. Total distance: 43 km / 26 miles. Recommended: For those who enjoy long hikes and are in moderate physical condition. Considerations: An entry permit is required (Go Mapi Travel Agency will obtain it for you as soon as you book with us). Advance booking is required. Season: From March 1st to January 31st. Trail closed: February (closed by the government for maintenance). Experience the renowned Inca Trail Group Tour for 4 days and 3 nights! Visit the Sun Gate for that first magical sighting of Machu Picchu! Don’t wait any longer and be impressed by the Inca ruins along the entire trail, while enjoying the lush green cloud forest, Andean mountain passes, and vast landscape. Hiking this trail with Go Mapi Travel Agency will be the best experience you’ve ever had. We’ll take care of everything, including securing the best campsites, satisfying your discerning palate with delicious and nutritious dishes, providing you with top-notch equipment, and a highly knowledgeable staff with whom you’ll feel comfortable.

Day 1: Cusco – Piskacucho Km 82 – Llactapata- Ayapata

The first thing we’ll do on the 4D/3N Inca Trail Group Tour is pick you up directly from your hotel in Cusco, Urubamba, or Ollantaytambo. In Cusco, we’ll pick you up at 4:30 AM, from Urubamba at 5:30 AM, and if you’re staying in Ollantaytambo, you can rest a little longer, as we’ll pick you up at 6:30 AM. We’ll then drive to Km 82 and pass through the first Inca Trail checkpoint to begin our trek. Please make sure you have your original passport, as you’ll need it to enter the Inca Trail. The first two hours of the trek are relatively easy, as we head toward our first Inca site, Patallacta. This is an ancient Inca checkpoint for the approach to Machu Picchu. From there, we begin another two-hour hike to our lunch spot. After lunch, we’ll hike for another two hours until we reach our first night’s camp at Ayapata (3,300 meters). On this final stretch, we pass through two small communities. There, if you’d like to purchase any energy drinks, snacks, or essential items you’ve forgotten, such as batteries, you can do so. We’ll arrive at our camp at 5:00 PM. After settling in, you can relax and enjoy a hot drink and snacks with the porters, chef, and guide. Dinner will be ready by 7:30 PM, after which you can have a well-deserved rest.

Hiking distance:  8.7 miles/14 km (6-7 hours)
Camp height:  3300 meters (high) above sea level
Considered:  Moderate (Getting used to the Inca Trail)
Climate:  Warm with presence of wind

Day 2: Dead Woman Pass (Warmiwañuska) – Runccuracay Pass – Chaquiccocha

As we begin the second day of the 4D/3N Inca Trail Group Tour, your designated porters will wake you up early with a cup of coca tea, which will help prepare you for the spectacular day ahead. We’ll start very early, as the trek is longer. We’ll hike for approximately 4 hours to the highest pass of the trek, Dead Woman’s Pass (4,215 meters/13,829 feet). Upon reaching the pass, we’ll have a short break to enjoy the views, then set off again and descend into the next valley, Pacaymayu Valley – Hidden River. It’s another hour and a half along the valley side to our lunch spot, where you’ll have the opportunity to refill your water bottles. After lunch, we begin ascending again to the second pass of the trek. It’s 2 hours above the pass, where we’ll stop at a small Inca site called Runcu Raccay and see two enormous waterfalls on the opposite side of the valley. After the second pass, it’s another hour of downhill hiking to reach the magnificent Inca site called Sayacmarca (an otherwise inaccessible village). We’ll stop here to rest and do a quick tour. Afterward, we’ll be able to watch the sunset over the Vilcabamba mountain range. It’s only another 20 minutes until we stop for the night at our second campsite, Chaquicocha (Dry Lake, 3,600 meters). After dinner, if you’re not too exhausted, we can do some stargazing, and we’ll point out the fascinating Inca constellations. In the magnificent southern hemisphere sky, away from all the artificial lighting, this sky is something to behold!

