5 DAY INCA TRAIL: ¡A trek to take it easy and enjoy!

DESTINATIONS VISITED: Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu

FULL ITINERARY

5 DAY INCA TRAIL: ¡A trek to take it easy and enjoy!THE MAGICAL 5-DAY INCA TRAIL ADVENTURE: A JOURNEY TO MACHU PICCHU

Staying at campsites that few people use you get to enjoy the beautiful views of the mountains and see the sunsets and sunrises in peace and tranquility. Trekking the Inca Trail is one of those things that everyone should do once in their life and the 5 day version allows you to enjoy it to the full!The 5 day option is highly recommended for group of families or group of friends who wish to spend more time close to each othe avoiding the crowds and pace of the classic 4 day Inca Trail.The 5 day trek is also recommended for older people (60+) who want to take their time and enjoy the trail at an esteady pace.

Day 1: Cusco – Km82 – Llactapata

Our adventure through this magical adventure will start very early, we will start the tour at 6:30 am from your hotel.We will travel by bus for approximately 3:30 minutes, traveling through beautiful landscapes in the Sacred Valley, we can stop on the way to buy breakfast if you wish (not included in the service) ,We can stop very close to Ollantaytambo to buy beakfast , we can stop there for about 30 minutes where you can buy breakfast and use the restrooms and then we will return to board our bus to continue our journey to the beginning of the hike (Kilometer 82).

Today has a relatively relaxed start for the Inca Trail and the walking is easy going to help you settle in to the trek. Beginning at Km82 we slowly make our way along the banks of the Urubamba River with great views of the snow-capped peak Veronica (5900m / 19000ft) and with a variety of native plant and birdlife around us. We’ll have a visit to a small Inca fortress called Vilca Raccay that is off a side spur of the main Inca Trail before heading to our main destination, the extensive Inca site of Llactapata (Patallacta) which is also where we will camp.

Llactapata (2650m / 8692ft) is mostly passed by as it is not on the main Inca Trail. As we are taking the Inca Trail at a relaxed pace further along the trail than most groups go; as we’re camping further up the trail the next day’s trek up to the pass is a little easier for us and with fewer tourists at the campsite we can enjoy the peace and tranquility of this beautiful place.

ACCOMMODATION: (TENTS FOR EVERY TWO HIKERS), FOAM MATTRESSES.

DISTANCE: 6KMS/3.7 MILES

DIFFICULTY: EAS

Day 2: Llactapata – Llulluchapampa

Today is another relatively easy day. Most groups would be powering ahead along the Inca Trail today and would be heading over Dead Woman’s Pass, the highest point on the trek and one of the hardest and longest climbs on the Inca Trail. We’re going to take things at a more leisurely pace and our goal for today is a campsite just before the pass, Llulluchapampa, this breaks the hardest stretch over two days making the climb significantly easier.On the way to Llulluchapampa we’ll once again go off the beaten track to visit the least visited of all the sites on the Inca Trail, the Inca fort of Paucarcancha. As we climb up to Llulluchapampa we’ll pass through various biozones including the low sierra, cloud forest and the high puna. There are many opportunities to see a variety of plant and birdlife and if we are lucky we may also spot White Tailed Deer. Our campsite for the night is at 3800m / 12460ft. and just like before it is tranquil and quiet with most trekkers either camping in the valley below or on the other side of the pass.

ACCOMMODATION: (TENTS FOR EVERY TWO HIKERS), FOAM MATTRESSES.

DISTANCE: 11KMS/6.8 MILES

DIFFICULTY: MODERATE

Day 3: Llulluchapampa – Phuyupatamarca

Today is our longest day and crosses two high passes; luckily for us we’re nearly at the first pass and once we’ve passed the second the walking is easy with very little ups and downs to contend with. Today sees some of the best views and scenery of the whole Inca Trail and includes visits to two Inca sites (Runcuraccay and Sayacmarca); with fantastic views of the high snow-capped peaks for most of the day and the cloud forest all around us today is by far the most visually stunning.Our campsite for tonight is at Phuyupatamarca (3680m / 12073ft) from where we’ll get our first views of Machu Picchu mountain far in the distance (the site itself is hidden from view). The views of the sunset from here are fantastic and once again the campsite is quiet with the majority of trekkers camping closer to Machu Picchu.

Accommodation: Camping facilities (Tents for every two hikers), foam mattresses included in the Price.

Distance: 15kms/9.3 miles

Difficulty: Moderate/challenge

Day 4: Phuyupatamarca – aguas calientes

Today is all about the Incas; we visit 3 major sites (Phuyupatamarca, Intipata and Wiñay Wayna) before we finally arrive to Machu Picchu itself late in the day. With only a short distance left to cover you’ll really have the opportunity to see these sites in detail and learn more about the Inca culture and Machu Picchu in preparation for your visit tomorrow. The area around these Inca sites is also rich in wildlife and with only a handful of people around on this stretch of trail at this time of day it is the perfect opportunity to try and spot some of the more elusive species.It is on this day that we will pass through the sector called the Guard’s house where we will take the classic photo with very few people, one of the great advantages of doing the Inca Trail, a special 5-day service.

The final stretch of the Inca Trail is completely deserted this time of day so our arrival to Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) is perfect. With good light and very few tourists about we can get some great photos to the citadel from a distance before carrying on down. After we arrive to Machu Picchu, we’ll head down to Aguas Calientes and spend a nigth in hotel.

Distance: 10kms/6.2 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Day 5: Machu Picchu

On arrival to Machu Picchu you’ll have a 2 hour guided tour, You can only visit Machu Picchu once through circuit number during which you’ll learn about the Incas and visit all the most important areas of the citadel. After your tour you’ll have free time to explore the site by yourself and if you have permits to climb either Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain. In the afternoon you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo from where you will carry on by bus back to Cusco.

This program will allow you to visit: Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu . Additionally, you can add more exciting day tours in Cusco or another destination in Peru. This is just a suggested itinerary and can be customized based on your preferences, interests, and time constraints. Please see our package list for more options