Meals: B Breakfast L Lunch D Dinner
Upon your arrival in Lima, we will pick you up from the International airport of Lima and we will take you to your hotel located in Miraflores. At 2:00p.m., we will pick you up from your hotel in order to start a city tour. During this city tour, we will take you to Miraflores disctrict and then to downtown Lima where you will visit the Cathedral, the main square, the Catacombs, the San Pedro church, and the "Plaza San Martin". After enjoying the beautiful architecture and art of downtown Lima, you will visit the great Larco Museum. Afterwards, we will take you to your hotel. You will spend the night at your hotel.
We will take you to the airport in order to take a morning flight to Cusco. Upon your arrival to the airport of Cusco we will pick you up and we will drive you to your hotel located in downtown Cusco. You will have the remainder of the day to relax or walk around downtown. You will spend the night at your hotel.
At 2:00p.m., you will start a guided city tour. This tour will include a visit to the Cathedral, the Temple of Qoricancha, and the Inca ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puca Pucara, and Tambomachay. This tour will let you learn about the Inca culture as well as some aspects of the conquest of the Inca's Empire and the colony. At about 6:00p.m., you will be back at your hotel. You will spend the night at your hotel.
At about 8:30a.m., we will pick you up from your hotel in order to start a guided tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This tour will let you observe an amazing view of the Urubamba River and the valley as well as a visit to the ruins of Pisac and the marketplace of the same name. After lunch, which is included on the package, we will take you to the Andean town of Ollantaytambo where you will have a guided tour of the incredible Inca ruins of the town. You will spend the night at this enigmatic town.
At about 8:30a.m., your guide will pick you up from your hotel and at that time you will meet your group for the hike. Once your entire group gets together at the main square of Ollantaytambo you will head to the Km. 82, also called Piscacucho, where you will start the trek. The Inca Trail will take you through beautiful landscapes towards your lunch camp located near to the ruins of Llactapata. After lunch, you will continue your hike towards your first campsite located at Huayllabamba located about 10,160 feet above sea level. Once at your campsite you will eat dinner. Today you will hike for about 5 hours.
After breakfast you will start the most difficult day of the trek. You will hike at a constant incline until you reach the pass known as Warmiwañusca or Dead Woman's Pass located about 13,770 feet above sea level. The views at this point are incredible. After resting, you will start going down towards your campsite named Pacaymayo. At Pacaymayo you will enjoy lunch and dinner. If it is not cloudy at night, the sky will provide you an incredible sky full of stars. Today you will hike for about 6 or 7 hours.
After breakfast you will start the most beautiful day of the trek. Your first stop will be the ruins of Runkurakay and then the second pass of the trek named after the ruins. Your next stop will be the ruins of Sayacmarca. After a short tour at Sayacmara, you will eat lunch and then you will start hiking again. On the way to your last campsite at Wiñaywayna you will stop at the ruins of Phuyupatamarca. At the camp you will be able to take a hot shower and then eat dinner. Today you will hike for about 7 hours.
You will eat a very early breakfast around 4:30a.m. and then you will start your hike towards the gate of the sun or Intipunku. If it is not cloudy, you will have an amazing view of Machu Picchu. Once at the Citadel, you will have a guided tour of about two hours. After that you will have time to wander around or climb the Huayna Picchu Mountain. Around midday, you will meet with the rest of the group to take a bus down to Aguas Calientes. In the afternoon, you will take a train towards Ollantaytambo. Upon arrival to the Ollantaytambo train station, transfer to your hotel in Cusco will be provided. You will spend the night at your hotel.
Today, we will pick you up from your hotel and we will drive you to the airport of Cusco in order to take a plane to Lima. End of our services.
Note: Porters will carry the heavy gear; you will hike carrying only your personal pack, sleeping bag and pad. If you are considering bringing some photography equipment or other heavy accessories, or just simply don't want to carry anything, please request the services of an additional porter to carry your personal belongings; this way you will freely enjoy the hike. (This is highly recommended if you have never hiked over 10,000 feet). Cooks handle all the kitchen chores.
| ACCOMMODATION | Price per traveler (USD) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Option | LIMA | CUSCO | OLLANTAYTAMBO | DOUBLE | SINGLE |
| Tourist | La Castelllana (Lima) | Antawasi (Cusco) | Ollantaytambo Lodge (Ollantaytambo) | $1,405 | $1,535 |
| Superior | La Hacienda (Lima) | Tierra Viva Plaza (Cusco) | Pakaritampu (Ollantaytambo) | $1,565 | $1,859 |
| Premium | BTH Lima Golf (Lima) | Casa Andina Premium (Cusco) | Casa Andina Premium (Ollantaytambo) | $1,765 | $2,315 |
| Deluxe | Casa Andina Premium (Lima) | Palacio del Inka (Cusco) | Tambo del Inka (Ollantaytambo) | $2,299 | $3,379 |
NOTE: We book the hotels listed in the itinerary whenever possible. During busy seasons or when booked within 90 days of the tour date, we may need to substitute hotels of equal or higher category.
