Luxury Inca Trail Tour 5D

Accommodation

• Comfort Camping tent
• Full-size inflatable mattress
• Comfortable camp chairs
• Shower tent for short, hot showers
• Toilet tent
• High quality Black Diamond walking stick
• 5 star hotel in Aguas Calientes

Meals

• Dining tent with camp tables and chairs, and kitchen tent for the cook to prepare meals
• Cook and cooking equipment, plus assistants for larger groups.
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary. Our professional cooks prepare a combination of traditional Peruvian and Western cuisine. Talk to your Travel Consultant during the booking process if you have certain preferences! Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available. When served, salads are washed in boiled water.
• Boiled water to drink on the hike (which you can carry in your own reusable water bottle)
• Filtered water provided during the drive on the first day
• Lunch on the last day.

Transport

• Collection from your hotel on the morning of the Luxury Inca Trail trek departure
• Transport from Cusco to the trailhead
• Bus between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu
• Hiram Bingham train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
• Private transport from Ollantaytambo to Cusco.

Trekking Team

• English/Quechua/Spanish speaking professional guide, plus an assistant guide for groups over 8
• Porters, who carry camping equipment, food and kitchen utensils. We provide duffel bags at your briefing for your personal items (up to 7kg / 15 lbs per person). If you wish to take more, you can hire a personal porter. Please contact us for costs.
• Tents, sleeping bags and mattresses for our staff to sleep in, plus a budget for their meals

Safety

• First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle

Additional inclusions

• Pre-trek briefing
• Inca Trail Permit
• Two entries into Machu Picchu

Meals

• Breakfast on the first morning
• Dinner on the last night

Other

• Tips for the guide, cook and muleteers
• Flights to/from Cusco
• Travel Insurance
• Entrance to the hot springs
• Entrance to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain

We offer you the opportunity to personalize your trek and make your experience more comfortable through our Optional Extras and Upgrades. All options are available during the reservation process; please ask your sales consultant for more information.

Equipment Available for Rent

• Additional Porter to carry more of your own things
• Camping pillow (0.27kg)
• Sleeping Bag suitable for -5˚C (1.8kg)
• Deluxe sleeping bag suitable for -15˚C (2.7kg)

Service Upgrades

• Single-occupancy tent & hotel supplement

Optional Activities

• Extra Day at Machu Picchu
• If you’d like to hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain , let us know at the time of booking as it requires a separate permit.

Important!

• When calculating the cost of renting equipment, calculate using the length of the entire trip, not just the number of trekking days.
• Please be careful with rented equipment! You are responsible for the cost of replacement if something is damaged or broken.
• Any upgrades or trip extensions must be requested at time of booking.
• All rental equipment needs to go in your personal duffel bag and counts towards the 8kg weight limit. 

We recommend that you bring the following items with you:

• A fleece or down jacket is an essential item at this elevation;
• Hiking trousers with zip off shorts are a good idea, as day time temperatures can be quite warm, yet temperatures plummet as soon as the sun goes down. You can supplement these with leggings or thermals to wear underneath;
• A rain poncho or waterproof jacket is also important. It can rain or even snow at certain times of the year!;
• Water-resistant trekking boots are advisable. The trail on this hike can sometimes be muddy and wet, so we also recommend to bring extra socks!;
• A warm sleeping bag, rated to -15°C (5°F). If you prefer, you can rent one from us;
• A headlamp or torch;
• A high factor (SPF) sunscreen, a sun cap and sunglasses. The sun can be really strong, especially in dry season. Sun protection is essential!;
• A small daypack to carry your necessary items for each day’s hiking.

For our full packing list for treks in the Andes, see What to Pack for the Inca Trail.

Our blog How to Prepare for a Trek in Peru will also give you some great tips for how to get ready for your trek, before you even leave home.

• Students: USD $30 off, in certain circumstances. Please enquire for details about eligibility.
• Youth 12-17: 5% off. A valid passport must be presented upon booking.
• Children 5-11 years: 15% off. A valid passport must be presented upon booking.
• Children 0-4 years: 75% off. A valid passport must be presented upon booking. Children under 4 will not count towards the total number of guests in a group, but will be charged 25% of the per person price based on final group size. For example, a group of 4 adults and one child under 4: adults will be charged the full price per person based on a group size of 4 and the child will be charged 25% of the per person price for a group of 4. Children under 3 will not be considered to occupy a seat on any train or bus, and instead must ride on a parent’s lap. Car seats, cribs and other baby needs may not be included and must be discussed in advance. For more information about travelling with infants and toddlers, please see this blog as well as the Age Requirements section of our Booking Conditions.
• 5% off a day tour listed price when you also book a 3-day or longer trek operated by Apus Peru

Our whole trekking team is native to the Lares region and know the Inca Trail like the back of their hand! They are some of the warmest, endearing and wonderful people you are ever likely to meet.

