Inca Trail 4-Day Hiking Tour to Machu Picchu from Cusco
Description
Enjoy this trek to Machu Picchu, which is the only one to take you along the original Inca Trail, and reach the Sun Gate before sunrise. Along the way, you will enjoy incredible landscapes and changing environments. This is a spectacularly rich experience in the Andean Mountains in which you will immerse yourself in the Inca culture as you hike 26 miles (43 kilometers) through the heart of the beautiful Andes. Please note that Inca Trail Trek permits (INCLUDED in your booking) sell fast, so we recommend booking in advance. If there are no more permits at the time you book the trip, we will suggest you an alternative hike to Machu Picchu, or you can get a full refund.
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Please note that there is a mandatory pre-departure briefing at our Cuzco Headquarters one day prior to departure at 6 PM. You will receive detailed information on your excursion, a list of what to bring, and confirm your departure details.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Minimum age is 7 years
- Typical Meals on the Trek: On all of our Treks to Machu Picchu we search for great cooks who provide you with the best tasting meals on the mountain, with specialty menus and the freshest local ingredients available. Here is an idea of what you will be eating during your trek. *Vegetarian Option Available Upon Request (please advise at least 2 days in advance). BREAKFASTS: Hot porridge, quinoa or oats, fried eggs, omelet or pancakes with fresh bread, fried bananas and boiled water for hot tea, coca tea, coffee, chocolate and milk. LUNCH & DINNER: First Course: Quinoa, corn, noodle, asparagus, mushroom or vegetable soup, stuffed avocado or potatoes. Second Course: Chicken breast, beef stew, quinoa, fried rice, hamburgers, fried chicken, spaghetti bolognese, typical dishes: aji de gallina (chilli pepper chicken), escabeche de pollo (marinated chicken) or ajiaco de olluco (spicy potato stew). Desserts: Fried plantains, chocolate pudding, chocolate or vanilla cake and boiled water for hot tea, coca tea, coffee, chocolate and milk. SNACKS: Boiled water for hot tea, coca tea, coffee, chocolate and milk with popcorn, cookies, crackers.
- IMPORTANT: Please note that Inca Trail Trek permits (INCLUDED in your booking) sell fast, so we recommend booking in advance. If there are no more permits at the time you book the trip, we will suggest you an alternative hike to Machu Picchu, or you can get a full refund.
- Accommodation options: During the trek single travelers will share a tent with another traveler of the same sex and couples will have a tent to themselves
- Physical Requirements: This hike is demanding, it’s important to be in good physical condition; The Inca Trail elevation changes make the hike strenuous as there are three passes during the hike and you will have 1.2 miles (1,950 meters) of uphill and 1.4-miles (2,250 meters) of descent
- Important: You must provide the following information upon booking: Full name (exactly as it appears on the passport), date of birth, nationality, passport number, date of passport expiration, which must be valid for at least 6 months past the date of travel; Without this information, the local tour operator will be unable to make the booking
- You will have a guide during the trek and on the Machu Picchu tour. However, during your bus and train transfers you will not be accompanied by a guide.
- Daily departures with a group of 4 or more
- No departures in February due to unfavorable climatic conditions
- The COMPLETE service INCLUDES a thermal sleeping bag, foam sleeping mat, duffel bag & porter to carry a total of 7kgs of personal gear for each trekker (3kgs sleeping bag & mat + 4kgs personal items). The reduced BASIC (LIGHT) service ONLY INCLUDES a basic foam sleeping mat and EXCLUDES the thermal sleeping bag, duffel bag & porter to carry personal gear. You will carry your own backpack, sleeping bag, mattress & personal gear. EXTRA ITEMS FOR RENT IN CUZCO: Inflatable Sleeping Mattress, Professional Trekking Poles.
- SUGGESTED PACKING LIST: Bring or Rent in Cuzco: hiking poles, rain pants, rain poncho, trekking boots, sandals, warm socks, sweater, thermals, hat, gloves, sun hat, sun block, sun glasses, flashlight/torch, camera, extra batteries and memory card (there is limited to no electricity available during the trek), waterproof bags for your camera, hand sanitizer, personal first aid kit, water bottle. Bring extra cash for snacks, water, gatorade which doubles or triples in price along the trail.
- DON'T FORGET THE ESSENTIALS: Original passport, visa (if applicable), insurance card, personal medications.
- Travellers who booked their trip using one passport, then renewed or replaced it afterward, must carry their old passport or a photocopy with them on the trip.
- *Please note that there is a mandatory pre-departure briefing at our Cuzco Headquarters one day prior to departure at 6 PM. You will receive detailed information on your excursion, a list of what to bring and confirm your departure details.
- As of June 11, 2022, all travelers over 18 years old must have three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. That means two regular doses plus a booster. Passengers from 12 to 17 years old must prove they are vaccinated with two doses. If they do not have a complete scheme, they must present the negative result of an RT-PCR test taken no more than 48 hours before boarding in their country of origin.
- No more than 500 people per day are allowed to start the Inca Trail trek at km. 82; This number includes all support staff (ie. porters, cooks and guides) and is very tightly controlled; Once this limit of 500 people is reached, the Trail is effectively closed off for the day and no further bookings can be made; Reservations are not held on the Trail and all permits to trek must be bought as far as possible in advance with complete and correct passport information, to which no modifications can be made; Any attempts at modifications will result in a loss of the permit and any money paid.
