Express Classic Inca Trail 3D/2N Private Service

The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu tour starts from the pick up at your hotel or hostel (from 5:30 am approx.) We will travel for an hour and a half to Ollantaytambo where we will stop for breakfast (not included in the price of the tour) . After our stop we will continue with our car trip towards km 82, where the respective entrance controls to the Inca Trail are carried out. In this same place you will have to present your tickets together with your passports or the identity document with which you made your reservation.

The Inca Trail begins at a height of 2,720 meters above sea level. Once the respective controls have been passed at the checkpoint, we will cross a suspension bridge across the Vilcanota River. The first day is relatively easy and is considered the warm-up day as the terrain is relatively flat. This day we will have wonderful views of the Inca fortress Huillca Raccay, the incredible archaeological site of Llactapata (officially called “Patallacta”), the Urubamba mountain range that divides the jungle with the Andes, and the beautiful snow-capped peak of W’akay Willca 5,860m. also known as the Veronica. Our first camp will be in Ayapata, which is a 60-minute walk from the small town of Wayllabamba, at an altitude of 3,300m.

• Distance to travel: 14 km
• Walking time: From 6 to 7 hours including rest and stop for lunch
• Camp height: 3,300 meters above sea level.
• Difficulty: Moderate.
• Temperature: Mild and windy in the afternoon

This will be the most difficult and at the same time the most rewarding day of the Inca Trail, we will find spectacular Andean landscapes and vegetation of the place. We will start the day at 5:00 a.m. and after a good breakfast, we will begin the 4-hour climb to the highest point of the road, the Abra de Huarmihuañusca or “Paso de la Mujer Muerta” with a height of 4,200m. During this tour we will be able to appreciate that the vegetation is varied with native plants and trees such as the Polilepys or Q’ueuña, which grow in the cloud forest at a height of 3,650m. After traveling the 4 hours of ascent we will celebrate together having reached the highest point.

After a break we will begin the descent for an hour and a half to the second point where we will have lunch (Pacamayo at 3,550m). After lunch we will start with the last part of the climb for 2 hours towards the Runkuraqay pass at a height of 4,000m. Once in the pass and after a break we will continue the descent for 1 hour and a half until we reach our Cachicocha camp (3600m).

• Distance to travel: 16 km
• Walking Time: From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. including break and stop for lunch
• Camp height: 3,600 meters above sea level.
• Difficulty: Hard.
• Temperature: Cold and windy in the afternoon

Today will be the most extraordinary day of the trek. We will visit many of the archaeological sites on the way: Phuyupatamarka, Intipata, Wiñay Wayna, which means: “Forever Young”. After lunch we will leave Wiñay Wayna at 12:00 pm in order to reach Inti Punku or the Sun Gate, which has a height of 273 meters. In the Puerta del Sol, you will be able to see the first views of Machu Picchu. Also from the Inti Punku you will be able to see the sunset.

Finally we will continue walking through the last section of the Inca trail until we reach the place where you can take the classic photo (postcard photo) with the ancient city. In Machu Picchu you will have your 2-hour guided tour. After your guided tour we will go to the main entrance, where we can board the bus to Aguas Calientes where we will deliver your train tickets for your return trip to Cusco.

• Distance to travel: 16 km
• Walking time: 9 hours including rest and stop for lunch
• Height of Aguas Caliente: 2000 meters from sea level.
• Difficulty: Moderate.
• Temperature: Mild and windy in the afternoon

At Inka Trail Backpacker, we offer you the basic and essential version of the popular treks in the region. We are a 100% local company that wants to provide everything you will need at the real cost of operations—never unfair upcharging! That is why our slogan is “Fun, Not Fancy Trip.”

Inka Trail Backpacker has been a Licensed Inca Trail Tour Operator since 2014. All companies managing the Inca Trail must be certified and have an Inca Trail operators license. This license is issued annually each December; Inka Trail Backpacker is licensed through the year of 2027.

Our license as an Official Travel Agency is under the name Inka Trail Backpacker E.I.R.L. Our license as an Inca Trail Operator is under the name of INKA TRAIL BACKPACKER E.I.R.L We also work with partner company licenses, such as QESWACHAKA PERU TOURS  E.I.R.L and GRUPO CAMINOS DEL PERU E.I.R.L. For tourists´protection, getting the permit for the Inca Trail from the government is a complicated and stringent process: in order to guarantee an Inca Trail Permit for all the tourists that have decided to book their adventure with us, we are registered to book using any of the above mentioned company licenses. We are all registered on the official Government web site: www.machupicchu.gob.pe.

