Inca Trail 4-Day 3-Night Trek to Machu Picchu with Expert Guides

Day 1: Cusco – Km 82 – Hatunchaca - Patallacta – Ayapata

1. Ollantaytambo
   6h
   Our AB team will pick you up from your hotel in the city of Cusco at 4:30 a.m. for your 4-day Inca Trail, After breakfast in Ollantaytambo, we will head to km 82 (Piscakucho) to begin our adventure to Machu Picchu, where you will meet our expert team and pass through the checkpoint. The trek begins with a 3-hour hike to the Llactapata ruins, followed by a one-hour drive to Hatunchaca camp for a delicious lunch. Then, we will hike for 4 hours to Ayapata, our first campsite, where your tents will be set up and hot tea will be served upon arrival around 5:00 p.m.

Day 2: Ayapata – Dead Woman’s Pass - Runkuraqay – Chaquicocha

1. 10h · Admission ticket included
   Early morning, you'll be awakened with either hot tea or coca tea to start the most challenging day of the 4-day trek to Machu Picchu. We'll embark on a roughly 4-hour hike to Dead Woman’s Pass (4215m / 13829ft), the highest point of the Inca Trail Trek, where breathtaking landscapes await, and our guide will perform offerings to the local Gods. Following this, we'll descend to Pacaymayu Valley for a 2-hour journey, indulging in a delectable lunch prepared by our chef. Continuing our trek, we'll hike for another 1.5 hours to the second pass, Runqurakay (4000m / 13123ft), exploring the Inca site of the same name along the way, before descending to Sayacmarca ruins. Pressing forward, we'll reach our second campsite, Chaquicocha (3600m / 11811ft), where you can relish a stunning sunset over the Vilcabamba mountain range and marvel at the Milky Way before dinner.

Day 3: Chaquicocha – Intipata – Wiñaywayna

1. Winay Wayna
   5h · Admission ticket included
   Today offers a more leisurely pace with just 5 hours of hiking to reach the final campsite. Beginning with a gentle Peruvian flat terrain for approximately 2 hours, the trek then descends to the campsite, showcasing diverse ecosystems and offering panoramic views of the Salkantay glacier, the second-highest peak in the Cusco region. Along the way, we'll explore two Inca ruins, Phuyupatamarka, and Intipata, with our guide providing insights into each site. Upon reaching Intipata ruins, the last campsite becomes visible, and after a brief explanation from our guide, we'll arrive at the campsite around 12:30 p.m. Following lunch, guests can shower and relax with a siesta until around 4 p.m., when we'll embark on a short hike to explore the Inca ruins of Wiñaywayna, allowing for free time for photography. Returning to the campsite, we'll bid farewell to our dedicated porters and enjoy dinner before retiring early to prepare for the following day's adventures.

Day 4: Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes - Cusco

1. Machupicchu
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Today, the eagerly awaited culmination of our journey arrives as we rise early to embark on the final stretch of the Inca Trail, passing the checkpoint at 5:30 a.m. Following this, a 1-hour and 20-minute hike brings us to the Sun Gate, offering breathtaking views of the sunrise over Machu Picchu. Descending for 45 minutes, we reach the Mapi checkpoint around 8:00 a.m. Our experienced tour guide then leads a 2-hour exploration of the citadel before boarding a tourist bus to Aguas Calientes for lunch. Departing on the train at either 14:55 or 15:20 p.m., our AB team awaits at the station to accompany you back to your hotel in Cusco or the Sacred Valley, with an expected return around 7:00 p.m. For those trekking Huayna Picchu Mountain, arrangements for lunch and duffle bag pickup are made with our guide before taking the train.

• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness