The Great Andean Trail To Machu Picchu

About this activity:

Distance:
105 km / 65 miles
Duration:
7 days 6 nights
Departure:
From Cusco
Destination:
Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu
Considered:
Moderate
Type:
Adventure – Cultural – Hiking

Tour details:

The Great Andean Trail to Machu Picchu is a 7-day journey through the ancient history, vibrant culture, and magnificent scenery of Cusco, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, and the famous Classic Inca Trail. This once-in-a-lifetime exploration into the sacred havens of the Incas is equal parts physical, cultural and spiritual journey, a journey of knowledge and transformation gathered while trekking, sightseeing and enjoying the comforts of our mountaintop camps.

Embark on a 7-day odyssey, The Great Andean Trail to Machu Picchu. Immerse yourself in ancient history, vibrant culture, and breathtaking vistas. Trek the revered classic Inca Trail, combining physical adventure with cultural enlightenment. Experience transformative moments while trekking and enjoying the comforts of mountaintop camps. A holistic journey of a lifetime awaits.

Full Itinerary: The Great Andean Trail To Machu Picchu

On the first day if this 7 day cusco itinerary.

Upon arriving to Cusco you will be assisted from the airport to your hotel.

It is highly recommended to take a flight which would arrive before 1pm in Cusco.

Meeting point at the Hotel at 3pm where our Local guide is going to meet you to brief about the Trip, please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the hotel reception where it will take place. After the briefing explore the ‘Walking city center’, the difference is that in this tour, you visit the places that are accessible by foot, so we will visit San Pedro market, the main square, the 12 Angled Stone, Regocijo Square.

  • Accommodation: Hotel (1 night).
  • Included Activities: Cusco – Orientation Walk.
  • Optional Activities: Cusco – Full Boleto Turistico Pass (access to 16 archaeological sites, transport & guides not included) – USD 50.00 per person. Cusco – Half Boleto Turistico Pass (access to selected archaeological sites, transport & guides not included) – USD 27.00 per person. Cusco – Cathedral Entrance Fee – USD 10.00 per person. Cusco – Coricancha Temple entrance fee – USD 6.00 per person. Cusco – Cooking Class – USD45 Cusco – Pre-Colombian Museum – USD 8.00 per person. Cusco – Inca Museum – USD 4.00 per person. Cusco – Machu Picchu Museum & Botanical Garden – USD 8.00 per person.
  • Meals Included: There are no meals included on this day.
  • Important Information: Cusco is located at 3’350 masl (11’000 fts) you should be acclimatized at least 2 days. As this tour doesn’t involve much time in Cusco, this will also give you a chance to choose some of the optional places available. The closer places to Cusco for stay and acclimatized are on Sacred Valley at 2’800 masl (9’186 fts) Please ask to your Tailor made tours for our Hotel offers on the Sacred Valley.

 WE BEGIN BY TRAVELING ONE HOUR TO PISAQ. 

The little streets of this quaint little village of Pisaq are filled with old colonial mansions and filled with stores which sell native arts and crafts. Pisaq has a world renowned Incan marketplace and a very highly esteemed Incan historical site. Here you can witness amazing Incan structures, houses, temples, astronomical observatories, and the largest ancient cemetery in South America. Pisaq is located at 2950 meters or 9000 feet high, below Cusco.

 

Trip to Ollantaytambo (which takes 1.5 hours), with an awesome visit to the historical site of Ollantaytambo (2h). Ollantaytambo is on the opposite side of Pisaq, towards Machu Picchu, it is home to some of the most spectacular Incan sites of Peru, some would say only 2nd to Machu Picchu. The town itself is known as the living Incan village, as it conserves the most emblematic Incan architecture in Peru. 

A choice hotel in the Sacred Valley.

