4-Day Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu from Cusco

Four days on foot through Inca ruins and cloud forest, ending where the trail was built to lead.

A 4-day guided trek along the Inca Trail from Cusco to Machu Picchu, camping at three high-altitude sites and hiking through archaeological ruins, cloud forest and mountain passes before reaching the Sun Gate at dawn on the final day. The trek includes all camping gear, meals, a bilingual guide, porter service for your pack, and entry to Machu Picchu with a guided tour of the citadel. You hike with a group, sleep in shared tents, and return to Cusco by train the same afternoon. The trail climbs to 4,215 meters (Dead Woman's Pass) and requires solid fitness, but porters carry most of your gear.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Cusco to Ayapata Campsite

• Pickup from hotel in Cusco
• Breakfast stop in Ollantaytambo
• Meet adventure team at Km 82
• Begin scenic hike on Inca Trail
• Visit Willkaraqay and Llactapata viewpoint
• Lunch at Hatunchaca
• Hike to Ayapata Campsite
• Settle in tent, enjoy tea and dinner

Day 2: Ayapata to Chaquicocha Campsite

• Breakfast and hot drink at Ayapata
• Climb to Dead Woman’s Pass
• Ceremony at pass and descend to Pacaymayo
• Lunch and rest at Pacaymayo
• Hike to Runkurakay Pass and explore ruins
• Visit Sayacmarca ruins
• Arrive at Chaquicocha campsite
• Dinner and stargazing at campsite

Day 3: Chaquicocha to Wiñaywayna

• Breakfast at Chaquicocha
• Hike through forests and Inca sites
• Visit Phuyupatamarca ruins
• Rest at Intipata terraces
• Arrive at Wiñay Wayna
• Lunch and free time
• Guided visit to Wiñay Wayna site
• Farewell dinner at campsite

Day 4: Machu Picchu and return to Cusco

• Early breakfast at Wiñay Wayna
• Wait at Machu Picchu checkpoint
• Hike to Sun Gate for sunrise view
• Guided tour of Machu Picchu citadel
• Bus down to Aguas Calientes
• Free time in Aguas Calientes
• Scenic train ride to Ollantaytambo
• Private transport to Cusco
• Arrive back in Cusco

The experience

You start before dawn on Day 1 with hotel pickup from Cusco or the Sacred Valley, breakfast in Ollantaytambo, and arrival at Km 82 where you meet your guide, chefs and porters. The first hike takes you through Quechua villages and past the Llactapata ruins, then down to Hatunchaca for lunch and another two hours to Ayapata Campsite at 2,700 meters. Your tent is set up, dinner is cooked on-site, and you sleep under stars with the Andes around you.

Day 2 is the hardest: coffee in your tent, then the climb to Dead Woman's Pass at 4,215 meters where the air is thin and the views stretch across the mountains. A ceremony honors the Apus (mountain spirits) before you descend to Pacaymayo for lunch. The afternoon brings the hike up to Runkurakay Pass, exploration of the Sayacmarca ruins, and arrival at Chaquicocha Campsite as the sun sets. Day 3 follows the most scenic stretch of the trail through cloud forest and lush terrain, passing Phuyupatamarca (the City in the Clouds) and Intipata before reaching Wiñay Wayna Campsite by afternoon. You have free time to rest, then your guide takes you to the Inca site before dinner and a farewell celebration.

On Day 4, you wake before the gates open at 5:30 a.m. and hike the final stretch to Intipunku, the Sun Gate, where Machu Picchu appears in the early light. You enter the citadel via the elevated Circuit 1 path (the best angle for photos), then descend and switch to Circuit 3 for a guided tour of the main temples, terraces and structures. After exploring, you take the bus down to Aguas Calientes for lunch and free time, then board the Vistadome train back through the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo, where a driver takes you to Cusco, arriving around 7:30 p.m.

What’s included

• Inca Trail and Machu Picchu entry tickets with sunrise access through the Sun Gate and a guided tour of the citadel.
• 3 nights camping in shared Eureka tents with sleeping pads and pillows.
• all meals cooked fresh on-site, daily snacks and purified water.
• bilingual professional guide, experienced chefs and porter service for your pack and all camping gear.
• personal duffle bag, rain poncho, Inca Trail T-shirt and hand towels.
• emergency equipment including first-aid kit, oxygen and satellite phone.
• bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes and Vistadome or 360° train ticket back to Ollantaytambo.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Cusco or the Sacred Valley.
• all government permits, taxes and booking fees.

Before you book

Lasts 4d, runs every day at 04:30, from US$ 820 per person and with a live guide in English and Spanish.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 04:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (3 to 17 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Physically demandingInfant seats availableNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by TreXperience

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a guided four-day trek with porters carrying your gear and all meals provided. You'll hike with a shared group and enter Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate with a guide included.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 17 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

What's the hardest day on the Inca Trail?

Day 2 is the most demanding: it includes the climb to Dead Woman's Pass at 4,215 meters (13,829 feet), where altitude and steep terrain test your fitness most. The pass sits at the highest point of the trek, but porters carry your gear and the descent follows, so the physical demand is concentrated in the morning and early afternoon.

Do I need my own sleeping bag and trekking poles?

No, sleeping pads, pillows and tents are included. Trekking poles and sleeping bags are optional rentals you can add at checkout if you don't have your own. The operator recommends them but they're not required.

What happens if I can't keep up with the group?

The trek moves at a pace that lets the group stay together, with rest breaks built into each day. Your guide and porters are experienced with varying fitness levels and will support you on the trail. The itinerary includes downtime at each campsite to recover.

How much of my own gear do the porters carry?

Porters carry all camping equipment and up to 7 kg (15 pounds) of your personal items in a provided duffle bag. You hike with a day pack containing water, snacks, a rain poncho and anything you need during the day.

What's included in the meals, and are dietary needs handled?

All meals are cooked fresh on-site by the trek's chefs using local ingredients, plus daily snacks and purified drinking water. Vegetarian and vegan options are available. Let the operator know at booking if you need them.

When do I see Machu Picchu, and how long do I spend there?

You reach Machu Picchu on the morning of Day 4, entering through the Sun Gate at sunrise. After the guided tour of Circuits 1 and 3 (the main temples and terraces), you descend by bus to Aguas Calientes for lunch and free time before boarding the train back to Cusco the same afternoon.