Are you drawn to the idea of experiencing one of the most incredible hikes in the world, customized exactly the way you want?
If so, the private Inca Trail tour is perfect for you. Not only will you explore this amazing route, but you’ll also have the option to tailor it to your needs, preferences, and pace.
Walk with an elite team of porters, chefs, and a tour guide dedicated solely to your group. This hike is ideal for couples, families with children, or groups of friends.
What can you expect?
You’ll hike through the most breathtaking Andean landscapes and visit some of the most significant Inca sites along the trail, all with your own personal excursion team. The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is the most sought-after trek in Peru and offers an excellent challenge for travelers of all types.
Do you want to experience Peru’s best route but dislike the idea of traveling in a group with strangers?
Then, our private Inca Trail tour is perfect for you. Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is an adventure that will truly change your life forever, offering unique and incredible experiences. You can join us with your family, friends, or partner if you wish.
More than 40,000 km of Inca roads span South America, reaching the farthest corners of their vast empire. This four-day trek to the Inca fortress of Machu Picchu is known as the most iconic path among the thousands of kilometers that make up the original network. Many magazines, including National Geographic, consider this section of the Inca Trail one of the top 5 treks in the world and undoubtedly the most famous in South America.
Along the way, the complexity of these fascinating archaeological sites will amaze you, contrasting with the stunning beauty of the surrounding hills and valleys. This tour is perfect for those hungry for adventure and excitement, seeking to walk in the footsteps of our Andean ancestors along the sacred route to Machu Picchu.
Enjoy the unique experience of entering the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu for the first time through the Sun Gate and explore the site with your expert guide.
This is the ultimate hike to experience the most epic Inca adventure and learn all about its history. So, what are you waiting for? Lace up your hiking boots and walk the ancient trails with Tunqui Expeditions.
HIGHLIGHTS
ITINERARY SUMMARY
DAY 01: CUSCO – PISCACUCHO (KM 82) – LLACTAPATA – HUAYLLABAMBA – AYAPATA
Head to Piscacucho (KM 82) to begin your hike towards Willkarakay and Llactapata. Continue to the Ayapata campsite, where you’ll spend time with locals, enjoy dinner, and rest.
DAY 02: AYAPATA – DEAD WOMAN’S PASS – PACAYMAYU – RUNKURAKAY PASS – SAYACMARCA – CHAQUICOCHA
Hike to the highest point, Warmiwañusca Pass (Dead Woman’s Pass), before heading to the archaeological sites of Runkuracay and Sayacmarca. Spend the night at Chaquicocha.
DAY 03: CHAQUICOCHA – PHUYUPATAMARCA – INTIPATA – WIÑAYWAYNA
Take in the breathtaking views and visit the archaeological site of Phuyupatamarca. Head to your camp and explore Wiñaywayna with your guide before enjoying a team celebration that night.
DAY 04: WIÑAYWAYNA – INTIPUNKU (SUN GATE) – MACHU PICCHU – AGUAS CALIENTES – OLLANTAYTAMBO – CUSCO
Hike to the Sun Gate for the first views of Machu Picchu. Enjoy a 1.5-hour guided tour before taking the train to Ollantaytambo. Our private transport will take you back to your accommodation in Cusco.
Highlight of the day: Arrive at Llactapata and enjoy the incredible views throughout the day.
We will pick you up from your hotel early in the morning to begin your exciting adventure. If you are in Cusco, we will pick you up between 4:30 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. If you are in Urubamba, pick-up will be between 5:30 and 6:00 a.m., and if you are in Ollantaytambo, you can sleep a little longer as we will collect you between 6:30 and 7:00 a.m.
Once we meet, we will board our private transport that will take us to Piscacucho, KM 82, the starting point of the hike. There, you will enjoy your first breakfast prepared by our chef while you pack your backpack and prepare the final essentials for the journey. You will also meet the entire hiking team that will accompany you throughout this exciting adventure, ensuring unforgettable memories. Please make sure to bring your original passport to enter the Inca Trail – without it, entry will not be allowed.
