INCA TRAIL WITH HUAYNA PICCHU 5 Days
Cusco
From
$ 900
Duration
5 Days
Type of tour
Trekking
$ 900
5 Days
Trekking
The Inca Trail is considered the best trek in South America. It covers a 43-kilometer route along ancient Inca trails until reaching Machu Picchu, and along the way, we will visit many archaeological sites left by our ancestors to witness their greatness. The 5-day and 4-night Inca Trail is for those who want to do the Classic Inca Trail trek and climb the sacred mountains of Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu. This is particularly a good opportunity during the rainy season to have a second chance to see Machu Picchu with clear weather.
Day 01: Cusco – Piskacucho km 82 – Llaqtapata – Wayllabamba – Llulluchapampa (campsite)
Early pick-up from your hotel in Cusco to the starting point at km 82, where the trek begins until reaching the first campsite, Llulluchapampa.
Day 02: Llulluchapampa – Warmiwañusca – Runcuraccay Pass – Chaquicocha (campsite)
This day will be a challenge as we pass through the Warmiwañusca pass with several ascents and descents, visiting archaeological sites such as Runcuraccay and Sayacmarca until reaching the campsite in Chaquicocha.
Day 03: Chaquicocha – Wiñayhuayna (campsite)
On this day, we will embark on a hike through spectacular landscapes and archaeological sites, including Inti Pata and Phuyupatamarca, finally reaching the Wiñayhuayna campsite.
Day 04: Wiñaywayna – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes
This last day includes an 8-km hike to Intipunku, from where we will get the first glimpse of Machu Picchu. After a guided tour, we take the bus to rest in Aguas Calientes.
Day 05: 2nd Entrance to Machu Picchu – Huayna Picchu – Cusco
On this day, we have the opportunity to further explore Machu Picchu and ascend Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain. After the second visit to Machu Picchu, we take the train back to Cusco.
Cusco: We start with the pick-up from your hotel between 6:00 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. to be taken to Piskacucho or Km 82 in Ollantaytambo (2,871 meters above sea level). It will be a 1-hour and 30-minute journey to reach Km 82, arriving around 8:00 a.m. at our starting point for this great adventure.
We begin our journey through the first Inca Trail checkpoint to start our hike (please make sure to have your original passport with you to enter the Inca Trail).
Llaqtapata (2,550 meters above sea level): The first 2 hours of the hike are relatively easy, and we head towards our first Inca site, Llaqtapata, which is an ancient Inca checkpoint. After our visit to Llaqtapata and an explanation from our guide,
Wayllabamba (2,950 meters above sea level): After the visit to Llaqtapata, we hike for about 2 hours to our second stop for lunch (Wayllabamba). After lunch, we continue hiking for another 2 and a half hours until we reach the campsite for the first night at Llulluchapampa (3,300 meters). During this last stretch, we pass through 2 small communities. If you want to buy energy drinks or snacks, you can do so here. You can also buy any essential items you may have forgotten, such as batteries.
Llulluchapampa (3,840 meters above sea level): We will arrive at our campsite at 5:00 p.m. and after settling in, you can relax and enjoy a hot drink and snack with your porter team, cook, and guide. Dinner will be ready by 7:30 p.m., and then you can have a well-deserved rest.
Llulluchapampa (3,840 meters above sea level): The porters will wake you up early with a hot cup of coca tea to help you prepare for the day.
Warmiwañusca (4,200 meters above sea level): Today is our longest day, and we will start early. After a delicious breakfast, we will hike for approximately 4 hours to the highest point of the trek, which is the Dead Woman’s Pass (4,200 meters / 13,829 feet). Upon reaching the pass, we will take a brief break to enjoy the spectacular views. After this, we begin descending to our next point (Pacaymayu). After an hour and a half of hiking, we descend to the place where we will have lunch and take a short rest.
Runcuraccay Pass (3,850 meters above sea level): We continue our hike to reach a small Inca site (Runcuraccay) and see two huge waterfalls on the opposite side of the valley. We then arrive at the magnificent Inca site, Sayacmarca (a otherwise inaccessible town). We will stop here to rest and take a quick tour of the site, and then witness the sunset over the Vilcabamba mountain range.
