Itinerary – Deluxe Inca Trail (5 Days / 4 Nights)
Day-by-Day Summary
Day 1: Cusco – Km 82 – Llactapata – Wayllabamba
Pick up from your hotel at 6:30 am and drive to Km 82, the beginning of the Inca Trail. After breakfast and passing the checkpoint, start hiking for around 6 hours to the campsite at Wayllabamba village (3,000 m / 9,843 ft).
Day 2: Wayllabamba – Warmiwañuska – Pacaymayu
Wake up with a cup of coffee or tea and get ready for the most challenging day of the trek. Hike 4 hours uphill to Llulluchapampa for lunch (3,800 m / 12,467 ft), then 2 more hours up to Dead Woman’s Pass (4,215 m / 13,829 ft). After enjoying the views, descend for about 2 hours to the Pacaymayu basecamp.
Day 3: Pacaymayu – Chaquicocha – Phuyupatamarca
After breakfast, ascend to the second pass, Runcuraccay (4,000 m / 13,123 ft) for about 2 hours and then continue for around 4 hours to the third campsite. Along the way, visit several archaeological sites: Runcuraccay, Sayacmarca, and Conchamarca. Camp at Phuyupatamarca, a perfect place to stargaze.
Day 4: Phuyupatamarca – Wiñaywayna – Machu Picchu Pueblo
Phuyupatamarca offers some of the best views on the Inca Trail. After sunrise, begin a 6-hour hike towards Machu Picchu. Visit Intipata, Wiñaywayna, and finally arrive at the Sun Gate for a first view of Machu Picchu before heading down to Aguas Calientes for the night.
Day 5: Machu Picchu (Lost City of the Incas) – Cusco
After breakfast at the hotel, catch one of the first buses to Machu Picchu. Enjoy a 3–4 hour guided tour of the citadel and, optionally, climb Huayna Picchu. Have lunch at the Machu Picchu hotel and later take the exclusive panoramic train back to Cusco.
Full Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco – Km 82 – Llactapata – Hatunchaca
After breakfast in your hotel, meet your tour guide at 6:30 am and drive to Km 82, the beginning of the Inca Trail. After meeting the trekking team, you will enter the checkpoint and start hiking for about 6 hours to the campsite at Hatunchaca village (3,000 m / 9,843 ft).
The first part of the hike is a relatively easy 2-hour walk to Patallacta, the first Inca site along the Inca Trail, where you will enjoy breathtaking views of this ancient city. After a delicious lunch from a secluded viewpoint, walk for another 2 hours to the first campsite at Hatunchaca, arriving around 4:00 pm. Your tent, a snack, and a hot drink will be ready. There will be time to rest, shower, enjoy a massage, and take in the mountain views before dinner.
- Campsite altitude: 3,000 m / 9,843 ft
- Highest altitude: 3,000 m / 9,843 ft
- Duration: ~6 hours
- Distance: 12 km / 7.5 miles
- Meals: Lunch, tea time, dinner
- Accommodation: Camping, massage, drinks available
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Day 2: Hatunchaca – Warmiwañuska – Pacaymayu
You will be woken with a hot cup of coffee or coca tea. After breakfast, begin the most challenging day of the trek: a 4-hour ascent to Llulluchapampa for lunch, then a further 2-hour climb to Dead Woman’s Pass (4,215 m / 13,829 ft), the highest point of the Inca Trail. At the summit, take time to appreciate the serenity while your guide performs a traditional offering to the Apus (mountain spirits). Then descend for about 2 hours to Pacaymayu valley for dinner and overnight.
- Campsite altitude: 3,600 m / 11,811 ft
- Highest altitude: 4,215 m / 13,829 ft
- Distance: 10 km / 6.2 miles
- Duration: ~8 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, tea time, dinner
- Accommodation: Camping, massage, drinks available
- Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
Day 3: Pacaymayu – Chaquicocha – Phuyupatamarca
After breakfast, start the climb to the second pass. A 2-hour ascent brings you to Runcuraccay; along the way, explore the Inca sites of Runcuraccay and Sayacmarca, both located in the cloud forest with magnificent views. Continue for a 20-minute walk to lunch at Chaquicocha (3,600 m / 11,811 ft).
Fed and energized, hike for another 2 hours to the campsite at Phuyupatamarca (“City in the Clouds”), with spectacular views of the Urubamba River, the Machu Picchu mountain, and Intipata (“Terraces of the Sun”). Enjoy a beautiful sunset over the Vilcabamba range and an unobstructed view of the night sky—perfect for stargazing.
- Campsite altitude: 3,600 m / 11,811 ft
- Highest altitude: 4,000 m / 13,123 ft
- Distance: 13 km / 8 miles
- Duration: ~9 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, tea time, dinner
- Accommodation: Camping, massage, drinks available
- Difficulty: Moderate
Day 4: Phuyupatamarca – Wiñaywayna – Machu Picchu Pueblo
With the hardest days behind you, this is the easiest and one of the most exciting days. Today’s route is varied and takes about 5–6 hours to reach Machu Picchu. Hike through several ecosystems and visit two Inca sites: Phuyupatamarca, with spectacular views of the Urubamba River and the Machu Picchu mountain, and Intipata, where you can rest and enjoy the terraces.
Reach Wiñaywayna around 11:00 am for lunch and some free time to relax while your guide explains the importance of this site. After lunch, walk for about 1 hour to the Sun Gate, taking in the stunning views along the way. On a clear day, watch the sunset over Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate—an unforgettable sight. Then descend for about 1 hour to Machu Picchu, arriving late in the day to take photos with very few people around. Finally, take the bus down to Aguas Calientes, have dinner in a local restaurant, and spend the night in a hotel.
- Town altitude: 2,000 m / 6,562 ft (Aguas Calientes)
- Highest altitude: 3,600 m / 11,811 ft
- Distance: 10 km / 6 miles
- Duration: ~6 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Accommodation: 4-star hotel (Tierra Viva or similar)
- Difficulty: Moderate
Day 5: Machu Picchu (Lost City of the Incas) – Cusco
On the final day, start early to visit Machu Picchu. Take one of the first buses up to the citadel and, on a clear day, enjoy a spectacular sunrise. Your guide will give you a 3–4 hour comprehensive tour of the city, then leave you time to explore on your own or climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (must be booked far in advance).
After the tour, enjoy lunch at Tinkuy Restaurant in Machu Picchu. In the afternoon, take the exclusive panoramic train back to Cusco, where the Deluxe Inca Trail ends. Our team will return you to your hotel.
- Duration: 2–3 hours guided tour (plus free time)
- Meals: Breakfast (hotel), lunch (Machu Picchu)
- Difficulty: Easy
