4-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu has always been the favorite tour of most hikers and adventure lovers. It will allow them to fully enjoy the process with breathtaking views along with many of the activities full of excitement and interaction with the porters and cooks. The Inca Trail trek is better than the 2-day short Inca Trail. The short Inca Trail is very brief for people to fully enjoy.
This 4-day Inca Trail tour offers stunning views of Machu Picchu from the entrance to the Inca Trail, which you would otherwise normally not see, it is the best way to explore the beauty of these ancient monuments and Machu Pichu. The trek is extensive passing through the “Puerta del Sol” (the Sun Gate) touring various incredible landscapes and numerous Inca ruins.
The 4-day Inca Trail trek is presented through a magnificent stone path. This excursion ends by descending the famous Citadel of Machu Picchu. (Porters will carry your belongings throughout the trekking tour.) The Sun Gate has always been the busiest spot on this tour because it is one of the wonders of these ruins and you have to see it because it is the main entrance to Machu Picchu and shows the stunning exterior views of the ruins.
The Sacred Valley of Machu Picchu has views of mountains, forests, rivers, and lakes with beautiful flora and fauna that will be enough to recommend to your family and friends once you visit Machu Picchu. The famous 4-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu citadel is one of the top 10 treks that exist in the world, for its exquisite natural beauty and panoramic views. The Inca Trail treks take us through many archaeological centers, ecosystems, mountain ranges (dwarf forest), and a high jungle region that houses an impressive refuge of flora and fauna.
The Inca Trail 4 Days ends with a mesmerizing and amazing “Sunrise” of the seventh wonder of the world Machu Picchu. The Inca Trail and Machu Picchu hike is so amazing that it has been nominated as the best hike in the world by some companies such as “National Geographic”
Cusco city is the main area of residence for tourists and this will be your place to be before starting the adventure. cusco city tour is going to be an enthralling adventure filled with interactions with the locals and getting to know the ancient civilization better.
There are established times to enter the 4-day Inca Trail, for this, leaving Cusco early between 4 to 5 am would be good to avoid inconveniences
The Inca Trail begins with the pick-up from your hotel in Cusco, then we head towards the Sacred Valley of the Incas (Ollantaytambo) where you will have breakfast, not included, continuing the trip to km 82, where the Inca Trail begins Our first hike is approximately 3 hours to reach the “Llaqtapata” archaeological complex. Afterward, lunch will be served. The trail trek is always a hype for the hikers who get the thrill of going on the mountainous path and enjoying nature in its raw form. Trail hike will keep you on your toes and make you feel energetic for the views to come.
Following lunch, you’ll continue hiking towards a high Andean community “Huayllabamba”. In the afternoon, you’ll pitch a tent to spend the first night of the expedition. When you arrive at the camp, the meals will be provided which will tingle your taste buds. You will have a view of the great valleys and mountains at the same time.
DETAILS:
Our morning begins with a nutritious breakfast prepared by our specialized chef. Then we’re off to continue our expedition of the famous Inca Trail. The second day is filled with the thrill and you will need to strive because there is a lot of walking distance to be covered.
During this part of the trek, we’ll ascend (4 hrs. Approx.) to the highest point of our tour, “WARMIWAÑUSCA”. On the Inca trail, carry a small backpack and the rest of the luggage will be carried by the famous porters so you just have to enjoy your trip. Here you’ll appreciate your efforts to indulge upon the excellent panoramic view of the valleys below. The mountain tops are filled with natural beauty, and you will feel the real sense of achievement by reaching the top. After a short break, we’ll descend to the high forest where we will have lunch (around 2:00 p.m.). Your trek will be full of different kinds of fauna and flora, so there will be plenty of interesting things.
After lunch, we’ll continue our downhill hike to the Pacaymayo Valley (3 hours), where we will cross small streams, creeks, and tunnels with stone steps to reach our camp near the river. You wil go for 1 and half hour hike more get to the point of our first camp. The night will be lit up with beautiful stars in the sky because of the natural weather, you will see the stary sky which is difficult to find in the cities. your sleeping Schedule will be well optimized so that you are not always tired during your trip, but enjoying the views in full energy. Physical fitness and mental strength will provide you with a confidence to enjoy the trip and not get worried about these little things.
