As one of the world’s most well-known treks, joining a luxury Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu is an absolute must. The Inca Trail is far more than just the 12 km / 7.5-mile route from KM 104 starting in Chachabamba. As such, get ready to join our 5-day tour, which explores 50 km / 31 miles of the original Incan pathways.
Your safety, comfort, and enjoyment are our top concerns, so you can rest easy knowing you’ll be well taken care of. This is far more than just a hiking tour, though, as we’ll bring Incan culture to the fore. From learning some Quechua phrases to visiting the Incan worshiping points to mother nature (Pachamama), our tour will be an unforgettable adventure.
With flora and fauna, iconic archeological sites, and breathtaking views all on the agenda, there’s no better way to explore South America’s most visited tourist attraction. This tour will have you reminiscing about the Andean constellations seen during the nights camping and the magical views of the Vilcanota and Urubamba rivers throughout the trek.
So, if you’re looking for the best Inca Trail tour that is slow, comfortable, and simply breathtaking, you’re in the right place!
Top Tip: If five days is too long or strenuous for you, we have plenty of alternative Inca Trail expeditions for you to join. Consider our 1-day Inca Trail tour or our 2-day trek to Machu Picchu for a slightly more manageable experience.
5-Day Inca Trail Luxury Hike to Machu Picchu Tour Details
Here are all the essential details you need to know before booking this 5-day Inca Trail trek.
Highlights for Your 5-Day Inca Trail Luxury Trek
Type of Tour: Culture, History, Adventure, Hiking, and Accommodation (camping and a hotel stay on the last night)
All Distance: 50 km / 31 miles.
Inca Trail Elevation Gain: 1,970 m / 6,463 ft
Good For: Hikers with a moderate level of fitness and nature enthusiasts looking to explore the Andes.
Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
Consideration: PERMIT ARE LIMITED, AND THERE IS A HIGH DEMAND FOR THIS TREK
Useful Information About Our Luxury Inca Trail Tours
- Above all, your safety is our top priority.
- Our team will porter your belongings throughout the trek so you can truly admire the scenery and take loads of photos without any hassle.
- Trek the unique pathway through the Sun Gate to Machu Picchu (one of the new Seven Wonders of the World).
- Enjoy the majestic sunset at Machu Picchu Mountain.
- Enjoy an amazing sunrise at Machu Picchu citadel early on the 5th day.
- Hike by the same trail that the Incas used to use.
- You must be prepared for lots of walking and a high-elevation hike.
- Spend the last night in a hotel.
- We are using local staff and natural resources.
- We are a local company that practices sustainable responsibility.
- Briefing with your professional mountain tour guide will take place the night before your trek in our office or at your hotel.
- Remember to bring your passport and ISIC Card if applicable.
Our 5-Day Luxury Machu Picchu Hike via the Inca Trail Itinerary
It’s time to have a look at the amazing itinerary for your Inca Trail trek.
Day 1: Cusco — Piscacucho (Km 82) — Patallaqta — Huayllabamba.
Starting in Cusco, we’ll pick you up from your hotel between 04:30 and 05:00 with our private transportation. Our journey from Cusco to Piscacucho is around three hours long as we pass through the Sacred Valley. During the drive, you’ll enjoy majestic views of the Urubamba River, quaint Andean towns, stunning landscapes, and the Inca town of Ollantaytambo.
After arriving at Piscacucho (2,700 m / 8,828 ft) and enjoying a delicious breakfast at a local restaurant, we’ll head to the first checkpoint and start our trek from Km 82. For around four hours, you’ll hike the meandering path, and we’ll stop by some of the famous archeological sites along the way.
We’ll pass through Ccanabamba, Patallaqta, and the Tarayoq Archeological Site, with each offering amazing views of the snow-capped peak known as Veronica (5,920 m / 19,423 ft). Throughout the trek, we’ll find many types of flora and fauna that our professional mountain guide will identify.
At around 13:30, we will arrive at Hatunchaca for a buffet lunch. You’ll then have a short siesta time to recuperate before we continue hiking to Huayllabamba — the last community located along this stretch of path. The final two hours of this trek are fairly gentle and are actually at the same elevation as Cusco City.
Just before reaching our campsite for the night at Ayapata (3,300 m / 10,827 ft), we’ll stop at a viewpoint with magnificent vistas of the mountains and valley below. Your glamorous tents will already be set up, and hot drinks will be waiting for you.
