Adventure calls bright and early! Your guide will pick you up from your Cusco hotel at 4:30 am for a scenic drive through the Sacred Valley as the sun rises.

We’ll pause in the bustling market town of Ollantaytambo – a great spot for photos and a delicious breakfast (not included, but plenty of local spots to choose from).

Then, it’s time for the moment you’ve been waiting for: Kilometer 82, where the Classic Inca Trail begins! Here, you’ll meet your dedicated porters, pass through the checkpoint, and embark on your journey.

The first 2.5 hours of trekking will bring you to the Wilkaraqay Inca site, which has breathtaking views of the Llactapata ruins. Your guide will share fascinating insights into the site’s history and the significance of the Inca Trail itself.

Afterwards, we’ll continue for another 2.5 hours to reach the Ayapata campsite, which is widely known for its incredible stargazing opportunities!

• Meals: Lunch/Dinner
• Accommodations: Camping
• Maximum altitude: 3300 m/10,824 ft
• Minimum altitude: 2,750 m/9,020 ft
• Distance to walk: 14 km/8.7 miles
• Approximate walking time: 7 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate

Day 2 is all about conquering challenges and soaking up incredible landscapes!

We’ll share breakfast before readying ourselves to trek towards the legendary Dead Woman’s Pass.

The first two hours of this walk will take you through the lush cloud forest – keep an eye out for unique plants, colorful birds, and maybe even a White-Tailed Deer if you’re lucky!

We’ll take a quick break at Lluchapampa (the last spot to stock up on supplies), before it’s time to tackle Warmiwañusca, or Dead Woman’s Pass.

This two-hour climb rewards you with breathtaking mountain views. The Quechua word “Warmi Wañusqa” means “dead woman”, and they say the mountains ahead look like a woman lying down, gazing up at the sky. Hence the name!

After kicking that challenge’s butt, we’ll press on over Runcuraccay Pass. And the reward?

Lunch at Pacaymayu camp before we get ready for the next ascent!

It’s about 45 minutes to the Inca site of Runcuraccay, and another hour uphill to the Runcuraccay pass. It’s an easy, flat-out gorgeous hike surrounded by towering, snow-capped peaks that’ll take your breath away.

After a well-deserved 90-minute descent, you’ll reach the Inca site of Sayacamarca – the perfect place to catch a stunning Aobamba Valley sunset.

The day ends at the Chaquicocha campsite, a peaceful place to rest your legs and prepare for another day of adventure!

• Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
• Accommodations: Camping
• Maximum altitude: 4215 m/13,825 ft
• Minimum altitude: 3,300 m/10,824 ft
• Distance to walk: 16 km/ 10 miles
• Approximate walking time: 8-9 hours
• Area: Andes and Cloud Forest
• Difficulty: Challenging

Day 3 starts with a journey back in time and breathtaking landscapes.

Today, we’re going for a 2-hour hike to the Inca ruins of Phuyupatamarca. Catch your breath and get ready for a view you won’t forget: you’ll lay your eyes on all three – Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu Mountain, and Huayna Picchu Mountain today!

Your guide will talk to you a little about the secrets of these ruins, before it’s time to descend into the lush rainforest.

It’s a 2.5-hour trek downhill that brings you to Inti Pata, a spot many consider the most beautiful on the entire Inca Trail. Just 40 minutes ahead lies your haven: the Wiñay Wayna campsite.

After a well-deserved lunch and some rest, you’ll explore the incredible ruins that give the campsite its name.

Wiñay Wayna, which means “forever young” in Quechua, is the largest and most impressive archaeological site along the Inca Trail. Prepare to be amazed!

• Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
• Accommodations: Camping
• Maximum altitude: 3600 m/11,808 ft
• Minimum altitude: 2,680 m/8,792 ft
• Distance to walk: 10 km/6.2 miles
• Approximate walking time: 6 hours
• Area: High Cloud Forest
• Difficulty: Easy

We’ll rise and shine extra early to tackle those last few kilometers of the epic Inca Trail.

After fueling up with breakfast, it’s an easy hour of trekking that leads straight to the legendary Inti Punku – the Sun Gate!  This ancient entrance gives you your first jaw-dropping view of Machu Picchu, and if the weather’s in your favor, a spectacular Andean sunrise.

One last 45-minute downhill hike brings you to the city gates, and you’ve made it!

First things first: pictures! We’ll take time to strike a pose at the classic photo spot, then enjoy a well-earned break before the magic starts.

This will be followed by a 2-hour guided tour of Machu Picchu, led by an expert ready to spill all its secrets and legends—a place where history truly comes alive!

Afterwards, it’s time to head back down to Aguas Calientes by bus, then catch the train to Poroy or Ollantaytambo. Don’t worry; private transport will be waiting to whisk you back to your hotel in Cusco.

You’ll arrive sometime around 8 pm, marking the end of your incredible 4-day Classic Inca Trail journey!

• Meals: Breakfast
• Maximum altitude: 2700 m/8,856 ft
• Minimum altitude: 2,430 m/7,972 ft
• Distance to walk: 6 km/3.73 miles
• Approximate walking time: 2 hours