The Various Inca Trail Hikes and Trip Extensions
James Bustamante is Native to New York but born to Peruvian parents. He has been traveling throughout Latin America since early 2003 and finally made his home in Peru. James has made his way by eating and traveling through almost every country in Central and South America.
Last Updated on August 25, 2021 by James Bustamante
There are two basic forms of Inca trail hikes that lead to the stone city of Machu Picchu. The traditional routes taken by the Incas to reach the citadel have been the most popular treks taken by travelers throughout the years. The enigmatic paths will traverse pristine landscapes that border on the impressive and beautiful.
There is more than one version of Inca trail hikes, each one might apply to completely different types of travelers. Let’s go over the two routes that lead to Machu Picchu through the carefully marked roads the Inca took.
The Traditional Version of Inca Trail Hikes
There are two basic routes that have the name “Inca Trail Hike”. The first is the classic 4-day version of the trek leading to the Incan ruins. This trek consists of camping out for three nights in the Andes mountains before reaching Machu Picchu the morning of day 4. Out of the two Inca trail hikes, the class version is the most popular, it is also the most difficult one to reserve due to lack of availability. In fact, out of all the Machu Picchu hikes, the classic version of the Inca trail is the most popular one by far and will need to be reserved 4-6 months before the actual trip.
Inca Trail 4 Day Itinerary
The 4 day itinerary consists of 3 full days of hiking across the Andean landscape and one day to explore Machu Picchu. We also camp under the crisp highland sky for 3 nights before arriving at the Inca citadel.
Day 1 CUSCO – PISKACUCHO
The standard version of the Inca Trail hikes starts where most treks that lead to Machu Picchu do, in the city of Cusco. We begin at 4:30 am and drive all the way to Ollantaytambo to buy any final pieces of gear we might need for the 4 days ahead. We then head to Piskacucho to start the hike through the Andes.
Day 2 HUAYLLABAMBA – WARMIWAÑUSCA
The second day of this popular Peru hike starts with a filling breakfast made by our staff. We have a full day of hiking ahead so making sure you have the calories to trek is important. The route takes us upwards to the Warmihuanusca pass after 5-6 hours. The next 2 hours will be a descent that takes us to the Paqaymayu campsite. Staff will put the campsite together while you explore the surroundings. By the time you return dinner will be served and then we can have a well-deserved rest for the night.
Day 3 PAQAYMAYU – CHAQ´ICOCHA – WIÑAYWAYNA
On the 3rd day of the hike through the Andes, we trek towards the Runkuraqay archaeological site and the Runruraqay pass. We then proceed to descend to the Sayaqmarka site located 1 hour down to a lower elevation. We end the day at the Winaywayna site where we spend the night by a campsite.
Day 4 WIÑAYWAYNA – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO
On our final day of the classic version of the Inca trail hikes, we trek to Inti Punku, the sun gate, to get a grand view of Machu Picchu. We continue hiking towards the stone city of the Inca located a few at a slightly lower elevation. We arrive at the sanctuary and start the Machu Picchu tour that will take around 2.5 hours to complete.
After the tour, you can explore the ruins on your own or opt for one of the hikes located within the massive complex. Remember the Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Montana are extra hikes that require an additional permit.
In the early afternoon, we head to the small town of Aguas Calientes located a mere 20 minutes from Machu Picchu. At 3:00 pm we board the PeruRail train that will take us back to the city of Cusco.
Who is The 4 Day Inca Trail Hike For?
The standard version of Inca trail hikes is for those who are looking for a classic path to Machu Picchu. The traditional route the Inca took to reach the sanctuary has always brought adventure travelers from around the globe. Travelers taking this trip should enjoy camping and must be eager to learn about Incan ruins along the way.
Willing to “rough it” for 3 nights is also a requirement when booking this trek. Travelers will need to be well acclimated before attempting the class Inca trail. The route is considered easy to moderate in terms of difficulty so minimum preparation will be required.
The Short Version Of Inca Trail Hikes
The 2 Day Inca Trail is also referred to as the express Inca trail or the short Inca trail to Machu Picchu. This is the quickest one of the Inca trail hikes, it basically begins on day 3 of the classic version of the hike. It includes a visit to the hidden Aguas Calientes town and a hike to Machu Picchu.
Short Inca Trail Hike Itinerary
The short Inca Trail or Express Inca Trail itinerary consists of a full day of hiking across the Andean landscape. We traverse through the Peruvian highland and arrive at the cloud forests below on the same day. On the second day of the hike, we focus on getting to Machu Picchu and head to Cusco in the afternoon.
