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Home4-Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu from Cusco
Description
This trail to Machu Picchu is one of the best hikes in the world because of the exquisite beauty of its natural surroundings. The Inca paths take us through different ecosystems from high Andean plains to the cloud forest, allowing us to explore mysterious archaeological sites half-covered with jungle overgrowth, which looks as if we were discovering them for the first time. The trek finishes with the inspiring sight of the sunrise at the beautiful Machu Picchu.
Itinerary
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Day 1: Cusco - Huyroexpand_more
- Pick up from the lodging and eat breakfast together as a group.
- Start toward Abra Malaga Mountain at 4350m.
- Reach the main pass, begin the 3-hour descent on full-scale mountain bikes with safety equipment through a paved road, passing rural villages, rivers, and streams before reaching Huamanmarca.
- Enjoy an exquisite lunch in Huyro and drop off things at the eco-lodge to stay for the night.
- Go for the rafting trip.
- Return to the town of Huyro to the eco-lodge for dinner and rest for the day.
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Day 2: Huyro - Santa Teresaexpand_more
- Begin from the starting point of the Inca Trail to start walking for approximately 4 hours through the high forest among the abundance of flora and fauna.
- See many types of plants, orchids, birds and other wild animals.
- Witness the mysterious beauty of the high forest, a paradise of biodiversity in the Inca jungle.
- See the archaeological center of Inca Carcel, where the Incas punished people who did not comply with the rules of the Inca society.
- Continue the walk through the Inca road toward our exquisite and nutritious lunch made by a local community with fruits and tubers native to the area.
- Go to the hot springs of Cocalmayo and enjoy snacks and drinks.
- Return to lodging in the town of Santa Teresa.
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Day 3: Santa Teresa – Aguas Calientesexpand_more
- Have a good breakfast and head toward the nearby zip lining location.
- Experience different zip lining routes, cross a suspension bridge and do some light rock climbing.
- Go to Hidroélectrica to enjoy lunch.
- Relax here for a while, then continue onto the route toward Aguas Calientes.
- Walk for about 3 hours, and along the way, you will encounter beautiful waterfalls, different wildlife next to the beautiful Urubamba River.
- Enjoy a great dinner, and you are free to explore the city of Aguas Calientes.
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Day 4: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cuscoexpand_more
- Rise early at 4:00 am to begin the climb toward Machu Picchu. The trek will include a challenging 1 hour and a half ascent toward the ancient citadel.
- Meet the guide at 6:00 am to enjoy a privately guided tour for 2 hours in the Inca citadel.
- Descend toward Aguas Calientes to catch the train back to Ollantaytambo and transfer to Cusco. The group has to be at the train station at least 30min before departure.
- Finish in the square of San Francisco, Cusco.
What's Included
- 3 x lunch, 3 x dinner, 3 x breakfast (optional: vegetarian)
- Service of porters to carry our camping equipment
- Chairs and dining tables
- Tents for two persons plus mattresses
- Roomy dining tent
- Private cook and assistants
- First aid kit
- A bilingual professional guide specialised in the Inca trail.
What's Excluded
- Personal care ítems
- Sleeping bags
- First breakfast, lunch and dinner on the last day
- Tips for the porters and guide
- Entrance ticket to Huayna Picchu, only if booked at least one month upfront (+ $60)
What to bring
- A lightweight backpack per person, sweater and thick jacket, long and short pants, long sleeve shirts, personal items, binoculars, a sunblock with a UV factor of a minimum of 40, hat or cap, raincoat, walking shoes or tennis shoes, a bottle of water, insect repellent, toilet paper, lantern, sunglasses, camera with charger, some cash in change (soles)
Know before you go
- Hotel pickups commence approximately 30 - 60 minutes before this time.
Language
English
Activity Level
Easy