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4-DAy Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

4-DAY INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU

Embark on a 4-day Inca Trail adventure with Evolution Treks Peru, the only worker-owned Tour Operator in Peru.

Experience history and beauty by passing through the Sun Gate to Machu Picchu.

Enjoy a stress-free journey with top-notch campsites, delicious meals, professional English-speaking Tour guides and a dedicated team of women and men porters.

Beyond exploration, contribute to global change. Empower women, support ethical tourism, and transform the trekking industry.

Elevate the Inca Trail, leaving a positive impact on local porters. Enrich your soul and revolutionize travel for good.

Join us on a journey that matters.

4-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Experience the Life-Changing Inca Trail Hike to Machu Picchu with Peru’s Leading Ethical Travel Company

Embark on a journey of a lifetime by hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu through stunning scenery and immersing you in the vibrant culture of the local villages.

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Trek through a Dry Andean valley, passing through the last stretch of Sacred Valley, and enjoy breathtaking views of the Urubamba mountain range.
  • Explore a scenic trail, where you’ll encounter unique flora such as cacti and fauna such as prairie horses, dogs, vizcachas, Andean foxes, and various bird species like the torrent tyrannulet, black-chested buzzard-eagle, and chiguanco thrush.
  • Reach the iconic Sun Gate and witness the mesmerizing panoramic view of Machu Picchu.
  • Visit Wiñaywayna, an ancient Incan archaeological site.

INSIGHT:

  • Hike Distance: 42 kilometers or 26 miles
  • Difficulty: Challenging
  • Duration: 4 days & 3 nights
  • Highest Elevation Point: 4,215 meters or 13,829 feet
  • Weather: The weather can vary during the hike, with hot and sunny days and colder nights. It’s best to pack layers to prepare for all kinds of weather.
  • Seasons: The hike is open from March 1 until January 31 (February is closed for maintenance).
  • Cusco Drive Time: 2 hours and 45 minutes or more, depending on traffic and road conditions.
  • Town Nearest Hike: Ollantaytambo
  • Age requirement: Suitable for all ages.
  • Trip Type: Adventure, Cultural, and Educational 

Important.

  • Permits must be secured at least six months ahead of your departing date.
  • Prices are valid from March 1, 2024 through January 2025.
  • ISIC Student card holders get $25 USD discount (numbers and scans have to be presented at the time of the booking, late notices won’t be accepted)

 

 

The 4-day guided Inca Trail tour will take you to the most beautiful scenaries in the Sanctuary of MachPicchu. Rivers, ancient ruins, mountains and different animal species are some of the thing you will see when hiking with us. The path is rugged and  steep but neither of those will be an issue as this hike is meant for real adventurous people. The final reward is once you get to Machu Picchu through the Sungate (Inti Punku)

TOUR DETAILS

  • Duration: 4 Days and 3 Nights
  • Start/ Finish location: Cusco city
  • Service Level: Standard / Group
  • Difficulty: Moderate/ Demanding
  • Travel Style: Active
  • Group Size: 16 max; 8 average

 

Important information you need to know.

Meals
Our cooks are professionally trained to provide the best high quality meals. The menu varies with different products like pasta, rice, fruits, vegetables, grains, eggs, and different  meats. If you have any dietary restrictions or allergies please make sure to add it in your details at the moment of booking.

Transportation
Private vehicle, trains, hiking.

Accommodation
Camping 3 nights. The camping tents we provide are high quality internationally branded products. We use 3 people tents to accommodate 2 people. Single Travelers joining group trips will be paired with same sex person for the duration of the trip. Single tent supplements are allowed at extra cost. 

Pre Trek Presentations. (Briefings) 
Pre trek presentations are conducted for every trek one day before your departure (unless otherwise instructed) typically between 6pm-7pm at a established location that we will let you know via email prior to your trip to Peru. The duration of this presentation may vary depending on the length of the trek but typically last between
time, we will provide duffel bags for your belongings to bring on the trek, and collect any remaining payments. Please note that this meeting is mandatory. This is the deadline for all remaining balances.

Minimun Age
At Evolution Treks Peru we are always happy to have families travel with us. Our minimum age requirement is 1 year old, at the time of hiking the children will be the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian 100%. The children will need full coverage travel insurance. 18 years old is the minimus age to travel without a guardian.

