Trek Cusco Region — Sacred Valley, Peru

The Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Four days on original Inca stone paths over high passes and past cloud-forest ruins, arriving at Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate at dawn.

Duration: 4 days
Distance: 42 km
Ascent: 2500 m
Difficulty: Hard
Best season: Dry season May–September (trail closed every February)

The Inca Trail is less a hike than a pilgrimage along a road the Inca built more than five centuries ago. Over four days it climbs from the Urubamba river through cloud forest and puna grassland, crosses two high passes, and passes a string of stone ruins before delivering you to Machu Picchu on foot — the way it was meant to be reached.

Altitude is the real challenge, so build in days to acclimatize in Cusco first.

Getting there. Fly to Cusco via Lima and acclimatize for at least two days. Your operator drives you to the trailhead at Km 82 (Piscacucho) near Ollantaytambo. You return by train from Aguas Calientes.

Permits & tickets. A government permit is required and capped at 500 people per day total (about 200 trekkers). You must book through a licensed operator — independent trekking is prohibited — and permits sell out 4–6 months ahead. Bring the passport that matches your permit.

Good to know:

The highest pass, Dead Woman’s Pass, is 4,215 m — acclimatization in Cusco beforehand is essential.
Porters carry group gear, but pack light and bring layers for cold nights and strong sun.

Day 1

Km 82 to Wayllabamba

Piscacucho (Km 82) → Wayllabamba 12 km ↑ 400 m

An easy start with early ruins and a first climb to camp, following the river before turning up the Cusichaca valley.

Segments

Riverside warm-up 7 km ↑ 100 m

Km 82 checkpoint → Patallacta viewpoint

River path

Follow the river on an easy grade past the hilltop fort of Huillca Raccay to a viewpoint over the sweeping agricultural terraces of Patallacta. About 3 hours.
Climb to first camp 5 km ↑ 300 m

Patallacta → Wayllabamba

Valley climb

Turn up the Cusichaca valley on a steady climb to Wayllabamba, the last inhabited village on the route and the usual first night's camp.

Day 2

Dead Woman's Pass

Wayllabamba → Pacaymayo 11 km ↑ 1200 m

A long, steady climb out of the cloud forest to the highest point of the trail, then a steep stone descent to camp.

Segments

Ascent to the high pass 6 km ↑ 1200 m

Wayllabamba → Dead Woman's Pass (4,215 m)

Cloud forest to puna grassland

Climb out of the cloud forest into open puna grassland to Warmiwañusca, at 4,215 m the highest and most demanding point of the whole trail. Around 4 hours.
Descent to Pacaymayo 5 km ↑ 0 m

Dead Woman's Pass → Pacaymayo camp

Steep Inca staircase

Drop steeply down an original Inca staircase into the Pacaymayo valley, where the second night's camp waits below the pass. About 2 hours.

Day 3

The archaeological day

Pacaymayo → Wiñay Wayna 16 km ↑ 400 m

Cross a second pass and thread a series of stone ruins before a long descent into cloud forest to the final camp.

Segments

Runkurakay pass 4 km ↑ 350 m

Pacaymayo → Runkurakay pass (~3,950 m)

Stone path

Climb past the circular ruin of Runkurakay, an Inca way-station, to the second pass of the trek. About 2.5 hours.

About this place

Runkuraqay or Runku Raqay is an archaeological site on a mountain of the same name in Peru located in the Cusco Region, Urubamba Province, Machupicchu District. It is situated southeast of the archaeological site Machu Picchu and south of the Vilcanota river. The ruins lie on the southern slope of the mountain Runkuraqay near the Runkuraqay pass, northeast of the archaeological site Sayacmarca and southeast of the site Qunchamarka.
Read more on Wikipedia ↗
Photo: Tyler Bell · CC BY 2.0
Sayacmarca & Phuyupatamarca 6 km ↑ 50 m

Runkurakay pass → Phuyupatamarca (~3,650 m)

Original Inca paving and tunnel

Pass the cliff-top citadel of Sayacmarca and reach Phuyupatamarca, the 'town above the clouds', with its ritual baths, original paving and a rock-cut tunnel.

About this place

Sayacmarca is an archaeological site in Peru located in the Cusco Region, Urubamba Province, Machupicchu District. It is situated southwest of the archaeological site Runkuraqay and the Runkuraqay pass and southeast of the sites Phuyupatamarka and Qunchamarka.
Read more on Wikipedia ↗
Photo: Mx._Granger · CC0
Descent to Wiñay Wayna 6 km ↑ 0 m

Phuyupatamarca → Wiñay Wayna

Long staircase into cloud forest

A long staircase drops into cloud forest to Wiñay Wayna — 'forever young' — a beautiful terraced ruin with cascading fountains and the final camp.

About this place

Wiñay Wayna is an Inca ruin along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. It is built into a steep hillside overlooking the Urubamba River. The site consists of upper and lower house complexes connected by a staircase and fountain structures. Above and below the houses the people built areas of agricultural terraces or andenes, which are still visible.
Read more on Wikipedia ↗
Photo: Chris Smith · CC BY 2.0

Day 4

Sun Gate to Machu Picchu

Wiñay Wayna → Machu Picchu 6 km ↑ 250 m

Set off in the dark to reach Inti Punku for sunrise, then walk down into Machu Picchu itself.

Segments

Pre-dawn walk to the Sun Gate 5 km ↑ 250 m

Wiñay Wayna checkpoint → Inti Punku (Sun Gate)

Inca path, final steep steps

Set off in the dark and climb the final 'Monkey Steps' to Inti Punku, the Sun Gate, for the classic first sight of Machu Picchu at sunrise. About 2 hours.
Descent into Machu Picchu 1 km ↑ 0 m

Inti Punku → Machu Picchu citadel

Stone path

Walk down to the classic postcard viewpoint and into the citadel for a guided tour of the site you have spent four days earning.