Green Toad Bus

First day on the Inca Trail: Cusco - Km. 82 - Wayllabamba Camp (altitude: 2,980m)

You will be picked-up at your accomodation in Cusco very early, generally pick-up time is from 6.30 to 7am at the hostels. After a 3-hour bus ride and a 1-hour break in the town of Urubamba to get supplies, the bus arrives at Km 82 on the route to Machu Picchu. Every tourist has to register here at the checkpoint in order to start the trekking (you must have the passport you reserved the Inca Trail with and entered the country on). From here only 42 km over mountains, Andean valleys, rivers and tropical forets stretch between you and Machu Picchu. The first stretch is basically flat with easy ascents and takes barely 1 hour to cover. The trek goes on after lunch by descending and ascending a canyon. Later on, from the top of the hill, the ruins of Llactapata citadel come into view. The trails winds down to enter the valley of the Kusichaca river, from where a light climb gets you to the camp at Wayllabamba. Up to this point, it´s a 2-3 hour hike since lunch. The camp lies 3 000 m high and it´s cold at night. After dinner and before going to sleep, it´s a good chance to look at the stars. On clear nights, it´s possible to see most of the Milky Way, some constellations like Orion´s Belt and if lucky a shooting star.

Second day on the Inca Trail: From Wayllabamba Camp to Paqaymayo Camp (altitude: 3,660m)

Wake-up calls begin around 6am for breakfast and packing. The second day is considered by far the most difficult, due to the 1,200 m ascend to the highest point on the trail, the Warmiwañusca pass or "Dead Woman´s Pass" (altitude: 4,215m). This stretch usually takes from 4 to 5 hours. Once there, it´s recommended to take a break and wear thick clothes, for it´s generally cold. Don´t forget to bring warm clothes for this pass!

Once through the pass, the trails head down for 2 hours to the next camp. However, some groups take lunch midway to have a break and others do it at the camp in Paqaymayo, where we stay overnight. This way, almost the whole afternoon is devoted to rest.

Third day on the Inca Trail: From Paqaymayo Camp to Wiñaywayna Camp (altitude: 2,700m)

This is the most interesting day, besides being the longest. It begins with a 1 and a half hour ascend to the Runkurakay pass, located at 3,950 m. There´s a stop at an ancient Inca checkpoint on the way, as well as a lagoon where deer often drink from. After this pass the trail basically goes down. Other four ruins lie along the way to be visited: the first is Sayacmarca, which during Inca days was also a checkpoint for the trails leading into Machu Picchu. The hike continues on to Phuyupatamarca, where groups do lunch and visit the ruins here. From this moment the ascend is pretty steep and difficult, for it mainly consists of steps. Finally, we make it to the ruins at Intipata, a complex of terraces built halfway on a mountain slope, covered by dense vegetation. The trail leads to the camp at Wiñaywayna which offers rest, a shower and a cold beer. Once settled, we could visit the ruins of Wiñaywayna, similar to those of Intipata, but way more impressive.

Fourth day on the Inca Trail: From Wiñaywayna Camp to Machu Picchu

This starts earlier than normal, since 5:30am is the time to start towards Machu Picchu. The flashlights will come in handy, it´s still dark at this hour and the trail is rather narrow. In one and a half hours, we arive at Inti Punku or "The Sun Gate", from where it´s possible to admire for the first time the majestic Inca city of Machu Picchu. From here it´s only 30 minutes to your guided tour of Peru's most famous Inca ruins.

The Tour of Machu Picchu will take around 2 hours, and then you have free time to explore the site more, or head to the town of Aguas Calietes to soak in hotsprings or walk around the shops and restuarants (your bus ticket to Aguas Calientes is included). Then it is back to Cusco via the train on the comfortable backpacker class.

• Pre-departure briefing
• Cuzco Hotel Pick-Up
• Professional English/Spanish/Quechua Speaking Guide
• Inca Trail and Machu Picchu Entrance Fees 
• Tourist bus Cuzco - Kilometer 82 (starting point of trek)
• Tourist train Aguas Calientes - Ollantaytambo
• Tourist bus Ollantaytambo - Cuzco
• Cuzco Hotel Drop-Off
• Meals: 3B/3L/3D/3 snacks with typical menus
• Sleeping Mattress 
• 4-man tent for 2 people
• Porters and cook to carry shared camping and cooking equipment
• First Aid kit
• Emergency oxygen bottle
  

 
• Breakfast on Day
• Day 4 LunchTourist bus Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes ($8 USD)
• Trekking poles
• Sleeping Bag
• Inflatable Sleeping Mattress (you will be provided with a normal sleeping mattress)
• Bottled Water
• Extra Porter
• Bottled water (NOTE: you need to bring your own bottled water on the first day.  You will have access to boiled water during the trek.  We recommend bringing water purification tablets and an aluminum water bottle so you can drink water at any time during the trek.  The cost of water may double or triple along the trail so plan to bring extra cash to purchase water)
• Tips for guides and porters (WE RECCOMEND that you take along approximately 100 soles in small denominations.)
• Extra Money - Best to have too much money than too little, as you won't be finding ATM machines on the Inca Trail. Bring small notes so you can buy little things along the way.
• Your Travel Insurance
  

Well we won't lie to you, its a 4 day walk with a lot of climbs and dips at altitude, so yes, you would have had easier walks in your life! If you are worried about how you will fair on the Inca Trail or would rather enjoy your time with a little more comfort, then we recommend an upgrade to comfort class!

