Cusco, Machu Picchu, Agua Calientes
From: $ 695Group Price
per adult
Save your space with a deposit payment
Walk in the footsteps of the Inca to the fabled Machu Picchu! The Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is one of the world’s ten best hikes, unparalleled for its ecological diversity and wealth of archaeological treasures. The Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary covers 32,952 acres and it is home to a network of Inca highways, scores of archaeological sites, 10 ecological zones (from glacial peaks to tropical forests), over 450 species of birds and 200 species of orchids, as well as the legendary city of Machu Picchu. You get to hike past the famous Sun Gate directly to Machu Picchu where you can take the famous postcard photos. This is the opportunity of a lifetime!
Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4 Days & 3 Night map
Today, you will be picked up from your hotel in our comfortable private van at 4:30am. From there, we drive to Piskacucho, which is also known as KM 82. This is where the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu begins! Along the way, we stop for breakfast in Ollantaytambo at about 6:30-7am to load up on energy to start our trek. (Breakfast is not included within the package).
Upon arrival at KM 82, we will have some time to organize ourselves. You can use the restrooms, apply sunscreen, insect repellent, etc. Your porters will carry your belongings from this point on. All you need to carry is what you will need during the hike! Be ready to show your passports, student card (if a student) and permits at the Inca Trail checkpoint.
At the start of the Inca Trail (elevation 2,720m/8,923ft), we cross a bridge above the Vilcanota River and follow this route towards the right. The first day is relatively easy, a warm-up along the “Inca flat” terrain. The trail goes gently upwards, gradually gaining elevation without any steep sections. You will have great views of the Inca Fortress (Huillca Raccay), the vast and incredible Inca site of Llactapata, (also called Patallacta), the Urubamba mountain range that divides the jungle, the Andes Mountains, and the beautiful snow-capped peak of W’akay Willca (5,860m/19,225ft), also known as Veronica Mountain. It is truly a scenic trail!
Along the way, your porters will set up a dining tent and your chef will make a gourmet lunch for you to enjoy near the trail. Our first campsite is Ayapata, an hour and a half away from the small village of Wayllabamba (3,000m/9,842ft) located within the temperate green valley of the same name. Temperatures at night are around 5ºC/41°F b, depending on the time of year.
During the day, you will enjoy not only the spectacular views of the snow-capped mountains including Veronica, (5,860m/19,337ft), but also the lush green valley around us and a myriad of flora and fauna. Watch for the many endemic hummingbirds on this section of the trail!
Your guide will wake you with a hot cup of coffee or tea between 5am to 5:30am, after which you will enjoy a delicious breakfast with a wide variety of options. Next, we start a steep ascent towards the highest pass along the trail, Abra de Warrmihuañusca or Dead Woman’s Pass at (4,200m/13,779ft). On this day, you will feel a real sense of achievement upon reaching the top of this pass! After a well-deserved rest, we begin to descend towards our lunch spot, which is located in Pacaymayu (3,550m/11,646ft).
On our way towards the pass, we will be able to see a different array of hummingbirds and a combination of other species of birds. You pass through many microclimates along the Inca Trail, so both flora and fauna today will be different from yesterday. There will be plenty of time to appreciate the incredible variety of native plants including the Polylepis or Q’ueuña trees, which grow in the astonishing cloud forest located at (3,650m/11,972ft)!
After lunch, we begin our second two hour steep hike towards Runkuraqay pass (almost 4,000m/13,123ft). We arrive at our campsite by 5 pm, where your chef will greet you with hot drinks and appetizers before dinner. Temperatures at this campsite can be as low as 4ºC/39°F during the night.
This is the most archeologically impressive day of our trek! We wake up again with a hot drink to enjoy in our sleeping bags before getting up for breakfast. We start the day with a gentle climb towards the Inca archaeological site of Phuyupatamarca (meaning Town in the Clouds). Here, we reach the third highest point along the Inca Trail (3,680m/12,073ft). The views of the mountains, canyons and surrounding areas are spectacular!
The Inca site of Phuyupatamarca, is located a few minutes walk from the third pass. After visiting this site, we continue walking through the cloud forest to reach the remarkable agricultural Inca site of Intipata. After taking some time to explore this site, we continue until we arrive at our third campsite, Wiñay Wayna (2,680m/8,792ft). We arrive at our campsite by lunchtime! Enjoy an elaborate lunch, after which you will have plenty of time to rest or explore Wiñay Wayna. Temperatures during the night are about 12º C/53º F.
A short walk from our campsite is the famous Inca site of Wiñay Wayna (meaning Forever Young), which is considered the most impressive site along the Inca Trail. Your guide will explain the historical significance and the fascinating tale of how it was recently rediscovered by archeologists.
