Inca Trail Elevation Gain

Inca Trail Elevation Gain

Inca Trail Elevation Gain, There are many Inca trails throughout South America, some in good condition and others in poor condition, and others to be rediscovered. In Cusco we have the classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu basically was in Inca times a pilgrimage to the temple of wisdom (Machu Picchu) Along with the elevation gains of the original Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, will depend on the path you want to choose. There are different options from the short trail of 2 days, the classic Inca Trail of 4 days, and the Inca Trail of 7 days, the most recommended is to do the classic Inca Trail of 4 days so much will depend on your physical condition and your hiking experience and we will explain the elevation gains of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu here

Classic Inca Trail 4 Days Map

Here we show you the map of the classic Inca Trail in Cusco Peru that shows part of the Sacred Valley of the Incas and follows the most important river ( Willcamayo) in the Quechua language ( sacred river ) Exactly starts at km 82 or (Piskakucho) 5 corners translated in Quechua language, near Ollantaytambo (part of the sacred valley of the Incas) and ends at the incredible (intipunku) or gate of the sun, in the temple of wisdom (Machu Picchu).

• Inca Trail Day 1: Welcome to this famous Inca Trail, basically it is a quite hard day to enjoy and learn about the history of these archaeological centers such as Qanabamba, Llactapata, Willkaray and ends at the camp of Ayapata.
• Inca Trail Day 2: It is one of the most tiring but beautiful days because there is a good difference in altitude, exactly the difference in altitude of the Inca Trail is 1200 masl, passing through the pass of the dead woman (Warmiwañusqa) in Quechua language, the highest point of this fantastic route and base camp chaquicocha
• Inca Trail Day 3: The third day involves a hike to the archaeological sites of Runkuracay, Sayacmarca and Phuyupatamarca. It begins a series of more than 1,000 stone steps up to the ruins of Winay Wayna, and finally your campsite.
• Inca Trail Day 4: the fourth day is one of the most impressive days because we will arrive at Machu Picchu basically in the morning we will walk to the Inti Punku or Puerta del Sol and the day will end with a tour of Machu Picchu and then return to Cusco

INCA TRAIL 4 DAYS  ITINERARY WITH ELEVATION GAIN DAY BY DAY

Day 1: Cusco – Piskacucho Km 82 – Llactapata- Ayapata

Our guides will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco. The pick-up from Cusco will be at 4:30 AM, from Urubamba 5:30 AM and if you stay in Ollantaytambo, you can sleep a little more that we will come for you at 6:30 AM. In your “briefing” session, these schedules will be confirmed, as they may fluctuate depending on your stay.any way will stop in Ollantaytambo to get the first breakfast (not included).

Then we will go to Km 82, arriving at 7:00 AM. we will pass by the first point of control of the Inca Trail to begin our trek (please be sure to have your original passport with you to enter the Inca Trail). The first 2 hours of the trek are relatively easy as we head to our first Inca site

Patallacta is a former Inca checkpoint for the approach to Machu Picchu. From Patallacta is another 2-hour hike to our lunch stop and then time to relax for about 30 minutes. After lunch, we will hike for 2 hours and a half to reach the camp of the first night in Ayapata (3400 meters).

In this last section, we went through 2 small communities. If you want to buy energy drinks or snacks you can do it here, you can also buy any essential items like batteries that you may have forgotten. We will arrive at our camp at 5:00 PM depending on our hike and after getting settled in a little you can relax and have a hot drink and a snack with your team of porters, chef, and guide. At 7:30 pm your dinner will be ready, and then you can get a well-deserved rest. the time may change is not always the seem time we will see

• Distance: 14 km/8.835 miles.
• Time: 6 hours
• Elevation gain: 800 m/2624 ft.
• Start: km 82 (starting point of inca Traill ) 2,680 m/9612ft.
• End: ayapata  Campsite 3,400 m/ 11154 ft.

Day 2  Ayapata – Pacaymayo – Chaquicocha

Our porters will knock and wake you up early with a hot cup of coca tea, so you’re ready for the day. Today is our longest day and we will start early. We will hike for approximately 4 hours to the highest step of the hike, the dead woman pass (4215 meters / 13829 feet).

Upon reaching the pass we will stop for a short pause to enjoy and take some photos as family the views before departing again to descend to the next valley (Pacaymayu Valley – Hidden River). It’s another hour and a half down the valley side to our lunch spot and an opportunity to refill our water bottles. After lunch, we started climbing again to the second step of the hike. It is 2 hours from the pass and by the way, we will stop in the Inca site (Runcu Raccay) and we will see two huge cascading waterfalls on the opposite side of the valley.

After the second high pass, it is another hour of descent from a hike to reach the amazing Inca site, Sayacmarca (an otherwise inaccessible village).