After you’ve settled into your tent, we’ll all gather for a lovely buffet dinner and have the opportunity to get to know everyone on the tour a bit better. Before heading off to bed, we’ll give a short briefing for the following day with details on what you expect for day two.
Day 2: Huayllabamba — Dead Woman’s Pass — Pacaymayo.
Starting the day bright and early, your porters will wake you up with a hot cup of cocoa tea and help pack your belongings before enjoying our big and delicious breakfast. Just be prepared, as this will be the longest day of the entire trek.
We’ll hike for around four hours roughly, arriving at the first of the highest passes on the trek — Dead Woman’s Pass (4,205 m / 13,796 ft). Here, we’ll stop for a short time to take amazing pictures and enjoy the unforgettable views of the Pacaymayo and Cusichaca valleys.
After some downtime, we’ll start a two-hour descent to Pacaymayo, where our buffet lunch will be ready and waiting for you. After filling up with an amazing lunch, we’ll keep walking to the Runkuraqay Archaeological Site, located halfway up Runkuraqay Pass (4,125 m / 13,901 ft).
From this archeological site, we’ll have a two-hour downhill trek to our campsite for the night. We’ll visit Sayacmarca and Conchamarka’s archeological sites along the way, where you’ll enjoy a guided tour and have the chance to admire the sunset over the Vilcabamba Mountain Range in the distance.
We’ll have a short, 25-minute walk to the Chaquicocha campsite (3,600 m / 12,132 ft), where your tents will be set up, and hot water bowls will be available for bathing. We’ll then have another happy hour, snacking, chatting, and drinking before our buffet dinner. If you’re not too tired after dinner, you can do some stargazing with your tour guide to end the day on a high.
Day 3: Pacaymayo — Sayacmarca — Chaquicocha — Phuyupatamarca.
After a good night’s rest, we’ll wake you up at 06:00 with a hot drink of coca tea while your porter helps organize your belongings. You’ll have the chance to admire the stunning views while sipping cocoa tea and smelling your breakfast prepared by our professional chef.
After a breakfast fit for champions, your third day of hiking begins. What makes day three different from the first two days is the gentle path and unique tunnels we’ll pass through, which were carved out by the Incas.
After about two hours of gentle hiking, we’ll arrive at Phuyupatamarca Archeologicall Inca Site (3,600 m / 10,826 ft). After spending some time exploring the Town in the Clouds, we’ll hike downhill for a further three to four hours, visiting another remarkable landmark along the way. We’ll pass through Inti Pata (Terraces for the Sun) before reaching our campsite at 13:00.
The campsite is located near the iconic Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young). Many people call Wiñay Wayna the baby Machu Picchu due to its beautiful location and iconic archeological buildings. After a buffet lunch, you’ll have some time to recharge and relax before the next day’s adventure.
Like every other day, we’ll have a massive feast for dinner, prepared and catered for by our professional chef and your porters. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions about our culture, nature, history, politics, or anything else you’re interested in knowing more about.
As we did on day one, we’ll have a small get-together at dinner to introduce ourselves and have the opportunity to thank the porters and chefs during the journey. This is also a great opportunity to offer tips to the staff who have tirelessly helped carry all your belongings and supplies throughout the tour.
Top Tip: We recommend getting a good night’s rest, as we begin day four very early in order to catch the sunrise at Sun Gate.
Day 4: Phuyupatamarca — Wiñaywayna — Sun Gate — Machu Picchu.
We’re going to wake you up at 03:30 to enjoy an early morning breakfast before beginning the day’s hike. You’ll start hiking from the checkpoint at 05:30 in order to catch the sunrise over the Machu Picchu ruins.
It’s a one-and-a-half-hour trek to Sun Gate, where we’ll have the most magnificent views of Machu Picchu. As the sun rises over the horizon, you’ll be in the perfect spot to snap the most amazing photos of this iconic landmark.
It’s then just one more hour of hiking before we reach Machu Picchu itself. We’ll take you on a lovely two-hour guided tour of the site, give an in-depth explanation of the citadel, how they transported these massive stone bricks, and much more.
