Salkantay Trek to

Machupicchu

4 days / 3 nights

Salkantay Trek to Machupicchu

4 days / 3 nights

LUXURY Treks

Private Services

Special Interest Treks

About Inca Trails

The Incas developed a network of more than 30,000 km (20,000 miles) of trails to connect the most remote corners of their vast empire. These constitute the most important pre-Hispanic communication route in America and the spinal column of the then all-powerful Inca Empire. The “main” Inca Trail consists of over 3,000 km (2,000 miles) connecting Quito and La Paz, in today’s Ecuador and Bolivia respectively.

The Inca Trails are considered an engineering masterpiece. They were built for the passage of people and goods, as well as for the transmission of news, through the ‘chaskis’ or Inca messengers, who are known to have run along these paths between the coast and the highlands non-stop. These trails are designed to be hiked, with stones covering their surface and sides, ensuring a firm footing and stability in such varied areas as high plateaus, grasslands and cloud-forests rich in vegetation, while fully integrating and respecting the nature and environment they cross.

About this Trek

The Classic Inca Trail to Machupicchu is Peru’s most iconic trek leading to the Sacred Inca City of Machupicchu. The classical 43-km (26.8-mile) trek follows a cobblestone path that departs from the fertile grounds near the Sacred Valley of the Incas, at 2,800 masl (9,128 ft), and ascends to the infamous Dead Woman’s Pass at 4,200 masl (13,776 ft), above the vegetation line. It then follows to other valleys and mountain passes, threading past fascinating archaeological sites built in unbelievable locations with impeccable techniques, slowly winding down into a lush cloud forest rich in Andean flora and fauna. The combination of the gorgeous mountain scenery, the mysterious ruins and the very special energy of the area makes this trek an experience of a lifetime.

Enigma’s experienced staff of trekking guides enrich the days with their knowledge and sharing, covering diverse topics such as Inca history, archaeology, architecture, social structure, economy, politics, astronomy, and fascinating traditions and beliefs. Lodging is within designated and authorized campsites along the route, and Machupicchu is reached at sunrise on the fourth day.

Our Insight

We can’t help but love this route. No matter how many times we walk it, it continues to fascinate us. An absolute must. Don’t listen to those saying it is too crowded: Enigma avoids the masses as much as possible, often by being ahead of them. A maximum of 500 people are allowed per day, of which about 40% are porters, which leaves about 300 visitors per day, entering through two points and occupying different campsites, the biggest of which we avoid. Compared to the crowds at the world’s famous monuments, the trail seems nearly empty! And by tuning in to the beauty of this route, the other trekkers fade away and you become immersed in having the experience of a lifetime.

LUXURY Treks

Private Services

Special Interest Treks

TREK ITINERARY

Day 1

Between 4:00-4:30am our private transport and staff will pick you up from your hotel. We drive to Piskacuchu (2,700m/8,856ft), a community located on the 82nd kilometer of the Cusco –Machupicchu railroad, which is the starting point of the Inca Trail. We begin our hike by crossing the bridge over the Urubamba River and walking along its left shore as it flows northwest through the Sacred Valley. Following the trail along a flat terrain, we arrive in Miskay (2,800m/9,184ft), to then ascend and finally see, from the highest part of an overlook, the impressive Inca city of Llactapata (2,650m/8,692ft). We continue trekking along the valley created by the Kusichaca River, gradually climbing for about five hours until we reach the community of Wayllabamba (3,000m/9,840ft), where we set our first camp. All along the way we enjoy spectacular views of the Vilcanota ridge on the opposite side of the Urubamba River, where the impressive Veronica peak reigns at 5,832 meters above sea level. Not to mention the diversity of wild flora and fauna that can be found all along the valley. Meals: B, L, D

Total distance  12 km (7,47 miles)
Estimated hiking time  5-6 hours
Maximum altitude point  3,000 m (9,840 ft)
Campsite altitude  3,000 m (9,840 ft)

Between 4:00-4:30am our private transport and staff will pick you up from your hotel. We drive to Piskacuchu (2,700m/8,856ft), a community located on the 82nd kilometer of the Cusco –Machupicchu railroad, which is the starting point of the Inca Trail. We begin our hike by crossing the bridge over the Urubamba River and walking along its left shore as it flows northwest through the Sacred Valley. Following the trail along a flat terrain, we arrive in Miskay (2,800m/9,184ft), to then ascend and finally see, from the highest part of an overlook, the impressive Inca city of Llactapata (2,650m/8,692ft). We continue trekking along the valley created by the Kusichaca River, gradually climbing for about five hours until we reach the community of Wayllabamba (3,000m/9,840ft), where we set our first camp. All along the way we enjoy spectacular views of the Vilcanota ridge on the opposite side of the Urubamba River, where the impressive Veronica peak reigns at 5,832 meters above sea level. Not to mention the diversity of wild flora and fauna that can be found all along the valley. Meals: B, L, D

