Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 2024
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 2024
- 5 nights in 3- and 4-star hotels
- 3 nights in luxury camps along the Inca Trail
- All meals except 2 dinners and 2 lunches
- Full day E-biking in the Sacred Valley, fully guided, with stops at significant Incan archeological sites
- 5 day/4 night Inca Trail hike, fully supported, with 3 chef-made meals per day
- 2 Fit 4 Adventure Guides
- All local guide services and gratuities
- All permits and archeological site passes*
- All transportation
One of the most famous hikes in the world, the Inca Trail is an unparalleled hiking experience. Located in the Cusco region of southern Peru, the authentic Incan footpath will transport you back in time, allowing you to see, touch and explore incredible Inca sites that are only accessible to hikers on the Inca Trail. With the help of knowledgeable local guides, we’ll walk 26 miles together over 5 days, culminating at the iconic Sun Gate that looks out over the majestic Machu Picchu.
Our 9-day/8-night itinerary includes the best of what Peru’s Sacred Valley region has to offer. We'll start and finish the trip in the city of Cusco- a place where Inca legend and Andean lore hang heavy in the thin mountain air... We’ll e-bike to ancient temples, taste Andean specialties, meet locals, pet alpacas, share family-style meals at camp, stargaze, listen to Inca tales by the fire and visit Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven World Wonders of the World. There is no better way to experience the mystery of the land of the Incas!
Our local partners are fully licensed operators who operate ethically within the Sacred Valley and along the Inca Trail. Sustainability and safety are at the forefront, and all guides are trained in first aid, hold Tourism University degrees and all staff, including porters, cooks and chefs are paid fair wages. Our partners were the first Peruvian company to be registered as a B-Corp, and are still one of the only B-Corps in Cusco. As such, plastic use is minimized, money is returned to local communities, funds are directed towards reforestation efforts and carbon emissions are offset.
Note: Accommodation along the legendary Inca Trail entails 3 nights of luxury camping, as there are no hotels along the trail. Each spacious 3-person tent will sleep 2 people. Our group will be assisted by guides, porters, chefs and cooks in order to maximize our experience. Each guest will be given a duffel bag to be carried from site to site by our porters, which can weigh up to 11lbs (not including a sleeping bag). High quality sleeping bags, inflatable sleeping pads and trekking poles are provided for each guest. 3 delicious multicourse meals are served by the kitchen crew each day, prepared in a separate tent from our dining tent. Tea, fresh coffee and juices are provided daily. A private, portable bathroom is set up at each campsite and lunch spot. Clean drinking water is provided regularly, as is the opportunity to wash hands before and after meals. There are no showers along the trail, but a hot shower awaits in Aguas Calientes, at the end of our 4th day.
TRIP DATES: October 12-20, 2024
TRIP PRICE: $4,880
For Single Supplement, add $500.
NOTE: There are no 'single' tents available on the Inca Trail- all tents are double occupancy. The $500 Single Supplement is for private hotel accommodation at the start/end of the trip.
Not Included: Flights, travel insurance, add-on accommodation/excursions*, meals not listed above, tips for F4A Guides, personal expenses- souvenirs, alcohol, etc.
The Inca Trail is a permit-based trek, with an extremely limited number of permits issued daily. The daily permit allowance includes everyone on the trail: guests, guides, porters and chefs. Permits typically sell out, sometimes within hours of their release, and are non-refundable/non-transferable. Due to these special circumstances designed to protect the legendary trail, this is a trip you don’t want to wait to book!
*Permits for climbing the towering Huayna Picchu are not included in the trip cost, but can be reserved for an additional $110.00. Please note with your reservation if you would like to include the additional permit in your trip package. This add-on hike is not for the faint of heart, but it’s worth every step! Please contact marie@fit4adventure.com if you have questions about adding this option.
FLIGHTS
You are responsible for booking your flight into Cusco, Peru (CUZ). Please arrive by 1030am on October 12, 2024. Please note that many flights from the US to South America are overnight- take note and plan accordingly. Alternatively, you can plan to arrive a day or two early, providing yourself a chance to get acclimated and explore the amazing city of Cusco.
Please book your departing flight out of Cusco for sometime after NOON on October 20th.
DEPOSIT
A $500 deposit (per person) is due at the time of booking. This deposit is non-refundable.
PAYMENTS
The first payment (50% of remaining balance) will be due March 1, 2024. Final payment will be due May 1, 2024. You will receive a reminder email when these payment are due. Once made, all payments are non-refundable and non-transferable.
CANCELLATIONS
By Client: If you need to cancel before the trip, the cancellation fee is your initial deposit plus any additional payments made. Any payments made are non-refundable and non-transferable. Your reservation will automatically cancel if final payment is not received by the due date. Travel Insurance is highly recommended (see below).
By Fit 4 Adventure: In the event that we must cancel a trip for commercial reasons beyond our control, including if the minimum number of trip participants is not met, you will be able to transfer any amount paid toward any F4A trip in the next 24 months. You may also opt for a full refund.
By Force Majeure: In the event that a trip is cancelled due (but not limited) to natural disasters, pandemics, border restrictions, terrorism, or political instability, F4A will offer you a future trip credit valid for 24 months from the original trip date.
F4A is not responsible for any additional expenses you may incur as result of your booking, including (but not limited to) visas, vaccinations, clothing, equipment, travel insurance or non-refundable flights.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
The cancellation policy will be strictly adhered to. To avoid loss of payments due to unforeseen circumstances, travel insurance is highly recommended. We recommend booking through our partners Allianz Travel or World Nomads. Alternatively, travel insurance can often be purchased along with your flight.