DETAILS:
Of course, good hearty breakfast to regenerate from yesterday’s hike. We’ll start off with a 45-minute hike until reaching two archaeological complexes “Runkurakay” and “Sayacmarka”. You’ll have the opportunity to explore and take photographs. The ruins are the main attractive points of the tour, so there is always huge crowd of people there. You will need to have guides alongside you, for the most of the part, because there could be some situation where you need their help. The guides will be bilingual and knowledgeable
Later we will head towards “Phuyupatamarca”, another small Inca village, to have a delectable lunch. After a short break, we’ll continue hiking for 2 hours until we reach the archaeological complex of “Wiñaywayna”, where our camp will also ready. wiñay Wayna is a ruin built on steep mountain slopes, and it is directly over the Urubamba River. So, you can have a view of the river from up there. The ruins such as Winay wanya and Chachabamba show the rich culture of these historical places. The infrastructure, worship cites and agricultural equipment and lands are worth seeing because these are very good indicators of a civilization. Half a day of the climb will be an adventure like never before. There will be stops along the way. After the walking, you must be tired, so there will be tea served and option of sauna will also be there for some of the camps. You will take a shower if you want, and relax before the dinner is served.
DETAILS:
This fourth day is the whole reason you came to Peru. You’ll need to start off right with an energetic breakfast (5:00 a.m.) where we will hike up for about an hour between the high forest to reach the “Inti Punku” (Puerta del Sol – Sun Door), from here you’ll get a panoramic breathtaking view of the Lost City of the Incas Machu Picchu. Then we descend to reach your final destination Machu Picchu where you’ll have a two-hour guided tour. Following, you’ll have an opportunity to explore Machu Picchu on your own. During the city tour you will be allowed to freely explore the city and meet the locals to learn more about their heritage. The giant gate, the stunning architecture, and everything in it will be for you to explore . It is one of the marvels of these ruins and you have to see this because it is like an entrance to the machu picchu and shows the stunning outside views of the ruins.
Please have your passport always with you because there could be some checkpoints where it will be necessary to enter with only the Passport. Be sure to bring your original passport to show the Rangers (you can get a Machu Picchu seal on your passport).
In the afternoon, you’ll catch the train to reach the City of Ollantaytambo. Upon arrival to Ollantaytambo, we will have transportation waiting to drive you back to your hotel in Cusco. You will have the opportunity to appreciate the beauty around you with all of the beautiful landscapes even when leaving the area. The vistadome train allows you to see the views of the jungle from inside.
DETAILS:
Note: If you want to stay an extra night, just lets us know and we can help book a hotel in Aguas Calientes, as well as your train ticket for the next day
Rangers don’t allow people to carry bags bigger than 25 liters when entering Machu Picchu
No trekking poles are allowed in Machu Picchu. The guides will help in giving you all the details of things needed during your travel.
Snacks and water are allowed – in bags
As a Professional Direct Local Tour operator, we provide you with a duffle bag at your briefing and INCLUDE an extra porter who will carry up to 7 kgs or 14 pounds including your sleeping bag, mattress, and extra clothing. All our services set us apart from all other companies because we keep the needs of our customers in our mind. You are responsible for all the things needed before the trip, as mentioned in the list down below.
