Itinerary

• day 1: CUSCO – KM 82- YUNCACHIMPA.
• Day 2: DEAD WOMAN PASS- RUNKURACAY – CHAQUICOCHA
• Day 3: WIÑAY WAYNA -MACUPICCHU-CUSCO

The classic Inca Trail shortened into 3 days of hiking. This option will allow you to see Machu Picchu in the afternoon, around 2.30 p-m.,  at a time when not many people are in Machu Picchu!  Overall this is a better time to visit, as it is very quiet and less crowded than in the mornings.

day 1

CUSCO – KM 82- YUNCACHIMPA.

At km 82, our hikers will cross the Vilcanota River and start their unforgettable journey on the Inca Trail Express. You will be amazed by the great views of the Cordillera Oriental Mountain Range and the snow-capped peak of Veronica. We will start our trek not far from where Hiram Bingham returned in 1915 to begin his re-discovery of the Inca Trail. From here, the trail is flat for almost 2 hours until we arrive at our first Inca site, Llactapata. The vast and incredible Inca site Llactapata (officially called Patallacta) is buil on a site in the Urubamba Mountain Range that divides the jungle and the Andes. From here, you can also see the beautiful snow-capped peak of “Wakay Willca”, at (5860m/19225ft), also known as Veronica. Our first campsite, Yuncachipa, will be a 1 1/2 hour hike from the small village of Wayllabamba, at (3000m/9842ft) in the temperate green valley. The temperature at night is usually around (5°C/41°F) depending on the month.

Day 2

DEAD WOMAN PASS- RUNKURACAY – CHAQUICOCHA

This is perhaps the most challenging day of the Inca Trail Express trek because we will be hiking 5 hours uphill. In the morning, we will pass by Llullucha Pampa, the last place along the trail that you can buy snacks and drinks. We will continue hiking uphill for two hours until we arrive to the top of Dead Woman’s Pass, at an elevation of (4200m/13779ft). This is the highest point of the Inca Trail. Once at the top, our hikers can celebrate having completed the most difficult section of the Inca Trail Express and can take some beautiful pictures of the scenery. We will then start to go down for 1 1/2 hours until we reach our lunch stop, which is located at Pacaymayu, at (3550m/11646ft). After lunch, we begin 2 hours of steep climbing to the Runkuraqay pass (almost 3900m/12870ft). After the pass, you will begin the descent for 1 1/2 hours to get to our campsite Chaquicocha by 5:00 p.m. The temperature at this campsite can drop to around (4°C/39°F) during the night.

Day 3

WIÑAY WAYNA -MACUPICCHU-CUSCO

In our opinion, this is the most impressive day of the Inca Trail Express. (Keep thinking of this during the ascent on day 2!) We will wake up for breakfast early at 5:00 am and start the day with a gentle climb to visit the archaeological site of Phuyupatamarca, meaning: “Town in the Clouds”. This is the third highest point on the trail. The Inca site, Phuyupatamarca, is located a few minutes walk from the third pass. After visiting this site, we will continue walking (3000 steps!) through the cloud forest and the impressive agricultural Inca site of Intipata until we will get to Wiñay Wayna. Here we will have a tour of the incredible site before heading to the sungate where we will be able to catch a glimpse of Machu Picchu from a distance. When we arrive at Machu Picchu, we will have a tour that will last for about 2 hours. After the tour, you will have enough time to enjoy the site and to explore Machu Picchu by yourself before taking the bus down to Aguas Calientes. From here, you will take the train back to Cusco.

Inca Trail Express Includes:

• Professional tour guide who is fluent in English
• Private bus to the start of the trail
• Machu Picchu entrance fee
• Two-person tents with plenty of room for your backpacks
• Sleeping mattress
• Meals cooked by an experienced chef: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners, and snacks!
• Delicious food rich in carbohydrates and suitable for trekking
• Water (We will provide you with boiled and filtered cold water during the trek after lunch on the first day. You
• will need to bring a container to carry your water in. Also, you need to ensure that you pack a sufficient amount
• of water for the first half-day of the trek
• Vegetarian/special diet options available
• Porters to carry the tents, food, and cooking equipment Dining and kitchen tents
• First aid kit including an emergency oxygen bottle
• bus tickets from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes/ Machu Picchu
• Expedition train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
• Bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
• Lunch in Aguas Calientes on the final day.