Your tour guide will then give you your bus tickets back to Aguas Calientes, after which you’ll have some time to explore the archeological site at your own pace. We’ll then meet you at your hotel (most likely the 3-star Inti Punku Hotel or something similar). We’ll enjoy a dinner at the hotel before briefing you on the plan for day five.
Note: If you’d like to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain on day four, this can be done. It is a 50-minute trek to reach the summit, which offers beautiful views of Machu Picchu. If you want to add this to the itinerary, please let us know ahead of time, as we will need to arrange permits to hike the trail (cost is 65 US$ per person).
Day 5: Aguas Calientes — Machu Picchu — Cusco City
Day five has another early start, as we’ll look to have breakfast at the hotel before heading for sunrise at Machu Picchu (if the weather allows). Just after getting into Machu Picchu, we’re going to take you to a good spot to take amazing and unforgettable sunrise pictures at the archeological site.
Afterward, your guide will take you on another two-hour tour of the Machu Picchu Archeological Site, showing you all the things they weren’t able to cover on day four. At the end of the tour, your guide will provide your bus ticket for Aguas Calientes Town before giving you a chance to explore Machu Picchu again at your own pace.
After taking the bus back to Aguas Calientes, you’re going to meet with your tour guide at the train station, where we’ll take the train back to Cusco. You won’t need to worry about your belongings, as we’ll have them all delivered back to your hotel in Cusco.
Note: If you didn’t hike Huayna Picchu Mountain on day four, you can still do it on day five. Please let us know before your tour so we can book your trail permits ahead of time. The same additional costs apply.
What Is Included in Your Luxury Inca Trail Tour
- Professional Tour Guides: All of our tour guides attended the San Antonio Abad Cusco University or have a college degree. They also all speak really good English. However, the most important aspect is that all our tour guides are local people who grew up in the Andes and have vast ancient knowledge, ready to help broaden your understanding of their ancestors’ traditions. At the same time, they are funny and professional, making sure you’re safe and happy.
- Permits: After we receive your deposit and information about you, our staff will get your permits for the Inca Trail. This permit is for a specific date, and the name provided on the permit will need to match your passport details.
- Briefing: The night before we start your trek, you need to come to our office for the group briefing. During the briefing, we’ll give you the duffle bag that our porters will carry for you – up to 7 kg / 14 pounds of your weight. This will ensure the trek is comfortable, and you have less of a chance of injury or fatigue
- Chefs: Your food will be cooked by our professional chefs according to your diet. If you have allergies to some products, just let us know, and we’ll cater accordingly. Our porter staff will carry the weight of the group’s food, tents, plates, bowls, chairs, etc.
- Transportation: We take care of all the transportation during the tour. This includes transportation by private car, bus, and train. As we offer a door-to-door service, we will pick you up from your hotel and drop you off at your hotel at the end of the tour.
- Equipment: Sparrow Explorer has the best equipment that you need for your trek in order to make it a safe and happy experience. The equipment we provide includes your tent, chairs, tables, and your foam mattress.
- Food: Our healthy and organic food is prepared by our professional chef, who has several years of experience cooking in the Andean mountains. Meals included are 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 happy hours (snacks and drinks), and 4 dinners. VEGETARIAN FOOD IS OPTIONAL WITHOUT EXTRA COST!
- Water: We’ll start supplying you with water from the first lunch to your last breakfast, and you can refill your plastic bottle or camelback at any time. Our team collects the water from the natural springs throughout the trek, filters it, boils it, and then cools it. This ensures safe drinking water throughout the tour. Remember to drink plenty of water, and do not hesitate to ask for more while hiking.
- First Aid Kit: your safety is our first priority. As such, our first aid kits are complete with all the basic things that you can need for the trek. We also have oxygen tanks in case you start to struggle to breathe with the high-elevation gains of the trek.
What Is Excluded From Your Luxury Inca Trail Tour
- Daypacks: While our porter team will be carrying your duffel bag with the majority of your belongings, it’s a good idea to bring a small to medium daypack. We would recommend having a bag big enough to fit your water bottle, sunscreen, sunhat, a few warm layers, camera, personal snacks, your headlamp, and a rain poncho. As the weather can change quickly in the Andes, a rain poncho is an absolute must.
- Headlamps: With our experience in the Andes, we recommend you bring a personal headlamp for the trek. As some of the morning hiking will be done before sunrise, a headlamp can be an invaluable tool for seeing where you’re walking. It’s also helpful when you need the toilet or are walking around the campsites at night.
