4 Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu ITINERARY

Completing the 4 day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu ITINERARY, a world famous trek, is sure to impress any hiker. Along the 42-kilometer or 26-mile trail, you’ll walk along the same path as ancient Inca kings have walked nearly 500 years ago. Experience altitudes up to 4,200 meters, diverse landscapes, original cobbled flat stone trails and staircases built by the Incas. Cross paths with the famous constructions of Runcuracay, Phuyupatamarca, Wiñayhuayna, and the great Machu Picchu Citadel itself. Machu Picchu is located high up in the mountains and is not easy to excess. The ability of the Incas to build an architecturally sound structure in such unforgiving terrain will astound your and its majesty will certainly take your breath away.

If you plan to partake in this once in a lifetime experience, trust in a company with experience and endless recommendations from other travelers. Trust Sam Travel Peru. Check out Top Inca Trail Operators for 2023 and 2024.

BEST 4 DAY INCA TRAIL ITINERARY TO MACHU

Day 1: CUSCO – KM 82 – WAYLLABAMBA – AYAPATA

Today, begins your adventure of a lifetime with the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.  We will pick you up from your hotel in our private van around 4:30am.  From there, we travel to Piskacucho, which is known as kilometer 82, where the 4 Day Inca Trail begins.  Along the way, we stop for breakfast in Ollantaytambo between 6:30-7am to load up on energy to start the trail. Breakfast usually is not included.

Upon arrival at kilometer 82, we will have some time to freshen up, use the restrooms, apply some sunscreen, insect repellent, etc. Once at the Inca Trail checkpoint, be ready to show your entrance tickets, original passport and (if paying a student rate) your student card. You guide will have all permits and tickets at hand. Here you need to give your duffel bag to the porter. Keep only essential items needed for the hike during the day in your small daypack. Check our packing list for more information.

At the start of the trail (2,720m/8,923ft) we will cross the majestic Vilcanota River with its spectacular views and follow its route towards the right. The first day is relatively easy, a warm-up along the Inca flat terrain.  There are great views of the Inca Fortress (Huillca Raccay), the vast and incredible Inca site of Llactapata, (officially called Patallacta), the Urubamba Mountain range that divides the jungle, the Andes Mountains, and the beautiful snow-capped peak of W’akay Willca (5,860m/19,225ft) commonly known as Veronica. You will enjoy your first gourmet lunch at Hutunchaca before walking for about 3 hours to camp.

Our first campsite is in Ayapata, an hour and a half up towards the small village of Wayllabamba (3,000m/9,842ft) located in the temperate green valley of the same name. Temperatures at night are around (5ºC/41F) depending on the month. It can get colder during the dry season (May to September).

Enjoy spectacular views of the snow-capped mountains of Veronica, (5,860m/19,337ft), the lush green valley around us and a myriad of flora and fauna, while sipping on a hot cup of tea and enjoying some appetizers which the guide will have already set up for you. 

• Meals: Lunch, snacks, afternoon tea and dinner
• Accommodation: Camping facilities
• Distance: 12kms/7.5mls (about 6 hours of hiking)
• Difficulty: Easy/Moderate

Day 2: AYAPATA – PASS – PAQAYMAYU – CHAQUICOCCHA

How about a hot cup of tea or coffee in bed? Your guide will do just that for you. Your guide will wake you up with a hot cup of tea or coffee at 5:00am, which you can enjoy in your sleeping bag before getting up for a hot and hearty breakfast. The trek starts with a steep ascent towards the highest pass, Abra de Warrmihuañusca or Dead Woman’s Pass at (4,200m/13,779ft).Ensure your daypack is as light as possible, its a steep climb. On this day, you will feel a real sense of achievement upon reaching the top! After a well-deserved rest and tons of photos to document your achievement, we begin the descent towards our lunch spot, located at Pacaymayu (3,550m/11,646ft).

As you make your way towards the pass, you will be able to see an array of hummingbirds and a combination of other species of birds. There will be plenty of time to appreciate the incredible variety of native plants and the Polylepis or Q’ueuña trees, which grow in the astonishing cloud forest located at (3,650m/11,972ft)!

After lunch, the second two-hour steep climb towards Runkuraqay pass (almost 4,000m/13,123ft) begins. We arrive at our campsite by 5pm for afternoon tea and appertizers. Temperatures at this campsite are around 4ºC during the night.

