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Cheap Inca Trail Hike

Cheap Inca Trail Hike

The Lost City of Machu Picchu is undoubtedly the most recognizable symbol of the Inca Civilization and knowledge. "The Inca Trail", as it is now known, was the one that took the Royal Highway of pilgrims and officials of the Empire to the Sacred City of the Incas.The Inca Trail is one of the most beautiful and important trails in South America, which is home to over 40 kilometers of impressive Inca ruins, mountainous landscapes, cloud forests and a diverse flora and fauna. The ancient inhabitants of Tahuantinsuyo used also this route to make a pilgrimage to the sacred citadel of Machu Picchu. Follow their tracks and make your visit to Cusco an unforgettable experience.The adventure start on the  route at the famous 43 km,  along this Andean road you will enjoy a pleasant and unforgettable experience. The road is still preserved, with blocks of flat rock and has stairs, tunnels and wooden bridges that cross rivers, temperate valleys, the warm cloudy jungle and the cold Andean heights. The journey along this Andean road, being part of this new experience, allows the visitor to meditate on the advanced civilization and the spiritual greatness of the Andean man whose maximum achievement was the Inca empire. Places to visit during the tour are Chilca, Wayllabamba, Warmiwañusca, Pacaymayo, Puyhu Patamarka, Wiñay Huayna and Machu Picchu. It is very important to take care on food before you hike Inca Trail, also acclimatization 2 days before minimun in the city of Cusco, because in the Inca trek, we will experience different climates, especially in the rainy season, different heights, such as the Top of  Warmihuañuscca  (4200 masl). The most important thing is to be in perfect physical condition. Our staff  will inform you adequately, so that this new experience be very pleasant. To make this adventure excursion it is necessary to acclimatize to the altitude as we say before at least two days is enough, since the degree of difficulty each day is different. Take advantage of these two days and take a city tour or visit the incredible Sacred Valley of the Incas or just walk around the city Discover Cusco and its closest attractions such as Saqsayhuaman, The Main Square, the Cathedral, the main museums , etc.

Overview
Itinerary
Includes
Before you go

Quick Itinerary:

Day 1: The start of the Inca trail - Cusco to Llulluchapampa

Day 2: Hiking the Inca trail - Llulluchampa to Chaquicocha

Day 3: Continue the hike the Inca trail - Chaquicocha to Wiñay wayna

Day 4: Finish the Inca trail - Wiñay wayna to Machu Picchu


Inca trail Machu Picchu tour:

For those people who love nature and like to combine the experience of hiking with adventure, traveling the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a great option, and it becomes a fascinating experience. The richness of the geography of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, its exotic flora, varied fauna and the majesty of the Inca buildings that are found along the route make this place a unique and unforgettable experience.

 

What is the Inca Trail?

The Cheap Inca Trail Tour to Machu Picchu is a walk that is traveled, along old paths, worked by the ancient Peruvians. It is a place full of magic, tradition and history, where you can find a nice contact with nature, and have the unique experience of walking ancient roads and soak up the Inca culture. Here some inforamation that could interest you:

  • Duration of the adventure: The trek has a duration of 4 days and 3 nights, along 43 km., With an itinerary organized for each day. Thus, the experience of traveling this road allows you to have contact with the landscape, appreciate the prolongation of the Andes Mountain Range and its undeniable snow-capped peaks, as well as the experience of skirting the Urubamba River and seeing any physical effort rewarded. beauty of the place.
  • The best time to travel the Inca Trail: The best time, is from May to October, for dry season, and with plenty of sun, the rest of the year, it is also possible, but we must take into account the presence of sporadic rains. The only month that you can not do the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is the month of February, which closes for the maintenance of the route and for being a time of heavy rain.
  • Availability of Inca Trail tickets: Due to the high demand to make the  Inca Trail to Machu Picchu there is a limit of 500 spaces per day that includes guides and porters. That is why it is necessary to make any reservation several months in advance. Find out the number of spaces for the day you want to travel.

