Our five-day program allows you time to explore and enjoy the amazing archaeological sites, landscapes and nature along the way. While most other programs force trekkers to speed through the stunning high-altitude Inca Trail, we take the time to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience. We camp for the first three nights, enjoying great meals and have sturdy tents for the night´s sleep. The hikes average six to seven hours each day, including time to explore the Inca sites we pass through and to take in the unparalleled scenery. On the fourth afternoon we arrive at Machu Picchu after the crowds have left, and have time to explore the tranquil ruins. After a well-deserved night´s rest at a comfortable hotel, we return to Machu Picchu to see the ruins in perfect morning light. In the afternoon we return to Cusco by train. This program is specially designed to offer a more relaxed trek and a deeper understanding of Inca culture.

• Activities: Archaeological sight-seeing, experience the culture, learn about the ecological aspects of Peru, and Hiking.
• Distance: 42 km. / 26.1 miles.
• Average hiking time: 07 hours per day.
• Duration: 05 Days / 04 Nights.
• Maximum height: 4200 meters (13.780 feet) above sea level.
• Departures: book now.
• Number: Minimum 2 passengers.
• Months of Operation: All year except February.
• Service Type:
  Private: This service is exclusively for groups of friends, couples, families, coworkers, etc. And the itinerary is planned according to your requirements, and on the dates that choose
  Shared: Usually this is a large group where the tourists are all different nationalities and the itinerary is fixed.
• Degree of difficulty: Medium high.

OVERALL INFORMATION

Book ahead of time, during an average high season, 90 days before departure there are no spaces due to the influx of tourists wanting to come and see the ruins, so the government has imposed restrictions for environmental purposes, to prevent erosion and contamination of the road network of Inca roads and the sanctuary of Machu Picchu. There are 500 spaces available (tourists, guides, cooks and porters).

Important Please Read

DAY 1: Piskakucho (Km. 82) – Huayllabamba

In the morning at around 05:45am we will depart from the city of Cusco (3350m / 10990); we will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This is where your trek will begin, and you will meet with Quechua porters who are responsible for carrying all the food and camping equipment for our expedition. The most common plants in this area are the large cactus, (Trichocereuspachanoi), Achupallas (Puya nail-Herculis). On this hike you will have the opportunity to see the large snow-capped mountain called Veronica or Huacayhuillca (5750m/18 865ft) you can see the Inca influence in Kanabamba and Llactapata, these are both famous archaeological sites with a rich history. Later we will stop in Tarachayoc to have lunch there; and afterwards continue walking towards the town of Wayllabamba and arrive at our designated campsite for dinner.

Meals: L, D
Total distance:  11 km / 6.84 miles.
Estimated walking time:   4-5 hours
Maximum altitude point: 3,000 m / 12,589 ft.
Campsite altitude: 3,000 m / 9,843 ft.

Itinerary

DAY 02: Wayllabamba – Warmihuañuca - Pacaymayo

After breakfast at approx. 06:00hrs. We’ll hike through the valley of Llulluchapampa (3850 / 12631ft) to the Andean forest, we’ll see Uncas trees typical of this area, different types of bromeliads, the traditional straw plants used for building for thousands of years and also food for the lamas and alpacas. Shortly after we’ll get to the highest point of our trek which is called Warmihuañuska pass or dead woman pass (4200m/ 13780ft) with great views of the sacred snow-capped mountain Huayanay and Vilcabamba range. After a short break you will make your way down the deep valley of Pacaymayo (3500 /11483f) to have lunch, and there we will set up camp. After a rest dinner will be served.

Meals: B, L, D
Total distance:  10 km / 6, 21 miles.
Estimated walking time:   6-7 hours.
Maximum altitude point:  4,200 m / 13780 ft.
Campsite altitude: 3,550 m / 11,647ft.

Itinerary

DAY 3: Pacaymayo – Phuyupatamarca

We Get to an Inca stairway and ascend again past the small Inca site of Runkuracay.  As we reach the second pass the landscape opens onto spectacular new views to the snow peaks of the Pumacsillo range. We descend again to the ruins of Sayacmarca (Inaccessible Town), to an intricate labyrinth of houses, plazas and water channels, perched precariously on a rocky spur overlooking the Aobamba valley.  The Inca trail, now a massive buttressed structure of granite paving stones, continues along the steep upper fringes of the cloud forest through a colorful collection of orchids, bromeliads, mosses and ferns.  At the third pass we camp by pinnacles topped with Inca viewing platforms, overlooking the archaeological complex of Phuyupatamarca (Cloud-level Town).

Meals: B, L, D.
Total distance: 11 km / 3.11 miles.
Estimated walking time:  5-6 hours
Maximum altitude point: 3,950m / 12,959 ft.
Campsite altitude: 3,670 m / 12,041 ft.

Itinerary

DAY 4: Phuyupatamarca – Machu Picchu

We explore the wondrous maze of Inca stone towers, fountains and stairways spilling down the mountainside at Phuyupatamarca then begin a long descent through the ever-changing layers of cloud forest. An Inca stairway partly cut from living granite leads us finally to the site of Wiñaywayna (Forever Young), the largest and most exquisite of the Inca Trail sites. In the afternoon we follow the last stretch of the trail across a steep mountainside through a lush, humid cloud-forest of giant ferns and broad-leaf vegetation. As we cross the stone threshold of Intipunku, (Sun Gate) we encounter an unforgettable sweep of natural beauty and human artistry -a backdrop of twisting gorge and forested peaks framing the magical city of Machu Picchu.
Note: park authorities may occasionally designate different campsites than those indicated.

