Schedule

Day 1: Cusco – Huayllabamba

The Inca Trail Hike to Machu Picchu begins with an early morning, between 5:50-6:30am, picked up to drive to Km. 82, where the Inca Trail begins. Our drive take us through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, passing the villages of Chinchero, Urubamba and finally Ollantaytambo, where we will have time to have breakfast and purchase some final necessities for the hike such as water, walking stick, rain poncho and some snacks. At km. 82 (2,850 m) we will meet the crew, and after passing the check point for the Inca trail, we will cross the bridge over the Urubamba River. The hike will lead towards the village of Miskay, here the trail turns west to the Huillcaraccay Inca site, and keep going along the Kusichaca Valley, then to the village of Huayllabamba (3,000 m). We will here have dinner and overstay the night in tents. (L, D) Maximum Altitude: 3,000 m/10,824 ft. Minimum Altitude: 2,680 m/8,790 ft. Distance Travelled: 12 km / 7.47 miles Approximate Walking Time: 6-7 hours / Ascent up: 3000 m (9840 ft)

Day 2: Huayllabamba – Pacaymayo

This day will be the toughest of the four days, as we will have to cross the high Warmihuañusca pass (4,200 m). First, we leave Huayllabamba early in the morning, walking upwards through the cloud forest to reach Llulluchapampa (3,850 m), where we will have a beautiful view of the valley behind us. The next step is to slowly start our ascension to the Warmihuañusca Pass (4,200 m); this name is translated from Quechua as the “Dead Women Pass”. After the pass the descent is dramatic until arriving to our campsite located at the bottom of another valley in the Pacaymayo River (3,600m). (B, L, D) Maximum Altitude: 4,200 m/13,776 ft. Minimum Altitude: 3,000 m/9,840 ft. Distance Travelled: 11 km Approximate Walking Time: 7-8 hours / Ascent up: 4200 mts. (13,776 ft)

Day 3: Pacaymayo – Wiñayhuayna

Today the trail passes one of the best tracks of the Inca Trail. There will be a short rest at Runcuraccay (3,700 m), a small Inca viewpoint surrounded by dense wetter cloud forest. As we continue our walk, the trail will get even more magnificent, later crossing a well-preserved elfin and cloud forest section. This is time to enjoy the Andean scenery that gets crowned by distant sacred snow peaks reaching more than 5,500 mts. Thereafter we arrive to Sayacmarca (3,600 m) and then continue to the west heights of the Urubamba Canyon, until Phuyupatamarca (3,650 m), another Inca site also built in the clouds. The trail changes into a steep descend towards a dense more developed cloud forest and the beautiful citadel of Wiñayhuayna (2,550 m), this spot offers superb views of the Urubamba Canyon. Camping. (B, L, D) Maximum Altitude: 3,750 m/ 12,300 ft. Minimum Altitude: 2,700 m/8,856 ft. Distance Travelled: 16 km /9.94 miles Approximate Walking Time: 7-8 hours / Descent: 700 m

Day 4: Wiñayhuayna – Machu Picchu – Cusco

On this fourth and last day, we´ll get up at 4:00 am, to leave Wiñayhuayna an hour later, and climb to the Inti Punku or Sun´s Gate, in Quechua. This will take an hour of hiking, along a trail paved with flat stone slabs that runs by the edge of cliffs, through lush highland jungle landscapes. From the Inti Punku, which is a fabulous vantage point, we´ll have the overwhelming opportunity to contemplate a magical sunrise over the Sacred Incan City of Machu Picchu. Then, we´ll descend towards Machu Picchu, and 40 minutes later, we´ll enter the Incas´ Lost City from the highest point, near the “Guardian´s House”. From there, we´ll descend to the checkpoint, where we´ll get registered and will leave our backpacks, to immediately start a complete guided tour of the Incan City, which will take about two hours, after which you will have some free time, to explore the site, climb up Mount Huayna Picchu, providing you have booked that activity well in advance, since there is a daily limit of 400 access tickets for it and an added cost, to participate. The wonderful part is that, from up there, one can experience spectacular views of the whole Incan City of Machu Picchu, as well as of the valleys and mountains that surround it. Otherwise, you might decide to visit the Temple of the Moon or the astonishing Incan Bridge; both within reach. Early in the afternoon, we´ll all meet in the small pedestrian village of Aguas Calientes. Later on, we´ll take the train/bus back to Cusco, where we´ll arrive around 08:00 pm. Transfer to hotel (B) Maximum Altitude: 2,700 m / 8,856 ft. Minimum Altitude: 2,400 m / 7,872 ft. (Machu Picchu) Distance Travelled: 8 Km approx. plus exploration of Machu Picchu Approximate Walking Time: 2-3 hours / Descent: 300 m