This moderately easy trek is a great option for new trekkers of for the family. This alternative trek offers peace and quiet away from the madding crowds of the Inca Trail. Enjoy a swim in the waterfalls, see some impressive Inca ruins where your guide will give you the history and hike through some of the most beautiful landscape in Peru. All this and more as the trek culminates at the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.
Useful information:
- Start altitude – 3300m / 10.827ft.
- Highest altitude – 4500m / 14,764 feet
- Walking distance – 25 km / 15.5 miles
- Longest day – Day 2, approximately 12 km / 7.5 miles
- General difficulty: Moderate Difficult (depends on your level of physical condition).
Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco – Socma – Perolniyoc – Rayanpata
Our Wayna Trekkers adventure begins when the guide will be at the reception of your hotel at 4:30 am – 5:00 am. Begin our journey to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, a short drive from Cusco. Begin our uphill hike, our trail head is located in Soqma 3,205 mt / 10, 512 ft. At Soqma our horsemen will be waiting for us.
Setting off we continue through the incredible valley seeing many country homes dispersed among terraces of potato, corn, quinoa and other crops. Here Andean hummingbirds come out among the abundant native trees and shrubs. Take the steep trail to Perolniyoc waterfall where we can take a break to freshen up in the cool stream, or enjoy an outdoor shower submerged under the waterfall, our next stop is the archeological site of Perolniyoc.
After our guided tour we will continue a short distance to our lunch spot and campsite in Rayanpata (3650 meters above sea level).
- Meals: Lunch, tea hour and dinner
- Distance: 8 km/5 miles
- Estimated walking time: 4 to 5 hours
- Difficulty of the hike: Moderate
Day 2: Rayanpata – Sungate – Choquetacarpo
After great nights rest and an early breakfast continue on our hike through open meadows where if we are lucky, we may see condors. Today will be a gentle climb to our second camp through pastures on the south side of Yana Orco, a rocky boulder high above the Sacred Valley and the Inca quarries. The high passes allow us to look down on Ollantaytambo and the valleys below us. The highest point we reach today will be Puka Kasa pass 4,450 mt /14,600 ft.
From Puka Kasa pass walk downhill for around 30 minutes to our lunch spot. Enjoy a wonderful lunch before we leave for a 2 hour moderate hike, with lots of up and down hills. The last portion before reaching the highest pass of the trek, Kuychi kasa 4,457 mt/ 14,619 ft, is a hike of 30 minutes mostly up hill. Enjoy spectacular views from the summit.
Later, another 2 1/2 Hours of hiking we reach the famous Inti Punku, or the Sun Gate above Ollantaytambo. From where you have a spectacular views of the snowcapped Mount Veronica 5,682 mt / 18,637 ft and the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
Choquetacarpo is our campsite, 30 mins from Inti Punku 3,600 mt / 11,808 ft.
- Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, tea hour and dinner.
- Distance: 13 km/ 8 miles
- Walking time: Around 8 Hours
- Trek difficulty: Moderate / Difficult
Day 3: Choque tacarpo – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
After another delicious early breakfast walk one hour downhill to the Cachiqata quarry 3,525 mt / 11,562 ft. Here is where the Inca cut the stones for the Ollantaytambo Site. Your guide will explain to you about the remains of stonework and how it was interrupted by the Spanish conquest.
From the quarry, we descend for 3 hours through the Sacred Valley until we reach Ollantaytambo 2,840 mt / 9,315 ft, here enjoy a wonderful lunch with your fellow trekkers.
In the afternoon we travel by train to Aguas Calientes. When we arrive, you will check in at your hotel room. Take advantage of your time, visit the natural hot springs in town, an unbeatable way to spend a late afternoon/early evening if time allows before dinner. Get an early night at your hotel to rest for the next days adventure.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
- Maximum altitude: 3,525 mt / 11,562 ft
- Distance to walk: 11 km / 7 miles
- Walking time: 4 hours
- Difficulty: moderate
Día 4: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu “The lost City of the Incas” – Cusco
It is our most magical day and what most look forward to the most, Machu Picchu. We wake up early to take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu to hopefully catch the sunrise over the ruins.
