Peru
Peru – Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (4 days)
Peru – Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (4 days)
Duration
4 days
Start/End
Cusco
Tour type
Individual · Group
Level
Demanding
Overview
The Inca Trail is one of the world's most legendary hiking routes. For four days you follow the original Inca steps through valleys and cloud forests, cross passes over 4,200 metres and discover ruins such as Runkurakay, Phuyupatamarca and Wiñay Wayna. Finally you see Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate.
Hike the world's most famous trek with a local team from the Sacred Valley. Over four days, the Classic Inca Trail leads you along original Inca stone paths, over high Andean passes and through mystical cloud forest to the Sun Gate – where Machu Picchu appears in the first light of the morning. Along the way you discover a chain of remarkable Inca sites, from Patallapta and Runkurakay to Sayacmarka, Phuyupatamarka and Wiñay Wayna. The highlight in every sense is Warmihuñusca, Dead Woman's Pass, at 4,215 m / 13,829 ft – a moment of pure triumph. We keep our groups small with a maximum of 12 hikers, so you enjoy a personal pace and a private campsite atmosphere. Our professional chefs prepare three-course meals with fresh, local ingredients, and you sleep in professional-grade Eureka Timberline SQ 4XT tents with complimentary inflatable mattresses. We pay our porters fair wages, provide them with high-quality equipment and take care of all permits and entry times according to the current Machu Picchu regulations.
Tour Code
Tour language
English, SpanishMaximum altitude
Itinerary
Day 1
Into the Sacred Valley – Following the Urubamba
Campsite Wayllabamba (3,100 m / 10,171 ft)
12 km / 7.5 mi · 6–7 h · 400 m / 1,312 ft elevation gain
Your adventure begins with a private door-to-door pick-up from your hotel in Cusco. We beat the crowds with an early start and stop in Ollantaytambo for a final gear check before driving on to Km 82, where we cross the Urubamba River and enter the National Archaeological Park. From here, the trail follows the riverbank with the snow-capped Mount Veronica (Wakay Wilka) as a spectacular backdrop and passes the Inca ruins of Patallapta. In the afternoon we reach our first campsite at Wayllabamba (3,100 m / 10,171 ft). Today you cover 12 km (7.5 miles) in 6–7 hours of hiking.
Into the Sacred Valley – Following the Urubamba
Day 1
Campsite Wayllabamba (3,100 m / 10,171 ft)
12 km / 7.5 mi · 6–7 h · 400 m / 1,312 ft elevation gain
Your adventure begins with a private door-to-door pick-up from your hotel in Cusco. We beat the crowds with an early start and stop in Ollantaytambo for a final gear check before driving on to Km 82, where we cross the Urubamba River and enter the National Archaeological Park. From here, the trail follows the riverbank with the snow-capped Mount Veronica (Wakay Wilka) as a spectacular backdrop and passes the Inca ruins of Patallapta. In the afternoon we reach our first campsite at Wayllabamba (3,100 m / 10,171 ft). Today you cover 12 km (7.5 miles) in 6–7 hours of hiking.
Day 2
Conquering the Pass – The Challenge
Campsite Pacaymayo (3,600 m / 11,811 ft)
12 km / 7.5 mi · 6–7 h · 1,115 m / 3,658 ft elevation gain · 615 m / 2,018 ft descent
Today is the legendary day of the trek. We climb through a mystical cloud forest where the air grows thinner and the views grow wider, until we reach the summit of Warmihuñusca, Dead Woman's Pass, at 4,215 m / 13,829 ft – a moment of pure triumph. Our team will be waiting at the top with encouragement. From the pass, we descend into the Pacaymayo Valley, where a restorative Andean feast awaits you at camp. Today you cover 12 km (7.5 miles) in 6–7 hours of hiking and reach the highest point of the trek.
