The Peruvian government has strict limitations on how many people are permitted to use the Inca Trail (permits are issued to about 200 trekkers per day and about 300 porters/guides with a total of 500 permits issued daily). We recommend booking the Inca Trail as early as possible, sometimes even 6 months in advance!.
We also recommend booking the Inca Trail trek before booking your hotels, flights, etc., since Inca Trail permits are limited!.
Daily departures are available throughout the year (March through January-February the Inca Trail is closed), even though the recommended period for this trek is April to October because it is the dry season.
All private service departure dates are adapted to your request any day you choose. Also contact us for group departure date availability.
Flight to Lima.
Welcome, reception and transfer to the select hotel.
Overnight in Lima.
Breakfast the hotel.
Free day for personal activities
Overnight in Lima.
Breakfast at the hotel.
At convenient hour transfer to airport
Flight Lima – Arequipa (NOT INCLUDE)
Reception in the airport and transfer to the hotel.
Overnight in Arequipa.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Free morning for personals activities.
At convenient hour transfer to the bus station
19:30pm Arrival to Puno and transfer the hotel
Night accommodation in Puno
Am. Breakfast at the hotel.
07:00 After breakfast visit to the Uros Floating Island, where you can appreciate their customs and in particular the construction of the islands and their houses built with totora that is a typical aquatic plant of the island, later the island of Taquile to appreciate their customs, lunch included in the island; return to Puno and transfer to the hotel.
Overnight at Puno.
Am. Breakfast at the hotel.
06:00 Transfer to the bus station for the connection to the Imperial city of Cusco by Tourist bus in excursion service with 4 stops en route to visit the Lithic Museum of the ruins of Pucará, La Raya, Raqchi and the Church in Andahuaylillas; additionally an additional stop will be made in Sicuani for lunch. Arrival in Cusco and transfer to the hotel.
Overnight at Cusco.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Rest of the morning free for air conditioning.
14:00 For the City Tour, visiting the tourist attractions such as the Main Square, Koricancha, then visit the four nearby ruins of the city located 15 minutes: Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay, return to the Hotel.
Overnight at Cusco.
Am. Breakfast at the hotel.
Full day excursion to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, where you will visit the pampas of Calca, Lamay, the Indian Market of Pisaq, lunch included in one of the tourist restaurants of Urubamba.
In the afternoon we will visit the Fortress of Ollantaytambo, at the end of the visit they separate from Overnight at Sacred Valley.
Today begins your adventure of a lifetime. We will pick you up from your hotel in our private van very early in the morning at 5:30am. You will be transferred to the Sacred Valley of the Inkas, where our van going to take us to Piskacucho, which is called kilometer 82, where the Classic Inca Trail begins. On the way, we stop for breakfast in Ollantaytambo at 6:30-7am to load up on energy for our start of the trail. (Breakfast is not included). Upon arrival at kilometer 82 at 11:30am, we will have some time to organize ourselves, At the Inka Trail first control point be ready to show your entrance tickets, passports and (if paying a student rate) your student card.
At the start of the trail (2720m/8923ft) we cross the Vilcanota River and follow its route to the right. The first day is relatively easy, a warm-up along the Inka flat terrain. There are great views of the Incan Fortress (‘Huillca Raccay’), the vast and incredible Inka site of Llactapata, (officially called ‘Patallacta’), and the beautiful snow-capped peak of ‘W’akay Willca’ (5860m/19225ft) known in books as Veronica. Our first campsite is in Wayllabamba (3000m/9842ft) in the temperate green valley with the same name. Temperatures at night are around 5ºC depending on the month.
During the day, we will enjoy spectacular views of the snow-capped mountains Veronica, (5,860m/19,337ft), the lush green valley around us and a myriad of flora and fauna.
Meals: Lunch, snacks, afternoon tea and dinner.
Accommodation: Camping facilities.
Distance: 11kms/6.8 miles (6 hours more or less of hiking)
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate.
Walking Time: Approximately 6 hours (including picnic lunch in route)
Walk and Terrain: Walk, canter on open roads, some steep ascending.
After waking up at 5 to 5:30am and enjoying a hot breakfast, we start a steep ascent towards the highest pass, abra de Warmihuañusca or ‘Dead Woman’s Pass’ at 4200m/13779ft. On this day, you will feel a real sense of achievement upon reaching the top! After a well-deserved rest, we begin the descent to where we stop for lunch, which is located at Pacaymayu (3,550m/11,646ft).
On our way up to the pass, we will be able to see an arrange of hummingbirds and a combination of other species of bird life. There will be plenty of time to appreciate the incredible variety of native plants and the ´Polylepis´ or Q’ueuña trees which grow in the astonishing cloud forest located at 3650m/11972ft! After lunch, begins the second two-hour steep climb to Runkuraqay pass (almost 4,000m/13,123ft). We arrive at our campsite by 5:00 pm. Temperatures at this campsite are around 4ºC during the night.
This is the most impressive day so far; keep this in mind as you ascend on day three! We wake up for breakfast at 6am and start the day with a gentle climb to visit the archaeological site of ‘Phuyupatamarca’ (meaning ‘Town in the Clouds’). Here we reach the third highest point on the Inka trail (3680m/). The views of the mountains, canyons and surrounding areas are spectacular! The Inca site of ‘Phuyupatamarca’, is located a few minutes’ walk from the third pass. After visiting this site, we continue walking down 3000 stairs through the cloud forest to the impressive agricultural Incan site of ‘Intipata. After taking some time to visit this site, we continue until we arrive at our third campsite Wiñay Wayna. (2680m/8792ft). Today, we will only walk about 4 to 5 hours. We arrive at camp by lunchtime! Temperatures during the night are about 12º C. A short walk from our campsite is the famous Incan site of ‘Wiñay Wayna’ (‘Forever Young’). Even if you are feeling tired after your day’s trek, it´s a moment you cannot miss, the most impressive site on the Inca trail.
At around 4:00am it´s time to wake up, have breakfast and start day 4 on the Inka trail to get to Machu Picchu on time. This is the final part of your journey, arriving by 6:00am to reach Inti Punku or The Sun Gate. At that point, the majestic Machu Picchu Citadel is in front of us with its intense beauty – an incredible sight for all to see. The reality of what the Inca people must have encountered on their taxing journey to this expansive temple of Machu Picchu. At this point, we walk downhill towards the Machu Picchu Citadel. (2400m/7872 ft.) After walking 40 minutes, we enter the citadel from the top through the “House of the Guardians”. From there we proceed to the control point where we register and leave our belongings. Your professional guide will direct you throughout the astounding ruins and its main streets. You can wander around the town squares as well as climb the intricately carved stairways made from stone. Machu Picchu is considered as the world’s spiritual center by esoteric wisdom. Once the guided tour is over, you will have free time to explore the site on your own.
You will also have time to indulge in a few of the following activities on your own if you choose (not included in the price)
Back to Cusco: You will descend to Aguas Calientes and later board the Expedition train to the Ollantaytambo Train Station “Train departure time can vary according train schedule and availability”. In Ollantaytambo Train station you will meet our private van and be transferred to your hotel in Cusco.
Meals: Breakfast
Distance: 8.9kms/5.5mls “By Bus in 25 minutes”
Difficulty: Easy
*** Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountains hike depends on availability; please let us know if you want to add one of these extra hikes at the time of your booking.
*** We only take ITEP EcoTravel clients in our vans / cars – We do not use public transport.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer hotel - airport.
Flight Cusco – Lima. (NOT INCLUDE)
Arrival to Lima.
Waiting at the airport for international flight.
