The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu – Self-Launched 8-Day Trek

Fly into Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ) and transfer independently into the city — shared taxis from the airport to the centre cost around S/15–20 (£3–4). Check into your hostel or guesthouse in the San Blas or Plaza de Armas area. Take it very easy today: Cusco sits at 3,400m and altitude sickness is a real risk. Drink coca tea (widely available and free in most hostels), stay hydrated, and avoid alcohol. In the evening, head out to find dinner on your own — the streets around Plaza de Armas are packed with great local restaurants. A set-menu lunch or dinner (menú del día) costs around S/10–15 (£2–3).

🚌Shared airport taxi to city centre (~£3–4)

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in central Cusco — e.g. Loki Hostel, Wild Rover Cusco, or Pariwana Hostel (dorm ~£10–14/night, private ~£20–30/night)

• →Arrive at Cusco airport and transfer to accommodation
• →Rest and acclimatise — drink coca tea and plenty of water
• →Gentle evening stroll around Plaza de Armas
• →Dinner at a local restaurant near the centre

A crucial acclimatisation day before the trek. Explore at a slow pace. Visit Qorikancha (the Sun Temple inside Santo Domingo Church, entry ~S/15/£3), the bustling Mercado San Pedro for local snacks, and the Plaza de Armas. For a half-day optional excursion, take a shared minibus (colectivo) up to Sacsayhuamán fortress (~S/3 each way) — entry is included in the Cusco Tourist Ticket (boleto turístico, ~£28). Alternatively, book an optional Sacred Valley day tour via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£25–35 per person), which visits Pisac market, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero. In the evening, pack and weigh your kitbag — the Inca Trail permit requires you to carry no more than 7kg of personal kit in your porter bag. Keep your passport accessible for trail checkpoints.

🚌Walking and shared minibus (colectivo) within Cusco (~£3)

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in central Cusco (same as Day 1)

• →Visit Qorikancha (Sun Temple) in Santo Domingo Church (~£3 entry)
• →Browse Mercado San Pedro — try chicha morada, ceviche, and street food
• →Optional: Sacsayhuamán fortress by shared minibus (~£3 return + ticket)
• →Optional: Sacred Valley day tour via GetYourGuide (~£25–35)
• →Pack and weigh your kitbag for the Inca Trail

Your licensed Inca Trail operator will collect you from your accommodation in Cusco early in the morning (around 5–6am) and transfer you by minibus (~1.5hrs) through the Sacred Valley to the trailhead at Piscacucho (Km82). Show your passport at the checkpoint and begin the trek. Today's 11km route follows the Urubamba River through cactus gardens and small settlements, passing the terraced Inca ruins of Llactapata before climbing the Cusichaca Valley to camp near the village of Huayllabamba (2,800m). Your licensed operator's crew (chef, porters, guide) are included in your Inca Trail permit package — meals are provided in camp. IMPORTANT: Inca Trail permits are strictly limited to 500 people per day (including crew) and sell out months in advance. Book a licensed operator early at peru.travel or via direct search — reputable operators include Alpaca Expeditions, SAS Travel Peru, and Llama Path, with all-inclusive 4-day/3-night Inca Trail packages typically costing ~£350–500 per person.

🚌Minibus from Cusco to Km82 (~1.5hrs — included with licensed operator)

🛏Huayllabamba Camp — full-service camping with tent, sleeping mat, and meals provided by licensed operator (included in Inca Trail package)

• →Transfer from Cusco to Km82 trailhead by minibus (included with operator)
• →Passport check at Inca Trail entrance gate
• →Trek 11km along the Urubamba River to Huayllabamba
• →Visit terraced ruins of Llactapata en route
• →Dinner and overnight at Huayllabamba Camp (full-service camping — included with operator)

The most challenging day on the trail. Wake to a hot drink delivered to your tent by your crew. A steady climb of 10km takes you through cloud forest and open meadows to the summit of Dead Woman's Pass (Warmihuañusca) at 4,215m — the highest point on the entire Inca Trail. Take your time, breathe deeply, and enjoy the extraordinary Andean panorama from the top. A steep descent on original Inca stone steps leads down to the Pacaymayu River valley campsite at 3,600m. Hot meals are prepared by your operator's camp chef. Sleep under a spectacular Andean night sky.

