Luxury Inca Trail
4 Days / 3 Nights

All briefings are done at our office at 6:00 PM the night before your trek. If you are unable to make this time, you need to coordinate another time with a member of the Alpaca Expeditions office team. Briefings are approximately 30 -45 minutes long, and where you will receive your duffel bags.

For the 4D Luxury Inca Trail, you will be able to use the full 7 kg for your personal belongings, because this service already includes cots and duvets, so a sleeping bag and air mat are not necessary.
This means your entire duffel allowance can go toward clothing and any other personal items you would like to bring.

Alpaca Expeditions is one of the only companies to pick you up directly from your hotel. As long as your hotel is in the center of Cusco city, we will coordinate this pickup based on a time that your guide will discuss at the briefing. Pick up times may vary 30 – 45 minutes based on traffic conditions and previous pickups.

Cusco is an old city with cobblestoned streets and very narrow passageways. Smaller hotels and Airbnbs are often located on streets that cars can´t pass through. They also are frequently on hillsides with long steep climbs, making it difficult to carry luggage. We highly recommend that you book accommodations with better access. We have a list of hotels that are all comfortable with easy access to pick up and drop off. HOTEL LIST HERE.

Some treks will allow for pickups in the Sacred Valley, which is outlined below.

The following chart refers to possible locations we can pick you up from when beginning the tour.

We take care of every detail for your journey back to Cusco so you can simply relax and enjoy the end of your adventure.
After your guided tour of Machu Picchu, you will take a 25-minute shuttle bus down to Aguas Calientes. Buses run continuously throughout the day on a first-come, first-served basis.

From Aguas Calientes, you will board the Vistadome Observatory train, offering panoramic views and onboard entertainment.

• Your train may return to Poroy or to Ollantaytambo, depending on the route availability.
• Please note that the Poroy/Cusco routes are not open year-round. When they are closed, all trains operate only to Ollantaytambo.

Once you arrive at the train station:

• If you arrive in Poroy, the ride to Cusco is about 30 minutes.
• If you arrive in Ollantaytambo, the drive to Cusco is approximately 2 hours.

At the station exit, please look for our team member wearing green and holding an Alpaca Expeditions sign. They will escort you to our private vehicle.

Your transportation will drop you off at Calle Arcopata, where any stored luggage will be waiting for you. Because larger buses cannot enter the historic center, we will arrange a smaller pre-paid vehicle to take you directly to your hotel, ensuring a smooth and comfortable finish to your journey.

Machu Picchu now operates with specific timed entrances and assigned circuits.

The site is divided into three main circuits:
• Circuit 1 (Upper viewpoints: 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D)
• Circuit 2 (Central areas of the citadel: 2A, 2B)
• Circuit 3 (Lower sections: 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D)

For Inca Trail hikers, the standard visit includes:

• Circuit 3B at 8:00 or 9:00 AM (subject to government availability)
• A short guided visit through part of Circuit 1B when you arrive through the Sun Gate on the final day of the trail

After you complete your assigned circuit, park rangers will guide you toward the exit, as re-entry is not permitted.

If you would like to spend more time exploring additional areas of Machu Picchu, you can request:
An additional entrance ticket for a different circuit

Extra tickets are:

• Subject to availability
• At an additional cost, which varies depending on the circuit you choose

We are very happy to help secure this upgrade for you upon request.

Viewing Machu Picchu from above is a truly spectacular experience, which is why hiking one of the surrounding mountains is a popular optional add-on.

Huayna Picchu (circuit 3A)

This is the famous peak seen behind the citadel in classic photos. The trail is steep but rewarding, taking about 45 minutes up and 45 minutes down.

Huayna Picchu entrance tickets are sold in specific time slots, which determine when you must begin the hike:
• Entry times are at 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM

We typically reserve a later morning session, giving you time to enjoy the full guided tour of Machu Picchu first. The hike is done independently, but your guide will bring you to the trail entrance.

Machu Picchu Mountain (circuit 1A)

This mountain offers broader panoramic views and a longer climb, roughly 1.5 hours up and 1.5 hours back down.

Entry times are:
• 6:00 AM or 8:00 AM

Due to these early start windows, this hike cannot be combined with the full guided tour included in the 4-Day or 7-Day Inca Trail itineraries on the same day. You would need a second entrance ticket and an additional visit on the following day.

You must be honest with your guide about any health conditions or concerns you might have. While our guides are not medical professionals, they do have first aid training. We also work with a clinic in Cusco that can help assist our team.

You are responsible for assessing whether a Tour is suitable for you. You should consult your physician to confirm your fitness for travel and participation in any planned activities. You should seek your physician’s advice on vaccinations and medical precautions. Alpaca Expeditions will not provide medical advice. It is your responsibility to assess the risks and requirements of each aspect of the Tour based on your unique circumstances, limitations, fitness level, and medical requirements.

If you develop extreme altitude sickness or any other illness that prevents you from hiking, and you still wish to visit Machu Picchu by train, we will work with you to coordinate this trip. Since this will be a new trip, it may require additional fees. We will use as much of the original itinerary to keep costs low.

If you experience issues while hiking and can not continue, a porter will accompany you to the closest road and wait while a car comes to pick you up and bring you to the nearest health clinic.

Unfortunately, strikes are frequent in Peru and can disrupt our tours. Roads are often blocked, and trains stopped. We will make sure your trek continues as planned, even if that means leaving the night before your start date. Under these circumstances, tours might need to be canceled. But our operations department will coordinate with you in this situation. Your safety is always our top concern and will dictate how we decide.