Yes, we absolutely take care of our porters. We do not charge you less than other companies at the expense of our porters’ pay and wellbeing. Since the end of 2014, Inka Trail Backpacker has been paying our porters a wage of 400 soles for the 4 day trek, plus their transportation costs. That is nearly 20% above the legally required minimum wage agreed upon with the Porters Union. Following talks with our porters, they have told us that they know of only a few trekking companies that offer such competitive pay and benefits. Only two companies pay slightly more (and charge their clients almost US$100 more than us). Of the remaining 170 other licensed trekking operators, only about 60% pay the legal wage and 40% pay less than the legal wage. Some companies pay only 70% of the legal wage. Unfortunately, this is difficult to prove as their porters receive a low wage but are asked to sign receipts showing they received more!

However, improving porter welfare is not just about paying fair wages. It is important that the porters have adequate food, a warm and dry place to sleep, and access to medical attention, just the same as any other member of the group.

The wages that the porters get paid are by no means high by Western standards, but you have to look at wages relative to other professions in Peru. For example, a school teacher gets paid the equivalent of about US$400 per month and has trained for 5 years to become a professional. A porter, if he works 4 treks a month, receives about the same if you include his tips. Most porters are seasonal workers and have no formal qualifications. For just 16 days work per month, they receive wages similar to a teacher who works 22 days. Inka Trail Backpacker also tries to help the porters in additional ways, such as financial and educational support for their families.

As a traveler, you know that one of the most rewarding and memorable experiences of going to new places is the people you meet along the way. By booking a trek or tour with us, you can be sure that your group will have travelers looking for adventure similar to yours in the Peruvian Andes. Our groups offer a great opportunity to meet new people and network in a friendly environment. You never know who you’ll meet!

We are really proud of the work we do for our local communities. This is the main focus of our company. We have worked directly with the villages to help them meet their needs. All the products we buy for food on our walks come from local farmers and markets, so we guarantee that our food has fresh and organic ingredients.

At Inka Trail Backpacker, we like to think that we trek a little differently than our competitors. We stand by our clients and guarantee that we meet 100% of our departure dates on our trips, even if you are a solo traveler, you will always find a place within our groups that you can join.

In general, if you are Latin American, North American or European, you will not need it. If you are a citizen of Mercosur, all members can enter Peru just by carrying your DNI or with a valid passport. If you are from a non-Mercosur country then you will need a valid passport and in some exceptional cases depending on your country of origin, a visa. Here the complete relationship.

If you are a minor you will need to pass in the company of your parents. If you are a father and you are traveling with children, you will need a marriage certificate, birth certificate of the child.

No vaccine is mandatory, but the Peruvian Ministry of Health “recommends” getting vaccinated against Yellow Fever to go to certain regions of the jungle. Normally nobody does, so it’s up to you if it’s worth the risk or not. In several countries this vaccine is free and when it costs, it is not expensive.

If you are Argentine, Ecuadorian, Chilean, Colombian or you come from a place where it is hot in summer as much as possible, in Cusco it is the opposite. Do not think that your summer is replicated in this region. The periods of intense and cold rain are between December and April while in the capital it is very hot. Be it summer or winter, in Cusco at some point of the day it is cold. Always wear a coat. It is typical that in sunny places you feel hot and in shady places cold. The sun is radiant, and with the climate of the place it can damage your skin. Bring sunscreen and/or buy cocoa paste pills at pharmacies, which are very cheap and useful.

Machu Picchu, unlike the city of Cusco, is located on the edge of the jungle, that is, at a hybrid point where the mountains meet the jungle and the vegetation changes, showing characteristics of both regions at times. The best season to visit is usually between July and October (high season) when there is not much rain and always blue skies, however this place is visited all year round and it never disappoints.

Perhaps you have never experienced a lack of oxygen. This is commonly felt in Cusco due to the height and makes everything cost triple the effort so you do not have your usual physical resistance which will be diminished. Your digestion will be a little slower and your sleep dense and deep. The ideal is to stay calm the first day to acclimatize. It is very normal that all pharmacies sell pills for altitude sickness. Coca tea also helps as well as candies.