On your final day, we wake up at 4:30am to have breakfast and start our hike towards Machu Picchu. This is the final part of our journey, arriving by 6:00am at Inti Punku, otherwise known as the Sun Gate. At that point, the majestic citadel of Machu Picchu will be right in front of us with its intense beauty – an incredible sight for all to see! Watch the sun rise, spreading light down over Machu Picchu like flowing gold. After admiring this wonderful view, we continue downhill towards the Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu (2,400m/7,872 ft). After walking about 40 minutes, we enter the citadel from the top, through the House of the Guardians. From there, we proceed to the control checkpoint, where we register our group and leave any large backpacks. Your guide will direct you throughout the astounding ruins and its main streets, answering all of your questions about this New 7 Wonders of the World and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Once the guided tour is over, you will have a bit of free time to take more photos of this extraordinary place.
You will descend towards Aguas Calientes by bus (included) and board the train which departs at 2:55pm or 3:20pm to the Ollantaytambo Train Station. Here you will meet our private van and be transferred to your hotel in Cusco, with an arrival between 7pm to 8:00pm depending on traffic.
You will also have time to indulge in a few of the following activities on your own if you choose (not included in the price)
Meals included: Breakfast
Distance: 6kms/3.7mls
Difficulty: Easy/moderate
***IMPORTANT:
The Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Trek is available on any date that is best suited to you as long as there are permits available with a minimum of 2 trekkers. Note: Inca Trail is closed in February.
***Huayna Picchu Mountain and Machu Picchu are optional hikes within Machu Picchu Citadel which does not include a guide. The climb is usually done on your own after your tour of Machu Picchu Citadel. If you would like the extra hike to be guided, please request in advance. There is an extra cost for this extra guided tour.
If permits are sold out for the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Trek on your preferred date, you will have many options that will still allow you to trek and enjoy the Andes along the way to MACHU PICCHU. Alternative treks are just as beautiful as the Inca Trail. They are less crowded because we take you OFF the beaten track in the Andes and make sure you don’t miss anything while on your trek to MACHU PICCHU.
FYI: We will buy your Inca Trail permit using the original names and passport numbers that you sent to us with your booking form (they must to completed and accurate). If the name or number on your passport does not match the name and number on the Inca Trail permit. The Peruvian government authorities will not allow you to enter the trail and you will not be entitled to a refund!
You have to bring your original passport, in order to gain entry onto the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu and other sites. It must be the original passport that you have used to book with us from the start.
In case, you are renewing your passport or changing your name, send us your old passport information to secure your permit and we can change it when you get your new passport number or update your name for a fee of $25 USD per person. We must have a copy of your old and new passport to make the change.
If you do not wish to pay this fee, you will need to bring both your old and new passports to Peru with you. You can enter Peru with your new passport but you will need to show both old and new passports to be able to enter Machu Picchu and other sites. If you do not have both, you will not be allowed to enter into these amazing sites.
Please read the following information carefully as it will help answer all of your questions about our services and the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
You will be welcomed at the airport in Cusco and taken to your hotel. Please ensure that you inform us of your flight details at least 14 days prior to your trek. Look for our representative holding a board stating: Spider Travel Peru at the arrivals terminal. You must exit the terminal to find our representative (they cannot enter inside).
Your briefing will take place the night before your trek. It will be held at our office at 6 or 6:30pm, depending on your confirmation email details. The office is located at Calle Garcilaso 210, office 213 (second floor) in the La CASA DEL ABUELO shopping center.
Of course! During the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, your main luggage can be store at our office or at your hotel, whichever is more convenient for you.
FIRST, to book your Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, you need to select your trekr date and the number of travelers on the right hand side. Then proceed to the next page to complete the booking form.
Please be ready with the following information (FROM EACH PARTICIPANT in your group). We cannot purchase Machu Picchu permits and train tickets without the following information:
SECOND, we require a deposit of $211.00 USD per person, in order, to purchase a permit for the Inca Trail. You can make you deposit by clicking on the VISA or PAYPAL symbols on the top of our home page, or you can click on the VISA or PAYPAL symbols on our booking page.
To avoid the excessive credit card fees in Peru, you can pay in cash at our office (we accept US dollars or Peruvian soles) in Cusco. We have many ATMs within the historical center to withdraw money. You can also pay by VISA or PAYPAL online but there is a 5.5% service charge, charged by VISA and PAYPAL. To pay your balance through PAYPAL, you need to log into your PAYPAL account using our email address of Info@spidertravelperu.com to complete the payment.
Unfortunately, the answer is No. Once the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu permit and other tickets have been bought, the Peruvian government does not allow any changes. We can’t change the departure date after the permit & tickets have been paid for. Tickets are also not transferrable or refundable. If you cancel your Inca Trail Trek, the deposit is non-refundablel!
