Photo gallery
Classic Inca Trail photos
Tour overview
Classic Inca Trail at a glance
The Classic Inca Trail is the original stone road to Machu Picchu: about 40 km in four days, crossing Dead Woman's Pass (4,215 m) and passing Inca sites such as Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca and Wiñay Wayna that you can only reach on foot. Groups have a maximum of 10 hikers, a personal porter carries 7 kg of your gear, and on the last morning you walk through the Sun Gate with the citadel below you.
Our Cusco team checks the services, timings and availability for your dates and sends the options in a written quote.
Journey highlights
Highlights of the Classic Inca Trail
- Walk through the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) to Machu Picchu
- Runkurakay, Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca and Wiñay Wayna, sites with no road access
- Small groups and a well-paid, well-equipped porter team
- Personal porter carries 7 kg of your gear
Detailed itinerary
Classic Inca Trail itinerary: day by day
Times and services are indicative. Your final schedule is confirmed in your written quote.
Day 1 — Cusco to Km 82 and Ayapata
We pick you up at your Cusco hotel at 4:30 am and drive about 2 hours through the high plains of Chinchero and down into the Sacred Valley. Breakfast is in Ollantaytambo, where you can buy a last snack or a walking pole. Another 30 minutes along the Urubamba River brings you to Km 82 (Piscacucho, 2,700 m), the official start. Here the porters weigh the loads and the rangers check your permit and original passport. The first stretch is gentle, following the river with views of the snow peak of Verónica. Your guide stops at the Willkarakay viewpoint and at Llactapata, a large Inca settlement of terraces and storehouses that supplied Machu Picchu. After lunch prepared by the chef at Hatunchaca, the path climbs steadily past Wayllabamba, the last village on the trail, to the camp at Ayapata. Tents are already up when you arrive; after afternoon tea there is a briefing for the hardest day ahead.
Day 2 — Dead Woman's Pass and Sayacmarca
The porters wake you with hot coca tea. The climb starts right after breakfast, through the cloud forest of Llulluchapampa, with mossy polylepis trees and hummingbirds, and then onto open grassland. Take it slowly: in 3–4 hours you gain about 900 m to reach Warmiwañusca, Dead Woman's Pass (4,215 m), the highest point of the trek, named after the shape of the ridge. After photos and a rest, about 2 hours of steep Inca steps lead down to Pacaymayo (3,600 m) for lunch. In the afternoon you climb again to the round ruins of Runkurakay, a lookout post, and to the second pass (3,950 m). On the way down your guide shows you Sayacmarca, the "inaccessible town", a compact Inca site perched on a rock spur. Camp is at Chaquicocha, with wide views of the valley.
Day 3 — Cloud forest, Phuyupatamarca and Wiñay Wayna
Many hikers call this the most beautiful day. The "Peruvian flat", an easy, rolling trail, crosses the cloud forest past an Inca tunnel carved into the rock, with orchids, bromeliads and, on clear mornings, views of Salkantay and Verónica. Around midday you reach Phuyupatamarca, the "town above the clouds", with ritual baths still fed by Inca channels. From here more than 1,000 original stone steps lead down to Intipata, a hillside of wide terraces facing the Urubamba canyon. Camp is near Wiñay Wayna. In the afternoon your guide takes you to Wiñay Wayna, "forever young", one of the finest sites on the trail, with curved terraces, fountains and temples. The last dinner is a farewell with the porters and the chef, often with a cake.
Day 4 — Sun Gate and Machu Picchu
An early breakfast, because the porters have to catch their train. You wait at the Wiñay Wayna checkpoint, which opens at 5:30 am, then walk about an hour through the forest to the Monkey Steps, a short, near-vertical staircase, and to Inti Punku, the Sun Gate (2,720 m). Machu Picchu appears below you, usually around 6:30–7:00 am. You walk down to the classic viewpoint (Circuit 1, route 1C) for photos, exit, and re-enter for a 2-hour guided visit on Circuit 3 (route 3B), through the temples, palaces and terraces of the citadel. Then you take the bus down to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included) and an optional dip in the hot springs. The afternoon Expedition train takes you to Ollantaytambo, where our driver meets you for the drive back to your Cusco hotel. Campsites are assigned by the authorities when the permits are issued and may change.
What's included
What's included in the Classic Inca Trail
Included
- Inca Trail permit and Machu Picchu entry (Circuits 1C and 3B)
- hotel pickup and drop-off in Cusco
- private transport to Km 82
- Professional guide (two guides for groups of 10), chef and porters
- Personal porter who carries 7 kg for you in the duffel bag we provide (sleeping bag and pad count toward the 7 kg)
- 4-person tents shared by 2, foam mattress and pillow
- Dining tent with tables and chairs, and a private portable toilet tent
- Satellite phone, radios, emergency oxygen and first-aid kit
- Hot water for washing every morning and evening
- Boiled and filtered water at every meal from Day 2 (bring 2 liters for Day 1)
- Rain poncho and daypack cover
- Pre-trek briefing in Cusco the evening before
- Free luggage storage in Cusco during the trek
- 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners and 3 snacks, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options on request
- bus down from Machu Picchu
- Expedition train to Ollantaytambo
- transfer to Cusco
Not included
- lunch on Day 4
- water for Day 1
- sleeping bag
- hot springs in Aguas Calientes
- travel insurance
- tips for the crew
Compare your options
Classic, private or 5 days: which Inca Trail?