Hiking distance:  9.94 miles/16 km (7-8 hours)
Camp height:  3600 meters (high)
Considered:  Main day (you will have survived both Inca Passes)
Area:   Andes and Cloud Forest
Climate:  Cold and rainy

Day 3: Chaquiccocha – Wiñaywayna

Completing Day 2 and starting Day 3 definitely deserves a pat on the back! We’ll start early again, at exactly 6:30 am. This day will be the most beautiful of the entire Inca Trail. We’ll hike for two hours along what we like to call the “Inca plain” (gradual inclines) and begin entering the jungle, known as the Cloud Forest. As we hike, we’ll have the opportunity to see Salkantay Mountain, the second-highest snow-capped mountain in the Sacred Valley, and a fantastic panoramic view of the Vilcabamba mountain range. Toward the end of the Inca plains, we’ll make our way to the final peak at Phuyupatamarka (3,600 meters), from where we’ll have excellent views of the Urubamba River. Further down the valley, we get our first view of Machu Picchu Mountain, but the site itself is still hidden. From Phuyupatamarka, it’s a 3-hour walk up a flight of steps to our final campsite, near Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young). Wiñay Wayna is the most spectacular Inca site on the trail after Machu Picchu and the most popular campsite due to its proximity to Machu Picchu. During the descent, we’ll visit two Inca ruins, Phuyupatamarka (City in the Clouds) and Intipata (Terraces of the Sun). We’ll arrive at our campsite around 1:00 PM for lunch. Then, you can relax for the rest of the day so you’re ready for the final day of the trek, at Machu Picchu. Around 4:30 PM, your guide will give you a brief orientation, and you’ll visit the Inca ruins of Wiñay Wayna for an hour and a half. Your guide will explain the significance of the site and combine all the information given during the hike. This way, you’ll be fully prepared for your visit to Machu Picchu the next day. One of our favorite things to do is pamper our guests, so you’ll enjoy a final banquet with the porters and chefs. As part of our traditions, we’ll hold an evening ceremony to introduce the team to the tourists once again. The purpose of this event is to thank them for their hard work (if you’d like to tip them, you can do so right then and there). It’s advisable to go to bed at a reasonable time, as the day will start very early. This way, we can arrive at Machu Picchu at dawn, hoping for a beautiful sunrise over the ruins.

Walking distance:  6.2 miles/10km (5 hours)
Camp altitude:  2,600 meters (high) above sea level (cold climate)
Considered:  Easy day – All downhill!
Area:  High cloud forest
Climate:  Warm and very humid

Day 4: Sun Gate – Machu Picchu – The Lost City of the Incas

This final day of the 4D/3N Inca Trail Group Tour begins at 3:30 AM. We’ll have breakfast at 4:00 AM and wait at the checkpoint to be among the first to begin trekking when the gates open at 5:30 AM. We bid farewell to our porter team and chef and head to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku). From here, we have spectacular views of the mountains and Machu Picchu in all its splendor. We’ll arrive at the Sun Gate at 6:30 AM, and then it’s just a one-hour hike to reach the Lost City of the Incas. As we walk and get closer to Machu Picchu, the views of the city improve. Around 7:40 AM, we’ll arrive at the final checkpoint and enter Machu Picchu to begin our private two-hour guided tour. After the tour, you will be given bus tickets to take you to Aguas Calientes, where you will have plenty of free time to explore the city on your own or climb one of the neighboring mountains—Huayna Picchu (must be arranged in advance). Your guide will meet you in the town of Aguas Calientes to enjoy your last lunch at a local restaurant. This is optional and not included. At lunch, your guide will distribute your train tickets, so if you decide to skip it, please coordinate with your guide to obtain these tickets before dropping you off at Machu Picchu. Unless you have arranged an upgraded train, we will reserve an Expedition class train that departs Aguas Calientes at 2:55 or 3:20 pm. Please make sure you are at the platform at least 30 minutes early. The trip takes approximately 2 hours to Ollantaytambo or Poroy (depending on the train schedule), where an Alpaca driver will meet you and take you back to the city on our bus, and then drop you off at your hotel.

Considered: The most magical and exciting day (Early start at 3:30 AM)
Area:  Subtropical and high cloud forest
Climate: Hot and very humid (bring plenty of water)

What's included?

