Inca Trail Marathon 3 days (27 mile marathon) - full itinerary

Day One Cusco - Ollantaytambo - Llactapata - Wayllabamba

You will be picked up from your Cusco hotel at around 8am. (Exact time will be advised at your pre-trek briefing). You should have breakfast in your hotel or bring some snacks.  We will stop in Ollantaytambo for last minute purchases, plus an opportunity for breakfast if you wish.   We will continue to Pisacucho (also known as Kilometre 82) where the trail starts. On arrival at Kilometre82, it is necessary to show entrance tickets, passports and (if paying a student rate) student card. Crossing the Urubamba river we begin our trek through typical dry forest growing cacti, prickly pears and the Tara tree. We will run the first 6km to Llactapata the first archaeological site on our journey, and where we will camp the night (or perhaps we will continue to Wayllabamba. We will have dinner, a short meeting about the next day and an early night.

Day 2:  Inca Trail - Machu Picchu

After waking up at 4am, we will have breakfast and pack. At 6 am we will start the marathon of about 24 miles over 3 passes - we will arrive at Machu Picchu in approximately 6 to 9 hours!!!!
Leaving small villages and farmland we will enter the sub tropical forest and lunch around Llulluchapampa. From here we will start a steep ascent towards the highest pass (Abra de Huarmihuañusca/'Dead Woman's Pass’ – 4200m/13779ft).  There is an amazing sense of achievement upon reaching the top.  We will continue downwards 600ms (1980 feet) over 3 kms (1.8 miles) through very humid forest to Pacasmayo. We will continue on to Sayakmarka one of the most beautiful Inka remains on this, the Classic Inca trail.  We cointinue to  Phuyupatamarca (meaning ‘Town in the Clouds’) and to reach the third highest point on the trail (3680m). There are also wonderful views of Salkantay Mountain. From here we continue onto Winaywayna and finally Inti Punku and the famous view of Machu Picchu. As we anticipate that this will be quite late in the day, we will not enter the ruins of Machu picchu but descend to the village of Aguas Calientes by bus (or running). After a shower at our hostal, we will have a celebratory dinner in an Aguas Calientes restaurant.

Accomodation: Basic hostal in Aguas Calientes.

Day 3: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cusco

After an early breakfast we will run/walk up to the ruins of Machu Picchu. Alternatively, you can chose to take the bus if you want to be amongst the first at the ruins. After this you are free to explore this famous site, and if you feel energetic we recommend you to climb Huayna Picchu,(permit is extra to price of tour) This hike takes about 1 hour to climb, and less to descend and offers awesome views of Machu Picchu and the surrounding terrain. You have the option to walk down from Machu Picchu, or to take the busI We return to Cusco in the afternoon by the backpacker train (leaves either at 2.30pm or 6pm) and are met by a driver at Ollantaytambo who will transfer you directly back to your hotel. You will arrive approximately 4 hours after your train's departure from Aguas Calientes.

MPORTANT – government regulations will not allow reservations to be made unless accompanied by full passport details of the client and full payment of the entrance fee to the Machu Picchu Sanctuary. This is to assist in the 500 people a day rule. Therefore to guarantee your place on the inca trail trek or tour you must provide a scanned copy of your passport and a non refundable deposit.  Your reservation will only be confirmed when we have your entrance ticket in our hands. In case of passport number change this information must be relayed to us or you will lose your booking. Original passport must be carried on trail.

Itinerary notes - Classic Inca Trail 4 days

• The times cited in this itinerary are approximate. Walking times depend on the group and the guide can change lunch spots and campsites, depending on the progress of the group. Each guide has their own preferred route and it might not correspond exactly to the route described here.
• Allocations or Itinerary are subject to change depending on time of booking and campsites provided by INC (institution that runs the Inca Trail).  .
• Considering an extra night in Aguas Calientes? (Please check out linked page) We can change the date of your train ticket to the following day. Hotels costs and costs associated with returning to Machu Picchu the following day are additional to trek costs. Please also note that your entry ticket to Machu Picchu is valid for one day only, if you wish to visit the ruins on a second consecutive day you will need to purchase the ticket again.

Aguas Calientes upgrade package (optional) $115 per person on twin share basis  This price doesn’t change depending on the number of people in the group. This package includes.

• Night in a 3 star hotel, like Killa Inn, Gringo Bills or La Cabaña.  These are a nice hotels, well decorated, and clean.

• Dinner at one of Aguas Calientes “best” restaurants, like Indio Feliz or Tree House restaurant and includes one beverage!
• Buffet lunch at Tinkuy Restaurant, located in the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge.
• With limited eating choices at Machu Picchu hunger tends to send clients to Aguas Calientes; by including the buffet lunch we find that clients can visit Machu Picchu early, then go to the buffet to try lots of different Peruvian (and Western) dishes, and then rest and go back for a second look at Machu Picchu.