COMMUNICATIONS  

Lamas surrounding the roads of the Inca. The communications between one and the other end of the empire were in charge of messengers called chasquis. By a system of relays, they transmitted the orders from one to another relay with extreme speed; a news item originating in Quito (Ecuador) could reach Cusco (2,000 kilometers away) in less than 10 days. The Inca, who was in the sacred Machu Picchu or in the capital Cusco, could eat fresh fish brought to him in less than 24 hours from the coast, 200 kilometers away. It should be noted that the roads of the Inca are located throughout Tawantinsuyo and in almost all Andean countries and that with the passage of time, the advance of civilization and technology, have been deteriorating little by little. Throughout the year, thousands of travelers from all over the planet undertake the route of the Inca Trail from Cusco to access the jungle of Peru, and the ancient mysteries that still contain the stones of Machu Picchu. Along the way there are several ruins of different fortifications in relatively good condition, which visually dominate all the valleys. In the crossing, which crosses an impressive altitudinal slope, with climates and ecosystems as varied as the high Andean high plateau and the misty forests, two passes must be overcome at a great height (the largest of them, Warmihuañusca, of 4,200 meters of altitude, also known as "Paso de la Mujer Muerta" or "Dead Woman") and ends with the entrance to Machu Picchu through Inti Puncu or "Sun Gate". On the route, the walker will find a network of carved granite settlements along the way (Huiñay Huayna, Puyupatamarca), immersed in natural settings. As an ideal complement, you will also find an exuberant nature, with unique landscapes, hundreds of species of orchids and multicolored birds.


Why is inca trail closed in february?

During the entire season of visiting the Inca Trail, hundreds of tourists and travel agency staff travel the route from Piscacucho to Intipunku in a unique travel experience. The footprints of all go on dirt roads or stone stairs built by the Incas. Additionally, camping areas are used to house adventurers for eleven months of the year. All this, together with natural factors, causes the erosion and deterioration of the structures of the Inca Trail. The Peruvian government protect its heritage, offer security to tourists and boost tourism, carries out cleaning and maintenance work during the month of February. The government, in collaboration with tourism agencies, undertake the route to collect garbage and restore the Inca Trail.


Why do the Inca Trail? 

4-day adventure through a stone path that goes through mountains, rivers, valleys, jungle and more to end in the Inca wonder of Machu Picchu. There are many reasons to carry out this walk, continue reading and discover them:

  • Know the Wonder of the world Machu Picchu is one of the Seven Modern Wonders and it should not be out of the list of places you should visit.The architecture of Machu Picchu is intriguing. Using huge rocks that were miles away, they built walls, temples, cultivation terraces and other buildings without using any adherents.
  • Feel a true adventurer: When was the last time you took a walk through the jungle? Taking the 4-Day Cheap Inca Trail offers you the opportunity to give all of you and receive a wonder as a reward. Persevere in the walk with tenacity, enjoy the most of every detail of nature, explore the archaeological remains as in a movie and get ready to share your experience with family and friends.
  • Enjoy an extreme destination: Explore landscapes of silent Andean mountains and intense cold to green hills full of trees, birds and life. Walk the stone path step by step and explore the archaeological sites of the route. Spend the night on pampas in the middle of what in ancient times was the Empire of the Incas.
  • Test your physical training: The Inca Trail is a challenge of 4 days of physical resistance for your body. We will go up and down stone stairs in addition to going down a path that increases and decreases in altitude. It is necessary that you perform a previous physical preparation to be able to enjoy that experience to the fullest.
  • A fantastic experience with friends or with your family Nothing like a trip to have an incredible memory. They will spend four days together conquering the ancient stone path of the Incas
  • Escape the routine: Change the hustle and bustle of public transportation for a walk surrounded by natural landscapes. Change phone calls and app notifications for sounds like birds, rivers, steps on land and mountain wind. Change the daily routine sensation to an adventure that will put your body, mind and spirit to the test.

Who administers the Inca Trail? 

The Inca Trail is part of the National Heritage of Peru and its access and the conditions of the excursions are managed and regulated by the Ministry of Culture Cusco. Only they can give access authorizations. The Ministry of Culture Cusco also manages the camps. They are responsible for the maintenance of the road, camps and sanitary facilities that are in the middle of nowhere.  