DOCUMENTS TO CARRY WITH YOU
Prices: Inca Trail trek 4 Days – SEASON 2023 Permits are needed for your chosen start date. Tour prices are based on the number of people in a group. Prices are valid from March 2022 through January 2023. All prices quoted are $USD
Important: Price includes up to 7 kilos of your personal belongings to be carried by the mules (NO need of extra Porter hire!). Adults should consider the children also Discounts:
HOW TO APPLY FOR THE STUDENT PRICE: The student price applies to all students from over the world. You just need to meet the requirements that the Peruvian government has for students since we get a discount when we buy Machu Picchu tickets from the Peruvian government. Optional Extras (Need to Book in Advance):
We tell you that Peru has a diversity of geographies and therefore different climates, determining an ideal time to travel is very difficult. The classic Ina Trail and Machu Pichu citidal is one of the world’s best hikes. But if we focus on this classic Inca Trail of 4 days, we consider that the best time to travel the Inca Trail is from April to October, a season without rain, this time is the most pleasant with sunny and cold days in days where the rain is persistent. Valley Machu Pichu is one of the main attraction points. The mountains are always staring at you and showing the fragility of human life in face of this huge structures of nature. The sacred valley has breathtaking views of the mountain ranges as well as other charming towns and landscapes. Valley Machu Picchu and the mountains go hand in hand to increase the beauty of the view. Rainbow mountain hike is also an optional thing to do. Rainbow mountain hike has been one of the most popular tourist attractoins for a long time. Vilcabamba mountain ranges and other are also optional. The Vilcabamba mountain are famous for their aesthetics. Sacred valley Machu has mesmerizing experience. Also, you should know that in the month of February, this route is closed for maintenance work, but if we only talk about the entrance to Machu Picchu this is open every month of the year. The Inca Trail will give you a full view of all the beautiful places where you will see the essence or true beauty of things by this pass.It is far better than short inca trail and is a luxury inca trail experience.
If you decide to do this inca trail tour, it is advisable to make your reservation many months in advance, from 6 to 10 months in the high season (May to September) and from 2 to 4 months in the low season (later months), because there is a limit of spaces per day, the Peruvian government only allows access to 500 people of which 300 will be used by the campaign teams, cooks, porters, and guides. During the hike, you will only carry small luggage and rest of your heavy luggage will be transported by the porters. Our porters will always be available with horses to facilitate you in every way possible. Our porters are responsible for carrying all the luggage during the inca trail tour. The night before the departure of the group, you need to sleep early so that you can wake up early and be ready for the full day tour. Our team is highly competent in providing you with all the help needed before and after the full day tour.
It is said that this hike is free to access, but the truth is that inca trail tour can only be done with an authorized travel agency, our company is authorized to do this hike. Our clients have always been satisfied by doing inca trail with us with the customer service and the process is very smooth to keep your mind on the adventure alone.
You should have a brief idea of what the trek will be like. The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is considered the best hike in South America and perhaps the world, thousands of tourists compete to do it because it is the route that the ancient Incas took to reach Machu Picchu. The sacred valley offers an insight to the remaining archaeological. ruins of the local people as well as having the beautiful green landscapes. This paired with the beauty of the Ausangate mountains is truly a marvel. From aguas calientes to the sacred valleys, the views will be mesmerizing. Red valley tour is also optional, and red valley tour is an enchanting experience. Full day trip of red valley can be arranged. The sun gate will keep you in its awe for an year.Sacred valley inca and luxury cusco sacred valley are alluring in their beauty.The most popular is still day ranibow mountain and machu picchu tour. The Inca trail trek has a duration of 4 days, 40 kilometres of travel approximately reaching the lost city of the Incas “Machu Picchu”, along the way you will experience fatigue and low temperatures, as well as you can appreciate Inca constructions, fabulous landscapes, and lots of vegetation. The mountain top is the best place to capture the moments and preserve them for your memories of life. Full day tour of the Machu Pichu citidal will keep your refresh. It is considered better than classic salkantay trek. From aguas calientes to Valley Machu Picchu scenery is worth watching.
It is very important to acclimatize before this trek, at least 1 to 2 days, and to rest as much as possible, eat lightldy, and drink plenty of water, preferably coca tea. This trek will take you to altitudes over 4000 m, so to avoid altitude sickness follow our advice. The group will remain in close vicinity of each other and will be guided on the occasion when a question arises. Our guides are diligent in providing all the information beforehand and help you in any way during the adventure. Your guide will be always telling you about the historical significance of the sites you visit in every full day tour. Your guide will give you information and you will receive all the help needed in particular time. All our guides are highly competent in this regard. Hike the Inca with our guides.