Conquering the Pass – The Challenge
Day 2
Campsite Pacaymayo (3,600 m / 11,811 ft)
12 km / 7.5 mi · 6–7 h · 1,115 m / 3,658 ft elevation gain · 615 m / 2,018 ft descent
Today is the legendary day of the trek. We climb through a mystical cloud forest where the air grows thinner and the views grow wider, until we reach the summit of Warmihuñusca, Dead Woman's Pass, at 4,215 m / 13,829 ft – a moment of pure triumph. Our team will be waiting at the top with encouragement. From the pass, we descend into the Pacaymayo Valley, where a restorative Andean feast awaits you at camp. Today you cover 12 km (7.5 miles) in 6–7 hours of hiking and reach the highest point of the trek.
Day 3
The Path of the Sun – Ancient Engineering
Campsite Wiñay Wayna (2,650 m / 8,694 ft)
16 km / 9.9 mi · 8–9 h · 350 m / 1,148 ft elevation gain · 1,300 m / 4,265 ft descent
The most scenic day of the trek leads you along original Inca stone pathways and through hand-carved tunnels. After the Runkurakay pass (3,950 m / 12,959 ft) you explore the Inca sites of Runkurakay and Sayacmarka and the "Town Above the Clouds", Phuyupatamarka, while the vegetation gradually turns into lush high jungle. We camp near Wiñay Wayna, a stunning archaeological site perched above the Urubamba River, just a short distance from the Sun Gate. Today you cover 16 km (9.9 miles) in 8–9 hours of hiking.
The Path of the Sun – Ancient Engineering
Day 3
Campsite Wiñay Wayna (2,650 m / 8,694 ft)
16 km / 9.9 mi · 8–9 h · 350 m / 1,148 ft elevation gain · 1,300 m / 4,265 ft descent
The most scenic day of the trek leads you along original Inca stone pathways and through hand-carved tunnels. After the Runkurakay pass (3,950 m / 12,959 ft) you explore the Inca sites of Runkurakay and Sayacmarka and the "Town Above the Clouds", Phuyupatamarka, while the vegetation gradually turns into lush high jungle. We camp near Wiñay Wayna, a stunning archaeological site perched above the Urubamba River, just a short distance from the Sun Gate. Today you cover 16 km (9.9 miles) in 8–9 hours of hiking.
Day 4
The Grand Finale – The Lost City
6 km / 3.7 mi · 3–4 h · 70 m / 230 ft elevation gain · 320 m / 1,050 ft descent
We wake before sunrise to reach Inti Punku, the Sun Gate (2,720 m / 8,924 ft), as the first light falls on the citadel, and enjoy the classic postcard view of Machu Picchu (2,400 m / 7,874 ft). Your guide then leads you on a comprehensive 2-hour tour of Machu Picchu, sharing the secrets of the Temple of the Sun and the Temple of the Condor. Afterwards, we take the bus down to Aguas Calientes for a celebratory lunch before your train journey back to Ollantaytambo and your private transfer to your hotel in Cusco. Today you cover 6 km (3.7 miles) in 3–4 hours of hiking.
The Grand Finale – The Lost City
Day 4
6 km / 3.7 mi · 3–4 h · 70 m / 230 ft elevation gain · 320 m / 1,050 ft descent
We wake before sunrise to reach Inti Punku, the Sun Gate (2,720 m / 8,924 ft), as the first light falls on the citadel, and enjoy the classic postcard view of Machu Picchu (2,400 m / 7,874 ft). Your guide then leads you on a comprehensive 2-hour tour of Machu Picchu, sharing the secrets of the Temple of the Sun and the Temple of the Condor. Afterwards, we take the bus down to Aguas Calientes for a celebratory lunch before your train journey back to Ollantaytambo and your private transfer to your hotel in Cusco. Today you cover 6 km (3.7 miles) in 3–4 hours of hiking.
Price from
€900.00
Services
What's included
Pre-Trek Briefing: Detailed information and duffel bag distribution at your hotel two days before departure.
Expert Bilingual Guides: Passionate local guides (English and Spanish) with deep knowledge of Peruvian and Inca history, traditions, flora and fauna.
All Permits & Entrance Fees: As a licensed Inca Trail tour operator, we secure all necessary permits for the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu.
Personal Porters: Our porters carry your duffel bag and all camping equipment; you only carry a small daypack.
High-Quality Camping Equipment: Spacious 4-person tents (Eureka Timberline SQ 4XT) shared by two, dining tent and comfortable inflatable sleeping pads.
