Compare The Inca Trail in Comfort by Exodus Travels vs Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu - 2D/1N by Action Peru Treks

Day 1 Start Cuzco; free time to explore the Inca capital

Set amid hills in the altiplano, the Imperial City of the Incas, Cuzco (11,155ft/3,400m) was the geographic, cultural and political centre of a vast empire which, at its peak, stretched from present-day Quito in Ecuador to Santiago in Chile. After the Spanish conquistadores invaded the city, they started building on top of the Incan structures, resulting in unique architecture, a fusion of the Incan and Spanish colonial styles. Depending on what time your flight arrives, there may be time to wander the cobbled streets, visit the museums, churches and pre-Columbian buildings, such as Qorikancha – the Sun Temple, or to sit in a café and enjoy a coca-tea. There will be a briefing in the evening. Accommodation: Hotel San Agustin Plaza (or similar)

Day 2 Visit the Sacred Valley; continue to Ollantaytambo

Today we visit the magnificent Sacred Valley of the Incas, which runs along the Urubamba River near Cuzco. It’s the true heartland of Incan culture and tradition, with the high Andean scenery dotted with old towns and pre-Columbian villages. Here we visit the incredible Pisac ruins, a former citadel that guarded a road from the lowlands and gives way to terraces carved into solid rock. We then visit the Inca ruins at Ollantaytambo (9,186ft/2,800m), the one-time royal estate of Inca emperor Pachacuti. Here huge stone terraces occupy the valley sides and hint at the scale of things to come. Accommodation: Hotel Pakaritampu (or similar)

Day 3 Start Inca Trail trek from Km82; walk along Vilcanota River; climb to Huayllabamba

Early this morning, we transfer (1hr 30min) from Cuzco into the Sacred Valley. Reaching the town of Ollantaytambo, we drive for one hour along the final stretch of road to the start of the Inca Trail at Piscacucho, recognized among adventurers as Km82. After greeting our trekking crew, we show our passports at the checkpoint and begin the fabled Inca Trail trek. Our route today runs alongside the Vilcanota River, beneath the snow-capped peak of Nevado Veronica, passing through cactus gardens and settlements, until we reach the terraced Inca ruins of Llactapata, where we continue up the Cusichaca Valley to camp near the village of Huayllabamba (9,186ft/2,800m).  Accommodation: Huayllabamba Camp (full-service camping)

Day 4 Summit Dead Woman's Pass; descend to Pacaymayu

The morning begins, as all do on our Inca Trail trek, with a hot drink delivered to your tent. Today’s journey is both challenging and rewarding, marking the most demanding and best-known stretch of the trail. A slow and steady climb takes us through a cloud forest to the meadows of Llulluchapampa, then we summit Dead Woman’s (Warmihuañusca) Pass, the highest point on the trek at 13,829ft (4,215m). After a well-deserved round of high fives and photos at the summit, we begin our steep descent on original Inca steps to reach our campsite in the scenic valley of the Pacaymayu River (11,811ft/3,600m). Warm up in the dining tent with a hot, fresh meal followed by a well-deserved sleep under the Andean night sky. Accommodation: Pacaymayu Camp (full-service camping)

Day 5 Over Runquracay Pass to ruins of Sayacmarca and Phuyupatamarca

After a hearty breakfast, we start the day with a climb, which takes us past the ruins of Runquracay and over the Runquracay Pass (12,894ft/3,930m), our second and final pass. From here, the Inca Trail becomes a clearly defined rolling path of flat boulders, providing access to sites only available to those on foot. One of the standout archeological sites we visit is Sayacmarca (11,893/3,625m), perched high above the green cloud forest. From here, we enjoy views of Salkantay mountain as we hike to our spectacular campsite on the ridge above the Inca site of Phuyupatamarca (12,073ft/3,680m), where we can enjoy the sunset and sunrise. Accommodation: Phuyupatamarca Camp (full-service camping)

Day 6 Walk down Inca steps to Wiñay Wayna and Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate

From Phuyupatamarca, we take the famous Inca steps: a 1.2mi (2km) stone staircase that rapidly descends into an immense panorama, with the peaks of the Vilcabamba range above and the Vilcanota River far below. Reaching Wiñay Wayna, we have plenty of time to explore these beautiful ruins and eat lunch before continuing along a relatively flat section of the trail (by Inca standards, through cloud forest and wild orchids to finally reach Inti Punku (the Sun Gate). From here, we get our first full sight of Machu Picchu, with the Huayna Picchu mountain rising behind… congratulations, you made it! Inti Punku is traditionally busy with photo-taking trekkers in the morning, so our late afternoon arrival affords us unobstructed views of the magnificent ruins. We also get a chance to snap some classic photos of Machu Picchu before we take the 30-minute bus down to the town of Aguas Calientes for a shower and comfortable bed for the night.  Accommodation: Hotel Casa Andina, Aguas Calientes (or similar)

