Starting point CUSCO
Ending point CUSCO
Duration 02 Days / 01 Night
Trip style Archeological, Cultural and Ecological, hiking and active.
Place to visit Wiñay Wayna Intipunku and Machupicchu.
The Inca Trail to Machupicchu (also known as Camino Inca or Camino Inka) consists of three overlapping trails: Mollepata (Salkantay Machupicchu) , Classic ( inca trail 4 days 3 nights ), and One Day (inca trail 2 days 1 night ) Mollepata is the longest of the three routes with the highest mountain pass and intersects with the Classic route before crossing Warmiwañusqa (“dead woman”). Located in the Andes mountain range, the trail passes through several types of Andean environments including cloud forest and alpine tundra. Settlements, tunnels, and many Incan ruins are located along the trail before ending the terminus at the Sun Gate on Machupicchu Mountain. The two longer routes require an ascent to beyond 4,200 metres (13,800 ft) above sea level, which can result in altitude sickness.
Concern about overuse leading to erosion has led the Peruvian government to place a limit on the number of people who may hike this trail per season, and to sharply limit the companies that can provide guides. As a result, advance booking is mandatory. A maximum of 500 people are allowed on the trail each day, of which only 200 are trekkers, the rest being guides and porters. As a result, the high season books out very quickly.
The trail is closed every February for cleaning. This was originally done informally by organizations such as South American Explorers but is now managed officially.
DAY 1: CUSCO – WIÑAYWAYNA – AGUAS CALIENTES (L) (D)
We leave Cusco early in the morning by train to Km 104 where the trek starts. Upon arrival we visit the ruin of Chachabamba in 2250 masl. Here agricultural product from other areas where collected to be brought to Machupicchu. Then we begin our walk towards Wiñay Wayna. On the way we have beautiful views of the Urubamba river and the chances are many to see different kinds of the famous orchid family. We turn around the last corner and have the amazing Wiñay Wayna rigth below us, we stop to make a visit of this interesting and important inca site. After a few minutes walking we stop for lunch. In the afternoon we walk the last hours towards Machupicchu, that we see on a distance from the Inti Punku (Gate of the Sun) in the beautiful afternoon sun before continuing down to Aguas Calientes. We spend the night in a nice hostal in town.
DAY 2: MACHUPICCHU – CUSCO (B)
After breakfast we’ll arrive at Machupicchu ruins (2400 m). Guided tour of the ruins for approximately 3 hours followed by some time at leisure for lunch. In the afternoon, we take the train back to Cusco, upon arrival transfer to your Hotel. End of services.
- Transportation by train to head of trail (104 Km.)
- Expedition Train ticket back to Cusco
- Entrance ticket to Inka Trail and Machupicchu
- Bus tickets Aguas Calientes / Machupicchu / Aguas Calientes
- 01 night accommodation in Aguas Calientes (inc. breakfast)
- Transfer train station / Hotel
- English/Spanish speaker professional guide during all Inca Trail
- Meals as mentioned in the itinerary
