The Inca Trail route & highlights
Your Inca Trail experience will start off in Cuzco - giving a couple of days to acclimatise at altitude before taking on this mountain trek, and explore nearby ruins. On the first day of your trek you'll drive around three hours to Pisacucho, known as Km 82, where your trek begins. You'll typically be hiking between five and seven hours each day, with the second day readily agreed to be the toughest, as you reach Dead Woman's Pass at over 4,200m. From there it's not quite all downhill, but things get a little easier. There are plenty of other ruins to explore along the way, including Wiñay Wayna and Sayajmarca. You might spend your final night camped near Machu Picchu, or in accommodation in Aguas Calientes, ready to reach your final destination at dawn the following day, on foot or by bus.
Alternative routes, including the Lares and Salkantay treks, are becoming more popular, as these don't require permits. They also take around four to five days to reach Machu Picchu. The Lares trek is a little gentler with a cultural focus, while Salkantay has more ups and downs - and feels like more of a wilderness experience. Read more about the alternative treks here.
Alternative routes, including the Lares and Salkantay treks, are becoming more popular, as these don't require permits. They also take around four to five days to reach Machu Picchu. The Lares trek is a little gentler with a cultural focus, while Salkantay has more ups and downs - and feels like more of a wilderness experience. Read more about the alternative treks here.
Our Inca Trail trek Holidays
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High Inca Trail trek in Peru
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1. Aguas Calientes
2. Cuzco
3. Dead Womans Pass
4. Huayna Picchu
5. Llactapata
6. Machu Picchu
7. Phuyupatamarca
8. Runkuracay
9. Salkantay
10. Sayacmarca
11. Winay Wayna
2. Cuzco
3. Dead Womans Pass
4. Huayna Picchu
5. Llactapata
6. Machu Picchu
7. Phuyupatamarca
8. Runkuracay
9. Salkantay
10. Sayacmarca
11. Winay Wayna
Aguas Calientes
1. Aguas Calientes
Now known as Machu Picchu Pueblo, the town's proximity to Peru's main draw has turned it into a fully-fledged tourist hub. Attractions include a botanical garden; Putucusi Peak - which has incredible views of Machu Picchu; and Quechua handcraft markets. Be sure to book your hotel in advance - with 1,500 visitors a day, this little pueblo fills up fast.
Cuzco
2. Cuzco
Cuzco was the capital of the Inca Empire, but for modern tourists, it may as well be the capital of Peru. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, sitting at a cool 3,400m, is the gateway to the Inca Trail, colourful Quechua culture and snow-sprinkled peaks. The colonial architecture of this cobblestoned city is beautifully preserved, and it's a great place to adjust to the altitude before setting off to explore the riches of the Andes.
Dead Womans Pass
3. Dead Womans Pass
The ominously named Warmiwanusqa - known as 'Dead Woman's Pass' - is the highest and most exhausting point along the Inca Trail. A strenuous 2.5-hour climb takes hikers up to the 4,200m pass, where guides normally allow for a break to recover before continuing with a steep descent into the Pacamayo Valley.
Huayna Picchu
4. Huayna Picchu
The 'young peak' overlooks the ruins of Machu Picchu, and is just as iconic as the Inca citadel itself - appearing in the backdrop of every proud photo of the site. Rising 360m above Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu also has Inca temples and terraces at its summit, which can be reached via a steep, slippery two-hour trail - but this is not for the faint-hearted.
Llactapata
5. Llactapata
Hikers opting for the five-day trek can visit the ruins of Llactapata on the first day and camp here overnight. Believed to be an Inca rest stop on the way to Machu Picchu, Llactapata was constructed by an Inca chieftain. As well as being a ceremonial site, its Sun Temple may also have served an astronomical role during the solstices and equinoxes.
Machu Picchu
6. Machu Picchu
Rediscovered a century ago, the 'Lost City of the Incas' has not lost its ability to astonish, thanks to its phenomenal position atop a mountain peak, with panoramic Andean views. Stones cut so perfectly that they sit together without mortar demonstrate the Incas' phenomenal skills. The 500 year old ruins include the Temple of the Sun, steep terraces, around 150 homes and an astronomic stone clock.
Phuyupatamarca
7. Phuyupatamarca
The 'Town Above the Clouds' gives visitors the strange sensation of floating in the sky when the clouds roll into the valley below this 3,670m-high, crumbling town. There is evidence here of the fascinating hydraulic system the Incas used to irrigate their terraces crops - incredibly, it still works. There are also ritual baths, bridges, plazas and protective walls, plus glorious views of snow-capped Salkantay.
Runkuracay
8. Runkuracay
Roughly translating as 'basket house', this strange ruin, sitting at just under 4,000m, is believed to be an Inca tambo where messengers would rest and recharge while travelling along the Inca Trail. Its unusual circular shape means that its open passageways faced out in all directions of the Inca Empire, with views across the sweeping Andean ranges.
Salkantay
9. Salkantay
At 6,271m, Salkantay - meaning 'savage' or 'invincible' - is the Vilcabamba Range's highest point, and its sheer face rises up to a permanently snow-capped peak. Being located directly south of Machu Picchu, the Southern Cross appears above its summit when at its highest point in the sky, which the Incas attributed to Salkantay's sacred powers. The Salkantay Trek leads hikers around the mountain's base.