 

What are the characteristics of the road and the camps? 

The Inca Trail is a stone route built by the Incas 500 years ago to unite their scattered villages throughout the Tawantisuyo empire. This section, a protected archaeological site open to tourism, goes from km 82 to Machu Picchu. It is located in the middle of the Andes and is not accessible by car or by any means of transport. There is no electricity or water infrastructure and no convenient toilet services along the road and / or in the camps; There is no cell network either.But  don't worry our agency will provide you confortable toilets and all needs that you require.

 

FIND MORE TRAVELS:

Day 1 CUSCO - INCA TRAIL

We will pick you up from your Hotel. The pick up from Cusco will be at 4:30 a.m. Then we will go in our private transport to Km. 82, arriving approximately at 6:00 AM.We will go through the first checkpoint of the Inca Trail to begin our walk (make sure you have your original passport to enter the Inca Trail). The first 2 hours of walking are relatively easy as we head to our first Inca site, Patallacta, which is an ancient Inca checkpoint to approach Machu Picchu. From Patallacta it's another 2 hour walk to our lunch stop. After lunch we will walk for another 2 hours until arriving at the camp of the first night in Ayapata (3300 meters). In this last section, we passed through 2 small communities. If you want to buy energy drinks or snacks, you can do it here, you can also buy any essential items like batteries that you may have forgotten. We will arrive at our campsite before 5:00 PM and after settling down for a while, you can relax and have a hot drink and a snack with your equipment and guide. At 7:30 PM your dinner will be ready, and then you can get a well deserved rest.

DAY 2: WARMI HUAÑUSCA - CHAQUICCOCHA

Today is our longest day and we will start early. We will hike approximately 4 hours to the highest step of the trek, WARMIHUAÑUSCA  "El Paso de la Mujer Muerta" (4215 meters / 13829 feet) or "Dead Woman". Upon reaching the pass, we will stop to take a short break and enjoy the views before leaving again to descend to the next valley 

(Pacaymayu Valley - Río Escondido). It is another hour and a half by the side of the valley to our lunch spot and the opportunity to refill our water bottles. After lunch we begin to ascend again to the second step of the walk. It is 2 hours for the pass and on the way we will stop at a small Inca site (Runcu Raccay) and we will see two huge waterfalls on the opposite side of the valley. After the second pass, it is a downhill walk of another hour to reach the magnificent Inca site, Sayacmarca. We will stop here to rest and take a quick tour of the site and then watch the sunset over the Vilcabamba mountain range. It is only another 20 minutes until we stop to spend the night in our second camp Chaquicocha (dry lake, 3600 meters). After dinner, if you are not too tired, we can look at the stars and point out the fascinating Inca constellations. In the magnificent sky of the Southern Hemisphere, far from all artificial lighting, this sky is worthy of admiration!

Day 3: Chaquiccocha - Wiñayhuayna

We start early again, waking up at 6:30 a.m. to begin what is commonly considered the most beautiful day of the entire Inca Trail. We walked for 2 hours along what we like to call "Inca flat" (gradual slopes) and we started to enter the jungle, known as the Cloud Forest. While walking we will have the opportunity to see the majesty of Salkantay, the second highest snow mountain in the Sacred Valley, and a fantastic panoramic view of the Vilcabamba mountain range. Towards the end of the Inca flats we begin to make our way to the last peak in Phuyupatamarka (3600 meters) from where we will have excellent views over the Urubamba River. Going down the valley we have our first views of the Machu Picchu mountain, but the site itself is still hidden from view. From Phuyupatamarka it is a 3-hour walk along  to our last camp, near Wiñay Wayna (Always young). Wiñay Wayna is the most spectacular Inca site on the road after Machu Picchu and the most popular camp due to its proximity to Machu Picchu. During the descent we will visit 2 Inca ruins, Phuyupatamarka (People in the Clouds) and Intipata (Terraces of the Sun). We arrive at our camp around 1:00 PM for lunch and then relax throughout the afternoon so that you are relaxed and ready for your last day in Machu Picchu. Around 4:30 PM, your guide will give you a brief orientation and visit the Inca ruins of Wiñay Wayna, spending about an hour and a half there. We will explain the importance of the site and combine all the information provided during the trek to be ready for your visit to Machu Picchu the next day.