Porters
The porters we have only carry cooking and camping gear, so you must hire an additional porter if you do not wish to carry your personal belongings. The price is $220 for a full porter that can be shared between two people can carry up to 14kg, and a half porter can carry 7kg for one person only and costs $120.

There are several regulations that restrict how much weight a porter is allowed to carry, but several companies disregard this to the harm of the porters.

We are an advocate for the fair treatment of porters, and as such are very careful to ensure that our porters do not have to carry more than what is fair and ask for you to do the same. 

Pickups and drop offs
Evolution Treks Peru will provide transportation during the trek, beginning and ending at your hotel.

Please be aware that there are many hotels, hostels, and AirBNBs that are only accessible via several steep stairs, so we advise checking how close your living arrangement is to a road to ensure you can have an easy pick up and drop off.

If you choose to hike in a group tour, then your pick up times are scheduled based on the group itinerary.

Any changes to that itinerary will incur on extra pick up services that will have a 30USD fee. 

Booking
Booking forms must be filled out to give us necessary information
The Peruvian Government requires that all people present a copy of your passports. You will need to provide it after your booking.

Deposit
A $300 partial deposit must be made so we can fulfill purchase. This deposit is non
refundable, non changeable and non transferable. 

Inca Trail Permits
Limited Quantity available for the Inca Trail in all its routes, so be sure to lock in dates ASAP. Once you confirm a date, you must commit to it. 

Living Arrangements and extra bags

  • There are a variety of hotels, hostels, and other establishments that can
    accommodate you for your stay in the area. We recommend that you stay in any central area. check with us for recommended hotels. If you choose an Airbnb for your stay, then please send us an screenshot of the exact location of your Airbnb on google maps.
  • If you have some bags that you will not be taking to the Inca Trail, then you can do that at your hotel. All hotels in Cusco offer a storage place for such bags for free. However, if you are staying at an Airbnb, then you must check with your host to do so. Also, you can leave your stuff with us at our storage room. In this case you will have to collect your things from our location upon your return from the trek. Also, we can arrange a delivery of your stuff to your hotel for a 10USD extra fee.

Optional services not included

  • Hire of sleeping bag  (4 seasons) – $60 
  • Walking stick x 2 (single)  – $ 30 
  • Inflatable trekking sleeping pad  (Therm a Rest)  – $50 
  • Camping   Pillow (therm a  rest)   $25 

Rent  our TREKKING COMFORT PACKAGE (all of the    items   above) for   only   $120 USD

  • Full porter – up to 14kg or 30 pounds  (Can be shared between 2 people) $220
  • Half porter – up to 7 kg or 15 pounds (Can’t be shared)   $120
  • If you require an extra porter  or a half porter, please advise us when filling in booking form.
  • Single tent  supplement – $95
  • Huayna Picchu mountain $90 
  • Machu Picchu mountain $90
  • Vistadome train option $90 

Packing List

  • Original passport (and *International Student card (ISIC) if applicable)
  • Travel Insurance is essential
  • Sleeping bag (not included but can be hired from us)
  • Walking boots
  • Waterproof jacket/rain poncho
  • Warm jacket
  • Hat and gloves
  • T-shirts
  • Comfortable trousers
  • Sun hat
  • Sun protection cream (factor 35 recommended)
  • Insect repellent
  • Water (only until lunch time on day 1)
  • Toiletries and hand sanitizer.
  • Personal medication
  • Camera 
  • Torch with spare batteries (headlamps are useful) 

PERU ENTRY REQUIREMENTS AND PERMITS 
USA citizens do not need a visa to enter Peru for tourism purposes. When you arrive in Peru, you will receive an Andean migration card instead of a visitor’s visa. 
Travelers to Peru will receive a card from Peruvian Immigration upon arrival stating the length of approved stay (usually 90 days). You cannot lose this piece of paper as you will need it to stay in hotels and even leave the country. We recommend keepin it clipped to the front page of your passport. 
Tourists must also provide evidence of return or onward travel. 

PASSPORT
A passport valid for six months is required to enter and depart Peru. You should take a number of photocopies of your passport with you. During your stay, carry a photocopy of your passport at all times. 
When you go to Machu Picchu, you may need to bring your passport. This may vary based on your specific itinerary. But, consider doing so anyway as you can get a novelty passport stamp there. 