Total distance  12 km (7,47 miles)
Estimated hiking time  5-6 hours
Maximum altitude point  3,000 m (9,840 ft)
Campsite altitude  3,000 m (9,840 ft)

Between 4:00-4:30am our private transport and staff will pick you up from your hotel. We drive to Piskacuchu (2,700m/8,856ft), a community located on the 82nd kilometer of the Cusco –Machupicchu railroad, which is the starting point of the Inca Trail. We begin our hike by crossing the bridge over the Urubamba River and walking along its left shore as it flows northwest through the Sacred Valley. Following the trail along a flat terrain, we arrive in Miskay (2,800m/9,184ft), to then ascend and finally see, from the highest part of an overlook, the impressive Inca city of Llactapata (2,650m/8,692ft). We continue trekking along the valley created by the Kusichaca River, gradually climbing for about five hours until we reach the community of Wayllabamba (3,000m/9,840ft), where we set our first camp. All along the way we enjoy spectacular views of the Vilcanota ridge on the opposite side of the Urubamba River, where the impressive Veronica peak reigns at 5,832 meters above sea level. Not to mention the diversity of wild flora and fauna that can be found all along the valley. Meals: B, L, D

Total distance  12 km (7,47 miles)
Estimated hiking time  5-6 hours
Maximum altitude point  3,000 m (9,840 ft)
Campsite altitude  3,000 m (9,840 ft)

Between 4:00-4:30am our private transport and staff will pick you up from your hotel. We drive to Piskacuchu (2,700m/8,856ft), a community located on the 82nd kilometer of the Cusco –Machupicchu railroad, which is the starting point of the Inca Trail. We begin our hike by crossing the bridge over the Urubamba River and walking along its left shore as it flows northwest through the Sacred Valley. Following the trail along a flat terrain, we arrive in Miskay (2,800m/9,184ft), to then ascend and finally see, from the highest part of an overlook, the impressive Inca city of Llactapata (2,650m/8,692ft). We continue trekking along the valley created by the Kusichaca River, gradually climbing for about five hours until we reach the community of Wayllabamba (3,000m/9,840ft), where we set our first camp. All along the way we enjoy spectacular views of the Vilcanota ridge on the opposite side of the Urubamba River, where the impressive Veronica peak reigns at 5,832 meters above sea level. Not to mention the diversity of wild flora and fauna that can be found all along the valley. Meals: B, L, D

Total distance  12 km (7,47 miles)
Estimated hiking time  5-6 hours
Maximum altitude point  3,000 m (9,840 ft)
Campsite altitude  3,000 m (9,840 ft)

“I cannot begin to describe how amazing the trek itself was, like living in the pages of a National Geographic magazine. It was difficult to believe we were actually in this astounding landscape, high above the valleys and with clouds below us and ruins everywhere. In fact, Machu Picchu, while breathtaking, was the least remarkable thing on the trip to my mind. Being alone as a family in a ruin with only the mountains around us was much more moving. Then add on Nilo and his assistant guide Marco, and it was perfect. We asked questions constantly and they always took the time to answer with care. They stopped and showed us cool things we never would have noticed or even known about had they not been there. Those little asides, such as pulling a cochineal bug off a cactus leaf and crushing it to show us the red pigment the Incas used in their dyeing, or a really masterful and fascinating impromptu talk about Incan beliefs about the afterlife, gave a depth to what we were seeing that added immeasurably to the experience.”

Elizabeth Murphy Group / USA
Inca Trail 4D/3N
December 2019

LUXURY Treks

Private Services

Special Interest Treks

TREK DETAILS

Difficulty level

Challenging

Departure dates

Daily departures are available throughout the year. Exception: one-month closing period of all Inca Trail routes in February. Please contact us to check departures to alternative routes.

All Inca Trail departures are subject to government space availability, please check the following website: Ministerio de Cultura (https://www.machupicchu.gob.pe/inicio) > Consultas > Centro Arqueológico: please select Camino Inca > Please select year and month.

All private service departure dates are adapted to your request.

Group Size

LUXURY Treks

Private Services

Special Interest Treks

HOW TO BOOK

If you would like to make a reservation for this trek, please follow the process below:

  1. Please make sure to read and agree with the Booking Terms & Conditions as your booking is subject to these terms.
  2. Then click on the Book Now button below. This will lead you to a Reservation Form that we kindly request you to fill out and submit.
    Once received by us, one of our travel consultants will reply within 48 hours to confirm or discuss options available for your booking.
  3. When your booking is confirmed, a money deposit will be requested within a specific time frame to secure your reservation.
  4. Once we have received your deposit and if received in time, your booking is secured and confirmed. A service confirmation form will be sent to you including all the details of your program.

In case you have any questions or require additional information, please contact us, we will be very glad to assist you.

