Cross the Andes on the original Inca Trail with a guide and trekking team dedicated to your group. Camp for three nights, reach the Sun Gate on day four and celebrate at Inkaterra before returning to Machu Picchu the following morning.
3 nights camping, 1 at Inkaterra
plus a guided Machu Picchu visit on day five
Dead Woman’s Pass, the highest point
Private. Your party only
per guest, parties of 4 to 8
The trail is the reason to come. There are places along the Inca Trail that are worth the hike in their own right: the terraces above the river, the climb to the high pass, the stonework at Sayacmarca and the approach to Wiñay Wayna. Your guide helps you understand what you’re seeing, not just get from one camp to the next.
Our five-day trip combines four days of hiking with a hotel night before the final Machu Picchu visit. You still take on the trail’s climbs and descents. The extra day gives the finish more room, rather than turning the route into an easy hike.
What private means. Your guide, cook and porters work with your party only. The Inca Trail and Machu Picchu remain shared visitor sites; scheduled trains and Machu Picchu buses are shared unless your proposal says otherwise.
This is our planned route. Hiking times are approximate, and campsites and visit times depend on the final permit allocation and conditions. Your confirmed itinerary sets out the arrangements for your departure.
At the pre-trek briefing at our Cusco office at 6 pm, we’ll go through the route, expected conditions, equipment and your personal duffel. It’s also a chance to meet your guide and ask any final questions before setting out.
Your private transfer takes you from your Cusco hotel to the trailhead at KM 82. After the entry checks, begin hiking through the valley, passing the terraces of Llactapata as you head toward Wayllabamba. Your guide introduces the route and the crew prepares the first camp and dinner.
The major climb of the trek leads to Warmiwañusqa, known as Dead Woman’s Pass. Take it steadily with your guide, stopping along the way as needed. At 4,215 m, the pass is the highest point of the route. From there, the trail descends on stone steps toward Pacaymayo and the night’s camp.
Continue past Runkurakay and Sayacmarca, with your guide explaining the sites and their place along the Inca route. Old paving, stone stairways and a tunnel make this one of the most distinctive stretches of the hike. The proposed camp is at Phuyupatamarca, above the cloud forest.
Descend through the cloud forest, visit Wiñay Wayna and follow the final stretch toward Inti Punku, the Sun Gate. From here, weather permitting, you’ll have your first view of Machu Picchu. After completing the trail’s permitted arrival route, continue to Aguas Calientes and check in at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo. Dinner gives you a chance to celebrate the hike together.
After breakfast, return to Machu Picchu by bus for your guided visit. Follow the circuit arranged for your trip, exploring the site with time to understand its history and construction. Later, take the train to Ollantaytambo, where a private transfer brings you back to your Cusco hotel.
After three nights camping, Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo is a welcome change: a hot shower, a comfortable room and dinner to celebrate the trek. Your stay is included on night four, before your guided Machu Picchu visit the next morning.
The hotel is in Aguas Calientes, surrounded by gardens and forest. You don’t have to choose between hiking the trail and enjoying a good hotel at the end.
at Inkaterra, included in your trek
to celebrate finishing the trail
guided Machu Picchu visit the next morning
The five-day price includes your private trekking team, the listed camp arrangements, the Inkaterra stay and the transport and visits above. Your proposal confirms the exact arrangements for your party.
Parties of four to eight: US$2,995 per guest. Parties of two or three: US$3,395 per guest. Both include the same core five-day experience and Inkaterra finish. Solo hikers and parties of nine or more receive an individual proposal.
Bring your family, your friends or both.
The same private team and the same finish at Inkaterra, for a smaller party.
Send your dates, group size and questions. We’ll discuss the trek and prepare an itinerary and price for your party. There is no charge to inquire.
We’ll explain availability, the permit process, what’s included and the booking terms before you commit. Before permits are released, we agree up to three start dates with you in order of preference.
US$500 per guest secures your first-choice date and two alternates. Non-refundable, applied to your trip total. Balance due 60 days before travel. Booking terms →
This is a demanding mountain hike, with long days, steep climbs, uneven steps and high altitude. You’ll need good hiking fitness and time to prepare. Your guide and crew will support you along the way, but the hiking is yours to do.
