Day 1: Cusco to km.82 (with a private bus) - km.82 to Wayllabamba (12km / 7.4 miles)
You will be picked up from your hotel and drive on a private bus to the Sacred Valley (Chinchero, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo). You will arrive after about 2.5 hours at "km 82" where the trail starts.The first climb will be to Wilka Rakay and,from here, there is a spectacular view of the Inca site Patallapta and the Kusichaca Valley. We will camp at Wayllabamba (3,000 meters above sea level), where we will spend our first night.
Day 2: Wayllabamba to Pacaymayu (11km / 6.8 miles)
After an energetic breakfast, we will start climbing up for about 1 hour to Tres Piedras (The Three Stones). Then, we will enter into the beautiful cloud forest and the highest point of the Inca Trail - Abra de Warmihuusca or Dead Woman Pass (4,215 meters high). See the vast grassy land that you cross when getting closer to the pass. The base camp for the night is in Pacaymayo (3,600 meters).
Day 4: Pacaymayu TO Phuyupatamarca (10km / 6.2 miles)
The third day starts with a 40-minute hike up from Pacaymayo to the second pass of Abra Runkurakay (3,950 meters). Then, we head down to Sayacmarka (3,500 meters) for about an hour. From here, the trail descends into the magnificent cloud forest full of orchids, hanging moss, ferns and native flowers. It takes 30 minutes passing by the small Inca site of Conchamarka and then reaching Chaquicocha (3,550 meters), where we will have lunch. On the way to Phuyupatamarka pass (3,700 meters high), we will spend our last night. From here you can see the snow capped peaks of Salkantay, Veronica, Pumasillu and also Machu Picchu mountain.
Day 5: Phuyupatamarca to Machu Picchu (10km / 6.2 miles)
On the fourth day, you will have breakfast to be able start our hike to Machu Picchu. The descent to Inty Pata (another archeological site) will take us around 2 hours. This place was the biggest agricultural sector and it is located on a hill site and facing the East. Then, we will go visit another archeological site which is Wiay Wayna, discoverd in 1941. From Wiaayhuana, it will take us around 1 hour to get to the Sun Gate (Inty Punku). From here, you will see the magnificent Machu Picchu ruins for the first time. We will spend the last night at a hotel as the following day we will go back to visit Machu Picchu.
In addition, on this day, we will visit Machu Picchu very early in the morning to watch the sun shining down on the spectacular Incan complex. You'll also experience a fully guided tour of Machu Picchu. The tour takes approximately 2 hours and after that you will have free time to explore the site on your own again before heading back to Cusco.