Day 7 Guided tour of Machu Picchu; return to Cuzco by train and road

Well-rested and refreshed, we return to Machu Picchu this morning for our guided tour. Machu Picchu is an architectural and engineering marvel, the staggering mountain backdrop making it even more dramatic. The Spaniards never found it, the Incas left no records of it, and so Machu Picchu remained an enigma, a city lost for centuries in the jungle until it was rediscovered in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham. Your guided tour highlights the history, culture, architecture and mysteries that Machu Picchu still holds today. This afternoon, we catch the train back to Ollantaytambo (1hr 30min) and continue by private bus to Cuzco (1hr 30min). Accommodation: Hotel San Agustin Plaza (or similar)

Day 8 End Cuzco

The trip comes to an end after breakfast. Either start your return journey home or join one of our exciting extensions, either to explore the jungle trails of the Amazon Rainforest or the high-altitude waters of Lake Titicaca. Speak to your sales representative to book.

DAY 1: Cusco – Chachabamba – Wiñay Wayna – Sun Gate – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes

We will pick you up from your Cusco hotel early in the morning (about 4 a.m.) and then transfer you in one of our mini-vans to the train station at Ollantaytambo.

Our train journey lasts about an hour before making a short stop at KM 104, the trailhead of the Short Inca Trail, and the start of our adventure to Machu Picchu.

Passing through the Inca Trail checkpoint we immediately see our first archaeological center, the magnificent ruins at Chachabamba. These ruins were one of the last shelters used by the Inca pilgrims before they reached Machu Picchu. Used for generations as a religious and administrative center, the site features several fascinating buildings, and our expert guide will be delighted to share the history with you.

Our trek begins with a steady ascent for around 3 hours climbing the original Inca stone steps. The ecosystems in this area are quite unique, and your guide will help you identify the different types of flora and fauna along the trail.

After passing the most spectacular waterfall we arrive at the ruins of Wiñay Wayna. Named after an orchid and meaning “Forever Young” in Quechua the site provides incredible views far across the Sacred Valley. We will enjoy a well-deserved lunch at the top of the ruins or somewhere around it, taking in the breathtaking scenery around us.

Wiñay Wayna is a fascinating place to visit as it is built into a mountainside and features experimental terraces that the Incas used to grow different types of crops. During our tour, you will visit a temple with 7 windows that was dedicated to the rainbow as well as observe the incredible engineering of the water channels that still function today.

Once the tour is complete we continue our hike for another 1-2 hours on a relatively flat section of trail. At around 4 p.m. we will reach the Sun Gate of Machu Picchu. This is the original entrance to the sacred city and is called “Intipunku” in Quechua. Intipunku provides our first views of the magnificent Machu Picchu. It is difficult to put into words the impact of seeing this ancient, sacred, and world-famous site for the first time. Suffice it to say you will want to have your cameras at the ready!

After taking some time to enjoy the views, and take those amazing photos, we make a final short walk down to the main entrance of the ruins from where we take the bus down to Aguas Calientes.

Arriving in Aguas Calientes we will take you to check in at your hotel. The town of Aguas Calientes is a thriving tourist town, with plenty of hustle and bustle to keep you entertained! The natural hot springs in town are also an unbeatable way to spend a late afternoon/early evening if there is time available before dinner.

Dinner will have been arranged at one of the local restaurants in town, and we will all dine together, sharing the excitement about the day ahead.

Meals: Box Lunch / Dinner
Accommodations: Hotel
Maximum altitude: 2,720 m/8,920 ft
Minimum Altitude: 2,040 m/6,691 ft
Distance to walk: 13 km/8 miles
Approximate walking time: 5-6 hours

DAY 2: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco

The hotel will prepare an early breakfast for you before we meet to take a very early bus (5:30 a.m.) along the winding road to Machu Picchu. As we climb gradually to the sacred city we should be lucky enough to see the magnificent sunrise over the Andes.

All of our guides are experts and enthusiasts in the history and legends of Machu Picchu, so the 2-hour tour of the site will really bring the city to life for you. Of course, there will be plenty of time to take photos, of the city….and of the wild Llamas roaming the terraces!

If you have elected to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain, you will begin the hike at 10 a.m. (the price for hiking Huayna Picchu Mountain is not included in the trek price). If you are not climbing the mountain you will have some time to be at Machu Picchu before you return to Aguas Calientes by bus.

Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, we board the expedition train to either Poroy or Ollantaytambo. From the train station, we will transfer you in our minivan to your Cusco hotel. Arrival time in Cusco depends on the time of your train ticket but is generally between 7 and 8 p.m. when your adventure on the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu will be complete.

Meals: Breakfast
Minimum altitude: 2,040 m/6,691 ft
Maximum altitude: 2,440 m/8,052 ft