Day 1 CUSCO – CHACHABAMBA – WIÑAYWAYNA – MACHU PICCHU– AGUAS CALIENTES
We start the 2 day express Inca trail with an early morning pick-up at your accommodations site. By 4:15 am we are on the road to the Ollantaytambo station in time to take the train that takes us to Chachabamba. We quickly go through the Chachabamba site and embark on our journey to Machu Picchu.
After traversing through the highland we begin to lower in elevation until we reach the Winay Wayna ruins, also known as” forever young”, in the ample valleys below. We will see ruins that depict ritual bathhouses, elegantly made terracing, and some of the most beautiful natural sites on the continent.
We trek through the cloud forest that is vastly different from the terrain at the start of our hike. Get ready to see broadleaf vegetation, hummingbirds, and find ferns that are closer to what you would expect in the Amazon rainforest than someplace near the highlands. The Intipunku is just a few minutes away, as we reach the Incan ruins we get our first look at Machu Picchu.
We then proceed to walk through the cobblestone pathways until we reach the small town of Aguas Calientes, where we will have an overnight stay.
Day 2 AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – AGUAS CALIENTES – CUSCO
On day 2 of the express version of Inca Trail hikes, we begin by having an early breakfast at the hotel in Aguas Calientes. Our main purpose is to get to Machu Picchu by 6:00 am so we can see the sun slowly rising over the horizon, past the mountains. It makes for the perfect morning shot of Machu Picchu.
We board the bus to Machu Picchu by 5:20 and take the 30-minute drive up the curving mountain road. Once we arrive the guide will proceed to check you into the complex. At this point, we begin the 2.5 hour long guided tour of Machu Picchu.
After we finish the tour, you will be able to go through the complex on your own for an additional 2 hours. We can then head back down to Aguas Calientes by the early afternoon in time for lunch. Our train to Cusco will depart by 3:30 pm and will arrive in Cusco by 6:30 pm.
Who is The Short Inca Trail Hike For?
The short 2-day version of the Inca trail is for those that want to experience a traditional route with little to no camping. This trek is also a favorite for those that have a shorter stay planned in Peru. The express trail can be put into a 7-day itinerary leaving out the ride to Aguas Calientes and replacing it with the full day hike to Aguas Calientes.
This Inca trail is also recommended for those that might have trouble camping out in high elevation for an extended period of time. Remember that this route is basically a hike downwards through a marked path, this makes it applicable to many different types of travelers.
Extended Inca Trail Hikes
Extended Inca Trail hikes form part of a complete Peru travel itinerary. These would include either version of the Inca trail and complement them with additional tours and treks. A common extended 9 day Inca Trail itinerary is:
- Cusco – Acclimatization
- Sacred Valley Full-Day Hike
- Classic Inca Trail Day 1
- Classic Inca Trail Day 2
- Classic Inca Trail Day 3
- Classic Inca Trail Day 4 – Machu Picchu Guided Tour – Return to Cusco
- Rest Day
- Rainbow Mountain Full-Day Tour
- Departure From Cusco
The itinerary includes time to acclimate to Cusco, this is an important part of the trip. It is there to ensure you don’t suffer from the effects of altitude sickness before going out on a hike. The following day we head to the Sacred Valley to see Ollantaytambo, Pisac, Chinchero, and several other highland towns and Inca ruins.
The following 4 days are reserved for the Inca trail trek ending in the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu with a guided tour. The 7th day of the itinerary is reserved for rest and it gives the traveler time to recoup energy and check out the city of Cusco.
We end the touring portion of the trip with a visit to the Rainbow mountain on a full-day excursion. This day trip is actually one of the more challenging hikes and is commonly reserved for the end of an itinerary due to the altitude. On the final day of the trip, one of our drivers will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the Cusco airport for your departing flight.
There are many variations to extended Inca trail itineraries. These itineraries can be tailored to include time in Lima, The Amazon Rainforest, Lake Titicaca, and several more destinations.
Conclusion
There are many options of Inca trail hikes for trekkers to choose from. Take a traditional excursion with the classic Inca trail in 4 adventure-filled days. The express 2 day Inca trail is a great option for those that want to do some hiking but don’t necessarily want to camp. You can even extend the Inca trail with more destinations and activities before or after the hike to Machu Picchu. Whichever option you choose, remember to book the hikes 2-6 months before you plan to travel in order to ensure availability.
Main Photograph by John Salzarulo