After passing the checkpoint, we will begin the ultimate Peruvian experience.
The first two hours of the trail are relatively flat, helping us ease into the trek. In this beautiful valley, we will pass through potato, corn, and barley fields. The Urubamba River and the imposing La Veronica Glacier will accompany us throughout the journey. The landscape is spectacular – you won’t regret choosing this incredible excursion!
Next, we will head to Willkarakay and admire the fascinating Llactapata archaeological site, showcasing stone structures in the midst of three valleys. Afterward, we will hike for another 20 minutes to Tarayoc, where we will have lunch. You’ll be amazed by the delicious dishes our chefs prepare right in the mountains!
After lunch, we will continue hiking for another 3.5 hours until we reach our first campsite at Ayapata (3,300 m / 10,827 ft). If you need snacks or drinks, don’t worry – we will pass through two small communities where you can purchase items.
We will arrive at camp around 5:00 p.m. It will be time to relax and enjoy some snacks or a hot drink. A delicious dinner will be ready by 7:30 p.m., followed by a well-deserved night of rest surrounded by nature.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Difficulty: Moderate (Getting used to the Inca Trail)
Hiking distance: 14 km / 8.7 miles
Hiking time: 6 – 7 hours
Highest altitude: 3,300 m / 10,827 ft
Campsite altitude: 3,300 m / 10,827 ft
Highlight of the day: Reach the highest point of the trek and visit fascinating archaeological complexes.
We will wake you up early with coca tea delivered to your tent to give you the boost needed to start the day. Today is the longest and most strenuous day. We will continue the trail after breakfast.
We will ascend for four hours to the highest point of the hike, Warmiwañusca Pass (4,215 m / 13,829 ft). At this point, you’ll have the perfect opportunity to connect your soul with the towering mountains around you. Feel the spirit of the ancient Peruvians who walked this path in complete harmony with nature.
Afterward, we will descend for about 1.5 hours to Pacaymayu Valley, where we will have lunch. You can refill your water bottles at every meal.
Following lunch and a rest, we will ascend for 45 minutes to the Inca complex of Runcuracay. Here, we will explore the site and observe two stunning waterfalls cascading down the mountainsides.
Continuing for another 45 minutes, we will reach Runcuracay Pass, the second highest point. From here, we can leave our backpacks aside to fully enjoy the Andean snow-capped peaks.
This is the perfect spot for a small ceremony to offer thanks to the mountains and Pachamama (Mother Earth).
Later, we will descend for an hour to the Sayacmarca archaeological site, perched in a nearly inaccessible location. After exploring this site, we will continue for another 25 minutes to our campsite at Chaquicocha (3,600 m / 11,811 ft).
Enjoy another exquisite dinner before stargazing and learning about the fascinating constellations visible in the Andean skies.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Difficulty: Challenging
Hiking distance: 16 km / 9.94 miles
Hiking time: 8 – 9 hours
Highest altitude: 4,215 m / 13,829 ft
Campsite altitude: 3,600 m / 11,811 ft
Highlight of the Day: Explore the fascinating archaeological site of Wiñay Wayna.
Congratulations, you’ve completed the hardest day! Today, you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful experience.
After resting and enjoying breakfast, we’ll start our day at 6:30 a.m. Before continuing, remember to look to the left of the site to see the majestic Salkantay glacier at the top of the Aobamba Valley.
We will walk for an hour and a half to the final summit of the trail, Phuyupatamarca (3,650 m / 11,975 ft). From here, you can enjoy magnificent views of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, accompanied by lush vegetation, trees, bamboo, and a blanket of clouds covering the mountains.
Next, we’ll visit the archaeological site of Phuyupatamarca, where you’ll see Machu Picchu Mountain surrounded by the Urubamba mountain range. Surrounded by abundant vegetation and the singing of birds, we will descend for two and a half hours to Inti Pata, an impressive agricultural center with large terraces. From here, you’ll have the most stunning panoramic view of the Sacred Valley and the Urubamba River, which winds through the valley like a snake.
