Classic Inca Trail Trek Machupicchu 4D / 3N

• Tour Type: Hike, Adventure, Camp, Ecology
• Travel distance: 43 kilometers
• Difficulty Level: Moderate but can be difficult due to height and lack of
• physical preparation
• Income Required: Which we will reserve for you
• The best time: From April to November
• Closing date: In February for Maintenance

Itinerary of the Classic Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu:

Day 1 Cusco – Km 82 – Ayapata

Day 2 Ayapata – Warmiwanusca – Chaquicocha

Day 3 Chaquicocha – Wiñayhuayna

Day 4 Tour in Machu Picchu and Return to Cusco

Price of the Classic Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu:

600 dollars per person

The return train schedule at the end of the Tour/Trek: It is the Expedition Train at 18:20pm or 19:00pm DEPENDING ON AVAILABILITY.

If you prefer the earlier train return we can reserve it for an additional cost of 35 dollars per person; the times you can choose are: 14:55pm or 16:35pm. We also offer the option to reserve the 3:40pm Vistadome train for an additional cost of $65 per person.

Please, tell us in advance what is the train schedule of your preference. We inform you that none of the reserved trains go directly to Cusco, the trains only arrive at the Ollantaytambo or Poroy stations. In any of the cases we will always guarantee the shipment of a transport that will pick them up and bring them back to Cusco.

Can I exchange my return train ticket for an earlier one? in the same station of Aguas Calientes?

Yes, you can make this change in person at the Aguas Calientes train station. However, they will ask you to pay an additional fee to change the ticket and this change will be subject to the availability of spaces and schedules on the train.

How long does the return trip to Cusco take?

It’s about 3 hours. You will first board a train in Aguas Calientes to the train station in Ollantaytambo for 1h30m; then a transfer from our office will be waiting for you at the exit of the train station with a sign that will have your name on it to take you to our car/van back to Cusco for approximately 1h30m; finally it will take you to your hotel/hostel. You will receive your train tickets once your tour in Machu Picchu has finished.

Discounts:

• For students with a university card $20
• For children under 18 years old $20
• For children of 7 years $50

How do I get the student discount?

The ISIC Card IS NO LONGER VALID to buy the Ticket to Machu Picchu or the Inca Trail with a discount for students.

Now students will be able to access this benefit with the UNIVERSITY STUDENT CARD of the university where they study, this document being the only one valid for this purpose. For more information visit the following link http://www.machupicchu.gob.pe/items/estudiantes.html

Important: 

We do not reserve the entrance for the Huayna Picchu Mountain

Rent camping equipment with you?
Yes, in case you do not have the appropriate equipment to carry out the Walk, then we can offer you for rent:

Sleeping bags: 20 dollars per person
Walking Poles: 10 dollars for a pair
Matras: (air mattresses) 15 dollars per person
Additional tents: 25 dollars per person

What’s Included in the Classic Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu:

• Orientation prior to tour departure one night before
• Professional guides and tourism certificates,
• Pick up from your hotel / hostel and transfer to km 82 (Start of the tour)
• Entrance ticket to the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu;
• Professional tents with capacity for 4 people, but to provide greater comfort they will only be used by
• 2 people throughout the Inca Trail.
• Personal foam mattresses,
• Professional cooks and porters
• Kitchen tent, dining tent, camping chairs and tables.
• Varied food, we offer the vegetarian option and all kinds of special food according to your requirement at the time of making your reservation.
• During your Inca Trail you will be able to serve yourself a variety of teas and mate before each dinner in each camp,
• Water for your canteen from the second day,
• The use of a canteen is mandatory along the Inca Trail, the authorities would not allow the use or entry of plastic bottles
• We will also provide you with a container with hot water so that you can do your personal hygiene once at the Camp.
• Bus ticket down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes on day 4
• Return train ticket (Expedition class) from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo on day 4
• Return transportation from Ollantaytambo to your hotel/hostel in Cusco