Not sure how your experience compares? Tell us about the hikes you do now and the people coming with you. We’ll talk through the route and preparation before you book.
Plan time in the region before the trek to adjust to altitude. We’ll help you arrange those days; a clinician can advise on your individual health and altitude considerations.
of hiking on day two, the long climb to Dead Woman’s Pass
the highest point of the route, followed by long stone-step descents. Poles help, and we have them to rent
in the region before the trek is a common starting point for adjusting to altitude
are the generally drier months and the most popular. The trail normally closes in February for maintenance
You’ll hike with a daypack containing the things you need during the day. The crew carries the camp equipment and your personal duffel within the agreed weight allowance. We’ll send a full packing list before you travel, including what is provided, what you need to bring and what can be rented.
Short answers to the questions hikers ask most are on our Inca Trail questions page, and the full FAQ covers preparation, altitude, camp life and more. Anything else, call or write and we will reply within one business day.
US$2,995 per guest for private parties of four to eight, and US$3,395 per guest for parties of two or three. Solo hikers and parties of nine or more receive an individual proposal. Prices are in US dollars. Your proposal sets out the total for your party, including any extras you choose.
Choose your first-choice start date and up to two alternates, and pay a US$500 per guest deposit. We buy your name-locked permits the moment they are released, starting with your first choice. The deposit goes toward your trip and is non-refundable if you cancel or change; the balance is due 60 days before you hike. If we can't secure any of your dates, we'll offer the nearest alternatives, or you choose a full refund or a credit. Booking terms →
Contact us as soon as you have a likely travel month. We'll explain whether to prepare for the next permit release or check dates already on sale. The release schedule is set by the Peruvian authorities; we use their confirmed announcements. The trail normally closes in February for maintenance.
Expect a demanding hike with consecutive days on uneven stone, a long climb to Dead Woman's Pass at 4,215 m and substantial descents. Being comfortable on long hilly hikes is a useful starting point. Altitude adds a separate challenge, so tell us about your experience and preparation before booking.
Our trip gives the hike and the final Machu Picchu visit separate days. You finish the trail on day four, stay at Inkaterra that night and return with your guide the next morning. You still hike the classic route over four days; the extra day changes the finish, not the altitude or all of the daily distances.
Your guide, cook and porters work with your party only, and we do not combine your booking with another group. The Inca Trail and Machu Picchu remain shared visitor sites, and scheduled trains and Machu Picchu buses are shared unless your proposal says otherwise.
Our standard tent arrangement is two guests in a three-person tent with sleeping pads, plus a dining tent with tables and chairs and separate private restroom tents for women and men. These are portable camp facilities, not hotel bathrooms. Your joining information explains the setup, washing water and drinking-water arrangements.
You'll carry a daypack with water, layers and the items you need while hiking. Your personal duffel travels with the porters within the agreed allowance. We'll state that allowance, what counts toward it and any extra porter options before you book.
On night four you stay at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo in Aguas Calientes, with a celebration dinner. Your guided visit to Machu Picchu follows the next morning, after which you travel back to Cusco by train and private transfer.
Inca Trek is the trail brand of Destination Peru, our licensed Peruvian operation. Our team handles the permit arrangements and runs the trek with your dedicated guide, cook and porters.
★★★★★
Going on big trips is scary. It is hard to find a company that you can trust and that cares about you and your experience. I’ll never use anyone else.
Mark WintertonGoogle review
★★★★★
You develop an amazing connection with nature, Peruvian culture and yourself. The food was delicious and full of local ingredients, and the guide was always on point, with fascinating stories about the Inca Empire.
Junior Alfonso Lopez TorresGoogle review
★★★★★
Inca Trek took care of all the logistics and went over the top to make sure we were comfortable in every aspect of the trek. Fantastic hospitality.
John RasmussenGoogle review
Tell us when you’d like to hike, who’s coming and what you’re wondering about. We’ll help you assess the trek, check the next steps for permits and put together a proposal for your group.