Chaquicocha (3,600 meters above sea level): It’s only another 20 minutes until we stop for the night at our second campsite, Chaquicocha (3,600 meters). After dinner, if you’re not too tired, we can do some stargazing and point out the fascinating Inca constellations. In the magnificent southern hemisphere sky, away from all artificial lighting, this sky is truly worth contemplating!
Chaquicocha (3,600 meters above sea level): Completing Day 2 and starting Day 3 definitely deserves a pat on the back! We start early again, waking up at 6:30 am to begin what is commonly considered the most beautiful day of the entire Inca Trail. We hike for 2 hours along what we like to call the «Inca flats» (gentle slopes) and begin entering the jungle, known as the Cloud Forest. As we walk, we’ll have the opportunity to see the majesty of Salkantay, the second highest snow-capped mountain in the Sacred Valley, and a fantastic panoramic view of the Vilcabamba mountain range. Towards the end of the Inca flats, we start making our way up to the final peak at Phuyupatamarca (3,600 meters), from where we’ll have excellent views over the Urubamba River. Down the valley, we catch our first glimpses of Machu Picchu, but the site itself still remains hidden from view. From Phuyupatamarca, it’s about a 3-hour walk down a flight of stairs to our last campsite, Wiñay Wayna.
Wiñay Wayna (2,640 meters above sea level): Near Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young). Wiñay Wayna is the most spectacular archaeological site on the trail after Machu Picchu and the most popular camping spot due to its proximity to Machu Picchu. During the descent, we’ll visit 2 Inca ruins, Phuyupatamarca (town in the clouds) and Intipata (Terraces of the Sun).
We arrive at our campsite around 1:00 PM to have lunch and then relax throughout the afternoon so you can be rested and ready for your final day at Machu Picchu.
Around 4:30 PM, your guide will give you a short orientation, and you’ll visit the Inca ruins of Wiñay Wayna, spending about an hour and a half there. We will explain the significance of the site and tie together all the information provided during the hike, so you are fully prepared for your visit to Machu Picchu the next day.
We like to spoil our travelers, so we’ll enjoy our last feast with the porters and cooks. It’s an Inca Trail tradition to organize a ceremony in the evening to introduce the team to the tourists once again and thank them for their great work (if you wish to provide tips to them, you can do so at this time). It is recommended to go to bed at a reasonable hour in order to wake up in the early morning hours and reach Machu Picchu at sunrise, hoping that the weather will give us a beautiful sunrise over the ruins of Machu Picchu.
Wiñayhuayna (2,640 meters above sea level): Wake up at 4:30 AM. We have our final breakfast of the hike and wait at the checkpoint to be one of the first to start the trek when the gates open at 5:30 AM. We say goodbye to our team of porters and cook, then enter the Sun Gate (Inti Punku). From here, we have spectacular views of the mountains and Machu Picchu in all its splendor.
Inti Punku or Sun Gate (2,700 meters above sea level): We arrive at the Sun Gate around 7:00 AM approx., then it’s just a 1-hour walk up the stairs to reach the lost city of the Incas.
Machu Picchu (2,430 meters above sea level): As we approach Machu Picchu, the views of the city just get better and better! At around 8:30 am, we will reach the final checkpoint and enter Machu Picchu to start our private guided tour of 2 hours.
Aguas Calientes (2,040 meters above sea level): After the visit, you will be given your bus tickets to make your way to Aguas Calientes, and you’ll have between 3-4 hours to explore on your own. Around 1:30 PM, we will meet at a restaurant in Aguas Calientes for our last meal together and arrange your accommodation at your chosen hotel, so you can enjoy a wonderful evening in this town.
On this last day, we will wake up early and board one of the first buses to Machu Picchu to enjoy the sunrise at the citadel. You will have the opportunity to visit Machu Picchu for a second time and ascend either Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain. After the tour of the citadel, you will take the bus back to Aguas Calientes. Then, you will take the afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo, where our bus will be waiting to take you back to Cusco and drop you off at your hotel.
Huayna Picchu (2,720 meters above sea level): The hike to Huayna Picchu takes about 45 minutes to reach the summit. From here, you can enjoy fantastic views of Machu Picchu and the surrounding landscape.
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