Does not include in the Classic Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu:

• Breakfast on the first day of the tour. If you did not have breakfast at your hotel/Hostal we will make a stop in Ollantaytambo so you can have breakfast.
  Lunch on the last day after visiting Machu Picchu.
  Sleeping bag, walking sticks (These can be rented in our office. All our sleeping bags are washed after each use)
  Tips for guides and porters

What you need to take to the Classic Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu:

• We recommend that you take only what is necessary to enjoy your tour and leave the rest of your things at the hotel in Cusco.
• The original passport or document with which you made the tour reservation,
  A small 50 liter backpack that allows you to introduce all the things you will take with you
• A sleeping bag preferably at least 5 to 10 degrees below zero, this can be synthetic or feather, if you do not have one you can rent it from our office.
• Appropriate clothing for walking, waterproof and comfortable shoes for long walks, shorts and long pants, dry fit sports shirts, rain jacket or rain jacket.
  Warm clothes to be used in the camp (We recommend cotton clothes that are very comfortable to sleep in, a hat and gloves for the cold. Walking socks, sandals to be used when you arrive at the camp, you should also bring plastic bags so you can separate things in the backpack (clean, wet, dirty clothes and others).
• A canteen with water for the first day of the trek. Starting on the second day you will be provided with cold filtered boiled water for your canteens.
• The use of a canteen is mandatory along the Inca Trail, the authorities will not allow the use or entry of plastic bottles
• Personal hygiene items: a small towel, soap, toothpaste and toothbrush, toilet paper, hand sanitizer gel. These last two items are very important.
• Personal medications, within this list also includes muscle relaxants, tablets for pain and blessed for scratches, blisters on the feet that can be generated after several hours of walking.
• Sun and mosquito protection items, sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hat or caps, and mosquito repellent.
• Headlamp with batteries, extra battery for the camera (to be used every night in the camps, especially the last day, because we will wake up around 3:30am.
• Extra money in cash, for your personal expenses such as the first breakfast, lunch on the last day, those of the porters, cook, guide, and other eventualities.

Faq of the Classic Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu:

Is Qeswachaka Peru Tours a certified company to offer tours to the Camino a Machu Picchu?

Being part of the Inti Sun Trek Adventure Tourism Agency Chain, Inka Trail Backpacker, GRUPO CAMINOS DEL PERU E.I.R.L. All duly registered on the official website of the Peruvian Government: www.machupicchu.gob.pe. We have the certified support to offer the services of the tour to the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in its different varieties.

It is important to know that all tourism companies that wish to be operators on the Inca Trail network to Machu Picchu must be certified and have an Inca Trail operator license granted by the government of Peru. This process is very rigorous and strict; not everyone who participates can be successful.

This authorization is renewed every 5 years, our associated companies have the authorization of operator of the Inca Trail valid until March 2025, we have a team that is only in charge of reserving all the income for the Inca Trail, and the walks such as Salkantay, Lares and Inca Jungle so that you can enjoy your tour with all the necessary tranquility

Refund: If we fail to make your reservation of your train tickets or entrance to Machu Picchu, the payment of your deposit will be 100% refunded.

Health and Safety: All our participants must inform us if they have or have had any illness that may affect their personal or group progress during the walk. They will also need to bring their own medications. We recommend that you visit your doctor before making your reservation if you have any health problems.

What is the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu? The Inca Trail is a stone route built by the Incas more than 500 years ago to unite their towns scattered throughout the empire of Tawantisuyo (Empire of the Incas) This section is a set of protected archaeological sites that goes from km 82 up to Machu Picchu.

The Inca Trail is located in the middle of the Andes and is not accessible by car or by any means of transportation. There is no electricity or drinking water infrastructure, nor is there a cell phone network.

The water used for food handling is from natural streams/springs that were perfectly conditioned to be water sources. All food is prepared with filtered boiled water to protect the health of tourists.

