4 Day Total Adventure Inca Trail Trekking, Camping, and Wildlife Tour in Peru

One day before the trek: Briefing

Today, you will walk in for briefing in Wayki Trek's office. Your briefing is usually scheduled one day before your program and usually in the morning. However, if your program starts on a Monday, your briefing will be scheduled on Saturday prior to your program and during the morning only. Therefore, please consider this when booking your flights to Cusco.

Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco - KM 82 - Mayllambamba

After breakfast, you will leave the hotel in Cusco, together with the tour guide on a private van towards the start point of the trekking on KM 82, Piscacucho. On arrival, you will go through the control point of the Inca Trail and then proceed with the trek.

You will start at 2,400 meters above the sea level and will ascend slowly toward the archeological ruins called Llactapata (2,650 meters above the sea level) where you will arrive after two hours of trekking time. There, you will explore the ruins and have lunch at its base afterward.

Later, you will continue on your route to the semitropical valley of Wayllabamba, and two hours after, you will arrive at the archeological site of Wayllabamba. You will explore this site as well and set your first campsite around the area. Dinner will be served and you will spend the night there.

• Distance: 12 kilometers
• Walking hours: 4 to 6 hours
• Low altitude: 2,600 meters / 8,228 feet
• High altitude: 3,000 meters / 9,842 feet
• Campsite altitude: 3,000 meters / 9,843 feet

Day 2: Wayllabamba - Warmiwanuska - Pacaymayu

You will start your day with a good breakfast. This is the most difficult day of the trail, but not impossible! You will traverse towards the highest point of the Inca Trail: The Warmiwañuska Pass. On the way there, you will witness different microclimates.

After approximately three hours of walking, the Warmiwañuska Pass, also known as “The Dead Woman Pass” (4215 meters above the sea level), will be at hands reach. Once there, you will have an amazing view of the Vilcanota and Vilcabamba Mountain Chain. If we are lucky, you might even see the condors flying up in the sky.

After a few moments there, you will descend through a winding valley till you reach the area where you will have lunch. After lunch, you will proceed to ascend again until the Pacaymayu Gorge, where you will set up your campsite, have dinner, and rest for the night.

• Distance: 16 kilometers
• Walking hours: 7 to 8 hours
• Low altitude: 3,000 meters / 9842 feet
• High altitude: 4,215 meters / 13,828 feet (first pass: Warmiwañuska)
• Campsite altitude: 3,000 meters / 9,843 feet

Day 3: Pacaymayu - Winaywayna

This day is one of the longest, but one of the most beautiful at the same time. The presence of small Incan ruins along the way makes it worth it. You will ascend through a steep trail and will reach the second Pass where the impressive archeological rests of Runkuracay (3800 m.a.s.l). Afterward, you will descend till you get to Sayaqmarca (3600 m.a.s.l) known as “The Dominant Town”. There, you will also see very interesting Incan ruins.

You will continue through the valley where you will make a stop for lunch. You will continue ascending going through Conchamarca, which is a small archeological site that was recently discovered. After this, you will reach the first tunnel along the way and later you will get to the last Pass on the Inca Trail, from where you will see the town of Phuyupatamarca, “Town above the clouds” (3665 m.a.s.l) without a doubt one of the most original towns on the whole Inca Trail.

Afterward, you will descend using around 2000 stone steps until you reach Wiñaywayna Citadel “Forever Young” (2,700 meters above the sea level) to end this day. You will continue to your last campsite to have dinner, relax and rest for the night.

• Distance: 16 kilometers
• Walking hours: 8 to 10 hours
• Low altitude: 2,650 meters / 8,694 feet
• High altitude: 3,900 meters / 12,467 feet (Second pass: Runkuracay)
• Campsite altitude: 2,650 meters / 8,694 feet

Day 4: Winaywayna - Machu Picchu - Cusco

You will get up very early and have breakfast. This day, you will walk around six kilometers in distance, or approximately three hours to the next stop. Along the route, you will be able to see a great variety of flora and fauna typical of the area. Afterward, you will arrive at Inti Punku “Sun Gate” (2490 m.a.s.l). It is an excellent opportunity to take panoramic pictures of the Machu Picchu Citadel (2430 m.a.s.l) as it is visible from this point. “The lost Inca City”, without a doubt, is one of the most important urban constructions of the Inca Empire Era.

Once in Machu Picchu Citadel, you will have a guided tour of approximately two hours with a bit of free time to explore. Afterward, you will catch the bus in direction of the town of Aguas Calientes (2040 m.a.s.l). In this town, you will be able to have some time to grab lunch and later that afternoon, you will take the train to return, Peru Rail – Expedition. The return from Aguas Calientes will be done together with your tour guide. Time of service is to be confirmed.

Upon arrival to Cusco, a transfer will be waiting at the train station to take you on a private van to your hotel. End of our adventure!

• Distance: 6 kilometers
• Walking hours: 3 to 4 hours
• Low altitude: 2,040 meters / 6693 feet
• High altitude: 2,650 meters / 8694 feet

Certification ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004

It is important for Wayki Trek to provide excellent service to their passengers, to fulfill your expectations, and to participate in the conservation of the environment. It is because of these three reasons and to guarantee the continuous application of this philosophy that they have obtained two of the most important certifications in the field. ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004. With them, Wayki Trek guarantees the service that passengers expect from them and the conservation of the environment in each step of the processes.

Train leaving from Machu Picchu train station

To return by train from Machu Picchu Station, you must take into account that you will return with your trek's group and the leader guide. Information on the departure time by train from Aguas Calientes will be communicated during the post-sale.

If you want to make an upgrade or change the departure time of your train service from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, you must report this change at least 35 days before your trip. In this way, would avoid paying the penalty. You only have to pay the difference in the train ticket.

