Cusco → Machu Picchu

More than a hike. A deeper connection.

The Inca Trail is more than a path to Machu Picchu it’s a journey through ancient ruins, cloud forests, and the iconic Sun Gate.

28+Years of experience
4–8Travelers per group
LocalCusco-based team
24/7Trek support
100%Personalized journeys
The legendary approach

There is more than one way to reach Machu Picchu.

Walk ancient stone paths through cloud forest, pass hidden ruins and cross high Andean passes. With Wayki Trek, the journey to Machu Picchu is built around meaningful encounters, thoughtful pacing and a local team that knows the mountains personally.

From the short Inca Trail to a six-day high-mountain adventure, choose a route that matches your time, energy and curiosity.

“Arrive at Machu Picchu having experienced the Andes not just visited them.”
Find your trail

Start with the feeling
you want.

01

I only have a day or two

Low altitude, no camping

2-Day →
02

I want the real, full Inca Trail.

The classic experience

4-Day →
03

I want the classic route, but slower.

More time, quieter camps

5-Day →
04

I care most about local culture

Quechua communities + trail

4-Day →
05

I want the hardest adventure.

High passes and big scenery

6-Day →
Your trek, your pace

Shared or private
groups

  • Shared groups: 4–6 hikers at most, ideal for solo travelers and pairs.
  • Friends: Private trips for groups of 2–8+ with group-size savings.
  • Couples: A private guide and team, your own pace and romantic touches.
  • Solo explorers: Your own guide and team for a personal trek.
  • Families: Slower pacing, kid-friendly meals and history explained for children.
Why travel with us

Local roots.
Thoughtful trekking.

Cusco-based

Our office is at Calle Quera 239. Talk to a local team, not a reseller.

Porters first

Fair wages, legal load limits, proper gear and meals for the team.

Lower impact

Waste control, biodegradable products and community reforestation support.

Safety first

Satellite phone, radios, first-aid kit, and 24/7 support on every trek.

Mountain cuisine

Our chefs serve Andean and international dishes at every camp, with special diets included at no extra cost.

Quick Answers

Questions travelers ask most

The classic trail takes four days and covers about 44 km. The short option, the 2-Day Inca Trail, has one hiking day and a Machu Picchu visit the next morning. There are also 5-day and 6-day options that include the Inca Trail.
Yes. Many first-time hikers complete it every year. Beginners usually do well on the 2-Day Inca Trail, which is moderate and stays at low altitude. Reasonably fit beginners can also manage the 4- or 5-day trek if they acclimatize for 2–3 days in Cusco and train on hills beforehand.
Book 6–10 months ahead for May–October and at least 3–4 months ahead for other months. Permits often sell out, and they can't be changed or refunded once issued.
The Inca Trail is strictly regulated to protect it. Permits are limited, only licensed operators and certified guides can take hikers, and the price has to cover the permit, the Machu Picchu ticket, trains, buses and a full support team of porters, cooks and a guide. Porters must also be paid fair wages and carry legal loads. Very cheap tours usually save money by cutting corners on porter welfare or safety.
No. Peruvian law requires every Inca Trail hiker to go with a licensed tour operator and a certified guide. Permits can only be bought through licensed operators.
No. The Inca Trail is open from March to January and closes every February for maintenance and conservation. You can still visit Machu Picchu by train in February.
For younger kids (8+), the 2-Day Inca Trail is the best choice because it's shorter, lower and includes a hotel night. Active teenagers can manage the 4-Day Inca Trail or Lares + Inca Trail. All our routes offer private family departures with a guide who specializes in families.
Try the Lares + Inca Trail or the 2-Day Inca Trail. They use a separate 2-day permit and still reach the Sun Gate. If Inca Trail permits aren't available at all, our Salkantay Trek and Lares Trek reach Machu Picchu without an Inca Trail permit.
Your adventure starts here

Ready to walk to Machu Picchu?

Choose your route, pick your group type and reserve with a 50% deposit. Our Cusco team will help coordinate the rest.