Reviews(380)
My sister, a friend and I traveled with Bamba travel company to Machu Picchu on the 4 day/3 night trek. I can’t say enough good things about the team that we were with. Our porters were amazing, helpful, and caring, especially Loco. They always had a smile on their faces! they worked so very hard carrying all of our equipment to each location where we camped. There were no alpacas, donkeys or horses used to carry the equipment. They carried 25 kg on their backs. I could barely carry 10 pounds in my day pack. They effortlessly ran up and down the steps. They made it look so easy even in the rain! They ranged anywhere from 20yo to 61yo. It was just amazing. Our chef Sanom, made each meal like a feast with minimal effort and equipment. Our team leader Edwin was fantastic. This trek was the hardest thing that I have ever done in my life. I was always last to camp, Edwin made sure that I was safe, he stayed with me and was my own personal cheerleader. He gave me the encouragement that I needed to finish each day. He was very knowledgeable. It was definitely fascinating to hear the history of the Incas and walk the same path that they did many, many years ago. As I said, in the beginning, I can’t say enough good things about the team we were with. I would definitely recommend Bamba travel if you’re thinking about doing the trek to Machu Picchu. Please pass along my thanks to the team. I never would’ve made it without them.
Did the trek with 4 other friends and had an amazing experience. Our guide, Francisco, and the team of porters were amazing. They took the time to make sure we were comfortable throughout the entire excursion. Francisco is very passionate about the history of Machu Picchu - we could not have gotten a better guide and we are thankful for the time we spent with him. Special shoutout to our chef who made us amazing food throughout the entirety of the trip, and went out of his way to bake us a cake on our last night. Also, our team of porters from Maras traveled extra fast to keep up with us and ensure we had campsites set up fast and efficiently. Overall, I would rate this experience a 10/10. Francisco, if you get a chance to read this, thank you brother! We appreciate your effort and our experience would not be the same without you.
Had an amazing & unforgettable experience on this tour. I want to specifically highlight our guide Francisco, whose energy and passion was unmatched. He was very friendly and extremely knowledgeable; he made the trek that much better. I also want to give kudos to our chef & porters - the team was incredibly accommodating and our chef was fantastic.
The path of the Inca is a fascinating experience. Only two things are imperatively needed: eat well and rest well. The rest part is Bamba's responsibility, broken tents, pricked mattresses, broken sleeping bags, pathetic. The food part and the guide (Francisco) very good , but if you walk 16 km at 3500 meters, you need to rest !!! Bamba a disaster
We ended up going on the 2 day Inca Trail since the 4 day was full for our dates, and in the confirmation email it said that the first day would be the KM 104 hike, then the second day it would be exploring the Machu Picchu site. When we arrived at the briefing the night before departure, we were informed that we would not have tickets to the site. The upside was that our guide Francisco was amazing!!! He was super knowledgeable about the flora and fauna of the area, and knew so much about the Incas and the history of the region. He also worked extremely hard to secure Machu Picchu site tickets, which must have been very stressful. I also sprained my ankle halfway through the hike, and when we got to Aguas Calientes he rented a wheelchair for me and insisted on pushing me to the hotel. Thank you so much for everything Francisco! We ended up getting the experience we booked, but it was quite an ordeal and we had to advocate for ourselves pretty forcefully. The booking companies didn't actually apologize or offer an explanation as to why this happened. First it was blamed on Viator, then the Peruvian government, but in the end neither Viator nor Bamba could explain what happened. Our excursion was booked in May, and they waited until the evening before the trip to tell us that there were no tickets to the site, when it was too late to book with a different company or to purchase the tickets ourselves. In reading the reviews, this happened with another group as well, so this is not a fluke. I highly recommend that if you book this experience, to confirm with the local company whether all components are confirmed.
Unfortunately, this company lies to you, frequently and shamelessly. They say that they have secured your Machu Picchu tickets, but then 2 days prior to the trip, they claim that the "government just changed the rules" and you no longer have tickets to enter the Machu Picchu. I did the research, and the rule change had happened months ago and Bamba Travel chose not to disclose it to us until 2 days prior to the trip (after we were already in Peru). They deny all responsibilities and give you some alternative options, each worse than the other. They also make you sign a paper that you won't complain to TripAdvisor, or they completely cancel the trip on you the evening before departure!! They try all sort of tactics on you and ruin your entire trip.
We did the 4D3N tour with Bamba travels along the original Inca Trail. It was fantastic. We had 5 great porters who carry the tents, food, and clothes. We had a chef (Javier) who cooked amazing food and even managed to make a cake in the tent on the last day for us all to enjoy. Our tour guide was called Edson and I highly recommend him to any of my friends or anyone reading this review. He is very professional, passionate, and interesting. He has great english and ensured we all had a great time. This was probably the best tour me and my mates have ever done. The inca trail made seeing Machu Picchu 10x better as we felt like we earned it after the long and difficult hiking days. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
This trip is best for those looking for an authentic experience of rural Peruvian life and who enjoy rugged landscapes.
Unforgettable experience of hiking the Inca trail to Macchu Picchu. Our guide Francisco has been absolutely amazing, deep diving into Inca history, including different theories that exist about the purpose of the buildings that we encountered on the way. He was very attentive to our pace. We never felt rushed and still made it to the sun gate among the first couple of groups. The team of porters have been absolute super heroes, running the trek with the heavy load, cooking amazing food and making us feel home.
Amazing experience! I recommend Bamba experience, but I recommend even more to our Guide Francisco. The road is super cool, but also do it with someone who explains everything and more with that passion, telling you stories of their grandfather and everything makes it even better! And of course I recommend our porters Eulogio, Abbad, Juan, Sebastian, Victor Raul, Alfredo and our super chef Nazario Thank you all for turning the Inca trail into something extraordinary. Always with a smile treating us better than if we were in our house and with those delicious meals. They're cracks. Sulpaiki waykis!!!!!! :)
