Dia 1: Cusco - Piskacucho- Wayllabamba - Llullucha pampa
This route was first examined by Hiram Bingham in 1911 and was opened for hikers in 1970. The legendary ruins of Machu Picchu are not the only historical remaining parts within the region, many other fascinating sites are in places that are only accessible on foot and have barely been explored.
The Machu Picchu hike is starting early in the morning, our guide will pick you up from your hotel and transfer by driving toto Piskacuchu, an area situated on the 82nd km waymarker (51mile) of the Cusco (2,680 meters from sea level) – Machu Picchu railroad- the beginning of the Inca Trail. After a briefing you will cross a bridge and walk together with the bank of the Urubamba River as it streams north-west with the Sacred Valley along a horizontal landscape, then turning right and moving up abruptly from the river. After passing through a small village, the relics of the Inca hillfort Huillca Raccay appear high above the mouth of the river Cusichaca (happy bridge). When the Incas conquered this area they constructed a fort here as the site commands a wonderful vista across the Urubamba Valley and guarded the entrance to the Cusichaca Valley. You will also visit the very large Patallacta. You will have lunch in Chamana and then carry on along the river observing various Incan agricultural stepped terraces and irrigation channels until reaching the attractive village of Wayllabamba. After that in the afternoon you reach the village of Llullucha Pampa, the location of your first campsite (3,850m). You will have dinner and a rest.
- Total Distance: 16 km (9,320 miles)
- Estimated Walking Time: 8 hours
- Maximum Altitude Point: 3,800 m
- Campsite Altitude: 3,800 m (12,468 ft)
Day 2: Lluchapampa – Dead Woman’s Pass – Runkurakay Pass - Phuyupatamarca
Leave your alarm clocks at home. Instead, your wake-up call will be a hot cup of coca tea in bed but it will be early! We’ll hike for roughly 2 hours to the highest pass of the trek, Dead Woman’s Pass (4215m/13829 ft). On reaching the pass we will stop for a small break to enjoy the views before setting off again to descend to the next valley (Pacaymayo – Hidden River). It’s another 2 hours down the side of the valley to our lunch stop and a chance to refill our water bottles. After lunch we’ll start ascending again to the second pass of the hike. It’s two hours to the pass and along the way we’ll stop at a small Inca site (Runku Raccay) and see two huge waterfalls cascading down the opposite side of the valley. After the second pass, it’s another 3 hours downhill with ‘Inca flats’ (gradual inclines) as we make our way towards our final campsite, Phuyupatamarca (3,680m). This site on the Inca Trail has stunning views of the Salkantay mountain range, as well as abundant flora and fauna. We’ll then reach our camping site, where we’ll get our first view of Machu Picchu mountain and the Sacred Valley river. We’ll settle in to our tents and as the sun goes down we can enjoy the beautiful sunset over the snow-capped peaks of the Andes.
- Total Distance: 16 km (10 miles)
- Estimated Walking Time: 9 hours
- Maximum Altitude Point: 4,215 m (13,821 ft)
- Campsite Altitude: 3,600 m (11,811 ft)
Day 3: Phuyupatamarca - Winay Wayna - Machu Picchu - cusco
The third day begins at 3 am when we hike the last 4 km to Machu Picchu. Pursue the path indicated which is plainly marked by the signposts (and be careful not to wander too near to the edge of the cliff). Cherish your time at the most valuable masterpiece of the continent. You have plenty of time to enjoy your visit to Machu Picchu. In the afternoon we take the train back to Cusco.
If you go straight from the town of Machupicchu (Aguas Calientes), its only 2km from Puente Ruinas station to Machu Picchu. It takes about 20 minutes to go down a narrow path that runs side-by-side to the rail line.
- Total Distance: 12km (614 miles)
- Estimated Walking Time: 7 hours
- Maximum Altitude Point: 3,680 m (12,033 ft)