Don’t miss out! Limited spaces available

Due to government restrictions, Inca trail permits are limited to just 500 per day and issued on a first-come, first-served basis. This means they can sell out as far as 6 months in advance – so be sure to book early with us to avoid disappointment!

BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS

Read our Booking Terms & Conditions

WHY TREK WITH ENIGMA

  • Because all our treks are only and strictly operated by Enigma and its very professional staff. Other agents claiming daily departures operate their treks jointly with other companies in service rotation. Hence, you book a departure with tour operator A, which risks being operated by tour operator B without you knowing. ENIGMA has a high quality of service and a great reputation, which is only possible by ensuring that only ENIGMA staff operates ENIGMA treks. Even if we only have a single traveller for a set departure date, we will operate this trek.
  • Because we have and can prove an excellent treatment of our staff, including chefs, porters, and wranglers. ENIGMA not only complies with the Porter Law and Regulation, but our wages are above the minimum requested by law and above the average paid by most of the tour operators. All our staff eats well and more than enough, they are provided with sleeping bags, thermal clothes, sleeping tents, trekking boots, thick rain ponchos, harnesses, and lumbar support for their duty on field. Most importantly, they have a program ensuring them a minimum number of departures per month and hence, a minimum income per month as well.
  • Because we are very careful to choose and train the best guides for each group. About 80% of our guides work exclusively for ENIGMA and are highly trained, have excellent language proficiency and communication skills, and are regularly evaluated by the reports each guest fills out after each service. We have specific guides for special requests (ornithology, history and archaeology, flora and fauna, and also generalist guides). Our guides have been trained in Wilderness First Response and/or Advanced First Aid by NOLS and are updated every two years by local authorized schools. We also have guides proficient in several languages besides English and Spanish, including French, Italian, German, Chinese and Japanese. In all of our treks, not only on the Inca Trail, there will be a guide for every 8 guests with one of them being the head guide. This ensures a higher safety and attention to guests versus other operators.
  • Because we have some of the best equipment in field, renewed every year, employing excellent brand and performance tents, surgical steel vaiselle for best hygiene, the best water filters, therm-a-rest sleeping systems, with adequate-warmth bags and inflatable and high-isolation pads, and orthopedic foamy three-level base sleeping pads, among others.
  • Because we have one of the best in-field meal services in the area: throughout our decades of operation, our chefs have been trained by several institutes in Lima and Cusco, with chefs coming from the NY Culinary Institute and renowned chefs from Lima as well, with whom menus have been designed and implemented. Their operation ensures maximum hygiene. Above all, be prepared to not only have a superb trekking experience but also a culinary one, including generous and delicious breakfasts, snacks, lunches, tea services and dinners that we can adapt to your very specific requests. Our menus include a variety of Peruvian and international food and also cater to vegetarian, vegan and special dietary requests (Atkins, Gluten-free, etc.), all at no extra cost. ENIGMA is recognized for its gourmet meals, the quantity and quality of food, as well as for its outstanding menu design. We take natural, locally sourced ingredients on the treks and prepare them in the field; we do not take prepared low-quality food, the meals being an added experience in all of our programs.
  • Because ENIGMA’s responsible operation makes sure to have a minimal impact on the environment of the natural protected areas in which it runs. We train all our staff in our environmental policy, and while ENIGMA used to be the only Inca Trail Official Operator to run a yearly Inca Trail Clean-Up, this initiative has now been taken over by the government, and we continue to participate actively.
    • Because we pay legal taxes on all services contributing to the country’s growth and development. Other tour operators do not declare their sales or most of their earnings, or declare them with a lower value, thus allowing them to lower their prices through a dishonest competition. We always declare our earnings and pay the appropriate taxes.
  • Because all our Group Services have a maximum group size of 12, whereas most tour operators work with a maximum of 16 on the Inca Trail, since this is the number authorized by law, or even higher on other routes. We have established 12 as a maximum since this increases the quality of our service, as there are spots along the treks where being 16 makes it impossible to provide a personalized service.
  • Private Services have no size limit. Enigma guarantees to assign 1 guide for each 8 trekking guests, which means an additional guide is added as of guest number 9.
  • Also, our excellent treatment to our staff is not reduced in the low season: porter wages and guide fees are maintained throughout the rainy season, a gesture highly appreciated by our staff.
  • Finally, due to all of the above, we have very highly satisfied guests, as our numerous testimonials prove. In our Testimonials section of our website, you may find reports dating from 2003 (when we started our operation) to today. The original reports are available at our office in Cusco.
  • We are aware other operators may offer the Inca Trail or other programs at a lower price. This does not mean they are offering the same program at a lower price: the level of service will not be the same. We understand price is an issue, but we kindly request our potential guests and clients to choose a responsible tour operator as otherwise, you risk indirectly promoting the exploitation of rural communities and the growth of informal and illegal operators that do not support the country’s development and growth.