Not included in the Inca Trail Express.

• -Tips for the guide, cook and porters.

What you need to bring on the Inca Trail Express:

• Original passport
• For students: ISIC card
• Insurance card/certificate
• Hiking boots
• Waterproof jacket or rain poncho
• Warm jacket
• Hat and gloves

2 t-shirts 2 pairs of pants (1 for hiking, 1 for camp) Long underwear for sleeping/thermal underwear Hand sanitizer Comfortable trousers Sun hat or cap Sunscreen Insect repellent Water and/or water purification tablets Toiletries Personal medication Flashlight or headlamp Optional items to bring: Shorts Walking stick Basic First Aid Kit Sandals Extra money Bathing suit for hot springs in Aguas Calientes

Price: US $600 per person. Group Size: 2-8 people

Note:

Inca Trail Express services include pick-up and drop-off at your hotel in Cusco. This is an additional service that we provide, which sets us apart from other tour providers. For all group bookings of greater than 3 people, we offer you a free city tour or tour of the Sacred Valley. Pachacutec Expeditions, does not have any hidden fees. We includes a porter that will carry your personal belongings in all of our treks, at no additional cost. We will provide you with a duffel bag to put all of your belongings in. The duffel bags easily fit 8 Kilograms /17 pounds per person including your sleeping bags. However, you will still need to carry your day pack with all of your essentials like water, sunscreen, passport, etc We offer a discount of US $20 to students with a valid International Student Identity Card (ISIC) and to children under the age of 16 years old. Scanned copies of your ISIC card or child’s passport must be provided at the time of payment of the deposit for the trek in order to qualify for the international discount. Train for the end of the Inca Trail Express: We suggest our tourists 6:45 p.m. train. This departure time will allow you to spend more time at Machu Picchu and do more activities like climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, which can be booked additionally. Also, you can walk to the sun gate , the inca bridge, and still have time to enjoy the hot springs or some cervezas after a long trek. The 6:45 p.m. train will arrive in Ollantaytambo train station at 8:20 p.m. and you will be picked up by your driver outside of the train station. The driver will be holding a sign with your name on it so that there will be no confusion. If you do not see the driver initially, just wait for them outside the train station. Once the driver has picked you up, then you will travel for 1 1/2 hours in a van before you arrive back at your hotel/hostel. Arrival time in Cusco is approximately 10:00 p.m. Also, we suggest the 2:55 p.m. train for travelers who are planning to leave Cusco city early in the morning the next day to continue with their travel plans. Important: We guarantee these early Expedition departures, as per the itinerary, if you book your tours in 2 months in advance. Otherwise we may be forced to offer the Expedition train that departs at 6:45 p.m. only. There is an option to upgrade your train to the Vistadome train, which is an extra US $35 per person. Please let us your preference at the time of booking.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

If you are thinking of climbing Huayna Picchu mountain you must book in advance. Only 400 people can hike Huaynapicchu per day. You will climb it on your own after the tour in Machu Picchu, starting around 10:00 a.m. We recomend that you book your tickets in advance to let us know  of your interest in Huayna Picchu. Machu Picchu Mountain is an alternative climbing mountain, which also offers fantasic views of the site. We recomend it if huayna Picchu Mountain is overbooked. Rentals Hiking poles: US $1o.00 (pair) Sleeping bag US $2o.00 Air Matress US $15.00 For treks that includes accommodation at Aguas Calientes, (Including Inca Trail Express) we will stay in a hotel. In contrast to other companies, we will not be staying in basic shared rooms or sharing showers. Inca Trail Express