Let’s stop here to rest and take a  tour of the site and then watch the sunset over the Vilcabamba mountain range. It is then another 25 minutes until we stop for the night in our second camp Chaquicocha (dry lake, 3600 meters). After dinner, if you are not too exhausted, we can observe some stars and point out the fascinating Inca constellations. In the magnificent sky of the Southern Hemisphere, especially in June, and July far from all artificial illumination, this sky is something to contemplate!

• Distance: 16 km/9.935 miles.
• Time: 8 hours
• Elevation gain: 1180 m/3871 ft.
• Start: Ayapata campsite 3,400 m/11154ft.
• End: chaquicocha  Campsite 3,600 m/ 11811 ft.

Day 3  Chaquicocha-Phuyupatamarca-Wiñayhuayna              

Complete day 2 and start day 3, we start again early, waking up at 6:00 am to begin what many know as the most beautiful day of the entire Inca Trail. We well hike for 2 hours along what we like to call “flat Inca” (gradual inclinations) actually is uo and dawn  and begin to enter the jungle, known as the Cloud Forest.

As we hike we will have the opportunity to see the majesty of Salkantay, the second-highest snowed mountain in the entire Sacred Valley and a fantastic panoramic view of the Vilcabamba mountain range. And Salkantay and veronica glaciers both are stunning Towards the end of the Inca apartments we started to climb to the last peak in Phuyupatamarka (3600 meters) from where we will have magnificent views of the Urubamba River. In the valley, we get our first views of the Machu Picchu mountain, but the site itself remains hidden from view. From Phuyupatamarka it is a 3-hour hike up a flight of steps to our last camp, near Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young). Wiñay Wayna is the most spectacular Inca site on the trail after Machu Picchu and the most popular camping due to its proximity to Machu Picchu.

During the descent, we will see 2 Inca sites, Phuyupatamarka (City in the Clouds) and Intipata (Terrazas del Sol). We arrived at our camp around 1:30 PM to have lunch and then relax for the whole afternoon so that you are relaxed and ready for your last day in Machu Picchu. Around 3:30 pm your guide will give you a brief orientation and visit the Inca ruins of Wiñay Wayna

Spending about an hour and a half there. We will explain the importance of the site and mix all the information provided during the trek so that you are fully prepared for your visit to Machu Picchu8 one of the seven wonders of the world) the next day.

It is a tradition of the Inca Trail To Machu Picchu 4 Days to organize a ceremony at night to introduce the team to the tourists once again and thank them for the great work done (if you wish to provide them with advice for them then you can do so at this time). It is advisable to go to bed at a reasonable time to get up in the early hours of the morning to reach Machu Picchu at dawn in the hope that the weather will give us a beautiful sunrise over the ruins of Machu Picchu.

• Distance: 10 km/6.2 miles.
• Time: 5 hours
• Elevation gain: 1000 m/3281 ft.
• Start: chaquicocha  campsite 3,600 m/11811ft.
• End : wiñayhuayna campasite 2600 m / 5051ft

Day 3  Wiñayhuayna-Intipunku -Machu Picchu – Cusco

We will start the day at 3:30 AM. We will have box breakfast at 4:00 am and wait at the checkpoint to be one of the first to start trekking when the doors open at 5:30 AM. We will say goodbye to our team of porters and chef and then it is “Forward On” to Puerta del Sol (Inti Punku). From here we have spectacular views of the mountains and we will see Machu Picchu in all its glory. We arrive at the Puerta del Sol at 6:30 am and then it is only an hour’s walk down to get to the Lost City of the Incas.

As we approach Machu Picchu the views of the city are getting better and better! At about 7:40 am we will arrive at the final checkpoint and we will enter Machu Picchu to begin our private guided tour of 2 hours.

After the tour, you will receive your bus tickets to go down to the city of Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo) and you will have free time to explore on your own or climb to one of the neighboring mountains – Huaynapicchu (must be arranged ahead of time).

Unless you have chosen a better train, we will reserve the Expedition class train departing from Aguas Calientes at 4:20. Please be sure to be on the platform at least 30 minutes ahead of time. This train will be 2 hours from Ollantaytambo here in Ollantaytambo our transport will wait to take you to Cusco and its Hotel

• Distance: 6 km/ 3,70 miles.
• Time: 2 hours
• Elevation gain: 90 m/281 ft.
• Start: wiñayhuayna campsite 2,600 m/5051ft.
• End : machu picchu  2400 m / 78745051ft

Details

• Inca trail total elevation gain:  2153 m/7063ft.
• Top Elevation: 13,828 feet (4200 m)
• Inca trail Distance: 25 miles (40 km)