• Return in Vistadome train rather than Expedition train, which gives you the opportunity for a more varied timetable and to return in a nicer train, with big windows in the roof.

 

Practical Information

What's included?

For complete facts about many aspects of Apus Peru tours, check out our FAQs page!

• Pre trek briefing
• Collection from your hotel in the morning of trek departure.
• Transport from Cusco to the trailhead
• Inca Trail Permit (includes entry to Machu Picchu, but not to Huayna Picchu)
• English/Quechua/Spanish speaking professional guide (you will have an assistant guide for groups over 6 people).
• Tents - 2 people in a 4 person tent which allows for greater comfort, and also storage of backpacks.
• Basic foam mattress. If you require greater comfort during the trek we can hire you an inflatable mattress (eg. Thermarest) .
• Cook and Cooking equipment (Assistants are provided for larger groups)
• Toilet tent
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary (optional vegetarian food). Our professional cooks prepare meals that incorporate elements of the western diet and also traditional Peruvian delicacies. (Please communicate with your guide/cook during the trek if you have a preference for certain types of dishes). Salads, if served, are washed in boiled water.
• Porters (for equipment and personal items) They carry camping equipment, food and kitchen utensils. We provide duffel bags at your briefing for your personal items (up to 7 kg per person). If you wish to take more, you can hire a porter, please contact us for costs.
• Dining tent with camp tables and chairs & Kitchen tent for the cook to prepare meals
• Tents for our staff to sleep in
• First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle
• Bus down from Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu is included.
• Train ticket (Expedition service) from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
• Private transport from Ollantaytambo to Cusco.
• Lunch on the last day is included in this itinerary.
• 1 night accommodation in Aguas Calientes in a basic hotel. This will be a nice, clean and safe hostel with breakfast included and private bathroom. If you wish to upgrade from this hotel, please check out the options listed on our Aguas Calientes accommodation page.

What is not included?

• Breakfast on the first morning.
• Dinner on the last night.
• Entrance to the thermal springs
• Entry to Huayna Picchu ($55)
• Tips for the guide, cook and porters

You should bring:

• A light day pack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek - prepare for a vast range of changes in temperature
• Rain gear (jacket and pants if available) or rain poncho. Plastic ponchos can be bought for about $1 in Cusco .
• Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots recommended.
• Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces, gloves, scarf and beanie/touk. Thermal clothing is also recommended, especially for sleeping.
• Camera, films and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
• Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold
• Sun block
• After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body
• Insect repellent - minimum recommended 20% DEET - although no malaria risk has been reported
• Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc.
• Non-disposable canteen (Nalgene type) and water for the first morning.
• We advise you to bring water sterilizing tablets in case you collect water from streams.
• Your own medical kit with any special medications that you might require, paracetamol, second skin for blisters etc.
• Small towel or sarong
• Bathers/swimsuit (if you intend on swimming in hot springs )
• Cash - sufficient for snacks, tips and souvenirs.
• Original passport & ISIC (International Student Identity Card) if you have one.
• Walking sticks or poles (we can hire these to you. Please note poles with metal tips cannot be carried into Machu Picchu and should be left at your hotel on the final day)
• Binoculars (if you have them)

optional extras

We can hire the following to you.

• Porter to carry your things ($30 per day)
• Sleeping Bag suitable for – 10deg $4.00 per trip day
• Deluxe Sleeping Bag suitable for -15deg. $5.00 per trip day)
• Walking stick lightweight aluminum ($2.00 per day, per stick) Two sticks are recommended for tough hikes.
• Thermarest inflatable mattress - $4 per trip day
• Inflatable pillow - $2 per trip day
• Comforting Camping trek upgrade $40.00  per trip day
• Single tent supplement (ie you don’t want to share a tent) $25.00 per person
• Aguas Calientes Extra Day & Upgrade –comfortable 3star hotel, nicer restaurants and Vistadome train upgrade $175 per person

HIRE POLICY:

• When calculating costs for hire of walking stick, sleeping bag, calculate using the length of the tour. Even though you won’t use the equipment on the final day it will still be ‘on the road’ and ‘occupied.’
• If you hire equipment and break it – you are responsible for price of replacement /or repair. (please do the right thing!)

AVAILABLE DISCOUNTS (these discounts are not cumulative)

• 5% discount on treks only for members of South American Explorers Club (SAE)
• Students: US$ 30.00 (students require a valid International Student Identity Card. Please beware that Youth Travel Cards are not valid)
• Teenagers: US$ 20.00 (up to 15 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings)
• Children: US$ 45.00 (up to 10 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings)

TO MAKE A BOOKING

Please visit our Make a Booking page.

You will need to email us to check availability, receive booking forms and then make your deposit. For our payment conditions and booking please refer to our Make a Booking page. * For organisational reasons, we require one week to organise your booking, prior to departure.