+ Vistadome train upgrade Aguas Calientes to Poroy: USD $95.00
Yes. Round-trip domestic flights between Lima and Cusco (LIM/CUZ/LIM) are included in the package price. We book the flights on your behalf and provide the tickets. Flight times are subject to airline schedules; we will confirm your specific flight times after booking. International flights to/from Lima are not included and must be arranged separately.
The Lima city tour visits the historic downtown district (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), including the Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral, the San Francisco Monastery and its famous catacombs, and the elegant San Pedro church. You will also visit the Larco Museum, home to one of the finest collections of pre-Columbian gold, silver, and ceramics in the world. The tour also passes through the modern Miraflores district with ocean views.
The flight from Lima to Cusco takes approximately 1 hour 15 minutes. Upon landing at Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport in Cusco (3,400 m / 11,150 ft), we recommend moving slowly, staying hydrated, and resting. Some travellers feel lightheaded immediately upon arrival at altitude — this is normal and usually passes within a few hours.
The 4-day Classic Inca Trail is moderate to challenging. Day 2 is the hardest, climbing to Dead Woman's Pass at 4,215 m (13,828 ft). You should be in good aerobic fitness and capable of hiking 6–8 hours on rough stone paths. The itinerary includes 3 pre-trek nights (1 in Lima, 2 in Cusco) to aid acclimatization before you start hiking.
Yes. We arrange your airport pickup from Lima's Jorge Chavez International Airport and transfer you to your included hotel in the Miraflores district — Lima's safest and most comfortable neighbourhood. The Lima city tour the following day departs from your hotel. All hotels on this tour are centrally located, clean, and rated 3-star or above depending on your chosen tier.
The Classic Inca Trail covers approximately 43 km (27 miles) over 4 days. You hike roughly 5 hours on Day 1, 6–7 hours on Day 2 (the hardest), 7 hours on Day 3, and 2–3 hours on the final morning before entering Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. The trail passes through cloud forest, high alpine terrain, and over three mountain passes.
Your large suitcase or bag is stored securely at your hotel in Cusco while you are on the trail. Porters carry only your 7 kg duffel bag (which we suggest you fill with trail essentials) and group equipment. On the last day of the trek you return to Cusco and are reunited with your stored luggage.
You sleep in tents at designated campsites. We provide quality 4-season tents (2-person for private use if available), insulated sleeping mats, and pillows. Sleeping bags are available to rent if needed. Campsites have basic bathroom facilities and, at some sites, access to a cold-water shower. Our crew sets up and breaks down camp so you arrive to a ready tent each evening.
Yes, you can hire an additional personal porter to carry your daypack on the trail for an extra fee. Many trekkers find this adds greatly to their enjoyment, allowing them to focus on the landscape and archaeology rather than carrying weight. Please request this option when you contact us to book, as porter numbers are allocated in advance.
The Lima–Cusco–Inca Trail combination was exactly what I wanted for my first time in South America. Starting in Lima gave the whole trip a proper sense of arrival in Peru. The Larco Museum blew my mind before I even got to Machu Picchu. The 9-day pace felt perfect — enough time to absorb each place without rushing.
Having the domestic flight included meant one less thing to organise, which I appreciated. The Cusco acclimatization days were well-structured — the city tour on Day 3 was the right level of activity. The Inca Trail itself was hard but the scenery and the quality of guiding made every steep step worthwhile.
I did this tour solo and was placed with a lovely group of people from Europe and the US. The guides fostered a great team spirit on the trail, which helped enormously on the tough Day 2 climb. Watching the sunrise over Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate after our early morning push was genuinely emotional.
The Lima city tour was far more interesting than I expected — the catacombs under San Francisco and the Larco Museum alone would justify a stop in Lima. The Inca Trail portion was expertly guided with detailed historical context at every ruin. A well-priced, well-run package that delivered on every promise.
The trek food surprised me the most — fresh, hot, beautifully presented meals in the wilderness were something I did not expect. The porters were fast, cheerful, and professional. The Sun Gate arrival on the last morning, emerging from the cloud to see Machu Picchu below, is a moment I will carry for the rest of my life.
Secure your spot with a deposit starting from US$ 250. Permits are limited and popular dates sell out months in advance.