Enjoy the hike to the fullest, it is not a competition to reach Machu Picchu, but take your time and live it to the fullest, because on the hike you will appreciate beautiful landscapes, adrenaline, and a lot of fun; besides visiting archaeological sites and new experiences; something that other hikes will not give you. The INCA Trail is the best seller Trail because of the optimized package and the all the beauty of Machu Picchu is captured in this tour. The tour is best use of your vocation, because this will be one of a lifetime experiences. From Machu Picchu to Inca trail treks, mesmerizing experience is waiting for you.
INCA TRAIL 4 DAYS TO MACHU PICCHU All-inclusive Door-to-Door service
How difficult is 4 days’ Inca trail?
The difficulty is moderate, however the person should not have any medical condition, which prevents him/her from doing strenuous activities for 4 days. You should be in good shape to fully enjoy the activities.
What is the best time of year to do the 4 days Inca trail?
The best time of year is during the dry season of March-May and September – December. You should schedule according to this
What is the highest altitude of the trail?
The highest point of the trail is 4000 meters above sea level
Will meals be provided?
Yes, breakfast, lunch, and dinner is always covered in the tours you book.
Is there any age restriction?
No, there are no such limitations, however before bringing children or old people you should consider their health and condition to know if they can do it.
How do I book the travel?
You can contact different people through this website, and we will guide you about pricing and all the details
Are there mosquitos in the forest?
Yes, it depends on the region and day, but you should always have insect repellent, and that will surely help.
Do I have to tip guides and luggage carriers? Although it is not compulsory, it is always good to tip the people who perform all these tasks for you. It shows good will and helps the locals.
Where are we going to sleep? You will sleep at the campsite, preferably in tents, because there could also be hotel arrangements. It depends on your preference and the availability of a place.
What will happen if an emergency medical situation appears for a hiker? Don’t be worried. The guides will have a first aid kit, and they are trained in first aid training. In case of high emergency, we carry a satellite phone to call for an ambulance or doctor
I am an American, and I used Go Treks Peru for my senior year winter break solo backpacking trip. It was the first time I had ever been to South America, and obviously my first time in Peru as a result. It was also my first time backpacking, my first time staying in hostels, and my first time camping. As you can tell, it was a lot of firsts for me. I was totally unsure of where to go, but all I knew was that I wanted to see Machu Picchu. Moreover, I wanted to do the hike to make the experience more worthwhile.
I recommend you book your hike at least six months in advance, especially if you plan on going during an American summer (which is the Peruvian winter). That’s their peak season for tourists. However, I booked the 4-day hike literally *a week* before it happened, and I still got a spot. What I learned is that they had some availability due to the fact that it was off-season (because Peruvian summers are American winters, and their summers are heavy with rain which means fewer tourists). I will say that the rain made for less than ideal views, and while the experience was certainly amazing, I had to deal with a lot of fog throughout the entirety of the trail, and that obstructed much of the beautiful views during the length of the trial.
I want to make note that I had to shift the day I wanted to leave for the trail by one day because a group was going out the day following my original departure date, and luckily, my trip itinerary was flexible enough to accommodate this. To be very transparent, the whole setup of booking their 4-day Inca Trail hike was a little bit suspicious as I had to pay about $400 USD through Paypal, and it was a very nebulous process altogether. I was told to bring the rest of the payment in USD in cash to pay at their office in Cusco. Also, they gave me the tour information only several days before, and I was already in Peru at the time, so my access to internet was a bit limited. However, only once I received that information, met with the agency in Cusco, and paid the rest of the fee did I finally feel some ease.
I paid in total $650 USD for the 4-day Inca Trail hike that I did. What I learned is that most 4-day hikes are usually $600 or more. At first, I wondered why a 4-day hike was so expensive, but it wasn’t until I went on the hike itself that I realized why. The porters (the men who carry the camping supplies) hike with you on the trail. They’re the first ones to reach the campsite, and they’re the last ones to leave the campsite. They carry your tents, the cooking equipment, and a variety of other things, all weighing about 40 kg (over 80lbs). Moreover, the chef for Go Treks Peru provides excellent food, something I definitely was not expecting at 4000m in the mountains.