You are responsible for your items throughout the Tour. Please be diligent about where you leave your things and remember to remove all items from our vans, your tents, restaurant, etc. Do not leave anything unintended during your hike. Other trekkers or teams might pick it up not knowing whos it is.

Tipping is part of the tradition of any trek to Machu Picchu. While we pay good wages to our entire team, anything extra is always appreciated. Please know that this is not obligatory and that you should never feel pressured into this.

Typically the participants in a group pool their tipping money together for the porters and chef. The amount recommended is different per trek and listed below. For the guide, this is more personal and needs to be decided based on your relationship with them and done separately from the group. Porters and Chefs prefer soles if possible. Guides are happy with U.S. dollars, Peruvian Soles, or even your credit card ????

* These numbers refer to what each member of the Green Machine should receive after the group pools their money. This is just a reference guide.

To protect your travel investment, we highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance. Getting travel insurance before you leave home is strongly encouraged and very easy. We work with a great agency in the United States, that has helped to make it easy and affordable. What an excellent way to protect yourself while you are visiting Peru.

If interested in booking through our trusted partner, Ahart, Frinzi & Smith, CLICK HERE.

Of course, the weather is unpredictable. Typically the dry season in Cusco is from April through October, but this does not stop rain from falling in June or the sun from coming out in December so just be prepared. No matter what month you are doing the trek, make sure that you have rain gear that includes a waterproof jacket, pants, poncho, and waterproof gloves. Many people forget about gloves, but being cold and wet makes hiking very unpleasant.

Also, prepare for four seasons. Several of the treks through the Andes involve various microclimates and you will need to be prepared. Layers are always key since they are easy to adjust to different temperature changes. Be prepared with a warm packable down jacket since the evening will be cold.

It’s also important to note that the weather can change a listed itinerary. There are times that routes become impassable, and our guides will be forced for your safety to rework your tour.

As soon as people book their trip to Peru, specifically Cusco, they start wondering about altitude sickness. The air at high altitudes contains less oxygen than at sea level and forces your body to work harder to get the oxygen it needs. Over several days at high altitude, your body adjusts to the lower amount of oxygen in the air. For this reason, we always recommend spending at least two days in Cusco before beginning any trek in the Andes. Cusco is a marvelous city with lots to do, so if you have more time to acclimate you won´t be bored.

With altitude sickness, you may first feel like you have the flu or a hangover. You may have a headache, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, trouble sleeping, trouble breathing during exercise. If any of these effects become severe, please contact our office, and we will help you get to a doctor.

Most of the time, these symptoms will be mild. We always recommend easing into activity slowly, allowing your body to adjust. Drink plenty of fluids such as water or coca tea. Coca tea has been used since ancient times to help prevent altitude sickness. Leaves from the Coca Plant contain alkaloids that help bring oxygen into your blood, helping your body avoid the effects of altitude sickness. Avoid drinking a lot of alcohol and coffee. They will cause you to urinate more often and become dehydrated. Avoid smoking. Smoking makes it more difficult for your body to get oxygen. Avoid sleeping pills. They may cause shallow breathing at night, making it more difficult for your body to absorb oxygen while you sleep.

Remember the trek to Machu Picchu is not a race. Even those in the best shape will suffer from altitude sickness if they race to the top of the mountain too quickly. Go slow, and it will give your body time to adjust to the elevation.

Your healthcare provider may prescribe medications, such as acetazolamide and dexamethasone, to help prevent altitude sickness. Start the medicine two days before you get to a high altitude. Continue to take it while you are at high altitude.

You must remember that this is your holiday and you do not want to stress out about the possibility of getting sick from the mountains. Do everything slowly and drink lots of water, and enjoy the coca tea. If anything does happen and you, unfortunately, get sick, let your guide know right away. Alpaca Expedition guides are trained to help you get through it.

Cusco’s airport (Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport) currently operates domestic flights only. All international travelers must first arrive in Lima, where you’ll go through immigration and customs. Even if you have a connecting flight to Cusco on the same airline, you’ll need to collect your checked bags in Lima and recheck them for your domestic flight.

The fastest and most convenient way to reach Cusco is by plane. Major airlines such as LATAM, SKY Airlines, and JetSMART offer multiple daily flights between Lima and Cusco (approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes). Because of Cusco’s high altitude and mountain weather, flight delays or cancellations can occur, so it’s best to plan some buffer time in your itinerary.

If you prefer to travel overland, comfortable long-distance buses are available. The journey from Lima takes about 20–22 hours, while routes from nearby cities such as Arequipa or Puno take between 6–10 hours. Peruvian bus companies such as Cruz del Sur and Oltursa are known for their safety and comfort, with reclining seats and onboard service.

The airport in Cusco now receives a limited number of international flights, mainly from nearby hubs such as Santiago (Chile) and Bogotá (Colombia). These routes are typically operated by Avianca, LATAM, Sky Airlines, or JetSmart. Travelers arriving directly on these flights will go through Customs in Cusco.

For most other international arrivals, you will still need to fly into Lima first. Even if your ongoing flight to Cusco is on the same airline and ticket, you must collect your luggage in Lima, pass through Customs, and check your bags again before continuing on to Cusco.

Air travel remains the fastest way to reach Cusco. LATAM offers the most daily departures, though often at higher prices. Sky Airlines and JetSmart provide good low-cost alternatives. Because of Cusco’s high altitude and rapidly changing weather, delays or cancellations can occur.

Bus travel is always an option and is quite comfortable in Peru. This is especially recommended when traveling from cities like Puno. From Lima, however, the journey by bus is long and takes approximately 20 hours.