Cusco: 4-Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Embark on a 4-day trek to Machu Picchu from Cusco. Hike through the Andes and the tropical forests, and see the sunrise over the Inca citadel. Enjoy a guided tour of Machu Picchu and free time to explore the area. Day 1 Be picked up from your hotel in Cusco and head to point km 82 on the route by minibus. Start your 4-day hiking adventure to Machu Picchu. Start your route up the mountain until reaching the villages of Miskay and Llactapate, where you'll enjoy your first lunch. Discover the archaeological complex of Llactapata and the community of Huyllabamba. Continue to the camp of Lluncachimpa and Huayllabamba, at almost 11,000 feet in altitude. Have dinner and spend the night. Day 2 Rise early to watch the sunrise over the Andes. After eating breakfast, walk through the valley of Lluncachimpa and continue climbing until you reach Llulluchapampa. The track will take you to Warmi Wañusqa, 13,780 ft high up. From this point, the highest on the tour, you'll have spectacular views of the snowy peaks and the surrounding archaeological remains. After lunch, continue the journey through the valley of Pacaymayu and over the pass of Runkurakay until you reach Sayacmarca. Eat dinner and spend the night in the camp of Chaquicocham about 12,000 feet in altitude. Day 3 After breakfast, set off on the third day of the hike. This is the easiest part of the route, as this is the area of the tropical forests known as Yunga. Be captivated by the impressive landscapes and magnificent ruins here. In the afternoon, visit the archaeological sites of Runkarakay, Phuyupatamarca, and Wiñay Huayna, the largest and most surprising on the route. Spend the night in the camp. Day 4 Get up very early, at around 4:30 AM. Under the light of the stars, and with a torch in your hand, continue on the route to Inti Punku, or the Sun Gate, where you'll have breakfast while admiring a magical sunrise over Machu Picchu. After dawn, continue the descent to Machu Picchu, where you'll do a guided tour of the historic Inca citadel. After the visit, have your own free time to tour the area and take photographs. After this unforgettable experience, take a bus to Aguas Calientes, where you'll take the train. Then, be taken back to your hotel in Cusco, or, if you wish, end the tour in Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, or Yucay.