Pre-Trek Briefing (6:30 pm) Cusco Office
The evening before departure, you’ll attend a briefing at 6:30 pm at our central Cusco office, where your guide walks you through the itinerary, safety protocols, and packing recommendations for the trek ahead. You’ll also receive your duffel bag (up to 7 kg for porter transport) along with your printed tickets, so you’re fully ready for the early morning departure.
Hotel Pick-Up Service (4:30–5:00 am)
Your trek includes hotel pick-up to kick off the adventure. Exact pick-up time is confirmed during your briefing the day before, based on your accommodation’s location. If your hotel is near our office, you also have the option to simply meet us there at 5:00 am — all details are coordinated directly with your guide
Private Transportation: Cusco → Km 82 (Piscacucho)
Private transport takes you from your hotel in Cusco to Km 82 (Piscacucho), the official starting point of the Inca Trail, ensuring a punctual and comfortable start to your trek.
Permits & Entrance Fees
We handle all Inca Trail permits on your behalf, securing your official access to this strictly regulated, limited-availability route, along with admission to every archaeological site along the trail — including Runkurakay, Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca, and Wiñay Wayna.
Porter Service (Entire Trek)
A team of professional porters carries your duffel bag, camping gear, and food supplies throughout the trek, allowing you to hike comfortably with only your daypack. Each hiker is allotted up to 7 kg (15 lbs), including personal items and sleeping gear, and porters also handle camp setup, breakdown, and general logistics at each stop.
Professional Guide (Entire Trek)
You’ll be accompanied throughout the journey by a licensed, bilingual guide (English/Spanish, with Quechua knowledge), who shares expert insight into Inca history, regional ecology, and the cultural heritage of the trail. Your guide is also trained in first aid and high-altitude safety, ensuring support at every stage of the trek.
Meals Included
The trek includes 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 3 dinners, as well as daily tea time and snacks. All meals are freshly prepared by our professional trekking chefs using high-quality, nutritious, and energy-rich ingredients suitable for high-altitude hiking. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other special dietary requirements can be accommodated at no additional cost. Please inform us of any dietary restrictions when making your reservation.
Drinking Water
Boiled and cooled drinking water is provided to refill each participant’s reusable bottle at campsites and lunch stops from the morning of Day 2 onward. Drinking water is not provided on the first day, so we recommend purchasing enough water before starting the trek. Additional bottled water is also available for purchase from local communities along the route during Day 1.
Cooking Team
A dedicated team of chefs travels with the group, preparing every meal on the trail. They’re trained to accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free, and other special dietary needs at no additional cost — just let us know your requirements in advance.
Kitchen Equipment and Utensils
All necessary cooking equipment and utensils are transported to each campsite by our team, ensuring every meal is prepared and served in the best possible conditions.
Camping Equipment: Tents
You’ll sleep in spacious Eureka Timberline tents (4-person capacity, shared by only 2 hikers for extra comfort).
Sleeping Equipment: Thermarest Mats
Inflatable Thermarest sleeping mats are provided for every hiker, offering cushioning and insulation from the cold ground overnight.
Campsites
The package includes 3 nights of camping at scenic, secure campsites along the trail, each chosen for its views and proximity to key sections of the route.
Kitchen Tent & Dining Tent
Also included as part of the camping equipment: a kitchen tent, where our cooking team prepares each meal, and a separate dining tent equipped with tables and chairs, so you can enjoy your meals comfortably.
Private Portable Toilets
Clean, private portable toilets are set up exclusively for our group at each campsite, offering greater comfort and hygiene than the trail’s shared public facilities.
Machu Picchu Entrance Tickets (Two Entries Included)
- Entry 1 – Arrival Visit (Circuit 1B): At the end of the trek, you enter Machu Picchu through the upper section, where you’ll enjoy the classic panoramic view and take the iconic postcard photos. You’ll stay here for about 30 minutes while your guide gives a general introduction to the site.
- Entry 2 – Main Guided Tour (Circuit 3B): After briefly leaving the site, you re-enter for your main guided tour through the lower archaeological sectors of the citadel, covering the key structures, architecture, and historical significance of Machu Picchu. This tour lasts approximately 1 to 1.5 hours, with additional free time afterward to explore independently, and the circuit is assigned according to official government availability.
Bus Ticket: Machu Picchu → Aguas Calientes
A one-way bus ticket from Machu Picchu down to Aguas Calientes is included, following your guided tour of the citadel — a quick, comfortable 30-minute ride down the mountain.
Train Ticket: Aguas Calientes → Ollantaytambo
Your return journey includes an Expedition or Voyager train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, with departures typically at 2:30 pm or 2:55 pm depending on availability. The scenic ride takes approximately 1.5 hours along the Urubamba River.
Private Transfer: Ollantaytambo → Cusco
Upon arrival in Ollantaytambo, a private vehicle takes you back to Cusco, a comfortable drive of approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.
Free Luggage Storage
If you’re doing the Inca Trail with Machu Picchu Team, our main office — located one block from the Plaza de Armas — offers free storage for any luggage you won’t be taking on the trek. You can drop it off the day before or the same morning the trek begins, since the vehicle that takes you to the trailhead stops by the office to collect bags.
Emergency Provisions
For your safety, every guide carries an oxygen bottle and a fully stocked first aid kit, ready to provide immediate assistance whenever needed.
End of Tour: Drop-Off at Your Hotel or Airbnb in Cusco
Upon arrival in Cusco (usually around 7:00 pm), if you left luggage at our office, we’ll collect it and take you to your hotel or Airbnb, where the 4-day Inca Trail comes to an end. If you didn’t leave any luggage with us, we’ll drop you off directly at your accommodation