The Inca Trail is difficult? The Inca Trail is certainly not easy, but you do not have to be an athlete or expert hiker to walk it. Your physical condition is of course very important, the Inca Trail is the type of trek that anyone with a positive attitude and determination can do.

However, the fitter you are, you will be able to admire and enjoy the landscape and the Inca archaeological sites along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

Are there toilets on the Inca Trail and in the camps? Yes, but the restrooms along the trail and/or in the camps are not in good condition. We recommend that you bring your own toilet paper and hand sanitizer gel for after using the bathrooms.

Should I physically prepare myself before doing the Inca Trail? Yes, it is mandatory, if you do not exercise regularly, we recommend that you start walking 5 hours a day or do some type of aerobic, cardio vascular, etc. activity during the months prior to your trip.

Are there people who do not complete the Inca Trail? Yes, there are many factors that prevent people from completing the Inca Trail.

1. Due to altitude sickness (lack of oxygen)
2. Stomach problems such as diarrhea that many tourists get days before the start of the trek
3. Lack of physical preparation

What is altitude sickness? Perhaps you have never experienced oxygen deprivation. This is commonly felt in Cusco due to the height and makes everything cost triple the effort so you do not have your usual physical resistance which will be diminished.

Your digestion will be a little slower and your sleep dense and deep. The ideal is to stay calm the first day to acclimatise. It is very normal that all pharmacies sell pills for altitude sickness. Coca tea also helps as well as candies.

How many days of acclimatization do I need before starting the Inca Trail? If you come from a country that is less than 500 meters above sea level. We recommend that you spend at least 2 days in Cusco to acclimatize to the altitude before starting the Inca Trail, since the highest point of the trek is 4,200 meters above sea level.

How old do I have to be to do the Inca Trail? People of all ages (from children, teenagers to retirees) are suitable to complete this trek as age is not a barrier if you have a positive mindset and an active lifestyle.

However, for all people over 60 to 70 years of age, we recommend that you visit your doctor before doing the Inca Trail. They must also bring us the signed authorization from your doctor indicating that you are in suitable conditions to travel the Inca Trail

How long in advance should I make my reservation for the Inca Trail? You must reserve your Inca Trail permits at least 3 months in advance. Since there are only 500 spaces available per day: 200 are assigned to tourists and 300 to porters, cooks, tour guides. If the number of spaces is exhausted, you will have to choose another alternative date. For this reason,

Can I do the Inca Trail on my own? No. Access to the Inca Trail is only allowed to hikers accompanied by guides authorized by the Ministry of Culture of Cusco. Only 150 agencies of the 35,000 travel agencies in Peru, including ours, have authorization for access to the Inca Trail.

What is the reservation procedure and payment method: Reservations are made directly through our own website. Please click on the icon that says Reserve Now and then follow the reservation instructions. Once you have finished filling out the reservation form on our website, you must send us a scanned copy of your passport or identity document on which I use to make the reservation.

This information is important for the purchase of your entrance ticket for the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu. The corresponding authorities will verify that your passport number or Identity document matches the number of your entrance to the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu. That is why it is very important that the document you used at the time of booking is valid and not expired. If you change your passport number, you must notify us immediately.

Do I have to make a deposit to guarantee my Inca Trail reservation? Yes, no reservation with Inka Trail backpacker will be guaranteed unless you have made a payment of a deposit of 200 per person through our 2 forms of payment mentioned in our form. Book Now.Important: None of the requested deposits include transaction fees.

Why is the deposit important? The deposit that you will send us is used to buy your entrance to the Inca Trail, tickets to Machu Picchu, your return train tickets and to reserve a space within the group.

Is my deposit refundable? It is not refundable or transferable. After the purchase of your tickets, we cannot change: neither the date of departure of the tour or excursion, nor the name or passport number on your Inca Trail permit or the entrance to Machu Picchu or train ticket. However, if we do not manage or fail to make your reservation for the Inca Trail, the payment of your deposit will be 100% refunded.