The city of Cusco is safe in the places where you see yourself surrounded by tourists, the center, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu. Avoid walking alone in the night markets or too far from the center with things of value and tourist appearance. Be aware of your pockets at fairs or areas where you are very close to people. In one of the most touristic cities in the world, petty theft and scams are predictable. To avoid this, simply do not leave your valuables alone or trust free things. Do not trust the excesses of unjustified kindness of strangers who will usually always want something from you.

Try whenever possible to see how the food served to you is treated. It is common for tourists to get sick to their stomachs from trying everything. To avoid this, be careful, and avoid things that are sold on buses and street vendors, especially fried foods and artisanal cheeses that can be carriers of dangerous bacteria. Boiled, freshly cooked or well washed food will almost always be fine. Long walks on rocky terrain can make you easy prey to dislocations or similar injuries. Wear good shoes. Cusco has good health care places that cater specifically to tourists. To access them do not forget to have travel insurance. Compare them all here so you can choose the cheapest travel insurance.

If you are a student, it is convenient to get the ISIC card (International Student Identity Card) that allows you to have discounts in hostels, in addition to getting the ticket to go up to Machu Picchu (it costs 128 soles) at half price as well as the tourist ticket in Cusco and other advantages. (costs about 18 dollars)

Peru is one of the cheapest countries in South America so you can get rooms at ridiculously low prices. However, what you get is directly related to what you pay. You can review lodgings, see the photos and compare all the lodgings at http://hospedaje.mochileros.org so you will have a clearer idea.

The Inca Trail is a stone route built by the Incas more than 500 years ago to unite their towns scattered throughout the empire of Tawantisuyo (Empire of the Incas) This section is a set of protected archaeological sites that goes from km 82 up to Machu Picchu.

The Inca Trail is located in the middle of the Andes and is not accessible by car or by any means of transportation. There is no electricity or drinking water infrastructure, nor is there a cell phone network. The water used for food handling is from natural streams/springs that were perfectly conditioned to be water sources. All food is prepared with filtered boiled water to protect the health of tourists.

The Inca Trail is certainly not easy, but you do not have to be an athlete or expert hiker to walk it. Your physical condition is of course very important, the Inca Trail is the type of trek that anyone with a positive attitude and determination can do.

However, the fitter you are, you will be able to admire and enjoy the landscape and the Inca archaeological sites along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

Yes, but the restrooms along the trail and/or in the camps are not in good condition. We recommend that you bring your own toilet paper and hand sanitizer gel for after using the bathrooms.

Should I physically prepare myself before doing the Inca Trail? Yes, it is mandatory, if you do not exercise regularly, we recommend that you start walking 5 hours a day or do some type of aerobic, cardio vascular, etc. activity during the months prior to your trip.

Yes, there are many factors that prevent people from completing the Inca Trail.

Due to altitude sickness (lack of oxygen)
Stomach problems such as diarrhea that many tourists get days before the start of the trek
Lack of physical preparation

Perhaps you have never experienced oxygen deprivation. This is commonly felt in Cusco due to the height and makes everything cost triple the effort so you do not have your usual physical resistance which will be diminished. Your digestion will be a little slower and your sleep dense and deep. The ideal is to stay calm the first day to acclimatise. It is very normal that all pharmacies sell pills for altitude sickness. Coca tea also helps as well as candies.

If you come from a country that is less than 500 meters above sea level. We recommend that you spend at least 2 days in Cusco to acclimatize to the altitude before starting the Inca Trail, since the highest point of the trek is 4,200 meters above sea level.

People of all ages (from children, teenagers to retirees) are suitable to complete this trek as age is not a barrier if you have a positive mindset and an active lifestyle.

However, for all people over 60 to 70 years of age, we recommend that you visit your doctor before doing the Inca Trail. They must also bring us the signed authorization from your doctor indicating that you are in suitable conditions to travel the Inca Trail

You must reserve your Inca Trail permits at least 3 months in advance. Since there are only 500 spaces available per day: 200 are assigned to tourists and 300 to porters, cooks, tour guides. If the number of spaces is exhausted, you will have to choose another alternative date. For this reason,

No. Access to the Inca Trail is only allowed to hikers accompanied by guides authorized by the Ministry of Culture of Cusco. Only 150 agencies of the 35,000 travel agencies in Peru, including ours, have authorization for access to the Inca Trail.