Meals: B, L, D.
Total distance: 10 km / 6.21 miles.
Estimated walking time: 5-6 hours
Maximum altitude point: 2,650 m / 8,692 ft.
Campsite altitude: 2,650 m / 8,692 ft.

Itinerary

DAY 5: Machu Picchu – Cusco

With another early rise, we go to the bus station to take the bus to Machu Picchu. This bus takes 25 minutes by uneven track, where we will do tour of the Inca citadel, your tour guide will guide you around for about two and a half hours, to show you the most important sectors of this beautiful and enigmatic Inca citadel and then you will have some free time to wander, explore and take photos. Or alternatively you could decide to climb the mountain of Huayna Picchu (tickets required), where you can see spectacular panoramic views of Machu Picchu, the valleys and mountains that surround it, or visit the Temple of the Moon or the great Inca Bridge. In the afternoon, we will meet in the town of Aguas Calientes, where if you want, you can visit and relax in its hot springs. From here we take the train back to Cusco, and we drop you off at your hotel / hostel. Travel time 4 hours. End of our services.

Notice: Occasionally the park authorities may designate campsites than those indicated below.
Meals: B
Total distance: 4 km / 2.49 miles.
Estimated walking time:  2 hours.
Maximum altitude point: 2,700 m / 8,858 ft.
Machu Picchu altitude: 2,400 m / 7,872 ft.

Itinerary

• Your original passport, student card ISIC (if applicable)
• A Sleeping bag, a backpack for hiking, 2 pairs pants, 2 pairs of shorts, 4-poles (long and short), several pairs of socks, Sandals, towels, toilet paper, gloves, thermal jacket, a hat for cold days, sunglasses and sunscreen for when the sun comes out.
• A liter bottle of water.
• A Flashlight with spare batteries, matches, knives.
• Hiking boots (preferably waterproof with ankle protection).
• Insect repellent, cream to hydrate the face and/or body.
• A Raincoat (poncho for rain).
• Energy foods (dried fruits, candies, chocolates, cookies, etc...).
• Soap and other toiletries and clothes to change.
• Swimsuit (recommended for the hot springs).
• You should bring appropriate clothing for both hot and cold days of the tour.
• Also, depending on your interest, you could bring a camera or camcorder, binoculars, compass; all such equipment should be lightweight.
• Basic medical supplies.
• Extra money in soles and dollars.
• Optional: walking sticks.

WE SUGGEST YOU TO BRING

• An orientation to clarify all the details of the tour, 1 or 2 days before departure.
• Private transportation from your hotel to kilometer 82. (Piscacucho)
• Entrance fee to the Inka Trail and Machu Picchu.
• Guided Tour for the Inca Trail and Machupiqchu Sanctuary.
• Professional Guide: Bi-lingual, speaks both English and Spanish, 2 guides from more than 9 passengers.
• During the first three days, mules will carry maximum 5 kilos from your personal stuff.
• A Cook responsible for meals. (04 breakfasts, 04 lunches, and 04 dinners); please notify us if you are a vegetarian.
• Porters to carry the camping equipment and food provisions.
• Boiled water for each meal, and for the places where there are no shops to buy water.
• Bio-degradable personal hand soaps.
• Bio-degradable dishwashing detergents used by our kitchen staff.
• Camping equipment: Tents 04 people capacity for 02 persons, sleeping pad, dining tent with table and chairs, kitchen tent, toilet tent, cutlery.
• Toilet tent with bio-degradable toilet facilities.
• Bus ticket from Machu Picchu down to Aguas Calientes town on the 4th day.
• Round trip bus ticket Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes – 5th day.
• Train back from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and bus service from Ollantaytambo to Cusco.
• Portable Radio (Walkie Talkies); Basic first aid and oxygen bottle.
• 24 hour assistance.

OUR SERVICE INCLUDES

• Meals: breakfast and lunch 1st day and 5th day.
• Sleeping bags (please note that you can rent them from us).
• Foods that are not listed.
• Admission to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes.
• Personal expenses.
• Tips.

We don’t Included

• Sleeping bag US$ 25.00 complete tour.
• Thermal-rest mattresses or inflatable sleeping pad for US$ 25.00.
• Discount of US$ 40.00 with International Student Card (ISIC Card).
• You can hire an extra porter to carry your personal stuff for US$ 90.00 / 3 days. A porter can carry up to 16 kg. Or you can share the expenses whit one more person or two people.
• Bag pack for, US$ 10-.00 whole tour.
• When you reserve and then specify the type and category of hotel (2 **, 3 ***, etc.). Prices range from US$ 25 to US$ 750. This will modify the published tour price.
• If you want to return to the ruins the next day, you have to pay admission again. (Only the first entry to Machu Picchu will be included in the tour).
• All our programs are with the Expedition train service (for a comfortable price), but if you want another type of service, like the Vistadome train service (first class service) or Hiram Bingham (exclusive luxury Orient Express service), each train service is a different price, which obviously modify the published tour price. We can customize your travel, all you need to do is contact us.

Optional

• We request that you give us all your relevant personal information to proceed with your booking.
• For each tour or service that you book, our online staff will send you an email of confirmation for your booking tour within 24 hours of you making the booking, which you must print and present before the beginning of the tour.
• Confirmation of your booking will be issued once the payment has been made. Upon our receipt of you payment, our on line staff will send you a Trip Boucher.
• Our staff on line will send you all the tour information you will require, such as office address, telephone number and name of the person who will provide you the services, by e-mail.
• ANDEAN TERRITORY EIRL is a tourism company with extensive experience in the tourism service and provides a high quality service, ensuring that our customers enjoy their respective trips or tours without having to worry about organizing and planning everything – We do that for you.

>> Andean Territory’s terms and conditions

Note