Our guide will come to your hotel to pick you up then you will go to the bus station. The bus takes 30 minutes to get to Machu Picchu. Once at the entrance, we show our Passport and Machu Picchu ticket then our guide will take you to the “guardhouse” where we will take postcard pictures of Machu Picchu and spend around 15 minutes enjoying the new 7th Wonder of the World. The guide will then give a short introduction of the history. The guided tour will have a duration of approximately 2 hours and will take you to the site’s most iconic landmarks. See finely crafted stone structures, including temples, terraces and royal residences, all built without the use of mortar. See the icon Intihuatanta stone, believed to be a solar clock. Explore the Temple of the Sun which gives glimpses into the Inca spiritual life. Be amazed by the brilliance of the Inca. Take in the views from Machu Picchu of the surrounding Andes Mountains.
Afterward, you can hike Huayna Picchu Mountain if you have signed up for this option. (This is a separate entrance ticket that costs $70 per person, must be booked in advance). Later, return to Aguas Calientes by bus, have your lunch, if you have time, you can buy some souvenirs and take a train back to Ollantaytambo at around 2:55, 3:20 or 4:43 (depending on availability), and then a van back to Cusco. Once in Cusco, we will transfer you back to your hotel at 07:00 pm.
- Meals: Breakfast at the hotel.
- Entrance to Machupicchu Circuit 2 (depending on availability).
- Huayna Picchu entrance costs $70 USD pp and must be booked in advance, ideally at the booking time.
- Train schedule depends on availability and if you want to upgrade to the Vistadome, please confirm in advance.
What’s Included
Included
- Profesional tour guide.
- An additional tour guide for groups with more that 9 people.
- Cook.
- Pack mules to carry the gear and 7 kilos of personal baggage.
- Pick up from hotel.
- Bus transportation to the trail head.
- Expedition train round trip, from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes.
- Water.
- Porters.
- 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 snacks and 3 dinners. In case of special dietary needs (Vegetarian or Vegan) please inform us before the tour begins.
- A dining tent with tables and chairs for meals.
- 4 person tents for every 2 hikers.
- Hotel for the last night.
- Foam mattress.
- Oxygen.
- Assistance when needed during the excursion.
- First aid kit.
- Entrance fee to Machu Picchu
- Bus transportation from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes.
Not Included
- Sleeping bag (we can provide one for $ 20 .00).
- Inflatable sleeping pad (we can provide one for $ 20 .00).
- Hiking stick (we can provide a pair for $ 20 .00).
- Entrance fee for Huayna Picchu $ 70. 00 (Please inform our agency at the time of booking. *Subject to Availability
- Breakfast for day 1, lunch and dinner the last day.
- Tips.
- Vistadome $ 60 .00 (In case you want better service in return from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo).
- Travel Insurance Every passenger is required to have travel insurance during the duration of the tour.
Prices
Group prices
$780 USD Per person.
***For groups of 5+ travelers, $20 USD discount each. (Applies for the group service only)
For Private services an additional:
$200 USD PP
Add on’s:
- Single Tent Supplement – $ 30 USD (Preferably notice us at the time of booking
- Sleeping bag – $20 USD
- Air Mattress – $20 USD
- Walking sticks – $20 USD
- Extra night in Aguas Calientes $40 USD pp 3* double occupancy (Book in advance)
- Vistadome Train – $60 USD
- Huayna Picchu Mountain – $70 USD (Book in advance)
- Machupicchu Mountain – $70 USD (Book in advance)
Please read the following information.
Booking
We need you to fill out a booking form which includes all the information needed for the trip. Our system will ask you for $190 USD deposit per person (which is subject to a 5% transaction fee for Credit Cards). If you are more than 2 hikers, you can pay separately. Once we have received the payment, we secure your permits and will send a formal confirmation to your email
Arrival to Cusco.
You will be picked up by one of our team members from the airport and be driven to your hotel. This is a complimentary service so please ensure you send your flight details at least two weeks before your arrival date. On exit of the airport or bus terminal, your driver will be waiting outside.
Acclimatization to the altitude:
High altitude starts to have an effect on our bodies from between 1,500m – 2,000m (4921ft – 6561ft) when our bodies start to react differently to make up for the changes in oxygen levels. As you get higher, the air gets thinner, so with every breath there is less oxygen for your body. Your body gradually adapts to getting less oxygen – you breathe faster and deeper and the body produces more red blood cells. This takes time so this is why if you go from low to high altitude too quickly, you may feel symptoms of altitude sickness until your body acclimatizes.
