Classic Inca Trail 4D

Accommodation

• Tent: 2 people in a 4-person tent, allowing for greater comfort and backpack storage!
• Basic foam mattress. If you would like greater comfort during the trek we can rent you an inflatable mattress. See Optional Extras & Upgrades below.

Meals

• Dining tent with camp tables and chairs, and kitchen tent for the cook to prepare meals
• Cook and cooking equipment, plus assistants for larger groups.
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary. Our professional cooks prepare a combination of traditional Peruvian and Western cuisine. Talk to your guide if you have certain preferences! Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available. When served, salads are washed in boiled water.
• Boiled water to drink on the hike (which you can carry in your own reusable water bottle)
• Filtered water provided during the drive on the first day
• Lunch on the last day.

Transport

• Collection from your hotel on the morning of the Inca Trail Trek departure
• Private transport from Cusco to the trailhead and return at the end of the trek
• Bus between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu
• Train ticket (Expedition service) from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
• Private transport from Ollantaytambo to Cusco.

Trekking Team

• English/Quechua/Spanish speaking professional guide, plus an assistant guide for groups over 8
• Porters, who carry camping equipment, food and kitchen utensils. We provide duffel bags at your briefing for your personal items (up to 7kg/15lbs per person). If you wish to take more, you can hire a personal porter. Please contact us for costs.
• Tents, sleeping bags and mattresses for our staff to sleep in, plus a budget for their meals

Safety

• First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle

Additional

• Pre-trek briefing
• Inca Trail Permit (includes entry to Machu Picchu)

Meals

• Breakfast on the first morning
• Dinner on the last night

Equipment

• Available for rent if you don’t have one with you.
• Sleeping bags. Available for rent if you don’t have one with you.
• Additional horses for your personal luggage or to ride

Other

• Tips for the guide, cook and muleteers
• Flights to/from Cusco
• Travel Insurance
• Entrance to the hot springs
• Entrance to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain
• Toilet tent is not included on Inca Trail routes because we use facilities provided by the Ministry of Culture

Equipment Available for Rent

• Porter to carry your own things
• Sleeping Bag suitable for -5˚C
• Deluxe sleeping bag suitable for -15˚C
• Light-weight aluminum walking stick. Two sticks are recommended for tough hikes.
• Thermarest inflatable mattress
• Thermarest inflatable pillow

Service Upgrades

• Single-occupancy tent supplement
• Comfort Camping Upgrade
• Aguas Calientes Hotel Upgrade
• If you’d like more flexibility in your return travel to Cusco, consider upgrading to the Vistadome train (Executive Class) for an extra $35 per person.
  This upgrade must be requested at time of booking.

Optional Activities

• Extra Day at Machu Picchu
• If you’d like to hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain , let us know at the time of booking as it requires a separate permit.

Important!

• When calculating the cost of renting equipment, calculate using the length of the entire trip, not just the number of trekking days.
• Please be careful with rented equipment! You are responsible for the cost of replacement if something is damaged or broken.
• Any upgrades or trip extensions must be requested at time of booking.

• A fleece or down jacket is an essential item at this elevation;
• Hiking trousers with zip off shorts are a good idea, as day time temperatures can be quite warm, yet temperatures plummet as soon as the sun goes down. You can supplement these with leggings or thermals to wear underneath;
• A rain poncho or waterproof jacket is also important. It can rain or even snow at certain times of the year!;
• Water-resistant trekking boots are advisable. The trail on this hike can sometimes be muddy and wet, so we also recommend to bring extra socks!;
• A warm sleeping bag, rated to -15°C (5°F). If you prefer, you can rent one from us;
• A headlamp or torch;
• A high factor (SPF) sunscreen, a sun cap and sunglasses. The sun can be really strong, especially in dry season. Sun protection is essential!;
• A small daypack to carry your necessary items for each day’s hiking.

For our full packing list for treks in the Andes, see What to Bring.

Our blog How to Prepare for a Trek in Peru will also give you some great tips for how to get ready for your trek, before you even leave home.

Our guides are all licensed and receive regular training. They share their experience, professionalism, knowledge and enthusiasm with our passengers on every trek.

Get to know our team!

General Information About trekking with Apus Peru

• Each guide has their own preferred route and so the route you trek might not correspond exactly to the route described here.
• The times cited in this itinerary are approximate. Walking times depend on the group, and the guide may change lunch spots and campsites, depending on the progress of the group.

Specific Information About Hiking the Classic Inca Trail 4D

• The Inca Trail is not open in February
• Campsites or itinerary are subject to change, depending on the time of booking and availability of campsites. The Ministry of Culture, the government institution responsible for operating the Inca Trail, allocates campsites to authorized trekking companies on a first-come, first-served basis, and so we cannot guarantee that all campsites described in this itinerary will be available when you book.
• Wiñaywayna vs Phuyupatamarca campsites. Your last night on the trail will be spent either at Wiñaywayna or Phuyupatamarca campsites. Many people covet Wiñaywayna as it’s just a 2-hour hike to Machu Picchu from there, whereas it is 5 hours from Phuyupatamarca. Being the most popular, Wiñaywayna is allocated first. If you have your heart set on camping at Wiñaywayna, book early! The plus side to Phuyupatamarca is that it is generally less crowded.

Booking Your Classic Inca Trail 4D Trek

• A scanned copy of your passport and a non-refundable deposit must be provided upon booking a Classic Inca Trail trek. This is due to government regulations which require complete passport details and full payment of the Machu Picchu entrance fee in order to issue a permit. Your reservation will only be confirmed when we have your entrance ticket in our hands.
• If your passport number changes after you book, you must tell us immediately or you may lose your booking! If the name or number on your passport is different from the name or number on your Inca Trail permit, you will not be allowed to start the trek and you will not be entitled to a refund.
• You must carry your original passport with you on the trail.
• If you booked a Classic Inca Trail tour at a student rate, you must bring your valid student card and ISIC card on the trail with you. If you do not present your student card, you will not be allowed to start the trek and you will not be entitled to a refund, nor given an opportunity to pay the full rate.

Extras & Upgrades on the Classic Inca Trail 4D

• If you’d like to hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain , let us know at the time of booking as it requires a separate permit.
• This trek includes transportation by train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo on the Expedition service (Tourist Class), followed by bus transport from Ollantaytambo to Cusco. If you’d like more flexibility in your return travel to Cusco, consider upgrading to the Vistadome train (Executive Class) for an extra $30 per person per leg. This upgrade must be requested at time of booking.