If you have any questions about this trip, please feel free to reach out to Marie@Fit4Adventure.com
Day 1: A private transfer shuttles the group from Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport in Cusco into the heart of the ancient Incan empire towards our lodge in Ollantaytambo. Taking advantage of the day, we stop to tour the most impressive ruins in the area, Sacsayhuaman and Pisac*.
Cusco City, the heart of the Great Incan empire, was originally designed in the shape of the sacred Puma. The construction of Sacsayhuaman, the head of the Puma, was ordered by Pachakuteq, considered the greatest king of the empire, and was continued by Túpac Yupanqui and Huayna Capac, his son and grandson. The mystery of the site and its construction (famous for the giant stones used to construct its walls) are still unsolved. Arrival day closes with a group dinner in the Sacred Valley.
*Local guide included
Day 2: Ollantaytambo sits at 9,160ft above sea level. In order to acclimate carefully, we’ll answer the day’s call to adventure, but with an assist. An electric assist that is. Rather than the standard driving tour of the Sacred Valley, we’ll approach the area on state of the art, full-suspension E-bikes. Fully supported, the ride will start in Chinchero, famous for its local weaving, and includes stops at several notable sites, lunch by lake Huaypo and a visit to a local brewery if time permits! From lunch, we approach the town of Maras, where the sparkling white pools of the famous salt pans, mined since Inca times, greet us. From Maras, we head to Moray, an archeological site thought to be an agricultural testing center (or a UFO landing site!).
Day 3: We begin the Inca Trail from Ollantaytambo in the early afternoon. By stretching the trail into 5 days rather than the standard 4, we avoid trail traffic and will have the best campsites to ourselves. While we wait to meet our team and start the trek, you’ll have the morning to sleep in, visit the Incan citadel and fortress of Ollantaytambo (monumental in significance, as they are the site of the only major Incan victory over Spanish forces during the Spanish invasion), walk the town’s ancient, winding alleys or grab a coffee at our favorites spot.
We’ll walk 6 km along the Urubamba river to our camp in Llactapata, where we’ll enjoy the first of many fantastic dinners from our trained chef and team of talented cooks. Camp sits at 9,521 ft above sea level.
Day 4: After a full English breakfast in camp, we begin climbing up the Cusichaca valley, eventually reaching Huayllabamba, the last inhabited place on the trail. The trail steepens as we work our way towards Llulluchapampa, our second campsite. We’ll take the 9 km day in stages, stopping to take in the views of the valley, stunted cloud forest and to visit more sites. A full lunch will be served along the trail and an impressive multicourse dinner will be served in camp as we cheers to our first full day along the Inca Trail. Camp sits at 12,073 ft above sea level.
Day 5: Today we prepare for a challenging and exhilarating day. This day sees the group climb to the highest point on the trail- “Warmiwañusca” in the Quechua language, 'Dead Woman’s Pass' in English (13,828 ft.)- before dropping into the Pacaymayu valley. A second and final climb follows as we pass the Inca control post of Runkuracay, with incredible views of the Pumahuanca mountains on clear days. Our final campsite is aptly named Phuyupatamarca, or ‘the place above the clouds’. Stunning views all around and a comforting dinner are the reward for the day’s hard work. Camp sits at 11,975 ft above sea level.
Day 6: Today is the day! After taking time in camp for a filling breakfast (and to memorize the gorgeous views over Salkantay and Veronica, two mountains fabled to be lovers), we'll set out for our fist views of the legendary Machu Picchu! The trail of the day is phenomenal. Descending through cloud forest on ancient Inca stairways, through the Winay Wayna site, the trek culminates at Inti Punku, the infamous Sun Gate. It is there, as the light is turning golden, that you step through and witness Machu Picchu for the first time.
After plenty of time to sit, marvel and take photos, we make our way down to catch the bus into Aguas Calientes, where a well deserved hot shower and plush bed awaits.
By completing the Inca Trail in 4 days, we are able to ensure a second visit to Machu Picchu, increasing the likelihood of visiting with clear skies.
Day 7: Another epic day awaits, as this is the day most of you will have been waiting for: time at the incredible site of Machu Picchu. Rediscovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham, the site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and is one of the New Seven World Wonders of the World. Our guide will provide a tour of the mysterious site, perched on an impressive hilltop surrounded by cliffs and watched over by Wayna Picchu.
Those who have elected to climb Wayna Picchu, the steep mountain behind the ruins, will leave the group according to their permit and time slot to access the route. The route requires two hours and, while not for the faint of heart, rewards its climbers with a bird's eye view of Machu Picchu.
From Machu Picchu, we return to Cusco, taking a scenic train back to Ollantaytambo before a transfer to the city. A night in our favorite Cusco hotel (4 stars) closes a truly unforgettable day.
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Day 8: Today is your day. Cusco, the heart of the ancient Incan empire, has something for everyone. Our hotel is in San Blas, a historic neighborhood filled with narrow streets, artisan boutiques, coffee shops and views over the city. From San Blas, you may choose to wander down to the Plaza de Armas, explore more notable Incan sites, Colonial churches, take a cooking class or visit the local market. A massage or spa service may also be calling, or a morning yoga class at the hotel in their lovely shala (the only one in Cusco).
We’ll rejoin for a finale dinner, recounting our adventure and celebrating our week together. It is guaranteed to be one for the books.
Day 9: Airport transfers will be arranged according to departure times. Please arrange to have flights depart from Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport in Cusco (CUZ), ideally after midday in order to enjoy the hotel’s delicious breakfast, say goodbye to Cusco and squeeze in any last minute souvenir runs.
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