Sacred Valley, Peru
Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Route detail
About this route
Four days on the permit-limited Inca Trail with a licensed Cusco operator: cloud forest, Dead Woman's Pass and a guided tour of the citadel.
Daily activity
6–8 hr per day.
Terrain
Ancient stone steps, high pass at 4,215 m, humid cloud forest.
Best season
April to October (closed in February)
Your guide office
Salkantay Trekking
Based in Cusco, Peru
What's included
Trail permit, Machu Picchu entry, guide, porters, camping, meals, train back to Cusco.
Not included
Tips, sleeping bag rental, flights to Cusco.
Itinerary
- 1
Km 82 to Wayllabamba
Time: 5–6 hr
Follow the Urubamba past Llactapata ruins.
- 2
Dead Woman's Pass
Time: 7–8 hr
The big climb to 4,215 m and down to Pacaymayo.
- 3
Cloud forest ruins
Time: 7 hr
Runkurakay, Sayacmarca and Wiñay Wayna.
- 4
Sun Gate
Time: 4 hr
Dawn walk to Inti Punku and a guided tour of Machu Picchu.
What to pack
Built for this route's terrain, altitude and number of days. Tick items off as you pack — without the right footwear or hard shell, a guide can refuse to take you up.
0 / 33 packed
Footwear and pack
Broken in before the trip — new boots are the most common cause of an abandoned day.
Clothing layers
Three layers, no cotton. Temperatures can swing 20 °C between valley and summit.
Technical equipment
Your guide office (Salkantay Trekking) rents most of this locally — ask when you confirm your dates.
Sun, health and altitude
UV rises roughly 10% every 1,000 m of altitude.
Hut and overnight kit
Mountain huts supply blankets and pillows, never sheets.
Boots, crampons, ice axe and harness can usually be rented from Salkantay Trekking in Cusco, Peru — confirm sizes when you agree your dates.
Traveller feedback
Ratings collected from travellers who completed this route with Salkantay Trekking.
4.9
★★★★★173 ratings
Written reviews for this departure are still being collected. Ask us for references from previous groups before you pay — we will forward them from the guide office.
Questions about this route?
Talk to the guides who run it — gear, fitness, weather windows, private dates. We answer within one working day.
€890
per person
Trail permit, Machu Picchu entry, guide, porters, camping, meals, train back to Cusco.
Next departure · 9 May 2027
12 of 12 spots left
Live availability updates daily and after every booking.