🚌Trekking on foot

🛏Pacaymayu Camp — full-service camping provided by licensed operator

• →Trek 10km from Huayllabamba to Dead Woman's Pass (4,215m)
• →Summit Dead Woman's Pass — highest point of the trail
• →Descend on original Inca steps to Pacaymayu River valley
• →Dinner and overnight at Pacaymayu Camp

After a hearty breakfast, today's 12km route climbs past the Runquracay ruins and over the Runquracay Pass (3,930m) — your second and final high pass. The trail then becomes a beautifully paved Inca road of flat boulders, leading to the clifftop ruins of Sayacmarca (3,625m), dramatically perched above the cloud forest. Continue to the spectacular ridge campsite at Phuyupatamarca (3,680m), with views of Salkantay mountain and — if clouds permit — your first glimpse towards Machu Picchu. Watch the sunset from camp. You've earned it.

🚌Trekking on foot

🛏Phuyupatamarca Camp — full-service camping provided by licensed operator

• →Trek 12km over Runquracay Pass (3,930m)
• →Explore Runquracay and Sayacmarca ruins with your guide
• →Walk paved Inca road through cloud forest
• →Sunset views of Salkantay from Phuyupatamarca ridge camp

The final 9km stretch of the trail, and arguably the most beautiful. Descend the famous Inca Steps — a 2km stone staircase plunging into a stunning panorama — to the exquisite ruins of Wiñay Wayna (3,580m), where you'll have time to explore before lunch. Continue along a relatively flat cloud-forest path through wild orchids to Inti Punku (the Sun Gate), where you get your first full view of Machu Picchu with Huayna Picchu rising behind. Arriving in the late afternoon means fewer crowds at the Sun Gate — enjoy unobstructed photos before descending to the citadel entrance. Take the bus down to Aguas Calientes (~S/25/£5 one-way, buy tickets at the bus stop) and check into your pre-booked accommodation. Celebrate with dinner in town — try one of the restaurants along Avenida Imperio de los Incas.

🚌Trekking on foot + bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes (~£5)

🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in Aguas Calientes — e.g. Hostal Inka's Rest or similar (~£15–25/night for a private room; book well in advance as town is small)

• →Trek 9km from Phuyupatamarca via Inca Steps to Sun Gate
• →Explore Wiñay Wayna ruins and have lunch
• →Arrive at Inti Punku (Sun Gate) for first views of Machu Picchu
• →Bus from Machu Picchu entrance to Aguas Calientes (~£5)
• →Celebration dinner in Aguas Calientes

Well-rested, take the morning bus back up to Machu Picchu (first buses run from ~5:30am, ~S/25/£5 one-way — buy tickets in advance at machupicchu.gob.pe or at the bus terminal). Entry to Machu Picchu must be pre-booked online at the official site (machupicchu.gob.pe) — tickets cost ~S/152 (£30) and slots sell out weeks or months in advance. Book a licensed guide at the entrance gate or pre-book via GetYourGuide (~£15–20 for a 2hr guided tour) to bring the history, architecture and mysteries of this extraordinary site to life. After your visit, return to Aguas Calientes for lunch, then board the Inca Rail or Peru Rail train to Ollantaytambo (~1.5hrs, ~£25–40 depending on service — book at incarail.com or perurail.com). From Ollantaytambo, take a shared colectivo taxi or bus back to Cusco (~1.5hrs, ~£2–4). Check back into your Cusco accommodation.

🚌Bus to/from Machu Picchu (~£10 return) + train to Ollantaytambo (~£25–40) + colectivo to Cusco (~£3)

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in central Cusco (same as Days 1–2)

• →Morning bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu (~£5)
• →Entry to Machu Picchu — pre-book online (~£30)
• →Guided tour of Machu Picchu ruins (~£15–20 via GetYourGuide)
• →Return to Aguas Calientes for lunch
• →Train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (~£25–40 via Inca Rail / Peru Rail)
• →Shared colectivo from Ollantaytambo to Cusco (~£2–4)

Your adventure ends in Cusco after breakfast. Transfer to the airport independently by shared taxi (~£3–4) for your onward flight, or extend your trip. Popular options include an overnight trip to Lake Titicaca (Puno, ~£3 by bus on the direct tourist bus service), exploring the Amazon at Puerto Maldonado (~£50–80 for a 2-day jungle lodge package), or simply spending more days exploring Cusco's extraordinary museums, markets, and gastronomy scene. If you're heading straight home, book your airport taxi the night before through your hostel reception.

🚌Shared taxi to Cusco airport (~£3–4)

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final breakfast in Cusco
• →Optional: last-minute souvenir shopping at San Pedro Market or San Blas
• →Transfer to airport by shared taxi (~£3–4)
• →Optional extension: Lake Titicaca bus from Cusco to Puno (~£15–20 on tourist bus)