Also, my guide for the hike, Reyner, was an indispensable source of information. First off, he spoke English (which isn’t an issue for me because I speak Spanish fluently as well), but it was a pleasant convenience when there were English phrases I couldn’t properly translate. Moreover, he was extremely informative, and he ensured my safety and that of others’ throughout the duration of the hike. Go Treks Peru provided down sleeping bags for about $20 USD (if I remember correctly), and those were essential during the nighttime when it became frigid. They also provided an orientation for the hike at their office in Cusco which included what to expect and what one ought to bring. While they could do better in terms of organizing the orientation and getting information out to their customers in a more timely fashion, I am overall pleased with this tour agency, and I would recommend them 10/10. Moreover, I plan to go back to Peru, and I would love nothing more than to utilize this agency again.
I have written this review in English for any English-speaking person looking to travel to Peru as I found very few, current/updated reviews online that were comprehensive enough for my standards. I hope this helps someone who was in my position or in a position that is similar to what I experienced.
I *highly* recommend this hike as opposed to taking the train to Machu Picchu. It sounds cliche, but this backpacking trip and hike to Machu Picchu impacted me so much that is has changed my outlook on life. I don’t regret a single moment, and a big part of that experience was because Go Treks Peru made the hike such an enjoyable experience.
*All photos uploaded were taken by me, and I have not included photos of my tour group for privacy purposes. All photos with an individual in them are that of me. I hope you can use the photos to better judge whether or not this experience and this tour agency are for you.*
In April 2012 I finally realised my dream of completing the 4d/3n Inca Trail. I wish to share my experience of the trek and my booking process as I couldn’t find any useful information at the time. Alot of people do it as part of a greater tour of Peru or South America but I was on a tight time and financial budget and only wanted to complete the trek so I did alot of online research looking for the cheapest flights, hotels and tour combinations around my prefered dates. There are several flight options from UK but I went with Iberia as you can fly to Cusco on one ticket. My route was Heathrow-Madrid-Lima-Cusco. My 15 year old son and I did it in one go which took about 22 hours but you can have a free stop-over in any of these cities. I consider the flight all part of the experience! I allowed 2 days in Cusco for altitude acclimatisation and sight-seeing before the trek. There are lots of cheap hostels from £10-£20 per night in Cusco but we stayed in Jacaranda Inn (£14 pn B&B) which was close to the centre square. Cusco was amazing with its large centre square, cathedrals, back streets and markets, not to mention a good nightlife. I booked the trek with Cusco based Cusco Explorer, website: incapoint.com which after alot of searching was the cheapest I could find online. They charged $330 per adult and $300 for my son as he qualified for the student price. I met alot of people along the trek who paid over $500 for the same thing. From what I could see all operators offer the same service which includes hotel pickup, bus to start point, English guide, porters, all food, camping etc. So don’t think you’ll get better service if you pay more. Now for the best bit, the trek:
Get up early as you’re guide will be knocking on your door at about 6.30am. You’ll meet all your other group members then set off on a bus to the start point which takes about 2 hours with a stop at a nice tourist shop on the way. There you can buy breakfast, snacks etc. When we arrived at the start point we met all the porters and chef then we had an early lunch. There are alot of groups who set off in time intervals so there’s alot of waiting around which I thought defeats the early start. Day 1 is a fairly easy trek, mostly flat with a bit of gradiant, however the scenery is amazing and you will see some Inca ruins. When you arrive at the camp site all the tents are up and chef is cooking dinner. You’ll have some free time before dinner then it’s an early night as you’re up at 5.30am. We had soup & bread, meat & rice with some veg and some cake then coffee or coca tea.
