The 4-day and 5-day Inca Trail hike the same route; the difference is the finish. A 4-day tours Machu Picchu tired on day four. Inca Trek by Destination Peru’s 5-day sleeps at Inkaterra and tours it rested next morning.
Answered by Jared Snow, founder, and our team in Cusco · Last updated: October 12, 2026
On most 4-day group treks, day four means a pre-dawn start, hiking to the Sun Gate, descending into Machu Picchu and touring it the same day, after three nights in a tent. On our private 5-day Inca Trail, you reach the Sun Gate in the afternoon of day four, descend to Aguas Calientes, have a celebration dinner and a bed at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo, and tour Machu Picchu rested for 2–3 hours the next morning before the train back to Cusco.
| Most 4-day group treks | Inca Trek by Destination Peru 5-day | |
|---|---|---|
| Hiking days | 4 | 4 (day 5 is Machu Picchu only) |
| Nights camping | 3 | 3 |
| Highest point | Dead Woman's Pass, 4,215 m | Dead Woman's Pass, 4,215 m |
| Finish hotel | None before Machu Picchu | Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo, night 4 |
| Machu Picchu timing | Day 4, same day as the hike, after a pre-dawn start | Day 5 morning, guided, 2–3 hours, rested |
| Who is on the trek | A shared group | Your party only, 2–8 hikers |
| Price | Varies | US$3,395 per guest (2–3), US$2,995 per guest (4–8) |
The trail itself is identical. Both start at Km 82, cross Dead Woman's Pass at 4,215 m on day two, pass Wiñay Wayna on day four and enter Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. The 5-day does not add hiking; it adds a night. Day one is 12 km and 5–6 hours to Wayllabamba, high point 3,000 m. Day two is the hard one, 6–8 hours over the pass. Day four is about 11 km and 6–7 hours to the Sun Gate and down to Aguas Calientes. On a 4-day, Machu Picchu is squeezed into the end of that day. On the 5-day, it gets its own morning.
Because you see it properly. After four days of hiking you arrive at the Sun Gate in the afternoon with tired legs, a full pack and a train to catch. Sleeping at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo and returning the next morning means a shower, a real bed, a celebration dinner, and a guided 2–3 hour visit at 2,430 m with fresh legs. The train to Ollantaytambo and a private transfer to Cusco follow the visit.
Yes. Inca Trek by Destination Peru's private 5-day Inca Trail is built around it: three nights camping, night four at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo in Aguas Calientes, and a guided Machu Picchu visit on the morning of day five. It is the only trek we run, for private parties of 2–8 hikers, at US$3,395 per guest for 2–3 and US$2,995 per guest for 4–8. Planning for 2027? See how 2027 permits work, and how we look after our own guides, cooks and porters.
No. The hiking is the same four days over the same route, with the same high point at Dead Woman's Pass (4,215 m). The 5-day is easier on the last day because you are not hiking and touring Machu Picchu in one go. Inca Trek by Destination Peru's 5-day adds a hotel night at Inkaterra, not extra kilometres.
Not on our itinerary. Most 4-day group treks start before dawn on day four to reach the Sun Gate early. On Inca Trek by Destination Peru's 5-day you reach the Sun Gate in the afternoon of day four, a quieter arrival. You see Machu Picchu again the next morning, rested, on a guided 2–3 hour visit.
Anyone who wants to arrive at Machu Picchu rested rather than tour it on the fourth afternoon of a trek: couples, families with hikers aged 12 and up, and parties of friends up to 8. Inca Trek by Destination Peru's 5-day is private, so the pace on the trail is your party's pace.
It includes one more night, at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo with a celebration dinner, and it is private. Inca Trek by Destination Peru charges US$3,395 per guest for parties of 2–3 and US$2,995 per guest for parties of 4–8, including permits, crew, camping, the Inkaterra night and the guided Machu Picchu visit.
Tell us your dates and who’s coming. We’ll reply within one business day with a proposal for your private 5-day trek.