Meals & Chef: Chef-prepared breakfasts, lunches and dinners with local specialties; special dietary requirements accommodated with advance notice.
Warm & Drinking Water: Provided at the campsites and throughout the trek.
Private Transportation: Door-to-door service from your hotel in Cusco to Km 82, and from Ollantaytambo back to Cusco.
Bus & Train Tickets: Bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes and Expedition train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo.
First Aid Kit: Comprehensive kit including emergency oxygen.
Taxes & Fees: Transparent pricing with no hidden costs.
What's not included
Travel Insurance: Highly recommended for your safety and peace of mind.
Meals: First breakfast on Day 1 (Ollantaytambo) and last lunch on Day 4 (Aguas Calientes).
Sleeping Bag: Available for rent – see options.
Tips & Personal Expenses: Tips for the crew (guide, chef, porters) as well as snacks, drinks and souvenirs.
Wayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain: Choose this option while making your reservation if you want to climb Machu Picchu Mountain or Wayna Picchu. As availability is limited, booking in advance is recommended.
Character of the trip
Fitness
Demanding
Altitude
High (up to 4,215 m)
Culture / nature
Balanced
Fitness – challenging: Four days of hiking with up to 16 km (9.9 mi) and 8–9 hours per day, including a climb of more than 1,100 m (3,600 ft) to Dead Woman's Pass and long descents on uneven stone steps. Very good fitness, endurance and sure-footedness are required; multi-day hiking experience is recommended. No technical skills are needed.
Altitude – high: The trail reaches its highest point at Dead Woman's Pass (4,215 m / 13,829 ft) and the campsites lie between 2,650 m / 8,694 ft and 3,600 m / 11,811 ft. The trip starts and ends in Cusco at 3,400 m / 11,155 ft, so we recommend arriving at least two days before the trek to acclimatize.
Culture & nature – balanced: Numerous Inca sites such as Patallapta, Runkurakay, Sayacmarka, Phuyupatamarka, Wiñay Wayna and Machu Picchu, combined with high Andean landscapes, cloud forest and views of snow-capped peaks.
Camping & porters: Three nights in tents at campsites. Porters carry your duffel bag and all camping equipment; you only carry a light daypack.
Dates and prices
Individual dates
Optional
Sleeping Bag
€25.00
per person
Wayna Picchu (Huayna Picchu)
Steep, narrow stone stairs with exposed sections and drop-offs – a head for heights and sure-footedness are required. Limited availability, booking in advance is recommended.
€75.00
per person
Machu Picchu Mountain
Long, steep stone stairs with some drop-offs – a head for heights is recommended. Limited availability, booking in advance is recommended.
€75.00
per person
Cusco City Tour (half day)
Public tour – available as a private tour on request.
€20.00
per person
Sacred Valley Tour (full day)
Public tour – available as a private tour on request.
€25.00
per person
Groups of 6 or more: contact info@silvertip.at for special rates and tailor-made options.
Notes on the trip
Regulations
Entry times are strictly enforced by the Ministry of Culture. We secure permits for the 6:00 AM – 10:00 AM slot to ensure the best lighting and fewer crowds.
What to bring
Daypack: For your daily essentials.
Original Passport: Mandatory for checkpoint entry; bring your ISIC card if you claim a student discount.
Footwear: Sturdy hiking boots with ankle support, plus sandals or light shoes for camp.
Clothing: Rain jacket and pants or a poncho, warm layers (fleece, beanie, gloves) and thermal clothing for the cold nights.
Protection: Sunscreen, after-sun cream, hat and insect repellent.
Gear: Metal or Nalgene water bottle, headlamp with spare batteries, personal first-aid kit, small towel, toilet paper and optional walking poles (must have rubber tips).
Extras: Snacks, camera with spare batteries (they drain faster in the cold) and some Peruvian soles for drinks and emergencies.
Information
Book as early as possible: Inca Trail permits are strictly limited and often sold out months in advance, especially from May to September. Permits for the following year usually go on sale in October. Please send us your inquiry as early as possible – ideally 6 to 8 months before your trip.