Then, we’ll walk for another 30 minutes to reach our camp near the archaeological site of Wiñay Wayna. This complex, whose name means “forever young,” is considered the most impressive along the route (besides Machu Picchu), and many hikers eagerly anticipate this part of the journey. We’ll arrive at the camp around 1:00 p.m. to enjoy a well-deserved lunch.
In the afternoon, we’ll take a guided tour of the Wiñaywayna archaeological site. Once again, the excellent explanation from our guide will bring the area to life, allowing you to imagine how it looked in ancient times. At this site, you’ll discover water fountains, sacred places dedicated to natural deities such as the Temple of the Rainbow, and incredible agricultural terraces. Wiñay Wayna is a fantastic place to uncover the fascinating history of the Incas.
Before ending the day, we’ll enjoy a small celebration with the entire team that accompanied us on the journey: porters and cooks. Remember the efforts they have made to ensure you feel comfortable and safe throughout the trek.
Take a moment to thank them for all the care and affection they have given you. Of course, tips are greatly appreciated on this route. Here, we will say goodbye to our cooks and porters.
Afterward, we recommend going to bed early because the next day we will start our hike before dawn. The wonder of the world, Machu Picchu, awaits us in all its splendor.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Difficulty: Moderate
Walking Distance: 9 km / 5.6 miles
Hiking Time: 8 – 9 Hours
Highest Altitude: 3,650 m / 11,975 ft
Camp Altitude: 2,650 m / 8,694 ft
Highlight of the Day: Without a doubt, explore the incredible archaeological complex of Machu Picchu.
All the efforts you have made over the last few days will reward you with the greatest experience.
We’ll wake up at 3:30 a.m. to have enough time to organize our backpacks and reach Machu Picchu. We’ll provide you with a nutritious packed breakfast and water for your bottle to help keep you refreshed along the way.
At 4:00 a.m., we’ll head to the checkpoint to ensure we reach the Inca citadel before other groups. We’ll begin walking for about an hour to the Sun Gate (Intipunku). Get ready, because from there you will see this incredible Inca architectural and engineering marvel for the first time. You will be immensely amazed by the view.
Congratulations! You made it! You are now at Machu Picchu. Bow to this sacred site that has patiently awaited your visit, as it will awaken something hidden deep within your soul. Afterward, we have another hour of walking until we enter Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. We will arrive at the final checkpoint and take a short break to regain our energy. Then, we will enjoy a one-and-a-half-hour guided tour of this wonder and all the significant places.
The intimate connection between humans and nature is intensely evident at Machu Picchu. Immense stones harmoniously join to form temples, passageways, houses, and aqueducts that have functioned for more than five centuries. Machu Picchu was built in an inaccessible location to withstand any dangerous attack or oppression. It also serves as a reminder to modern man that only through true communion with Pachamama, our Mother Earth, can we live fully.
Once you are ready, you will take the bus to Aguas Calientes and meet your guide there. You will enjoy your last lunch at a restaurant of your choice. Afterward, your expert guide will give you the tickets for the exclusive Vistadome panoramic train and provide any other information you need for the return to Cusco. Please make sure to be at the station at least 30 minutes before departure.
Upon arriving at the Ollantaytambo train station, a representative from Tunqui Expeditions will be waiting to take you in our private transport back to the door of your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Difficulty: Moderate
Walking Distance: 5 km / 3.1 miles
Hiking Time: 2 – 3 Hours
Sun Gate Altitude: 2,720 m / 8,924 ft
Machu Picchu Site Altitude: 2,430 m / 7,972 ft
Machu Picchu Mountain Altitude: 3,000 m / 9,843 ft
Huayna Picchu Altitude: 2,720 m / 8,924 ft
Aguas Calientes Altitude: 2,900 m / 9,514 ft