Private Small Group Journeys
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Begin your adventure of a lifetime on the Classic Inca Trail with an early morning start. Your guide will pick you up from your Cusco hotel at 4:30 am, and you’ll travel to Kilometer 82, the starting point of the trail. Along the way, enjoy a hearty breakfast in Ollantaytambo around 6:30-7:00 am to prepare for the day ahead. Arriving at KM82 around 8:30 am, you’ll finalize preparations, meet your porter, and get ready to show your passport and student ID at the checkpoint, while your guide handles all permits and tickets.
The journey starts at an altitude of 2,720 meters (8,923 feet), crossing the Vilcanota River and following a scenic path. The first day offers a relatively easy “Inca flat” hike, with stunning views of the Inca Fortress of Huillca Raccay, the expansive Llactapata site, the Urubamba mountain range, the Andes, and the snow-capped peak of Veronica (W’akay Willca). Enjoy a gourmet lunch at Hatunchaca before continuing a three-hour trek to the first campsite, located in a lush valley near Wayllabamba (3,000 meters/9,842 feet). Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted with afternoon tea and appetizers, and your tent will be set up for you, allowing you to relax and unwind after your first day on the trail.
Your guide will wake you at 5:30 am with a hot mug of tea or coffee, allowing you to enjoy the warmth in your sleeping bag before a hearty breakfast. With light daypacks, you’ll begin a steep ascent to Abra de Warmihuañusca (Dead Woman’s Pass) at 4,200 meters (13,779 feet), spotting hummingbirds and diverse native plants, including Polylepis trees in the cloud forest. After celebrating the summit with photos, you’ll descend to Pacaymayu for a gourmet lunch, then tackle another two-hour climb to Runkuraqay pass at 4,000 meters (13,123 feet). You’ll reach the campsite by 5 pm, where afternoon tea and appetizers await, with nighttime temperatures dropping to around 4ºC.
Day three is the most impressive yet! Start with a 6 am wake-up call and a hot mug of tea or coffee, followed by breakfast. Begin a gentle climb to Phuyupatamarca, the “Village in the Clouds,” at 3,680 meters (12,073 feet), offering spectacular views of mountains and canyons. After exploring this extensive Inca site, descend 3,000 stairs through the cloud forest to Intipata, feeling the temperature rise as you approach Machu Picchu and the Amazon jungle. After visiting Intipata, continue to the third campsite at Wiñay Wayna (2,680 meters/8,792 feet), arriving by lunchtime after a 4 to 5-hour walk. Near the campsite, explore the famous Inca site of Wiñay Wayna, named after the abundant orchids in the area.
Prepare for an early start at 3:30 AM with breakfast at 4:00 AM, aiming to be among the first to begin trekking from the checkpoint at 5:30 AM. The journey culminates at the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) by 6:00 AM, where you’ll witness the majestic Machu Picchu Citadel illuminated by the sunrise. Descend to Machu Picchu Citadel (2,400m/7,872 ft.) and enter through the “House of the Guardians,” taking in iconic views and registering at the control point before your guided two-hour tour. Learn about Machu Picchu’s agricultural, residential, and religious sectors, followed by free time for exploration and photography. Afterward, return to Aguas Calientes by bus for lunch (not included), with optional activities such as shopping or visiting a museum or hot springs. Board the Expedition Train at 2:55 or 3:20 PM for Ollantaytambo, enjoying scenic views of the Urubamba River and Wiñay Wayna before transferring back to Cusco by 7:00 PM.
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