Who administers the Inca Trail? The Inca Trail is part of the National Heritage of Peru and its access and the conditions of the excursions are managed and regulated by the Ministry of Culture of Cusco. Only they can give the authorizations for their access, they also manage the camps. They are in charge of maintaining the road, the camps and the toilet facilities that are in the middle of nowhere.

Is there a waiting list or can I wait for someone to cancel their quota so that I can do the Inca Trail? If the permits run out on a particular date, no travel agency will be able to offer a space. Permits can only be purchased with the name and passport number of the visitor. One thing to consider is the following: once the reservation is confirmed, there is no option to change the date or name.

Where does the Inca Trail tour to Machu Picchu start? The Inca Trail tour to Machu Picchu begins in the department of Cusco-Peru through the province of Urubamba and the district of Pisacucho, also called KM 82.

What departure dates do you offer? We offer departures every day depending on the availability of the entrance spaces. In the red calendar of availability that we have on our page we indicate the spaces available for each day. That calendar also allows you to choose the date of departure to the Inca Trail.

What is the duration of the Inca Trail? The classic Inca Trail lasts 4 days or, for the more in a hurry or the less athletic, there is another 2-day trek. It is worth mentioning that the Inca Trail can only be done in one direction: from Cusco to Machu Picchu; the return is always done by motorized way (by train and by bus).

What is the size of the group? The maximum size of the group allowed per group is 16 tourists. The rest is the support staff (porters, cooks) If our groups reach the maximum size we will use two guides for better group management

For confidentiality reasons we will not be able to inform you who will be part of your online group, it is impossible for us to answer precisely. Generally, it is a group of hikers of different nationalities and ages. You will meet the members of your group the day we carry out the orientation or briefing one night before the departure of the tour

What is the best time to do the excursion? Peru is a very large country with many different climates, for that reason it would be very difficult to define a good time to visit different places. However, we consider that the best season is from June to September. For the Inca Trail, the hottest season is from November to March but it is also the rainy season.

That is why we think that it is more pleasant to do a sunny but cold excursion than a warm but rainy excursion. For this reason, we recommend doing it preferably between May and October. It should be noted that the Inca Trail is open every day of the year except in February, the maintenance month. For more details, we advise you to visit the weather page.

The Inca Trail is open all year round? It is open 7 days a week, every day of the month, including Sundays and holidays; but it is closed in February because the Ministry takes advantage of this month to do the maintenance of the Inca Trail.

The food on the Inca Trail: It is always fresh and with organic ingredients, they contain the adequate amount of protein and carbohydrates, including vegetables, meat, chicken, fish and other options.

At the time of serving food, all our tourists sit down to eat together at the table, thus guaranteeing a family atmosphere. Our chefs are trained to prepare food according to the tourist’s requirements: gluten-free, sugar-free, anti-allergic diets, vegetarian and vegan options.

Is tipping on the Inca Trail? Yes, they are for porters, cooks and guides, they are always welcome and are organized by the group on different days. They will also be very grateful for small gifts that can be for themselves or for their children. The suggested amount for tips is 40 to 50 soles for each porter and 80 to 90 soles for the cook and guide. We clarify that this amount is a suggestion and is not an obligation. Tips are collected from all members of the group and is not an individual contribution.

Health and Safety: All our participants must inform us if they have or have had any illness that may affect their personal or group progress during the walk. They will also need to bring their own medications. We recommend that you visit your doctor before making your reservation if you have any health problems.

I have heard of a “local” train, can I take it? Indeed, there is a train called “local” for the Cuzco-Aguas Calientes route, but by government decree it is reserved for Peruvians and residents, upon presentation of an identification document. No tourist can take it.

Where to store your things: You can leave or store the things that you will not take to the Inca Trail in the hotel or hostel where you are staying. Most of these establishments have warehouses where they will store your things. If you do not trust the place where you are staying, we will gladly store your belongings in our office.