5-Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu — Small-Group Tour

Your tour includes an English-speaking guide, a mountain chef and porters, three camping nights, one night at a 3-star hotel, an inflatable sleeping pad and pillow, and a 15.4 lb (7 kg) personal porter allowance. It also includes the listed meals, Inca Trail permit, two Machu Picchu entries, the specified buses, and a Vistadome return train with transport to Cusco. Groups have a maximum of 10 travelers.

See the full tour inclusions and optional extras and exclusions before booking.

Yes. This five-day itinerary follows the classic Inca Trail from Km 82 through Dead Woman’s Pass, Inca sites and the Sun Gate. The difference is how the journey is arranged: you reach Machu Picchu on Day 4, sleep at a hotel in Aguas Calientes, and return for a guided visit on Day 5. The extra day does not remove the high-altitude climbs or stone descents.

For background on the different routes, read our complete Inca Trail guide.

This tour suits travelers who want the classic multi-day hike, a small group of up to 10, and a hotel night between arriving at Machu Picchu and taking the final guided visit. It is a good fit if you enjoy camping and are prepared for repeated climbs and descents at altitude. Choose it for the five-day arrangement and included comforts, while allowing time to prepare for the hiking.

This is a shared group departure with a maximum of 10 travelers. You may hike with other guests booked on the same date. An assistant guide joins a group of 10. Inkayni confirms whether your preferred departure can operate before booking.

Inkayni offers daily departures from two travelers, subject to Inca Trail permits and operating conditions. Each group has a maximum of 10 travelers. The trail normally closes in February, and a date shown in the calendar is not a confirmed permit. Choose your preferred departure date and confirm availability with our Cusco team before booking.

If you are traveling alone, send us your preferred dates so we can check a shared group departure for you. Departures operate from two travelers in total; a solo inquiry does not guarantee a departure. Before payment, our team will confirm tent and hotel room arrangements and any applicable single-occupancy supplement.

Yes. The Vistadome return train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo is included. From Ollantaytambo, onward vehicle transport takes you to Cusco. Your travel documents confirm the train time.

There are three camping nights and one night at a 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes. Stay at Golden Sunrise Machu Picchu or a similar 3-star property. Confirm the assigned hotel and room arrangement with your booking.

An inflatable sleeping pad and pillow are included. A sleeping bag and trekking poles are separate rental items for this five-day group tour. Request current rental prices when booking, or bring your own suitable equipment.

Yes. Your 15.4 lb (7 kg) allowance includes your sleeping bag and sleeping pad, so their weight must be counted when packing your duffel. Allow approximately 5.5 lb (2.5 kg) for those two items; the exact weight depends on the equipment used. Carry water, rain gear and daily essentials in your daypack. Additional porter allowance can be arranged separately.

Our Inca Trail porter guide explains personal luggage, porter support and porter welfare.

Four breakfasts, four lunches, three dinners and three afternoon snacks are included. Breakfast on Day 1, dinner on Day 4, and lunch and dinner on Day 5 are excluded. Discuss allergies and dietary requirements with the team before booking.

The trek is moderate to challenging, with consecutive hiking days, long stone stairways and high-altitude passes. Day 2 includes the climb to Dead Woman’s Pass at approximately 13,800 ft (4,200 m), while Day 4 has a sustained descent. The hotel night adds comfort after the trek, but the walking still requires preparation.

Read our Inca Trail difficulty guide for a closer look at terrain and effort.

Build up to consecutive days of walking, including hills, stairs and controlled descents, using the footwear and daypack you plan to bring. Allow time to acclimatize before the trek; fitness does not replace acclimatization. Your preparation should reflect your current activity level and the demands of the route.

Read our Inca Trail training guide for a more detailed preparation plan.

Check as soon as you have preferred dates, especially if your travel plans are fixed. Permits are limited and a date displayed in the calendar does not confirm a place. Inkayni checks your requested departure and explains the booking terms before you pay.

Our Inca Trail permits and booking guide explains availability, timing and the information needed to book.

May through September generally offers drier trekking conditions, although rain remains possible and nights at camp can be cold. Your choice also depends on permit availability and how flexible your dates are. The Inca Trail normally closes throughout February for maintenance.

Compare seasonal conditions in our guide to the best time to hike the Inca Trail.

Day 4 is your arrival on foot through the Sun Gate, with panoramic views and access to the areas authorized by your Inca Trail permit. You then take the included bus down to your hotel in Aguas Calientes. Day 5 includes a separate admission ticket, a guided visit and buses up and down. Circuit 3-B is the planned Day 5 route, subject to availability; your ticket confirms the final circuit and entry time.

Both entries are included. See the Day 4 itinerary and Day 5 itinerary for the daily arrangements.

Ask the team before booking. Huayna Picchu requires a separate ticket and must fit your Machu Picchu entry and return train schedule. It is not included in the base tour.

Bring your original passport, broken-in hiking footwear, hiking clothes, rain protection, warm layers and a daypack for water and essentials. Pack spare clothing and camp items in the duffel provided by Inkayni, within the 7 kg allowance including sleeping gear. Your inflatable pad and pillow are included; bring a suitable sleeping bag or arrange a rental.

Use our Inca Trail backpack guide to organize your daypack and porter duffel.

Pickup is included for accommodation around Cusco’s historic center. Share the address before departure. If a vehicle cannot reach your street, the team will arrange a practical meeting point.

Bring your own drinking water on Day 1. Boiled water is provided during the subsequent trekking days. Carry reusable bottles or a hydration reservoir for refills.

Send your preferred date and number of travelers to the Cusco team. Before paying, confirm permit availability, the final quote, room arrangements, rentals and the booking terms. A website inquiry does not reserve a place.

Check the terms supplied with your quote before payment. The initial deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable, and changes are not allowed once permits have been purchased. Ask the team to explain the conditions that apply to your booking.

A portable private toilet is included in the trekking support equipment. Night 4 is spent at a hotel in Aguas Calientes.