Yes! You have to bring your original passport as it is necessary to gain entry onto the Inca Trail, Machu picchu and other sites. It must be the original passport that you have used to book with us from the start.
In case, you are renewing your passport or changing your name, go ahead and send us your old passport information to secure your permit and we can change it when you get your new passport number or updated your name for a fee of $25 USD per person. We must have a copy of your old and new passport to make the change.
If you do not wish to pay this fee, you will need to bring both your old and new passports to Peru with you. You can enter Peru with your new passport but you will need to show both old and new passports to be able to enter Machu Picchu and other sites. If you do not have both, you will not be allowed to enter into these amazing sites.
The weather is very unpredictable and difficult to foresee. We recommend to always dress in layers as that makes it easier to add on or take off clothing, while passing through the various microclimates which our beautiful region has to offer.
In general, if you exercise regularly and spend a couple of days in Cusco or the Sacred Valley, you will be able to acclimate normally. It takes about 1 to 2 days for your body to adjust.
The recommended remedies for altitude sickness are: WATER, COCA TEA and OXYGEN, IF NEEDED. Our guides are trained to treat you for altitude sickness.
The maximum group size is 8 people. Our groups are between 2-6 people. Spider Travel Peru specializes in SMALL, PRIVATE groups while providing personalized service.
You will have one chef per group. The number of porters depends of the size of the group. For a group of 2 trekkers, they will have 4 porters, 4 trekkers will have 6 porters, 6 trekkers will have 9 porters, 8 trekkers will have 12 porters.
The evening before you start your trek, you will be given a SMALL DUFFEL BAG to pack your clothes and items for the next four days. By law, your weight allowance is up to 7kg/15lbs. This includes 1kg for your sleeping mattress and 2kg for your sleeping bag, leaving 4kg for your personal items. Your team of porters will carry your duffel bag for you, together with the food and camping gear. It’s important to be aware that you will not have access to your items in the duffel bag until the end of each day, as the porters will always be ahead of the group. During the trek, you need a day backpack only big enough to carry your personal belongings such as a warm jacket, a rain jacket, your camera, sunscreen, snacks, water, etc. A 25 to 30L backpack is sufficient.
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Trek is a fairly difficult and you should be well prepared and healthy prior to starting it. You have to be moderately fit and exercise regularly. In preparation: try walking 15kms/9mi in a day or go to a fitness club throughout the months leading up to the trek. It is also important to be well acclimatized to the altitude. Try to spend at least 2 or 3 days in Cusco (3,350m/11,047ft) prior to starting the trek. Always check with your doctor before traveling to Peru.
Our clients who want a bit of privacy, always appreciate the clean and sanitary toilet we provide for you! Spider Travel Peru include a portable bathroom facility with an individual tent and a camping toilet with a seat. Check out the picture, which illustrates how we set up our camping toilet on the trek by using this link: picture of toilet tent. Our toilets are always set up a comfortable distance from our campsite. At night, if you need to use the toilet, it is readily accessible and clean, unlike the public facilities supplied by the Peruvian government, which are not always cleaned regularly.
In the unlikely scenario that you are unable to finish the trek due to a health issue, Spider Travel Peru will assist you to the nearest town for help with transportation. We always carry oxygen on the trek for any respiratory problems. In extreme cases, a helicopter pick up can be arranged at your own expense. Travel insurance is required and recommended. There are no refunds in the unlikely situation that you are unable to finish the trek.
Generally, those who have to be assisted off the trail are taken to Ollantaytambo and if they recover quickly they can then continue the journey to Aguas Calientes (cost incurred by trekker) and visit Machu Picchu, according to original plan.
Absolutely!! Hotel pick ups and drop offs are included with all of our treks and packages! If you have booked your hotel in the Sacred Valley, we will drop you off there and vice versa.
It will depend on the train time availability (during high season it could be sold out) but the idea is to give you as much time as possible in Machu Picchu and enjoy the amazing views on the way back to Cusco while on the train. Therefore, we usually book the train at 4:22pm. With this train schedule, you will have more than 4 hours to enjoy Machu Picchu.
The Vistadome train, which has seats that conform to your body, panoramic windows and ceiling! You will be offered snacks and a dance show will take place on board. The service includes the transfer from the Poroy train station to your hotel in Cusco. The total travel time is about 4 hours roundtrip. The Vistadome train back to Poroy (Cusco) lasts 3.5 hours, then 25 minutes by taxi to your hotel. Our clients are back at the hotel by 8pm. The upgrade will cost you $75 USD.
If you’re happy with the services provided, a tip – though not compulsory – is appreciated. While it may not be customary in your country, it’s of great significance for the people who will take care of you during the trek. It inspires them to give excellent service and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many Spider Travel Peru destinations. Of course, you are free to tip more or less as you feel, depending on your perception on the quality of service and the length of your trip. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
Yes! We are a local, sustainable & responsible tourism operator that incorporates universal principles of tourism: protect the environment and benefit the local communities by respecting their culture and religion. With this in mind, we have trained all our local staff to know and understand, respect these places and the local people.