Our guides are all licensed and receive regular training. They share their experience, professionalism, knowledge and enthusiasm with our passengers on every trek.

Get to know our team!

Want to join a trek? Ready to confirm a departure date of your own, but interested in having others join you? Then Trekkers Wanted is for you! Our innovative Trekkers Wanted system matches people up who are interested in hiking the same trek, bringing costs down and multiplying the fun for everyone! Visit the link to read more about Trekkers Wanted, post your trek or search for confirmed departures!

Note: Trekkers Wanted for the Inca Trail ONLY available while permits last for your departure date.

General Information About Trekking with Apus Peru

• Each guide has their own preferred route and so the route you trek might not correspond exactly to the route described here.
• The times cited in this itinerary are approximate. Walking times depend on the group, and the guide may change lunch spots and campsites, depending on the progress of the group.

Specific Information About Trekking the Luxury Inca Trail Hike

• The Inca Trail is not open in February
• Campsites or itinerary are subject to change, depending on the time of booking and availability of campsites. The Ministry of Culture, the government institution responsible for operating the Inca Trail, allocates campsites to authorized trekking companies on a first-come, first-served basis, and so we cannot guarantee that all campsites described in this itinerary will be available when you book.

Booking Your Luxury Inca Trail Hike

• A scanned copy of your passport and a non-refundable deposit must be provided upon booking a Luxury Inca Trail hike. This is due to government regulations which require complete passport details and full payment of the Machu Picchu entrance fee in order to issue a permit. Your reservation will only be confirmed when we have your entrance ticket in our hands.
• If your passport number changes after you book, you must tell us immediately or you may lose your booking! If the name or number on your passport is different from the name or number on your Inca Trail permit, you will not be allowed to start the trek and you will not be entitled to a refund.
• You must carry your original passport with you on the trail.
• If you booked a Luxury Inca Trail hike at a student rate, you must bring the required documentation on the trail with you. If you do not present this documentation, you will not be allowed to start the trek and you will not be entitled to a refund, nor given an opportunity to pay the full rate.

Extras & Upgrades on the Luxury Inca Trail Hike

• If you’d like to hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, let us know at the time of booking as it requires a separate permit.
• This trek includes transportation by train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo on the Hiram Bingham service (Luxury Class), or equivalent Inca Rail service, followed by private vehicle transport from Ollantaytambo to Cusco.

Does this trek sound like just what you were looking for? If you’re ready to book or just want to find out a bit more information, fill out the Inquiry Form in the top right-hand corner of this page to get the ball rolling. You’ll be connected with one of our amazing sales people who will be able to turn your dream of hiking in the Andes into a reality. For more information on the entire booking process, please see our How To Book page.

Travel insurance is a must! World Nomads offers travel insurance for adventure activities.

• • Total Walking Distance: 6 km
  • Total Walking Time: 4.5-5h
  • Minimum Altitude: 2600m (8,530 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 2700m (8,858 ft)
  • Altitude of camp: 2700m (8,858 ft)
  • Approx. night temperature: 3°C (37.4°F)

Your Luxury Inca Trail hike begins today with a morning pick-up from your hotel in our private transport. You should have breakfast in your hotel or bring some snacks. We will stop in Ollantaytambo for last-minute purchases, or a quick breakfast if you missed it in Cusco! From Ollantaytambo, we continue to Piscacucho (also known as Kilometre 82) where the Inca Trail starts. On arrival at Km 82, it is necessary to show entrance tickets, passports, and student card (if applicable).

Crossing the Urubamba River, we begin our trek through typical dry forest where we will see prickly pear and other cactus as well as the tara tree. We will walk around 3 hours (6 km) to Miskay, and then another hour and a half to two hours to Llactapata, our campsite for the night (2700m / 8858 ft). After a short break at the campsite, we will walk for about 40 mins to the ruins of Llactapata themselves. This is a special treat for us as most Inca Trail hikers miss this site, actually the largest to be found along the trail! We will take an hour or so to explore these ruins before returning to our campsite at around 5:30pm.

• • Total Walking Distance: 9km
  • Total Walking Time: 6h
  • Minimum Altitude: 2700m (8,858 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 3750m (12,303 ft)
  • Altitude of Camp: 3750m (12,303 ft)
  • Approx night temperature: -5˚C (23˚F)

After a good night’s rest, we begin to walk 4 km of gentle uphill trails through farmland until we reach Huayllabamba. Then, leaving pastoral villages behind, we will continue to Ayapata (3300m /10,826 ft) where we will have lunch. From Ayapata, we walk another 2 hours uphill, entering the subtropical forest, until we reach Llulluchapampa (3750m / 12,303 ft).

