We will pick you up early from your hotel in Cusco. After a stop in Ollantaytambo for any last-minute supplies, we will drive to the official beginning of the Inca Trail: Kilometer 82.
After lunch, we will hike for another 2 hours until we reach the first night’s campsite at Huallabamba, a small community where you will have an opportunity to purchase drinks, snacks, or supplies and interact with our F.S.E staff and locals.

Walking Distance: 13km/8mi (6-7 hours)
Elevation:2600m/8692ft (starting point) to 3000m/9842ft (campsite)
Difficulty:Easy/Moderate
Weather:Warm/hot during the day; cold at night. Always a chance of rain.

We continue on our journey, up to Paucarcancha – an impressive, archeological site not often visited by tourists or even those hiking the 4 day Inca Trail – where we will stop and explore for a short time. When we’re finished, we’ll head back to the main trail to continue uphill for 2.5 hours to Ayapata for lunch.
The 2-hour afternoon hike will be on cobblestone and switch-back steps as we ascend steeply through the forest with native plants until we get to the campsite at Llulluchapampa.
At the campsite, you’ll enjoy a spectacular view of the trail you just climbed and get a nice preview of tomorrow’s challenge.

Walking Distance: 6km/3.7mi (5-6 hours)
Elevation:3000m/9842ft to 3800m/12467ft
Difficulty:Challenging to Difficult (altitude and terrain)
Weather:Warm/hot during the day; cold at night. Always a chance of rain.

Today will be the most challenging part of the trek, but arguably the most rewarding as well. We’ll start with a 2 hour climb to Warmi Wanusqa (Dead Woman’s Pass) (4288m/13,871ft).
At the top of the pass, we will stop for a short break to enjoy the views before setting off again to descend for 1.5 hours to the next valley (Pacaymayu Valley) for lunch.
After lunch, we will have another 1.5 hours up to the second pass. From there, you’ll have some sweet relief with 1.5 hours downhill to reach the magnificent Inca site, Sayacmarca.
Another 2-hour descent with views of the Vilcabamba mountains will take you into the jungle where you’ll feel like Indiana Jones.
Towards the end of the Indiana Jones Path, we will begin to make our way up to the last campsite at Phuyupatamarka (Town in the Clouds) where we’ll have great views overlooking the Urubamba River and Machu Picchu Mountain.

Walking Distance:13km/8mi (8-9 hours)
Elevation:3800m/12467ft to 3680/12033feet
Difficulty:Challenging to Difficult (altitude and terrain)
Weather:Chilly in the morning/Warm/hot during the day; cool at night. Always a chance of rain.

Our last trekking day will take us on a 3-hour walk down Inca stairs and passed Intipata (Terraces of the Sun). This path will take us all the way to Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young) where we will explore the site and have our last lunch with our chef and porters.
After saying “hasta luego” to our amigos, we will have an easy 2-hour hike on a flat path to the Sun Gate where we will see Machu Picchu for the first time.
We will walk down to the city of Machu Picchu where you will have time to see the city with your guide before taking the bus down to Aguas Calientes.
After checking into your hotel and taking a well-deserved shower, we will meet for our last dinner together in the town.

Note:We like to enjoy our last lunch with the porters and chefs. It’s an Inca Trail tradition to organize a ceremony this evening for the chefs and porters to thank them for their help during the trek (if you wish to provide tips for them, you can do so at this time. Please see our notes on tipping here.) It is advisable to go to bed fairly early this night to get up for the sunrise over Machu Picchu.
Walking Distance:11km/6.8miles (6 hours)
Elevation: 3600m/11,811ft to 2600m/8,530feet
Difficulty:Moderate (mostly downhill, but many stairs)
Weather:Chilly morning; mild/warm while walking; warm at night

Today we will return to Machu Picchu for a 2-3 hour guided walking tour of the famous citadel.
When you are finished, you will take the bus back to Aguas Calientes where you will take the train back to your hotel in Cusco.

Walking Distance:Varied! It will depend on how much you are able to walk around with your guide.
Elevation: 2400m/7,847feet
Difficulty:Easy/Moderate – Machu Picchu is very large with a lot of stairs.
Weather:Warm/Humid – always a chance of rain.