TRAVEL INSURANCE 
Travel insurance is the responsibility of each individual member and must cover 
trekking up to a minimum of 5200M which is valid for the date of the trip. Details of your insurance will be sought before travelling so we can keep a record as well God forbid it needed to be used and you will need to print and bring a copy of your full insurance policy with you also. 

VACCINES AND MEDICINES
There are no mandatory vaccines for entry into Peru. Check the vaccines and 
medicines list and visit your doctor (ideally, 4-6 weeks) before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need. 

Recommended for the short-term tourist cover against food and water borne diseases is Hepatitis A and Typhoid and Tetanus. 
Take care to avoid all insect bites – especially while along the Inca Trail. One of the biggest problems facing travellers to this region is the risk of insect bites. Along the Inca Trail you will often find that many travellers have been bitten significantly by both mosquitoes and sandflys. It is essential to protect yourself. Wearing long sleeved pale coloured clothing and applying good insect repellent (with DEET 30-50% at least) will help. This will be particularly important for the visit to Machu Picchu. 

ALTITUDE CONSIDERATIONS
The human body is quite capable of adapting to a very wide range of barometric pressures and there is plenty of oxygen even at the highest point of this expedition.

However, the process of adaptation or acclimatisation does take time and the most important rule is to gain height slowly. Keeping well hydrated is also a huge factor in avoiding AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness). AMS is brought on by lower oxygen levels at higher altitudes. Symptoms include breathlessness, headache, poor sleep, nausea & dizziness.

AMS is treated simply by not ascending to higher elevations or in more severe cases descending to lower elevations, where in most cases the symptoms are quickly relieved. This itinerary has been designed to minimise the chances of you getting altitude sickness.

If you have suffered serious problems at altitude before, you should seek the advice of your doctor or a specialist.

Please note it is common for most people to experience mild headaches on the summit day of this expedition. Always keep your guide informed on how you are feeling. 

 

SPENDING MONEY AND TIPS
The “Nuevo Sol” (S/.) is the official currency of Peru. There are notes of the following denominations: 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 soles. Coins are 10, 20 and 50 cents, as well as 1, 2 and 5 Nuevos Soles. Countless shops, restaurants, hotels and gas stations accept US Dollars.

It is possible to exchange currency in banks and currency exchange agencies. There are also “cambistas” street currency exchangers, but the safety of the transaction is not guaranteed. Currency exchange agencies are regularly open from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, from Monday to Friday, and half day on Saturdays.

Most cities in the country have ATMs connected in most cases to Plus (Visa), Cirrus (MasterCard/Maestro), American Express and other networks. You may withdraw Nuevos Soles or US Dollars, although the exchange rates tend to be less favorable. 

Tipping guidelines
With regards of tips for porters, the average tip a porter gets 30USD for the 4 day hike and 40USD for the 5 day-hike.

We usually multiply the number of porters for 30USD and divide that by the number of hikers.

Chefs get an average of 20USD per day per hiker. Tour guides however are tipped individually by each participant based on performance.

The average tip a guide gets is 15% of the cost of the tour per hiker. 

    $890 Per person

     

       Here’s what’s included:

      Expert Guides: Our bilingual guides have extensive regional knowledge and will provide informative commentary throughout your trek.

      Experienced Crew: Our team of experienced chefs and porters – both women and men – will be with you every step to ensure your comfort and safety.

      Entrance Fees: All necessary entrance fees and Inca Trail permits are included in the price of your tour.

       

      Transportation: We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco and provide round-trip transportation to Kilometer 82, the trail’s starting point. On day four, you’ll take the Expedition train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and then a bus to Cusco.

       

      Food and Drink: We provide three breakfasts, three lunches, three dinners, and various snacks to be eaten throughout the day. Please note that breakfast on day one and lunch on day four in Aguas Calientes are not included. While water is not included for the first 4 hours of the trek, we will provide you with boiled water for drinking for the remainder of the tour.

       

      Equipment: We provide a dining tent with tables and chairs, a cook and assistant cook, a 2-person tent, essential foam sleeping pads, and one-way bus tickets from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes. We also provide an oxygen bottle, first aid kit, and safety briefing the day before the tour at 6:00 pm. Video briefing is available. All of our guests receive complimentary luggage storage.