• • Total Walking Distance: 15km
  • Total Walking Time: 9h
  • Minimum Altitude: 3680m (12,073 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 4200m (13,780 ft)
  • Altitude of campsite: 3680m (12,073 ft)
  • Approx. night temperature: -3°C (27°F)

After two relatively relaxed days on the Luxury Inca Trail, today we will have a long and fairly arduous day as we hike towards the highest part of the Inca Trail. We begin with a steep ascent towards the highest pass, the Abra Huarmihuañusca (also spelled Warmihuañusca)  or Dead Woman’s Pass, coming in at an impressive 4200m (13,779 ft). It is a tough hike, but you’ll feel an amazing sense of achievement upon reaching the top! After a short rest on the pass, we continue downwards 600m (1968 ft) over 3kms (1.8 mi) through a very humid forest until we reach Pacaymayo where we will have lunch.

After lunch, we will continue walking to the beautiful Inca site of Runkurakay, one of the checkpoints on the Inca Trail and the beginning of the original Royal Inca road to Machu Picchu, known as Qhapaq Ñan. We continue on to Sayakmarka, one of the most beautiful Inca remains on our Luxury Inca trail hike, and then another 3h until we reach Chaquicocha (3600mt /11,811 ft).

As we hike beyond Chaquicocha, we enter the cloud forest. On this last 1.5h stretch of the day, we will trek through some incredible scenery, filled with orchids and hummingbirds. Finally, we arrive at Phuyupatamarca, which means town above the clouds. This is the most stunning campsite on the entire Inca Trail, and most people who hike the classic route don’t camp here! Tomorrow morning you will really see where this place gets its name. This is the third highest point on the Inca trail (3680m / 12,073 ft) and we will have breathtaking views of Salkantay mountain.

• • Total Distance: 11km
  • Total Walking Time: 5h
  • Min Altitude: 2000m (6,562 ft) / Max Altitude: 3680m (12,073 ft)

For a special treat this morning, we wake early – around 5 am – in order to enjoy a quiet morning tea in front of incredible views of Salkantay mountain. Then, after a leisurely breakfast, we set out on the last leg of our Luxury Inca Trail. We start by hiking downhill through the forest for about 3-4 hours until we reach Wiñay Wayna (“forever young”), where we will have lunch. On the way, we stop at Intipata, another interesting Inca ruin overlooked by most hikers. We will see loads of colorful orchids, enjoy gorgeous views, including of the sacred Urubamba river, the same one we saw at the beginning of the Inca Trail. It’s like coming full circle!

Depending on your pace, we will have lunch either before or after we visit the Winay Wayna ruins, the most impressive on the trail. No matter how tired you are, don’t miss out on seeing this wonder!

After lunch and our visit to the ruins, we leave Wiñaywayna to walk on an undulating path towards Inti Punku, the Sun Gate (2700m / 8858ft). This will take an hour of hiking through highland jungle, along a trail of flat stones that line the cliff edge. The last 10 min of this hike are include very steep steps (colloquially known as the “Gringo Killer”!). A challenging climb, you might just end up using your hands as much as your feet to complete the climb. After such a long journey, we deserve to take a break and really breathe in this fabulous spot. We will spend at least half an hour to enjoy spectacular views over the sacred citadel of Machu Picchu, weather permitting.

From Inti Punku, a short gentle downhill walk brings us down to the Guardhouse of Machu Picchu. Here you can take the classic photo of Machu Picchu! We walk to the checkpoint, where you can use the restroom or have some snacks. Then we will enter into the Inca Citadel itself. If desired, we have a chance to visit some special parts of ruins that others may miss, including the Temple of the Sun, or Intihuatana. This will be just our first taste of Machu Picchu, and then we will take last bus down to Aguas Calientes.

Arriving in Aguas Calientes we will check into our luxury hotel before enjoying a celebratory dinner. Then it’s off to bed as we’ll have an early start tomorrow.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will take the bus up to Machu Picchu. For a more relaxed visit, we recommend a somewhat later start (8am entry), but we can also arrange for a 6am entry if that is your preference. Your guide will give you a 2-3h walking tour of the historic citadel.

If you’re feeling adventurous you may wish to hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, but take note: this requires an extra permit, and they can sell out well in advance! Be sure to tell us at booking if you would like to add one of these hikes. For more tips on what to see, check out our Visiting Machu Picchu page.

And if you don’t plan on doing one of these extensions, we suggest enjoying your Machu Picchu visit in the afternoon, after the morning crowds have all but completely cleared out.

Want more time to explore? Consider our Extra Day Upgrades!

We return to Aguas Calientes by bus and then start our journey back to Cusco in the afternoon by the Hiram Bingham train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo. There, our driver will meet us and transfer you directly back to your hotel in Cusco. Total travel time is about 4 hours from Aguas Calientes to Cusco.