This group trek is the most popular way to hike the Inca Trail, and it is also the best value. If you want a team that works only for your group, with your own start times, pace and dining tent, choose the Private Inca Trail. If you prefer shorter days of 4–6 hours, quieter campsites and a hotel night before a second visit to Machu Picchu, the Inca Trail 5 Days follows the same route at an easier pace. Arriving in Cusco the day before? The Sacred Valley & Inca Trail 6 Days adds two nights at about 2,900 m to acclimatize first.
| Classic (group) | Private Inca Trail | Inca Trail 5 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group | Up to 10 hikers | Your group only (2–10) | Shared or private |
| Pace and start times | Set for the group | Set by you | Shorter stages (4–6 h) |
| Nights | 3 camping | 3 camping | 3 camping + 1 hotel |
| Machu Picchu visits | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| From | US$ 789 | US$ 1,490 | US$ 929 |
Optional extras
Ways to tailor this trip
- Huayna Picchu +US$ 75 (Machu Picchu Mountain is not possible after the trek because of its entry times)
- second Machu Picchu ticket to visit the citadel again +US$ 55
- Vistadome return train +US$ 55
- sleeping bag rental (rated to −15 °C) US$ 20
- trekking poles US$ 20
- air mattress US$ 20
- extra porter: 5 kg US$ 50, 10 kg US$ 100, 15 kg US$ 150
Optional services are subject to availability. Mention your preferences in the booking form notes; your quote will list the selected extras and final total.
Plan with confidence
Duration, difficulty and price
Good to know
Good to know before you go
Entrance route
This tour uses Circuit 1, route 1C and Circuit 3 (route 3B), confirmed in your quote. See Machu Picchu circuits explained.
Planning guides
Planning guides
What to bring
What to pack
- Original passport (and student ID if applicable)
- Daypack of 20–30 liters (larger packs are not allowed inside Machu Picchu)
- Sleeping bag rated to −5 °C or colder (or rent one), and a sleeping bag liner
- Broken-in hiking boots, sandals for camp and 4 pairs of wool socks
- Rain jacket and rain pants (essential from November to March), fleece, warm jacket, wool hat and gloves
- Headlamp, power bank, refillable water bottle, sunscreen, insect repellent and toilet paper
- Personal medication, blister plasters and snacks
- Cash in soles for tips, drinks and toilets along the trail
Carry the original passport used to book. Check your confirmed ticket and operator instructions for current baggage and site rules.
Frequently asked questions
Classic Inca Trail FAQs
How far ahead should I book?
For May to August, 6–8 months ahead. For April and September to November, about 4 months. For December, January and March, about 2 months.
What happens if my date is sold out?
We tell you before any payment and offer the Short Inca Trail, Salkantay or Lares on the same dates.
Will I see the sunrise from the Sun Gate?
No. The checkpoint opens at 5:30 am and groups reach the Sun Gate around 7:00 am, after sunrise. Be wary of any operator that promises otherwise.
Can children and students join?
Yes. The minimum age is 10. Reduced permit prices apply to hikers under 18 and to university students under 25 with a valid physical student ID.
Do I need to be very fit?
You need good basic fitness and at least 2 days in Cusco to adjust to the altitude first.
Is there a waiting list if the trail is sold out?
No. Cancelled permits do not return to the system, so book as early as you can.
Can I extend my trip after the trek?
Yes. Add a night in Aguas Calientes and we move your train to the next day. A second Machu Picchu ticket costs US$ 55.
What if I fall ill before the trek?
Permits cannot be refunded or moved. If you cannot start, we help you reach Machu Picchu by train with the ticket you already have, paying only the extra transport.
How many guides do we have?
One guide for groups of up to 9, and two guides for groups of 10, so faster and slower hikers are both looked after.
Can I climb Huayna Picchu after the Inca Trail?
Yes, for US$ 75 per person, with a Huayna Picchu ticket for the morning you arrive, if your legs still allow it. Machu Picchu Mountain is not possible after the trek because of its entry times.
What gear do I need to bring?
A sleeping bag (rent one rated to −15 °C for US$ 20), a refillable 2–3 liter water bottle, layers for cold nights, rain gear, broken-in hiking boots, a power bank and your original passport. We provide the tent, foam mattress, pillow, duffel bag, rain poncho and daypack cover. See what to pack for Machu Picchu.
How much does the personal porter carry, and can I hire more?
Your personal porter carries 7 kg in the duffel bag we provide, including your sleeping bag and pad. An extra porter costs US$ 50 for 5 kg, US$ 100 for 10 kg or US$ 150 for 15 kg.
Tripadvisor reviews
What travelers say about our team
Reviews of Traveleez Peru SAC, the operator of Machu-Picchu.tours, on our Tripadvisor profile Machu Picchu by Traveleez.
★★★★★
Seamless Last-Minute Machu Picchu Trip!
“The entire process was seamless, and everyone was absolutely wonderful to work with.”
★★★★★
Once in a lifetime experience, curated by kind professionals.
“All this mess of mine was treated with kind understanding, prompt replies, and genuine friendliness.”
★★★★★
Professional attention and impeccable support
“Always responding quickly, clearly, and professionally.”
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