As a Direct Local Tour operator, we provide you with a duffel bag during your briefing and INCLUDE an extra porter, who will carry up to 7 kgs/15 lbs including 3kg for your mattress and sleeping bag.
We highly recommend a small day backpack between 20 to 30L for hiking during the day. A backpack bigger than 30L to 40L will not be allowed into Machu Picchu. The remainder of your belongings will be in your duffel bag at the campsite.
Trekking - Hiking - Mountains - adventure - Cultural
Price $997 per person
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Just got back from our wonderful trip two days ago! Our group was a group of adult siblings/SOs ( age 27-35) with our 64-year-old parents. Most if not all of the positive reviews you see are similar to what my family experienced, so sharing a few other highlights that may get a little less shine:
Amanda A
January 19, 2024Just got back from our wonderful trip two days ago! Our group was a group of adult siblings/SOs ( age 27-35) with our 64-year-old parents. Most if not all of the positive reviews you see are similar to what my family experienced, so sharing a few other highlights that may get a little less shine:
Amanda A
January 19, 2024Just got back from our wonderful trip two days ago! Our group was a group of adult siblings/SOs ( age 27-35) with our 64-year-old parents. Most if not all of the positive reviews you see are similar to what my family experienced, so sharing a few other highlights that may get a little less shine:
Amanda A
January 19, 2024Just got back from our wonderful trip two days ago! Our group was a group of adult siblings/SOs ( age 27-35) with our 64-year-old parents. Most if not all of the positive reviews you see are similar to what my family experienced, so sharing a few other highlights that may get a little less shine:
Amanda A
January 19, 2024Just got back from our wonderful trip two days ago! Our group was a group of adult siblings/SOs ( age 27-35) with our 64-year-old parents. Most if not all of the positive reviews you see are similar to what my family experienced, so sharing a few other highlights that may get a little less shine:
Amanda A
January 19, 2024Just got back from our wonderful trip two days ago! Our group was a group of adult siblings/SOs ( age 27-35) with our 64-year-old parents. Most if not all of the positive reviews you see are similar to what my family experienced, so sharing a few other highlights that may get a little less shine:
Amanda A
January 19, 2024
All our guides have many years of experience in the industry and come highly recommended. They are fully versed in the values and vision of Spider Travel and will provide a service inline with those values. Our guides are knowledgeable and passionate about Inca Heritage and culture and in Peru as a whole. They dedicate themselves to continuous professional development and growth to ensure that you receive the most recent accurate and recognized theories about Inca and Andean culture. They are well educated, usually holding a degree in more than one field of study and can therefore hold a conversation on a broad spectrum of issues. Finally, expect to have an amazing time while trekking, our guides are fun loving and great sportsmen.
Our porters personify hard work. We employ about 90 porters from local communities. They are mostly farmers by trade and are native Quechua speakers. They mainly come from the indigenous communities around the trail. We refer to our super porters as ¨Red Machine¨. This is because they work hard during the treks but carrying duffel bags, camping gear, and more! It is important to us that we employ porters from local villages because we are supporting them to become self-efficient and helping communities grow their economy to better the quality of lives.
We provide the following items to our porters and cooks for free: Working insurance, Jacket, sun hat, warm hat, t-shirt, pants, hiking boots, comfortable duffle bags, canteen, girdle for protecting their spine, sleeping bags, mattress.
Our porters are what make everything look seamless and smooth. They have your tent ready before your arrival in your tent and most importantly they significantly lighten that camping gear load.
This is where youth comes in handy. Our chefs are fully trained to provide the most scrumptious, abundant and simply mouthwatering meals in the outdoors with limited equipment. Our chefs prepare the best of fusion cooking that includes Peruvian and International dishes, using organic local and exotic ingredients. Our chefs are very versatile, serving even better specialty dishes for those with food allergies and specific dietary requirements. It has been a highlight for a majority of our hikers and we have yet to disappoint a trekker. Enjoy a complete and immersive culinary experience while trekking through the rugged Andes Mountains.
Enjoy a good night sleep in our 4 season igloo waterproof, spacious and professional EUREKA tent. All our tents are 4 person tents. ONLY 2 people will sleep in each, leaving lots of room to spread out comfortably and store your duffel bag. They also include a little vestibule in front, giving you some extra outdoor space to leave your boots and walking poles so you don’t have to bring the dirt inside. We also bring our own portable camping toilet, so you can use our clean facilities instead of the ones provided by the government. Our dining tent is spacious, with room to hangout during meal time and get to know your fellow hikers and guide.