       

      Accommodations: During your trek, you will stay in our state-of-the-art Kelty Dirt Motel, 3-people tents for every two travelers. We also offer a single tent supplement for an additional cost.

       

      Organic Meals: All meals are prepared with organic, locally-grown ingredients during the trek.

       

      Entrance Tickets: Your tour includes entrance tickets to the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu and a bus down to Aguas Calientes from Machu Picchu.

       

      Train Ride: You’ll enjoy a tourist Expedition train ride to return to your starting point.

       

      Emergency Equipment: Our staff is Wilderness first aid trained, and we have a first-aid kit and oxygen tanks for emergencies.

       

      Optional Services: We offer premium synthetic 20F/-6C sleeping bags, walking sticks, inflatable trekking sleeping pads, and camping pillows for an additional cost.

      Rent our TREKKING COMFORT PACKAGE (all items above) for only USD 120. We also offer full and half-porter services for an additional cost and the option to climb Huayna Picchu mountain or Machu Picchu mountain.

       

      Please note that our porters carry cooking and camping equipment only. We recommend hiring an extra porter if you prefer not to carry your belongings on the trail.

      At the end of your journey, we will drop you off at your hotel. Book your Inca Trail and Machu Picchu tour with us today for an unforgettable adventure!

         

        Day 1:

        Cusco to Inca Trail We will depart from Cusco early in the morning (between 4:30 am and 5:00 am) and travel by bus for two hours to KM 82 (Piskacucho), where we begin our Inca Trail trek. Along the way, we’ll see the stunning Urubamba mountain range and the snow-capped Wakay Willca (Veronica) peak, which stands at 5860m/1922ft.

        Our hike on the first day covers a distance of 6.8 miles/11 km and takes approximately 5-6 hours. This moderate/easy trek will help you acclimate to the altitude as we climb from 2720m/8923ft to 3000m/8984ft. We’ll stop to enjoy lunch on the way and have dinner at our campsite in the small village of Wayllabamba, where we’ll be camping in tents.

        Day 2:

        Inca Trail – Hiking On the second day, we’ll wake up early (6:00 am) and hike 7.4 miles/12 km, which takes approximately 6-7 hours. This difficult trek starts with a steep ascent from our campsite at 3000m/10700ft to the highest pass (Abra de Huarmihuañusca/’Dead Woman’s Pass’) at 4200m/13779ft.

        After a well-deserved rest, we’ll descend for 2 hours to our campsite at Pacaymayu, located at 3550m/11646ft. Along the way, we’ll see an incredible variety of flora and fauna, including many species of birds and trees such as the ‘Polilepys’ or Q’ueuña tree, which grow in the stunning cloud forest located at 3650m/11972ft.

        Day 3:

        Inca Trail – Hiking On day three, we’ll start our hike at 6:00 am and cover a 9.9 miles/16km distance in approximately 9 hours. This is the most fantastic trek day, as we visit several archaeological sites and enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding mountains.

        We’ll climb from 3550m/11646ft to 4000m/13123ft to the second highest point on the trail and then have a steep descent to the archaeological site of Sayacmarca. From there, we’ll ascend further to 3680m/12073ft and visit the Inca site of ‘Phuyupatamarca’ (meaning town in the clouds), before walking through the impressive agricultural Inca site of ‘Intipata’. We’ll be camping in tents at a Wiñay Wayna campsite at 2680m/8792ft.

        Day 4:

        Inca Trail – Machu Picchu Park – Cusco On the last day, we’ll wake up early (3:30 am) to allow our porters enough time to pack up our campsite and head down to their train stop to catch their train to Cusco. After a quick early breakfast, we’ll head to the last checkpoint of the Inca trail, where we’ll wait for about an hour until the gate opens at 5:30 am. We’ll then hike a moderate one-hour ascent to Inti Punku

        Questions? Contact Us Now

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        Hiking the inca trail to Machu Picchu is a life changing experience when you do it with the number one ethical travel company of Peru.