The Cusco region is set at very high elevations. The city of Cusco stands at a staggering 3 399m/ 11 152ft. On the other hand, the classic Inca Trial has varying degrees of elevations, lowest is starting point (trailhead:km82) at 2 729m/8 923 and gets as high as 4 200m/13 779ft (Dead Women´s Pass). So, altitudes sickness is to be expected when hiking the classic Inca Trail. However, people react differently to altitude sickness, and it can present itself in a variety of symptoms. Common symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, poor appetite, dizziness and disturbed sleep and in extreme cases, loss of oxygen.
There are number of ways to deal with altitude sickness. Firstly, you need to acclimate, by spending a few days in the Sacred Valley or Cusco. The body does adjust to the thin air; it just needs time. There are a number of day tours you can participate in before your hike, that don’t require much exertion. Secondly, get lots of sleep, relax and take it easy. Another option is to watch what you consume, try to avoid alcohol and drugs and also drink lots of water and coca tea. Keep your meals light, high in calories with lots of carbs. Lastly, we recommend visiting your doctor before traveling to Peru and ask for recommendations for medication that can help with altitude sickness.
These are the recommended remedies for altitude sickness is WATER, COCA TEA and OXYGEN, IF NEEDED.
Briefing.
We have set your pre-trek talk the night before your trek at 5:00 PM at your hotel or at our office.
Luggage.
If you decide to change hotels after hiking, we offer a free secure luggage store while trekking. If you are returning to the same hotel most offer storage. Tell us what you prefer at the briefing.
How do I pay my remaining balance?
You can pay the rest of your bill upon arrival to Cusco at our office with a card or cash if you want to avoid any extra credit card fees. Our representative will show you the invoice which was confirmed at the booking time. Alternatively, you can pay through PayPal or Visa, but you have to pay 5% service fee charged by VISA and PayPal.
Packing Checklist for the Cachicata Trek 4 days
WHAT TO TAKE WITH YOU
- Original passport (the same used for booking your trek)
- Valid University card (if you booked as a student)
- Good daypack (the smaller, the better)
- Water storage: 2-3 L (Camelbacks are encouraged)
- Comfortable hiking boots with ankle support
- Sleeping bag (can be rented from Wayna Trekkers)
- Headlamp: essential
- Toilet paper
- Good raincoat and pants, (especially in the rainy season).
THE DUFFEL BAG
We provide a duffel bag at the briefing and INCLUDE an extra porter, who will carry up to 7 kgs/15lbs including sleeping bag, mattress and extra clothing. This limit is set to protect the health of the porters or horses. If you require more than 7 kilograms, it will then be your responsibility to carry the extra weight with your day pack. In this 7 kilos, please count 2 kilos for your sleeping bag and 1 kilo for your sleeping pad. This leaves you about 4 kilos for your personal gear.
WHAT TO PUT IN THE BAG
- 3 T-Shirts
- 2 hiking pants
- 4 sets of undergarments
- 3 sets of hiking socks
- Fleece/ Thermals
- Warm clothes, down jacket — 2nd campsite temp around 3º C
- Waterproof gloves
- Comfortable shoes for camp
- Quick dry towel. We provide a small one, you might prefer something larger
- Small bottle of soap: we provide warm water each day to wash
- Battery Charger: No electricity along the trek
- Large plastic bags will be provided at the office to line your duffel
- Sleeping bag: It has to be at least -15ºC – This can be rented from us for $20 USD
TOILETRIES
- Face cleanser, moisturizer & after sun cream
- Hand sanitizer
- Wet wipes
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Personal medications
- First aid kit: band aids, moleskin, etc.
WHAT TO PUT IN THE DAY BACKPACK
We highly recommend a small backpack 30 to 40L for hiking in the day. A big backpack will not be allowed into Machu Picchu.
Water: Please supply your own water until the first lunch spot, we will then provide you with cold boiled water at every mealtime. Please bring your canteens.
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Headlamp
- Wool hat and gloves
- Rain gear
- Fleece or warm layer
- Snacks like chocolate bars, cereal bars or any dry fruits
- Personal First Aid kit, personal medications and items of person nature.
- Camera
- Hand sanitizer
- Toilet paper and small plastic bag for waste
- Valuables (passport, money etc.)
