Comfort Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 5 days

We will pick you up very early from your hotel and transport you to start of the trail (km 82). From here you will begin the journey to Machu Picchu, warming up on the relatively flat part of the trail. After 2 hours, you will reach the first archaeological center of Yactapata where you will appreciate the spectacular views, flora and fauna. This site and others will show the importance of this valley in the context of Incan history. After lunch, we will continue ascending to a semi-tropical valley for 2 hours until arriving at our camp, Huayllabamba, where we will spend the night.

Distance: 10 Km
Walking hours: 5 – 6 hours
Low altitude: 2,600m/ 8228 ft
High altitude: 3,000m / 9,999 ft
Campsite altitude: 3,000m / 9,512 ft

After breakfast, we will start hiking early in the morning of the second day, passing through different climatic and ecological zones. We will ascend to Warmiwañusca where we will walk amongst abundant vegetation with various types of trees. This pass is known by many as the world’s highest cloud forest. After the toughest part of the journey, an ascent of nearly 5 hours, we will arrive at the highest point, known to some as Dead Woman’s Pass. From there, we will take a well deserved break and observe the beauty of the deep valleys. If we’re lucky, we will see the flight of the condors and will pass among the thick clouds in the sky. After this rest, we will descend towards our second camp at Pacaymayu.

Distance: 16. 5 km
Walking hours: 7 – 8 hours
Low altitude: 3,000m / 9,512 ft
High altitude: 4,215m / 13,828 ft (first pass)
Campsite altitude: 3,636m / 11,929 ft

We will climb steeply up the opposite side of the valley wall, towards the second pass. About halfway up lies a small, round, roofless stone building. This Incan ruin is known as Runkuracay, a building thought to have been an astrological site and a sort of checkpoint for couriers following the trail to Machu Picchu. After a short tour, we will continue to ascend towards the second pass, the Abra de Runkuracay. On the far side of the pass, the trail descends towards a valley and a shallow lake. At this point, the trail changes from a dirt path to a narrow stone roadway, containing the exact stones that were in place when the Incas walked the trail. The trail after the pass leads to a second, larger Inca site, Sayacmarca (“Town in a Steep Place”). This Inca ruin was built on a rock overlooking the trail and is accessible only via a single narrow stone staircase. On the left of the staircase lies an overhanging rock wall and on the right a sheer drop with expansive vistas of the Peruvian countryside. This site is roofless and slightly overgrown, but the walls still stand strong and the shape of the fortress can easily be seen. We will also see a stone aqueduct, which carried water to the farmlands. After touring Sayacmarca, we will descend to the valley floor. The roadway takes the form of a long causeway leading across what may once have been a shallow lake. We will stop at this valley to enjoy lunch. After lunch, you will begin to climb again. At this point, you will pass through interesting Incan structures, including a tunnel that is 8 meters long and wide enough to allow humans and animals to pass through. After this tunnel, we will reach the third pass and enjoy the third Incan site, Phuyupatamarca (“Cloud-level Town”). We will learn about the ritual functions that the Incas used this site for. Here we will see baths that Incas bathed in before they reached Machu Picchu. The highest baths were reserved for the nobles, while the lower down baths on the side of the structure were used by the lower class. Third campsite at Phuyupatamarka.

Distance: 11 km
Walking hours: 6 – 8 hours
Low altitude: 3,500m / 11,480 ft
High altitude: 3,900m / 12,792 ft
Campsite altitude: 3,640m / 11,939 ft

After breakfast we will descend for around 2 ½ hours and arrive to the Incan site known as Intipata, a huge farming terrace, and you have a gorgeous view of the valley, then descend to the fascinating Wiñaywaina at 8,700 feet (2,650 meters). We will stop at this site, which means “eternally young,” and have lunch before continuing to the Sungate. After an hour of walking, we will arrive to the Sungate where we will have our first view of Machu Picchu. After a rest, we will descend towards Machu Picchu where we will take pictures and rest before taking the bus to the nearest campsite Puente Ruinas, close to Aguas Calientes town.

Distance: 11km
Walking hours: 6 – 8 hours
Low altitude: 2030m / 6,658 ft
High altitude: 3,640m / 11,939 ft
Campsite altitude: 2030 m / 6,658 ft

We will wake up very early to take the first bus to the city of Machu Picchu, where we will be the first visitors of the day to enjoy the magic and mystery of one of the wonders of the world. The tour with your guide will take around 2-3 hours. After that you will have free time to explore the entire city on your own. In the afternoon, we will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes to board the train to Cusco.