        As Seen On

        4-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

        RESOURCES & IMPORTANT INFORMATION

        HOW TO TRAIN FOR THE INCA TRAIL

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        WHAT TO CARRY IN YOUR DAYPACK

        A small back pack is required for the days that you will be hiking. Please make sure that this backpack is comfortable, spacious (preferably between 20L and 30 L), and waterproof. In it you will need to carry the following items:

        • Headlamp or flashlight. We usually get to our campsites before dark. Sometimes, slow hikers arrive to our campsites shortly after the sunset, in the early evening. Whether you are a fast or slow hiker, carrying your headlamp in your daypack  is a matter of safety in case walking at night is necessary.
        • Medicines. If you are taking any kind of medication, whether that is altitude pills or an asthma inhaler, keep these items with you at all times.
        • Rain gear. Keep this with you at all times, especially if you are hiking between September-April.
        • Water bottle. Remember to drink at least 2 litres of water per day. 
        • Toilet paper or tissue
        • Sun screen
        • Insect repellent. Yes, there are mosquitoes at high altitude and they can be nasty at times.
        • Hand sanitizer
        • Small first aid kit. Our guides and porters carry our own first aid kit, but it is never a bad idea to have an extra one.
        • Snacks. Trail mix or power bars are recommended.
        • Camera
        • Fleece, in case it gets cold.
        • Sunhat
        • Sunglasses
        • Money. We recommend always having cash available. 
        • Trash bag

        TIPS FOR HIKING THE INCA TRAIL

        BEST READS AND VIDEOS ABOUT PERU

        By unanimous vote, we have comprised here in this page, a collection of our best reads and videos about the most important topics we touch on all of   our trips.     Astronomy, Ecology, Human history, Peru, the Incas and current affairs are included in this list. No matter which of these items you read, we hope that you enjoy this collection and that you are able to share with us a bit of what you know about these topics. We think it is important for our concept of sustainable tourism to engage in all of the topics mentioned above.   Enjoy Our  Collection Here

        KNOW BEFORE THE TREK

        TIPING OUR PORTERS

        Some of the reasons  that our price may be higher than that of other agencies are the following:

        We ALWAYS book the maximum number of porters possible (according to Inca Trail regulations) so that our porters are not overloaded.

        We are the only tour operators hiring women to work as porters on the Inca Trail. We believe that THERE IS NO such thing as SUSTAINABILITY without women’s Inclusion.   Hiring Women porters demands more spendings on operational costs. We pay our women and men porters the same salary for their work.

        Also, We are the only travel operator in Peru that supplies porters with proper tents, sleeping pads and adequate food for this type of activity. This increases the weight we carry on the trail and demands that we hire more porters.

        Our guidelines for tipping our staff is the following:

        • Two people (minimum group size) should have a maximum of 6 porters and 16 people (max group size) should have 22 porters. 
        • Tips for our porters, cooks or guides are optional and are NOT  included in our price. However, our advice is that you tip our staff based on their performance, service, and knowledge. 
        • Each porter gets 100 Soles.
        •  Each assistant cook 150 Soles.
        • Each  main chef gets 300 Soles.
        • We usually multiply the number of porters in a group by 100 soles. Then we add to that number 150 soles for the assistant cook and 300 for the cook. Then we divide that number by the number of tourists. That final number becomes the amount each tourist should contribute for tipping our porters.   Below is a chart with guidelines for how this operation works.
        • We understand that people who travel in small groups require  more money for tipping. However, we recommend that people tip based on what their heart  and their pockets feel. In no way we want our clients to feel pressured to tip exactly according to our guidelines.  
        • Assistant Tour guides can be tipped collectively by the members of the group, we suggest 5% of the total cost of the tour.  
        • Main guides are tipped on a one on one basis and based on their performance.   Tour guides are professional people who spend a lot of time training in different other fields such as archaeology, history, and WFA. We suggest people to consider tipping our guide a 10% to 15% of the value of your tour.
        Number  of Toruists
        Number of Porters
        Number of assistant chefs
        Number of  Main Chefs
        Total Tip in Soles
        Total contribution per tourist
        2
        4
        1
        1
        850 soles
        425 Soles /   128USD
        4
        8
        1
        1
        1250
        312.5 Soles /  94.5 USD
        8
        14
        2
        1
        2000
        250 Soles   /   
        ​76 USD
        Suggested tip per porter
        100 soles
        150 soles
        300 soles

        WHY US? BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN ETHICAL TOURISM.

        “Wandering re-stablishes the original harmony which once existed between man and the universe”
        – ANATOLE FRANCE