Reservations are made directly through our own website. Please click on the icon that says Reserve Now and then follow the reservation instructions. Once you have finished filling out the reservation form on our website, you must send us a scanned copy of your passport or identity document on which I use to make the reservation. This information is important for the purchase of your entrance ticket for the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu. The corresponding authorities will verify that your passport number or Identity document matches the number of your entrance to the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu. That is why it is very important that the document you used at the time of booking is valid and not expired. If you change your passport number, you must notify us immediately.

Yes, no reservation with Inka Trail backpacker will be guaranteed unless you have made a payment of a deposit of 200 per person through our 2 forms of payment mentioned in our form. Book Now. Important: None of the requested deposits include transaction fees.

The deposit that you will send us is used to buy your entrance to the Inca Trail, tickets to Machu Picchu, your return train tickets and to reserve a space within the group.

It is not refundable or transferable. After the purchase of your tickets, we cannot change: neither the date of departure of the tour or excursion, nor the name or passport number on your Inca Trail permit or the entrance to Machu Picchu or train ticket. However, if we do not manage or fail to make your reservation for the Inca Trail, the payment of your deposit will be 100% refunded.

The Inca Trail is part of the National Heritage of Peru and its access and the conditions of the excursions are managed and regulated by the Ministry of Culture of Cusco. Only they can give the authorizations for their access, they also manage the camps. They are in charge of maintaining the road, the camps and the toilet facilities that are in the middle of nowhere.

If the permits run out on a particular date, no travel agency will be able to offer a space. Permits can only be purchased with the name and passport number of the visitor. One thing to consider is the following: once the reservation is confirmed, there is no option to change the date or name.

The Inca Trail tour to Machu Picchu begins in the department of Cusco-Peru through the province of Urubamba and the district of Pisacucho, also called KM 82.

We offer departures every day depending on the availability of the entrance spaces. In the red calendar of availability that we have on our page we indicate the spaces available for each day. That calendar also allows you to choose the date of departure to the Inca Trail.

The classic Inca Trail lasts 4 days or, for the more in a hurry or the less athletic, there is another 2-day trek. It is worth mentioning that the Inca Trail can only be done in one direction: from Cusco to Machu Picchu; the return is always done by motorized way (by train and by bus).

The maximum size of the group allowed per group is 16 tourists. The rest is the support staff (porters, cooks) If our groups reach the maximum size we will employ two guides for better group management

For confidentiality reasons we will not be able to inform you who will be part of your online group, it is impossible for us to answer precisely. Generally, it is a group of hikers of different nationalities and ages. You will meet the members of your group the day we carry out the orientation or briefing one night before the departure of the tour

Peru is a very large country with many different climates, for that reason it would be very difficult to define a good time to visit different places. However, we consider that the best season is from June to September. For the Inca Trail, the hottest season is from November to March but it is also the rainy season. That is why we think that it is more pleasant to do a sunny but cold excursion than a warm but rainy excursion. For this reason, we recommend doing it preferably between May and October. It should be noted that the Inca Trail is open every day of the year except in February, the maintenance month. For more details, we advise you to visit the weather page.

It is open 7 days a week, every day of the month, including Sundays and holidays; but it is closed in February because the Ministry takes advantage of this month to do the maintenance of the Inca Trail.

It is always fresh and with organic ingredients, they contain the adequate amount of protein and carbohydrates, including vegetables, meat, chicken, fish and other options. At the time of serving food, all our tourists sit down to eat together at the table, thus guaranteeing a family atmosphere. Our chefs are trained to prepare food according to the tourist’s requirements: gluten-free, sugar-free, anti-allergic diets, vegetarian and vegan options.

Yes, they are for porters, cooks and guides, they are always welcome and are organized by the group on different days. They will also be very grateful for small gifts that can be for themselves or for their children. The suggested amount for tips is 40 to 50 soles for each porter and 80 to 90 soles for the cook and guide. We clarify that this amount is a suggestion and is not an obligation. Tips are collected from all members of the group and is not an individual contribution.

All our participants must inform us if they have or have had any illness that may affect their personal or group progress during the walk. They will also need to bring their own medications. We recommend that you visit your doctor before making your reservation if you have any health problems.

Indeed, there is a train called “local” for the Cuzco-Aguas Calientes route, but by government decree it is reserved for Peruvians and residents, upon presentation of an identification document. No tourist can take it.

You can leave or store the things that you will not take to the Inca Trail in the hotel or hostel where you are staying. Most of these establishments have warehouses where they will store your things. If you do not trust the place where you are staying, we will gladly store your belongings in our office.