Well the big difference is you will have an extra porter available to help carry your belongings, allowing you less load so as to concentrate more on enjoying yourself! A sleeping bag, walking pole, inflatable matress  are just some of the other things in which an upgrade will make your walk more comfortable! Here is the list of all the extra things an upgrade will supply:

• Thermal sleeping bag
• Inflatable sleeping mattress
• Professional Trekking Poles
• Extra Porter to carry 11 kilos of personal belongings for each trekker
• Day 4 Lunch in Aguascalientes

• PASSPORT
• SLEEPING BAG
• WATER PROOF CLOTHING.
• PLASTIC BAGS or something similar to place your belongings in to keep everything dry.
• TOILET PAPER. (Very important)
• BASIC PERSONAL TOILETRIES.
• WATER BOTTLE. 
• WARM CLOTHING FOR COLD NIGHTS. (Fleece, long pants, woollen hat, gloves) 
• SPARE UNDERWEAR & SOCKS.
• PERSONAL MEDICATION
• CAMERA & BATTERIES
• SNACKS (Chocolates, chips, biscuits, energy bars.)
• TORCH / FLASH LIGHT (Very Important) and spare batteries.
• RE-HYDRATION SATCHELS
• BASIC FIRST AID KIT (Band-aids, Imodium, panadol)
• SUNSCREEN, SUNGLASSES, HAT & MOSQUITO REPELLANT.
• WALKING CLOTHES IN LAYERS. I.e.: - (zip off pants, fleece etc.)

The Inca Trails begins at Km 82 from Cusco City in the direction towards Machu Picchu. It covers a 39 km distance.

Climate is rather varied along the trek. During the day, it´s generally sunny and dry (first two days), but a bit humid on the third and fourth days. At night, it´s cold at the first two camps, but it changes to temperate at the third camp. The wet season starts at the end of November and goes through to March. This makes trekking more difficult, but the landscapes benefit from the rain.

Scenery and landscapes gradually change along the trail. The landscape reflects Andean features like steep snow-topped mountains, forests and creeks during the first two days. In turn, vegetation goes more tropical on the third day, ressembling a rain forest. Llamas, hawks, lizards and an occasional deer may be seen along the hike.

Items not allowed on the Inca Trail:

1. Firearms or compressed air, bows and arrows, hunting and fishing implements, axes, machetes, mount knives, picks, shovels or other tools.
2. Any type of trap to catch specimens of fauna.
3. Fossil fuels such as kerosene, diesel oil, gasoline.
4. Stimulants, narcotics and other drugs not permitted by national legislation.
5. Sound equipment and other generators of annoying noises.
6. Domestic animals and exotic species.
7. Metal-tipped canes without protective rubber or wooden sticks of native species.
8. Bottles, plastic containers and disposable cups

Inca Trail Periods of Closure

For reasons of ecological recovery, during the month of February each year the Inca Trail is closed for tourist use.

For reasons of conservation or restoration, there may be Inca Trail closure periods; in this case the UGM will notify users thirty (30) calendar days in advance.

In situations of risk, acts of God or force majeure, the Peruvian government may order the closure or restriction of the Inca trail without previous notice.

Length of stay for tourists

1. Once admitted to the Inca Trail, the users can not extend their stay for longer than what is established on their ticket, except for fortuitous or force majeure circumstances.
2. The stay applies from the moment the user registers entry to the Inca Trail Network at the SHM check-in point and monitoring station.

User ID

It is mandatory that all users of the Inca Trail, enter the Inca Trail with their original identity cards (passport) and register their entry at the checkpoints or the INC or INRENA.

Prohibition of traffic and night use of the Inca Trail

It is forbidden to move through the network of the Inca Trail between the hours of 19:00 and 05:30am, unless deemed necessary by unforeseen circumstances or force majeure.

For thousands of years, South American civilizations developed themselves apart from the rest of the world. The last of these people were the Incas, who extended over the territories of Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina,  placing their political center in Peru. As the Romans did, the Incas produced monumental stone buildings, as well as an extensive network of paved roads to link the farthest corners of their vast Empire. Many of them have recently been re-discovered and cleared, such as the Inca Trail, allowing modern man to admire the best example of the routes trodden by the first Spainish invaders, who couldn´t help but praise every inch of these ancient trails.

The Inca Trail served as a pilgrimage route to Machu Picchu, trekked by the Inca King himself in the 15th century. It wasn´t intended for commercial purposes, as there were other easier trails to carry products, llamas and people to Machu Picchu. The purpose of the Inca Trail was religious and ceremonial, a pilgrimage that included rituals for worshiping the mountains along the route, and along the way you can visit ceremonial centres such as Verónica and Wakaywilka. On the Inca Trail you will overcome high snow-covered peaks, and then sneak down into the jungle, where access grows difficult by the minute, and it is right here where the Sacred City of Machu Picchu rests.