- Packing list: We suggest you bring warm layers for the chilly nights – it still gets cool in summer. Other essentials include four T-shirts, four hiking pants, a jacket (water-resistant is best, a rain poncho, five pairs of socks, your underwear for five days, hiking boots, sandals or sneakers, and your toiletries.
- Extra Snacks: You can bring your own snack to nibble on in between meals.
- Rentals: Each hiker needs a sleeping bag and a walking stick to help you during the trek. An inflatable air mattress is optional but not necessary. If you don’t have these items, we can rent them to you for the duration of the tour.
- Sleeping bag: 20 US$
- Inflatable air mattress: 15 US$
- Walking sticks (pair): 15 US$
- Meals: Not included in the price is the first breakfast on day one and the lunch and dinner on day five. On day one, we will stop at Piscacucho, where you can have a lovely meal at one of the local restaurants. We can also recommend some restaurants to visit for lunch in Aguas Calientes and dinner in Cusco on day five.
- Tips: While these are not included in the pricing, they are greatly appreciated by the entire team of porters, chefs, and guides at Sparrow Explorer.
- Travel Insurance: We do not offer travel insurance packages with our tours. While it is safer to have travel insurance during your visit to Peru, it is not mandatory. As such, if you do not have travel insurance, you are still more than welcome to join our tours.
- Huayna Picchu: This is the name of the mountain next to the Machu Picchu Archeological Site. The mountain’s peak offers lovely views of the archeological site and the Urubamba River below. While the hike up this mountain is not included in the initial cost of the tour, it can be added. Much like the Inca Trail Permit, these permits to hike the mountain are in high demand and limited. If you want to add this hike to your itinerary, please let us know ahead of time (65 US$ per person).
Helpful Information for Your 5-Day Inca Trail Tour
Before booking your luxury 5-day Machu Picchu hiking tour with us, here are a few more helpful tips to keep in mind.
Altitude Sickness
It’s common to start wondering about altitude sickness when planning a trip to Peru, especially in Cusco. However, it’s easy to see the signs of altitude sickness.
Headaches, tiredness, dizziness, nausea, tingling, loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, and vomiting are all common symptoms of altitude sickness. If you suffer from one of these symptoms, please contact our company or a doctor for assistance.
It’s worth noting, though, that altitude sickness is usually temporary, and staying hydrated with water and coca tea will help a lot. However, some of our customers prefer pills, in which case we suggest you have acetazolamide or dexamethasone and come to Cusco a few days before you intend on taking this tour.
Training for the Inca Trail can also be done by staying in high-altitude regions of Peru for a couple of days before the trek. You can also spend a few days in Cusco drinking plenty of water and coca tea.
Weather
In general, the Andes’ weather is unpredictable, so we suggest being prepared for anything. This is why having waterproof clothes will be a big help, as it can be sunny one minute and rainy the next.
First Aid Kit
All of our mountain guides have their first aid kits and a lot of training in first aid in the mountains. Every year, they receive classes from doctors on how to treat the most frequent problems — diarrhea, cuts, headaches, scrapes, etc.
They will also have an oxygen tank to help you feel much better should you need it. You’re more than welcome to bring your own first aid kit for the trek.
Travel Insurance
It is always a good idea to have travel insurance during your travels. Our tour doesn’t include travel insurance, so we highly recommend getting insurance before you leave for Peru. This will come in handy if you have any serious illness or if something happens while you’re on holiday.
If you don’t have travel insurance, this is also fine, and you are still more than welcome to book this tour.
Environmental Impact
This company is a travel agency that protects our environment. We’re a sustainable company that uses biodegradable packaging for meals. We also consider the leave-no-trace principles during our tours as a way to help reduce the effects of global warming and ensure everyone protects our home (planet Earth).
Community
Most important for us is our amazing team. As we are a local company, the families and communities of our team feel proud of everyone involved at Sparrow Explorer. By sharing the culture and knowledge of our ancestors, everyone who joins our tours can better understand our traditions, behaviors, and customs.
By doing this, we can help protect everything left by our ancestors, as we believe in “Love just the things that you know.” This way, in our own small way, we can help preserve the amazing Inca culture for generations to come.