• Meals: Breakfast, water, lunch, snacks, afternoon tea and dinner
• Accommodation: Camping facilities
• Distance: 16kms/10mls (about 9 hours of hiking)
• Difficulty: Moderate/challenging

Day 3: CH’AQICOCHA – PHUYUPATAMARCA  – WIÑAY WAYNA

This is the most impressive day by far so keep this in mind as you ascend on day three! Your guide will wake you up with a hot cup of tea or coffee at 6am before getting up for breakfast.The day starts with a gentle climb towards the archaeological site of ‘Phuyupatamarca’ (meaning ‘Town in the Clouds’).  Here, we reach the third highest point along the Inca trail (3,680m/12,073ft). The views of the mountains, canyons and surrounding areas are spectacular!

The extensive Inca site of Phuyupatamarca, is located a few minutes’ walk from the third pass. After visiting this site, we continue walking down 3,000 stairs through the cloud forest to the impressive agricultural Incan site of Intipata. As you descend from the mountains, you will feel the temperature rise. You are approaching not only Machu Picchu, but also the beginning of the Amazon jungle! Next, we continue until we arrive at our third campsite Wiñay Wayna (2,680m/8,792ft). On this day you only walk for about 4 to 5 hours.  We arrive at camp by lunchtime! Temperatures during the night are around 12º C.

A short walk from our campsite is the famous Incan site of ‘Wiñay Wayna’ (‘Forever Young’ in Quechua). Even if you are feeling tired after your day’s trek, it´s a moment you cannot miss!

• Meals: Breakfast, water, lunch, snacks, afternoon tea and dinner
• Accommodation: Camping facilities and hot showers
• Distance: 10kms/6.2mls (about 5 hours of hiking)
• Difficulty: Moderate

Day 4: WIÑAY WAYNA – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO

Wake up time is at 3:30 AM. We’ll eat breakfast at 4:00 AM and wait at the checkpoint to be one of the first to start trekking when they open the gates at 5:30 AM. This is the final part of your journey, we arrive at the Sun Gate (also known as Inti Punku) by 6:00am. At that point, the majestic Machu Picchu Citadel will be in front of us with its intense beauty – an incredible sight for all to see. Take this opportunity to stop for photos and capture this once in a lifetime moment. From there you start your descent down to Machu Picchu Citadel (2,400m/7,872 ft.) . On the way you will encounter a few important Inca sites between the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu. After walking for 40 minutes, we enter the citadel from the top through the “House of the Guardians”. Here you will have the opportunity to take those famous postcard perfect photos of Machu Picchu. From there, we proceed towards the control point, where we register and leave our belongings. Your professional guide will direct you throughout the astounding ruins and its main streets for your guided 2 hour tour.

You will also have time to indulge in a few of the following activities on your own if you choose (not included in the price)

• Climb up Huayna Picchu and appreciate the beauty and magnificence of Machu Picchu from there. (only if booked in advance)
• Other optional activities in Aguas Calientes include a visit to the local museum or bathe in the hot springs. (when time permits)

You will descend to Aguas Calientes by bus. Lunch will be waiting for you (not included), there are numerous restaurants to chose from and there may be a little time for sight seeing and or shopping depending on your train time.

You board The Expedition Train at 2:55 or 3:20pm which will take you back to Ollantaytambo, following the spectacular Urubamba River.. This is where you will meet our private van and be transferred to your hotel in Cusco.  You can expect to arrive at your hotel arouond 7:00pm.

Meals: Breakfast
Distance: 6kms/3.7mls
Difficulty: Easy

***IMPORTANT:

•  On the 4 day Inca Trail, we will be doing the Circuit #3 and there is no way to do another circuit unless you buy an additional entrance to Machu Picchu.
• You can upgrade to the Vistadome Train for the same times, 2:55 or 3:20, 4:22, or 4:43pm. The cost is $67 USD.
• Early trains can be organized by request and it has to be done by booking time.
• Huayna Picchu hike depends on availability, please let us know if you want to add one of these extra hikes at the time of your booking.

What time of year is the best time to do the Inca trail?

The best season to hike the Inca trail is the dry season, which is from April to August every year. During Cusco’s dry season it’s less likely to rain and sunny days are the norm. During this time of the year beautiful weather is the standard. The peak tourism season in Cusco is between the months of May and July, which is due to the weather.

What is the process for getting Inca trail permits?

The Inca Trail permits are regulated by the local government and can only be purchased by a licensed Peru tour operator. The process to get a permit starts with you contacting a licensed tour operator, in this case Sam Travel Peru, and checking the Inca Trail availability for your desired hiking date. The operator then checks if there is availability to hike the inca trail for those dates. Once the client and the operator agree on a day to hike the inca trail.

In order to book, the client sends a $200 USD deposit and the operator purchases an Inca trail permit on your behalf. The permit is non-refundable.

*** Information about the 4 day Inca Trail itinerary to Machu Picchu was provided by Sam Travel