Inca Trail Hike Trip Itinerary

Day 1

Cusco, Peru

Morning

  • Meet at Cusco's Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ) at 12:00 pm.
  • Your Trip Leader will meet you at the airport. After meeting all our new friends, take included transportation to our accommodations in Cusco.
  • Begin acclimating to the altitude, and take a warm up hike to San Cristobal neighborhood for incredible views of the city.
Afternoon
  • Try some tasty delicacies like alpaca or guinea pig at a local lunch spot (not included).
  • Have some time to relax and acclimate before we go out for dinner together.
Evening
  • Enjoy a delicious Peruvian meal at our opening dinner in Cusco’s Plaza de Armas.
  • Get to know the other like-minded travelers on the trip and begin to settle into Peru.

Day 2

Sacred Valley Cultural Day

Morning
  • Wake up in Cusco and enjoy breakfast right at your hotel.
  • Take a private shuttle to our very own U30X community project above Cusco near a town called Chinchero.
  • We’ll be hiking and doing some farm work, so wear comfortable shoes, and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty!
Afternoon
  • Have a farm to table experience, and chow down on lunch that was all grown within the community.
  • After lunch, check out an impressive textile demonstration, and learn how the people in the Andes naturally dye and hand-weave their alpaca wool.
  • Once you’ve had a chance to buy some of these incredible alpaca goods for yourself and for friends back home, take the shuttle to Ollantaytambo.
Evening
  • You’ll have a chance to relax and pick up anything you’re missing before you repack your stuff for the Inca Trail.
  • We’ll find a restaurant in this cozy Inca town for one last dinner before we hit the trail! (not included)

Day 3

Begin the Inca Trail Hike

Morning

  • Enjoy an early breakfast at the hotel, and fuel up for the hike.
  • Take a shuttle from Ollantaytambo to km 82, the start of the Inca Trail.
  • The first day of the Hike is relatively easy as you acclimate to the trail.
Afternoon
  • You’ll pass by some small Andean communities and stop for a chance to enjoy the view of Patallacta Inca site before continuing to our lunch spot.
  • After lunch, continue hiking for some hours, ascending until we arrive at our campsite at Wayllabamba.
Evening
  • Have a delicious dinner at the campsite after our first day hiking this sacred trail.

Day 4

Dead Woman's Pass

Morning
  • Early morning breakfast at the campsite surrounded by beautiful Peruvian landscapes.
  • We will start a steep ascent through the Valley of Huayllabamba towards the highest point of our journey--Dead Woman’s Pass at 13,779 ft or 4200 m.
  • After a rest here, we’ll begin to make our way down to the lunch stop.
Afternoon
  • After lunch, we have another summit to conquer. We’ll hike up a steep trail and then down until we reach our campsite.
  • Throughout the day you'll have the opportunity to enjoy the views of the Andes Valley and the Inca site of Runcuracay.
Evening
  • Relax at the campsite while our cooks prepare another delicious dinner for your group after a long day on the trail.

Day 5

Inca Ruins & Cloud Forest

Morning
  • Early wake up and breakfast at the campsite.
  • Today we will climb to visit the archeological site of Phuyupatamarca for spectacular views of the mountains, canyons and surrounding areas.
Afternoon
  • After the Inca site we'll continue walking down through the cloud forest and the impressive agricultural Inca site of Intipata as we make our way to our third campsite: Wiñay Wayna.
  • Lunch at the campsite.
  • Take an afternoon walk to the impressive Inca site of Wiñaywayna.
Evening
  • Have a final dinner on the trail with your hiking buddies and the whole crew who helped you get to this point.

Day 6

Arrive at Machu Picchu

Morning
  • Wake up nice and early to get through Intipunku, the famous Sun Gate, before the crowds.
  • Take in the incredible views of the Lost City of the Incas as you make your way down for a guided tour of this magical site.
Afternoon
  • Have whatever you were craving on the trail for lunch as we re-enter civilization.
  • Take a beautiful train journey through the Sacred Valley which offers both stunning views and the perfect opportunity for a nap.
  • Regather everything you left behind in Ollantaytambo, and embark on another journey back to Cusco with more views and well deserved naps.
Evening
  • Take a hard earned shower, and put on some clean clothes to relax before our final dinner together as a group

Day 7

Relax & Depart Cusco

Morning 
  • Wake up for your final morning in Cusco, reflect upon your experiences as your eat breakfast with your new friends.
  • Hotel checkout is at 9:00 am and for those of you that don’t extend your stay, transportation to the airport is included until 5:00 pm.
  • Whether you’re staying in the Andes, or headed home, we wish you safe travels and a happy journey!

Day 8

Day 9

Day 10

Day 11

Day 12

Day 13

Day 14

Day 15

Day 16

Day 17

Day 18

Day 19

Day 20

Day 21

Day 22

Day 23

testimonials

MORE THAN 1,000 FIVE STAR REVIEWS

Heather T.

yelp review

U30X is such an amazing travel community. Once your trip is over, the experience is not. They keep in touch with their alumni & provide platforms for travel questions, personal development, & community connections in your own backyard! If you're a young person looking to travel I highly recommend U30X!

There are not enough ways for me to describe how amazing this company is. After my first trip I always told people, it wasn't about the location, but the experience that u30x gave me. I have some of the best experiences of my life with u30x, and now a passion for travel. Also, their alumni community and groups are awesome too!

Traveling with U30X has been life changing for me. I've made lifelong friends with both travelers and staff. I can't come up with enough good things to say about the company, the people, and the experiences I've had!

Just returned from my second trip with Under30Experiences. My first trip was to the Costa Rica rainforest. My most recent trip was to Iceland. Both trips were such an amazing experience. I loved learning about Iceland and its origins. I enjoy the small groups and I made some great new friends! Recommend them for anyone wanting to travel alone or with a couple of friends.

I was so scared to travel abroad alone and then I came across their website and they made international travel so easy! And the people I’ve met on the trips are some amazing individuals! I’ve done 6 of their trips and plan on continuing to do even more!!

My Hike the Inca Trail trip was beyond amazing, and I couldn't have asked for anything more from a trip. Our leaders made us all feel instantly comfortable, and the group was fantastic. The trip was well planned and the hike was unforgettable. Memories to last a lifetime.

our awesome travelers

As Seen In...