Itinerary

1. Day 1: Cusco – Km 82 (Piscacucho) – Patallacta – Huayllabamba

   • Begin the day in Cusco with an early breakfast.

   • Depart for Km 82, the official starting point of the Inca Trail.

   • Meet the trekking team and pass through the checkpoint.

   • Start the hike along a gentle and relatively flat trail following the Urubamba River.

   • Arrive at Patallacta, an ancient Inca settlement with extensive agricultural terraces.

   • Explore the site and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

   • Continue trekking through a semi-tropical valley with fresh mountain air and lush vegetation.

   • Reach Huayllabamba, a small Andean community and the first campsite.

   • Settle in, enjoy a nourishing dinner, and rest for the night.

2. Day 2: Huayllabamba – Warmiwañusca (Dead Woman’s Pass) – Pacaymayo

   • Begin the day early with a hearty breakfast to prepare for the most challenging section of the trail.

   • Ascend through multiple ecological zones, from lush cloud forest to high-altitude grasslands.

   • Hike along steep and demanding paths with breathtaking views of the valleys below.

   • Reach Warmiwañusca, or Dead Woman’s Pass, the highest point of the trek at 4,215 m (13,828 ft).

   • Pause to admire panoramic views of the mountain ranges and valleys, and possibly spot Andean condors.

   • Begin a steep descent along a winding stone path toward the valley below.

   • Arrive at Pacaymayo, the second campsite, for a warm dinner and rest under the starlit Andean sky.

3. Day 3: Pacaymayo – Runkurakay – Sayacmarca – Phuyupatamarca – Wiñay Wayna

   • Start the morning with breakfast before ascending toward the second mountain pass.

   • Visit Runkurakay, a small circular Incan structure believed to have served as an astronomical site and checkpoint.

   • Climb to Abra de Runkurakay, the second pass of the trek, with sweeping views of the valley below.

   • Descend along a preserved stone path to Sayacmarca, or “Town in a Steep Place,” and explore its aqueduct systems and terraces.

   • Continue along ancient pathways, passing through an 8-meter tunnel carved into solid rock.

   • Visit Phuyupatamarca, or “Cloud-Level Town,” believed to have been a site for rituals and ceremonies.

   • Begin the descent through a lush cloud forest filled with orchids and ferns.

   • Arrive at Wiñay Wayna, or “Forever Young,” an archaeological site with terraces and well-preserved structures.

   • Settle at the final campsite, enjoy dinner, and rest before the final hike to Machu Picchu.

4. Day 4: Wiñay Wayna – Sun Gate – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes – Cusco

   • Wake up early and begin the trek along a wide, relatively flat trail.

   • Ascend a narrow staircase of stone steps to reach Inti Punku, the Sun Gate.

   • Witness the first breathtaking view of Machu Picchu, with the citadel surrounded by Andean peaks and morning mist.

   • Descend into the archaeological complex and explore temples, plazas, terraces, and other iconic structures.

   • Learn about the history and significance of the site during a guided tour.

   • Take time to capture photographs and reflect on the accomplishment of completing the Inca Trail.

   • Take the bus down to Aguas Calientes to relax, have lunch, or explore the town.

   • Board the train back to Cusco, concluding an unforgettable four-day adventure.