Please note that if you make an upgrade or change the departure time of your train service, you automatically lose the return with your leader guide and the return with the Wayki Trek's van from Ollantaytambo train station to the city of Cusco. For this reason, you must reschedule your return from Ollantaytambo through its executive sales as an additional service.

This tour will allow you to explore the Inca Trail starting from Cusco. You will start trekking from KM 82 to Mayllambamba, Warmiwanuska, Pacaymayu, Winaywayna, and to Machu Picchu.

The trail is pretty safe, however, you must follow the instructions given by your tour guide and always be alert. There are sections of the trail which are three meters wide and then there are others which are very narrow. Along the trail, you will see mountains, deep valleys, rivers, e.g. this nature trail is a very beautiful place. If you’d like to stop to contemplate the landscape and scenery, you must come to a complete stop, and then continue with the trek.

+−

During the whole trek, you will have access to a great variety of food. Dishes rich in calories, vitamins, and proteins that will provide all the energy that you need for the trek.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served daily and you will also receive snacks and hot drinks like infusions in the afternoon. Along with your breakfast, you will receive a cup of coca tea, which will help you to adjust to the cold air in the mountain.

Wayki Trek can also accommodate special requests such as vegetarian meals, diabetic diets, allergies, etc. This special requests must be done during the booking process. Wayki Trek would like to emphasize that their menu has been elaborated by professional chefs. Water will be provided every day during the whole trek.

Please note that breakfast on the first day as well as lunch and dinner on the last day are not included.

The Wayki experience

Before the tour, you can start one of the most memorable experiences: the Wayki experience. The Wayki experience is an optional and free of cost activity for those passengers that request the service up to 30 days before the start of the trek. Any day after that will have a charge of 40 USD per person.

The Wayki Experience is an experiential tour that allows you to meet and live day to day in the community of porters. You will learn their habits and have the opportunity to work with them in their daily work. Also, you will share with them a typical local food and spend the night under the starry sky of the Peruvian highlands. The next day, you leave to your walk.

Included in your Wayki experience

• Local shuttle bus from Wayki Trek's office to Izcuchaca Bus Terminal to Wayki Experience Community
• Private transfer from Wayki Experience Community to the trek starting point
• Family homestay or camping for one night at the Wayki Community
• Scheduled farming activity
• Get together with traditional music at the assigned porter host’s house
• Visit some Wayki projects (school and vegetable garden)
• Meals: one dinner, one breakfast
• Professional guide

Optional services

Additional porters

Depending on your physical fitness, the trekking can be exhausting. If you would like to have assistance to carry your personal belongings, you can hire an additional porter to carry up to 8 kilograms (18 pounds) for 85 USD or one for up to 15 kilograms (33 pounds) for 150 USD. The cost includes porter’s salary, porter’s entrance to Inca Trail, Machu Picchu, and food.

Important: If you decide to use this service, the porter will carry your items till Aguas Calientes. You should advise of your need to hire an additional porter at the time of booking, as they are also considered within the 500 people maximum per day allowed in the Inca Trail.

Huayna Picchu

It also necessary to book in advance this trekking, as it has a limited capacity of 400 people per day divided into two times. The first group starts the trek at 7:00 a.m. and the second one at 10:00 a.m., 200 people in each.

The climb is 45 minutes to an hour. The trail is a little tight, but safe. The view is breathtaking. You can see a panoramic of Machu Picchu, the Puerta Del Sol, Urubamba Valley, and the river. If, however, there is no availability for the Huayna Picchu Mountain can be considered Machu Picchu, which is also impressive for its location.

The Huaynapicchu or Machu Picchu Mountain ticket costs an additional 75 USD and the Machu Picchu citadel ticket costs an additional 69 USD.

Keep in mind that the trekking up to the mountain is not suggested for people with vertigo problems or afraid of heights. Please note that the estimated time to start your guided tour of the Machu Picchu Citadel is between (8:15 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.). However, this might be delayed due to the pace of the group and weather issues. Therefore, there is a risk of having to leave your guided tour half way to be able to make it on time for your climb to either Huayna Picchu.

Extra night in Aguas Calientes

If you want to return the day after your service, just let Wayki Trek know in advance to change the date of return by train, without penalty (35 days before). If you let them know this change, after 35 days, you will have to check the availability of the train and pay a fine.

Also, if you need assistance in booking a hotel in Aguas Calientes, they can do so as an optional service free of charge. Please note that in Aguas Calientes, there is a variety of options for accommodation, from bed and breakfast to 5-star hotels. In addition, you have the option of enjoying and visiting the hot springs of the town.

Important: if you an extra night stays, automatically loses the return with your leader guide and the return with the Wayki Trek's van from Ollantaytambo train station to the city of Cusco. For this reason, you must reschedule your return from Ollantaytambo through its executive sales as an additional service.

• 3 nights camping accommodation
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as snacks and hot drinks
• Campsite equipment
• Wayki experience tour
• Tourist bus and transportation to start of the Inca Trail: Km 82
• Bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes
• Train expedition leaving Aguas Calientes in the afternoon
• Pick up from the train station and transfer to Hotel in Cusco
• Support from the campsite staff: professional tourist guide; professional chef, assistant cook, and waiter for customer service; and porter
• Tourist ticket to the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu (given on the first day of the trek and will be used along the way until you get to Machu Picchu)

• Air mattress
• Entrance to Huayna Picchu
• Extra porter to carry personal items with more capacity than what is already included (must be informed well in advance)
• Hiking poles
• Sleeping bag
• Waterproof and thermic tent for personal use (in the event of customers would like to have a private tent)

Recommended Airports

• A reservation requires a deposit of 30% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.