Breakfast and lunch included

We will pick you up at 5:00 am from your hotel after breakfast. We will drive for about 45 minutes to the site called ‘’Kilometer 82’’ or Piscacucho where we will begin the inca trail hike. The altitude here is 2,673 meters (8,770 feet) and on this first day, we will hike about 11 km (7 miles). The first section of the inca trail to machu picchu is relatively flat, and we will trek for about 3 hours to our lunch spot, arriving in a green valley where we will visit our first archaeological site called Patallaqta, and here we will be able to look down and see more located in the valley. Then we will hike 20 minutes more until we arrive at our lunch site located at Tarayoc. After enjoying a big lunch, we will start the next stretch of the inca trail hike to our campsite, which will take 2 hours. This part of the inca trail machu picchu has small ascents and descents, and we will hike through a wooded valley until we reach our first campsite, Wayllabamba, which is at 3,000 meters, or 9,842 feet.

  • Accommodation: Campsite (1 night)
  • Meals Included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

The second day of the inca trail is the most challenging since we will climb over 1,200 meters (3,940 feet) to reach the highest pass and will hike 12 km (7 miles) in total. After having breakfast, we will start our uphill hike, which will take about 5 hours to reach the pass. On the way up, we will pass through different climatic and ecological zones. We will start in green mossy forests and will end in the grassy highlands where there are no trees. Once we reach the highest point of the inca trail to machu picchu, known as Dead Woman’s Pass at 4,215 meters (13,828 feet), we will take a well-deserved break, take photos and will be able to enjoy the amazing view of both valleys below. After that, we will start our descent to the campsite, which will take about an hour and a half. We will climb down Inca stone steps heading down through the highlands until we reach our campsite called Pacaymayo, which is at 3,630 meters or 11,910 feet. Here we will have our lunch, then you will have well deserve time to rest and explore the area before having supper in the evening.

  • Accommodation: Campsite (1 night)
  • Meals Included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

On the third day of the inca trail, we will hike the farthest distance (16 km or 10 miles) and will also explore the archaeological sites along the way. After having breakfast, we will hike up the opposite side of the valley to reach the second pass, which will take about 2 hours. About halfway up we will see a small, round, roofless stone building, known as Runkuracay. After our history explanation here, we will continue to the second pass, Runkuracay, at 3,941 meters, or 12,800 feet. Then we will descend for about 2 hours to our lunch site, on the way down we will have an optional Inca site to explore called Sayaqmarka. Then we will arrive to our lunch site and once we are full will continue hiking 4 more hours to our last campsite. The first part of the trail will involve little ascents and descents until we reach the next archaeological center called Phuyupatamarka. This location is also a second option for the last campsite. After our tour, we will hike downhill and will visit the farming terraces at Intipata. From there we will continue to our campsite called Wiñaywayna, and is located at 2,650 meters, or 8,694 feet. This is our last night camping in the inca trail hike, and in the evening after supper, we will get to thank our amazing team for their hard work.

On the last day we will wake up very early (at about 3:00 am) and after having small breakfast will wait in line until the checkpoint opens at 5:30 am. Once we pass the checkpoint, we will start hiking to Machu Picchu, which will take 1:30 hours, and we will hike for 6 km (4 miles) following the inca trail which is relatively flat until we reach Intipunku or the famous Sun Gate. Here, we will have our first view of Machu Picchu below us and depending on the season, we may get to see the sunrise. From there, we will descend 30 minutes to Machu Picchu which sits at 2,400 meters or 7,874 feet, and we will first check any large backpacks at the entrance. We will then have our 2-hour tour where you will see and learn about the most important sites including the Temple of the Sun, the main plaza, Intihuatana and the Machu Picchu history. After your tour, you will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes, and in the afternoon the train back to Ollantaytambo where we will pick you up from the train station and drop you off at your hotel in Cusco.

  • Accommodation: Hotel (1 night)
  • Meals Included: Breakfast
  • Optional Activities:Mountain Wayna Picchu USD 75.00 per person.Mountain Machu Picchu USD 75.00 per person.

