qosqoexperience

• The first thing we will do within the Inca Trail Group Tour 4D/3N service will be to pick you up directly at the hotel 4:30 – 5:00 aprx.
• Then we will drive to Km 82, where we will pass through the first checkpoint of the Inca Trail to start our hike. Make sure you have your original passport as you will need it to enter the Inca Trail.

• The first 2 hours of hiking are relatively easy as we head to the first Inca area, Patallacta. This is the old Inca checkpoint leading to Machu Picchu. From there we begin another 2 hour hike to our lunch spot.

• After lunch, we hike another 2 hours to reach the first night camp, which is located in Ayapata (3300 masl). In this last stretch we pass through two small communities. There, if you want to buy energy drinks, snacks or essentials that you forgot (such as batteries), you will be able to do so.

• We arrive at the camp at 5:00 pm. Once settled, relax and enjoy hot drinks and snacks with your team of porters, chefs and guides. Dinner is ready at 7.30 pm and then you can have a good night’s rest.

Hiking distance: 8.7 miles/14 km
Camp altitude: 3300 masl
Considered: Moderate (Inca Trail Adaptation)
Climate: Warm with presence of wind

• Due to the long route, the departure time that day will be very early. We will hike for approximately 4 hours to reach the highest pass of the trek, Dead Woman’s Pass (4215 m/13829 ft). When we reach the pass, we take a short break to admire the view before heading to the next valley, the Pacaymayo Valley – Rio Oculto. Another hour and a half drive up the side of the valley to our lunch spot, where we will have the opportunity to refill our water bottles.

• After lunch, we started climbing again and hiked to the second mountain pass. The climb to the pass takes 2 hours and we stop at a small Inca ruin called Runcu Raccay and see two huge waterfalls along the valley.

• After the second pass, there is another hour of hiking down the mountain until we reach a magnificent Inca ruin called Sayacmarca (an otherwise inaccessible city). Here we will stop for a rest and a quick tour.

• Afterwards we can watch the sunset over the Vilcabamba Mountains. After another 20 minutes, we stop for the night at our second campsite, Chaquicocha (Lago Seco, 3600 masl).

• After dinner, if you are not too tired, we can look at the stars and point out the fascinating constellation of the Incas. In the big skies of the southern hemisphere, away from artificial light, this sky is something to behold!

Hiking distance: 9.94 miles/16 km (7-8 hours)
Camp altitude: 3600 meters (high)
Considered: Main day (you will have survived the two Inca Passes)
Area: Andes and Cloud Forest
Climate: Cold and rainy

• We will start very early at 06:30am. This will be the most beautiful day of the entire Inca Trail. We walk for 2 hours on what we call the “Inca plain” (gradual inclines) and then we begin to enter the jungle known as the Cloud Forest.

• As we walk, we will have the opportunity to see the snow-capped Salkantay, the second highest mountain in the Sacred Valley, as well as the impressive panorama of the Vilcabamba Mountains.

• Towards the end of the Inca apartments, we will head to the last peak, Phuyupatamarka (3600 m), from where there is a fantastic view of the Urubamba River.

• We will see Machu Picchu for the first time, but the place itself remains hidden. From Phuyupatamarka, it is a 3 hour walk up stairs to our final campsite near Wiñay Wayna (forever young).

• Wiñay Wayna is the most spectacular Inca site on the entire route after Machu Picchu and the most popular camp because of its proximity to Machu Picchu. On the way down we will visit 2 Inca sites: Phuyupatamarka (City in the clouds) and Intipata (sunbathing terrace). We arrive at the campsite around 1:00 p.m. for lunch.

• You can then spend the rest of the day relaxing and preparing for the last day of your Machu Picchu tour. Around 4:30 pm your guide will give you a brief introduction and you will spend an hour and a half visiting the Inca ruins of Wiñay Wayna. Your guide will explain the importance of the site and include all the information provided during the hike. This way, you will be fully prepared for your Machu Picchu tour the next day.

• It is advisable to go to bed at a reasonable hour as the day starts very early in order to arrive at Machu Picchu at sunrise and hopefully the weather will allow us to see a beautiful sunrise over the ruins.

Walking distance: 6.2 miles/10 km

Camp altitude: 2600 meters above sea level (cold weather)

Difficulty: Easy day: everything goes down!

Climate: Hot and very humid

• The last day of the 4-day and 3-night of Classic Inca Trail begins at 03:30. We have breakfast at 4:00 and wait at the checkpoint to be the first to start the trek when the gates open at 5:30am.
• We say goodbye to the caravan and head to the Puerta del Sol (Inti Punk). From here we had a fantastic view of the mountains and Machu Picchu.

• We will arrive at the Sun Gate at 6:30 am, and then it is only an hour’s walk to reach the Lost City of the Incas. As we walk and get closer to Machu Picchu, the views of the city improve.
  Surrounding. At 7:40 we arrive at the final checkpoint and enter Machu Picchu to begin our 2-hour private guided tour. At the end of the tour, you will receive tickets to Aguas Calientes, where you will have plenty of free time to explore the city independently or climb one of the neighboring mountains: Huaynapicchu (must be booked in advance).

• Your guide will meet you in Aguas Calientes to finish with lunch at a local restaurant. This is optional and is not included. During lunch, the guide will hand out train tickets, so if you choose not to, make arrangements with your guide to get them before going to Machu Picchu. Unless you have scheduled a higher class train, we book the Adventure Class train leaving Aguascalientes at 2:55pm or 3:20pm. Be sure to arrive at the platform at least 30 minutes before. The tour takes approximately 2 hours to reach Ollantaytambo or Poroy (depending on the train schedule), where your alpaca guide will meet you and take you back to town by bus before dropping you off at your hotel.

Considered: The most magical and exciting day (Start 3.30 AM)
Area: Subtropical forest and high cloud forest
Weather: Hot and very humid (bring plenty of water)