I won’t lie, day 2 was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done but very rewarding and the views are amazing. Get up early, have breakfast, drink lots of water, get your kit on and start treking. You’ll trek about an hour passing a few inca houses to the first check point. Again wait your turn behind the other groups then go for it. It’s 1000m in elevation straight up to dead womans pass and our guide said it will take about 5 and a half hours. My son who play rugby and I are very competitive so it was on! We did it in 4 and a half. It was tough but we had good weather. The first 2 hours were under cover as you’re in the tree line. The track is windy and narrow in places and crosses streams over little wooden bridges. Some parts are very steep with big rock steps, we passed alot of people resting but no one was giving up, you could feel the sence of achievement of other trekkers. About half way up the tree cover runs out and we were in the direct sunshine, it was quite hot considering the altitude, make sure you carry plenty of water, sun block, sun glasses and a hat. Now we could see the top and other trekkers above us, the views were amazing and we took alot of photos. We made it to the top around midday and complete strangers were congratulating eachother and having their photo taken at the 4215m marker post. Unfortunately for us the weather changed and the top became covered in cloud so we didn’t get any photos from the top. It became instantly freezing cold and we were in thick fog. We started our decent down to the camp site when it started raining. Make sure you take a poncho as that was the hardest rain I’ve ever experienced, within minutes there was a river flowing down the slopes. I didn’t get any photos of our decent. It only took 2 hours to get to the camp site but it rained the whole way then suddenly stopped as soon as we arrived, the sun came out and we could see where we had just come from. The rest of the day was free time, dinner then bed. It never rained again.
Day 3 begins with another steep climb passing several inca ruins on the way. It takes a few hours to reach the second pass at 3900m where you’ll get awesome views of the high Andes and snow-capped peaks. It’s all downhill from here, our guide pointed out the change in vegetation as you decend into the high Amazon. The guide showed us some Inca ruins and explained all the history before we stopped for lunch. Here we saw our first wild Lama. Day 3 is the longest trekking day but it’s mostly flat or down hill. You’ll pass through the Inca tunnels and get your first sight of Machu Picchu Mountain. The trail becomes more like jungle and it gets warmer as you decend, some scenes reminded me of the Indiana Jones movie. We eventually arrived at the final camp site, removed our boots and had a good rest. Trekkers arrived in various states over the next few hours, alot had blisters, alot were clearly exhausted. Don’t attempt this lightly, do some fitness and prep your feet before you come. Don’t wear your normal shoes or trainers or wear new boots, make sure you wear them in!
Day 4, today you’ll visit Machu Picchu. Up at 3.30am, breakfast, prep kit then line up with hundreds of other eager people in the dark at the gates. The gates open at 5am then we all trek about 2 hours to the Sky Gates. You’ll climb a very steep stair case in the woods upto the Sky Gate which overlook Machu Picchu, here you’ll get your first look at it and the surrounding mountains. When we arrived it was covered in thin cloud which cleared away as we looked down on it which added to the drama. Then it takes about another hour to walk down to it. For some reason we all had to pass through it, go outside then come back in so we could get our tickets checked. However you can pay to leave your bags here so you don’t have to carry them. Our guide gave us a full guided tour and explained everything, he was great. Then you get as long as you want to look around before you go down to the local town. The guides have a deal with a local restaurant so you can leave your bags all day for free so we thought it only right that we should eat there and enjoy a cold beer. The prices were very reasonable and I was starving. The guides gave us our return train tickets and explained where to get off and we’d be met by a rep and finish the journey back to Cusco on a bus. It all went to plan.
We got back to Cusco after 10pm and got a taxi to a different hostel nearer the airport. I booked the Cusco House as we had an early flight and it had a free airport shuttle, it was $30 B&B for a twin ensuite room, it was ideal, I only wish we could stay longer and enjoy it. We only spent 8 hours there. I included a 2 day stop-over in Lima on the way back but now I wished I’d planned 1 day in Cusco and 1 day in Lima, however Lima was a good rest. I found a good hostel near the sea front with plenty of shops and places to eat out all around. We had to have a swim in the Pacific Ocean. The end came all too soon and we were on our flight home.
Tips: Carry as little as possible on the trail, take old socks and T-shirts, wear 1 each day then give them to the porters, they will bite your hand off even for worn, sweaty kit. Carry lots of drinking water even if you thinks it’s heavy, you’ll drink it all on the ascents. Enjoy it, you’ll meet lots of like-minded people from all over the world, take photos, stop and look around, make memories. Don’t be lazy and pay the porters to carry your bag, they carry enough so tip generously.
Finally carry your own bag and push it out, or you haven’t really done it!
Here are some other options that will suit your needs