Professional guides: All of our guides have a degree and are experts in their field. They also grew up in the Cusco region and are passionate about teaching others about their culture and heritage. They are fun, highly professional, and will ensure that you are completely safe and happy throughout your trip.
Permits: As soon as we receive your information and a deposit, we will purchase your travel permits. Once confirmed, they cannot be changed; only updating or modifying your passport number is allowed. The permit includes one entry to the Machu Picchu citadel.
Orientation: The night before the trek, you’ll be required to come to our office in Cusco for a briefing. There, you’ll receive a duffel bag, which your porters will carry during the trek. This bag must not exceed 7 kg / 14 lbs and must include your sleeping bag and air mattress.
Porters: We provide a personal porter responsible for carrying your duffel bag. There is no additional fee for this. You won’t be able to access your duffel bag until you arrive at camp each night.
Transportation: Go Mapi Travel Agency provides all transportation for this trek. We’ll pick you up directly from your hotel around 4:00 am (if you’re staying in Ollantaytambo, we’ll pick you up at 6:20 am) to take you to KM 82, where the Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu begins. After your visit, we include a bus ticket down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes. The return train from Aguas Calientes will be on the Expedition Train class (this service is included in the package). If you’d like to upgrade, you have the option to upgrade to the Vistadome Train class for an additional $75 per person. Once you arrive at the train station, we’ll take you back to your hotel in Cusco.
Equipment: Go Mapi Travel Agency has the ideal equipment for your trip. We use Eureka Timberline® four-person tents, where only two people can share for greater comfort. You’ll also have a spacious dining tent to enjoy your delicious meals.
Food: The chefs at Go Mapi Travel Agency specialize in cooking delicious dishes that many of our previous trekkers have loved. We respect all dietary restrictions, so be sure to add any requests to your booking form and let your guide know at the briefing. Food is typically served family-style. You’ll enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day of the trek, along with a happy hour for tea and snacks. You’ll be provided with a snack each morning to enjoy during the trek. Your last meal with the chef will be breakfast on day four. Lunch on the final day is not included.
Water: From your first meal to your last breakfast, Go Mapi Travel Agency will provide you with all the water you need. This water is boiled, filtered, and then cooled before distribution. You must bring your own water bottles and/or camelbacks. We recommend bringing containers with a total capacity of 3 liters so you can refill them at each meal.
First Aid: Every Go Mapi Travel Agency guide has received first aid training from a specialized doctor. We hold mandatory training sessions every February, which all our guides attend. Your guide will always have a first aid kit for basic medical situations (traveler’s diarrhea, cuts, scrapes, etc.) and oxygen. If necessary, we will evacuate you from the trail as quickly and comfortably as possible, ensuring you arrive directly to a clinic for appropriate care.
Extras: We believe attention to the small details is what sets us apart. Each hiker receives a small sleeping pillow, a foam mattress to insulate against the cold, a backpack cover to protect their belongings while hiking, and a rain poncho. We work hard to provide the best experience during the trip!
Satellite Phones: Our top priority will always be the safety of our clients and staff. Therefore, our guides are prepared to handle most issues travelers may encounter on the mountain. Although the radios they use have limited range, Go Mapi Travel Agency has added satellite phones on every trek. Each guide will have a fully charged phone that can be used anywhere on the mountain to connect us to anywhere in the world. Our clients can also use them for non-emergencies. While they are not cheap to use, they are available should you need to call or communicate with home.
Taxes and Fees: All taxes and permit fees associated with this hike are included in the price.

What is not included?

Rentals : For camping, every hiker needs a sleeping bag. Inflatable air mattresses and walking sticks (with rubber tips) are optional but recommended for the trip. If you don’t wish to bring either of the above, Go MaPi Travel Agency has the following available for rent:
Sleeping bag : $25
Inflatable mattress : $20. FREE ON PRIVATE TREK
Walking poles (1 pair) : $20
Huayna Picchu ( Young Mountain )
Huayna Picchu is the mountain located on the north side of Machu Picchu. To reach the summit, you must take a 45-minute hike, starting from a dense forest and then ascending a flight of steps. These steps prove to be a challenge for those who enjoy heights. If you are not afraid of heights, you can do this hike after your tour of Machu Picchu. The additional cost is $75. Reservations must be made at least one month in advance, due to the popularity of this site. Finally, we must ask for your understanding regarding the weather, which is no longer within our control.

Recommendations

Passport
Valid STUDENT ID (If you booked as a student)
Migration card (issued at the airport upon entering Peru)
Backpack (the smaller the better)
Water container: Camelbags are recommended, but at least 2-3 liters are sufficient.
Comfortable trekking boots (lightweight with good soles)
Sunscreen
Facial moisturizer
Insect repellent
Hand sanitizer
Wet tissues
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Toilet paper
Personal medication
First aid kit