Departure time.

  • Optional Activities:Maras Salt and Moray Terraces  USD 31.00 per person. Rainbow Mountain Tour USD 55.00 per person.

Additional Information

Porters: Depending on your level of physical fitness, the hike can be strenuous. If you would like to reduce the load you have to carry, you can hire an extra porter to carry your belongings. You can hire them to carry 8 kg (18 lb) for $80 USD, or 15 kg (33 lb) for $150 USD. Included in this service is the porter’s salary, entrance to the inca trail to machu picchu and his food. If you decide to use this service, the porter will carry your packs until we reach Aguas Calientes. You must reserve your extra porter at the same time you reserve the trip, because the extra porter is counted as part of the 500-person limit on the inca trail.

Huayna Picchu: If you are interested in climbing Huayna Picchu, the mountain overlooking Machu Picchu, there is an additional fee of $75 USD per person for us to buy your entrance ticket. Spaces are limited, for information about this hike, please contact us.

Additional Night in Aguas Calientes: After 4-day inca trail, some people prefer to spend the 4th night in Aguas Calientes instead of returning to Cusco right away. This can give you more time to enjoy the ruins of Machu Picchu, relax in the hot springs in Aguas Calientes, and in general not have to worry about the time. This option is also good for those who want to climb Huayna Picchu but want to have some time to rest after the inca trail hike, so you can return to Machu Picchu the next day to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain. Please contact us for more information about options and prices.

Sleeping Bags:: If you would like to rent a sleeping bag from us, the price is $25 USD per person in total for this 4-day inca trail hike.

Trekking Poles: We recommend taking trekking poles on the hike especially when hiking downhill. If you would like to rent a pair for the whole hike, the price is $10 USD per person.

Private Tent: In our service, we include Mountain tents that are 2-person tents. However, if you would like to reserve a private tent the price is $40 USD.

Vistadome Train: Our price includes a return train ticket in the Expedition train, however, if you would like to upgrade to the Vistadome train the price is an additional $50 USD per person.

  • Immerse yourself in history and legend that will make you feel closer to the Incas.
  • Enjoy the Cusco region cuisine in the best restaurants and try the roasted ‘’cuy’’ .
  • Connect your heart with the energy of the mountains and glaciers while you travel through the gorgeous Sacred Valley.
  • Get Inca Trail, the famous hike that ends in Machu Picchu as you get to follow the same path and stone steps that the Inca royalty used to walk to their royal state.
  • Explore many kinds ecological zones throughout the hike and a huge variety of flora and fauna.
  • Make the best of your time visiting a World Heritage Site situated on a spectacular mountain ridge.
  • The best asnwer for: what to do in peru for a week.
  • Perfect for everyone who wants to experience this world heritage hike. Especially good for hike lovers, the trail offers many historical ruins as well.
  • Altitude sickness is most common at elevations above 6,500’/1,900m and results from the body adjusting to a decreased amount of oxygen. Symptoms can include lightheadedness, nausea, headaches, and dehydration. It is important at least two days of acclimatization in Cusco or surroundings before start the Trip.
  • The hike everyday is a challenge 8 hours of walking per day make the difference. Please bring comfortable footwear suitable to hiking. See the ‘What to Bring’ section of the trip notes for more information.
  • To protect the historic trail, the number of people allowed to hike the Inca Trail each day is 500. For this reason, you should reserve your spot as soon as possible. During the high tourist season from April to September, permits can sell out 6-8 months in advance.
  • If you are wondering what to see in peru in 7 days, this tour plan is the best choice.

Additional Prices

FAQs The Great Andean Trail To Machu Picchu

Includes

  • All transport from your arrival
  • Meals, unless expressly states
  • Professionally guided tour

Not included

  • Entrance tickets to monuments and museums
  • Personal expenses
  • Services not specifically stated in the itinerary
  • Tips to guide and driver

Video The Great Andean Trail To Machu Picchu

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