Day 4: SUN GATE - MACHU PICCHU

The time to wake up is at 3:30 a.m. We will have breakfast at 4:00 a.m. and we will wait at the checkpoint to be one of the first to start the trekking when they open the doors at 5:30 a.m. and then it will be time to continue to the Inti Punku or Sun Gate. From here we have spectacular views of the mountains and Machu Picchu in all its splendor. We arrived at Sun Gate at 6:30 a.m. and then it's just an hour's walk down to get to the Lost City of the Incas. As we get closer to Machu Picchu, the views of the city become better and better. At approximately 7:40 AM we will arrive at the final control point and enter Machu Picchu to begin our 2 hour private guided tour. After the tour, you will receive your bus tickets to go down to Aguas Calientes and you will have plenty of free time to explore on your own or climb one of the neighboring mountains, Huaynapicchu (must be organized in advance).Finally we will take the train to Ollantaytambo and a private bus to Cusco.

THIS TOUR INCLUDES:

  • Briefing (Our guide will visit your hotel a day before the trek for your briefing)
  • Transfer by Tourist transportation to the initial point of the Inca Trail at Km 82
  • Accommodation: camping (3 nights);
  • Inca Trail Permit and entrance fee to Machu Picchu;
  • Meals: 3x breakfast, 3x lunch, 3x dinner, 3x afternoon´s hot beverages (If you are a vegetarian, please advise us in advance. A vegetarian meal option is for NO extra cost!);
  • Experienced bilingual Tour Guide
  • A professional Cook
  • Porters to carry food, camping and cooking equipment 
  • Camping equipment (tents: dining room, kitchen and bathroom)
  • Tourist train (Expedition Class) from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
  • Tourist bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
  • First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle.

NOT INCLUDED:

  • First breakfast and last lunch.
  • Sleeping bag (U$ 20)
  • Thermarest mattress (inflatable mattress for more comfort in the trail)
  • Extra porter for carry your personal beloging ( USD 130; the Extra Porter can be shared between 2 persons)
  • Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain ($80)
  • Tips and extra expenses to souvenir.

PLEASE BRING WITH YOU:

  • Small backpack. 
  • Original passport or ID
  • Money small denomination. 
  • Sun clothes, cold clothes. 
  • Sunglasses 
  • Jacket or poncho for the rain. 
  • Hiking shoes. 
  • Cold sun hat. 
  • Sunscreen. 
  • Water bottle. 
  • Mosquito repellent. 
  • Camera and / or video camera.
  • Personal Medication
  • Swimwear
  • Thermal underwear for sleeping

 

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES

Along the Inca Trail you can see magnificent Inca archaeological sites: precincts, temples, bridges, platforms and roads, which are still preserved today, reminding us of the greatness of the Inca Empire.  

 

  • ROAD NETWORK QHAPAQ ÑAN HERITAGE OF HUMANITY 
  • THE PLATFORM OF INCA TRAIL
  • INCA ARCHITECTURE IN THE INCA ROAD
  • INCA BRIDGES ON THE INCA ROAD 
  • ARCHAEOLOGICAL CENTER OF PAUCARCANCHA 
  • INTIPATA ARCHAEOLOGICAL CENTER 
  • ARCHAEOLOGICAL CENTER OF LLACTAPATA 
  • INTIPUNKU 
  • ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF WIÑAYWAYNA 
  • ARCHAEOLOGICAL CENTER OF PHUYUPATAMARKA 
  • ARCHAEOLOGICAL CENTER OF SAYAQMARKA
  • ARCHAEOLOGICAL CENTER OF RUNKURAKAY
  • QORIWAYRACHINA ARCHAEOLOGICAL CENTER

 

PARTIDAS
GALERIAS
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Days 
From $ 550.00
per person
Code CHIT
Activity level
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