Sayacmarca
10. Sayacmarca
The 'inaccessible town' sits high on a ridge with precipitous drops around three sides - hence the name. Saycamarca was built by the Incas' enemy, the Colla, but later adapted by the Inca. No-one is sure of its purpose, which adds to the sense of mystery of this strange, isolated site.
Winay Wayna
11. Winay Wayna
Translating as 'eternal youth', Winay Wayna is an Inca site built into a steep slope, comprising houses connected by a sheer staircase, along with agricultural terraces for corn and wheat. The setting is suitably dramatic, as are the views of the Urubamba River, below. Winay Wayna is usually visited on the Inca Trail, and provides one of its most impressive detours.
Our top Inca Trail trek Holiday
High Inca Trail trek in Peru
Machu Picchu, Inca fortresses and cloud forest
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£2449 to £2999
16 days
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Small group travel:
2019: 4 May, 18 May, 1 Jun, 15 Jun, 22 Jun, 29 Jun, 13 Jul, 27 Jul, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, 7 Sep, 21 Sep, 5 Oct
2020: 2 May, 16 May, 30 May, 13 Jun, 20 Jun, 27 Jun, 11 Jul, 25 Jul, 8 Aug, 15 Aug, 22 Aug, 5 Sep, 19 Sep, 3 Oct
2019: 4 May, 18 May, 1 Jun, 15 Jun, 22 Jun, 29 Jun, 13 Jul, 27 Jul, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, 7 Sep, 21 Sep, 5 Oct
2020: 2 May, 16 May, 30 May, 13 Jun, 20 Jun, 27 Jun, 11 Jul, 25 Jul, 8 Aug, 15 Aug, 22 Aug, 5 Sep, 19 Sep, 3 Oct
Helpdesk
Hello. If you'd like to chat about Inca Trail trek or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help. Rosy & team.
Inca Trail itinerary
Organised Inca Trail holidays will always incorporate a day or two to acclimatise to the altitude in Cuzco, which sits at 3,400m, and this may include an excursion to the nearby Sacred Valley, or the Sacsayhuaman fortress. After this, your trek begins.
Day 1
Day 1:
Day 2
Day 2:
Day 3
Day 3:
Day 4
Day 4:
You won’t enter the site today, but will enjoy the views over it from the Sun Gate at this much quieter time of day. If not camping at Wiñay Wayna, you may spend the night in a hotel or hostel in Aguas Calientes. With your first proper shower and bed since you started trekking, you’ll no doubt enjoy an early night in preparation for a full exploration of the site in the morning. 9km, 6-7hrs, depending on where you sleep.
Day 5
Day 5:
Those arriving from Aguas Calientes will also have an early start to take a government registered bus up the mountain to Machu Picchu. It’s only a 30 minute drive, but with hundreds of people hoping to do the same thing, you’ll need to beat the crowds, and queues, especially in the busy May to October season.
In either case, you’ll begin your visit with a guided tour of the site followed by free time to explore, permits usually allow for around four hours on site. Some tours will end with a night in Aguas Calientes, others will head straight back to Cuzco using public buses and trains.
More about Inca Trail trek
The best time to trek the Inca Trail is in the cooler, drier months of May to September - but you'll need to book early to secure a permit. Find out more in our guide.
Our travel guide answers any questions you may have about hiking this iconic trail, along with a day by day sample itinerary and a brief history of the Inca Trail.
In between trekking, you can learn about archaeology, visit local communities and stay with your porters. The Inca Trail is about so much more than Machu Picchu.
Our guide to Machu Picchu reveals the history of this sacred site, with tips on what to see, how to travel there and the best time to visit...
There are alternative Inca Trails that lead to Machu Picchu, taking in cloud and rainforest, high passes and indigenous villages, including the Salkantay and Lares treks...
Trekking the Inca Trail with kids is not going to suit every family, but there are wonderful opportunities for bonding, education and exploration. We offer tips for parents and kids.
Get tips on everything from planning and packing, to how to travel safely on the Inca Trail. Our tour operators and travellers share their top Inca Trail advice.
Find out about Quechua homestays, porters' rights and responsible trekking on the Inca Trail, to ensure this path and its people are treated as respectfully as possible.
Why book with Responsible Travel
Photo credits: [Page banner: Giacomo Buzzao] [Aguas Calientes: Nick Jewell]
[Cuzco: Kenneth Moore]
[Dead Woman's Pass: Mx._Granger]
[Huayna Picchu: McKay Savage]
[Llactapata: Bex Walton]
[Machu Picchu: Tomas Sobek]
[Phuyupatamarca: Anthony Letmon]
[Runkuracay: Teddy Sipaseuth]
[Salkantay: McKay Savage]
[Sayacmarca: Alberto ....]
[Wiñay Wayna: Kevin Jones]
[Sacsayhuaman fortress: Pablo G.]
[Day 1 (Nevado Veronsica): Edubucher]
[Day 2 (Dead womans pass): Colegota ]
[Day 3 (Runquracay): Tyler Bell]
[Day 4 (Winay Wayna): My Favorite Pet Sitter]
[Day 4 (Sun Gate view): Tyler Bell]
[Day 5 (Machu Picchu): Eduardo Flores]
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