Check Inca Trail Availability

VOICES OF OUR EXPLORERS

Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Dan D profile picture
Dan D
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Amazing Experience We hiked 4D/3N starting on May 13th. It was an amazing experience, Josce was patient, kind and so passionate. He was so patient while we walked at our pace, we weren't rushed at all, which we had heard was a challenge with some other companies. He was kind and attentive with every member of our group of four, checking on everyone even when we went on separately a little bit as we went at our own pace. The passion he showed in the history of the trail, of the people and the country was very contagious. It made me want to learn more. The best thing I can say is my wife and I felt safe and taken care of on the trail, which allowed us to enjoyed it all so much. Josce's team was fantastic to deal with the porters were amazing with how quickly they moved on the trail. They would break down the camp after we left, pass us on the trail, meet us at a fully set up camp with food waiting for us. Yet they cheered when we made it to camp like we did something great while they did all the work. They aren't appreciated enough no matter how much we appreciate them. The chef's were great, the food was always good and there was always so much of it. We watched a few hikers being escorted off the trail for medical reasons which made the risks a little more real to us. It made us so happy we went with a smaller group and were lucky enough to have Josce and his team lead us. Thank you for making a great experience even better!
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shirleya1976 profile picture
shirleya1976
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Our trek to Machu Picchu was an incredible experience Our trek to Machu Picchu was an incredible experience, and a huge part of that was thanks to our guide, Jose. He was extremely attentive throughout the entire trek, always checking in on how everyone was doing. My husband was having issues with his knee, and Jose frequently made sure he was okay and able to continue comfortably. Jose was also incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about the history of the Incan sites. His enthusiasm made the experience even more meaningful and engaging. Beyond that, he was very friendly, joked around with the group, and helped ease some of the “torment” of the trek with his sense of humor and encouragement. The porters were absolutely amazing. They worked so hard to ensure everything arrived at camp on time and that camp was fully set up and ready for us each day. Their effort and dedication were truly impressive. The food throughout the trek was excellent — always tasty, well prepared, and there was plenty to choose from. I especially want to give a huge shoutout to the chefs. I have Celiac disease, and they took such great care with my meals that I made it through the entire trek without becoming ill from gluten exposure or cross-contamination. That level of care meant so much to me and allowed me to fully enjoy the experience without worry. Overall, this was an unforgettable adventure, made even better by the incredible team that supported us every step of the way.
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Nicole L profile picture
Nicole L
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Wonderful adventure My friend and I hiked the 5d/4n Inca trail starting on May 1. We booked months in advance and had an excellent experience. The booking was straightforward and I got quick responses to email and WhatsApp messages. My questions were answered and I felt like we were well prepared for the trek. Since we booked just two of us, we expected to get put with other hikers, but that is not the case and we were so pleasantly surprised and delighted. We were happy not to have to hike with strangers where we could potentially have to modify our pace or have personality conflicts. We really appreciated that it was a private experience. We did a day trip with a different company that felt much more like a churn out machine, so we really liked the personal experience we got with Wayki. Our guide Miguel, has been doing this a long time and was extremely knowledgeable and supportive (especially through some tears on day 2 which is known to be the hardest day). He shared information about the sites along the way, plants and animals, the trek, and culture. We really felt like it gave us an greater appreciation of the entire experience and we learned so much! Our cooks, Andres and Lorenzo (Orenzo?), were top-notch, how they make so much amazing food is beyond me, but every bite was delicious and we felt well fueled every day. The porters (Fernando, Marcello, Julian, and Herman aka Chino) were so kind and attentive, you can’t help but being so so impressed by how fast they move carrying much heavier loads than we had. The tent was plenty spacious and kept us warm and dry even on a couple of rainy nights. I loved getting the surprise t-shirt at the end! The overall experience was once in a lifetime and I’m so glad we chose Wayki for it! The only points of feedback would be that I didn’t know that all the trail hikers do circuit 3 so I wish that had been gone over at the beginning. Because of the way the trail approaches Machu Picchu, it doesn’t matter because you still get to do essentially circuit 1 and still experience the panoramic views on the way in. It’s really the best because you get to experience Machu Picchu twice! We were booked on a train that was leaving at 4:30pm even though we were done at Machu Picchu by 9:30. It’s a long time to hang around the town and since transport from Ollantaytambo takes so long (nothing to be done about traffic, it just is) we were lucky to be able to switch to an earlier train and they helped change the transport, but was a little hectic to do once we got to town. My friend’s sleeping bag had a feet smell that was unpleasant. Even with the above, which are all honestly so minor in the grand scheme of things, we had a really truly wonderful experience and I’ll be forever grateful to Wayki for facilitating it.
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Sara Z profile picture
Sara Z
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Amazing Salkantay trek We had the most amazing trek on the Salkantay trek with Wayki! The guide, Josce, was wonderful, shared so much valuable information, and made sure each of us were successful in the hike. The three meals provided each day were above and beyond excellent and it was so nice to walk into camp with our tents set up for us. I can’t express how thankful I was for the entire Wayki team!
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Laura G profile picture
Laura G
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Salkantay 5 day — Amazing!! Amazing company. Small groups. Fantastic service. Great tents. Great food! Great guide and cooks!
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Kaylee D profile picture
Kaylee D
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Best Adventure Guiding Company Ever!!!! We booked both the Rainbow Mountain full day and the Machu Picchu/Huayna Picchu full day tours/hikes. Wayki trek has been incredible from the beginning. Quick to answer emails regarding any questions my group had, very upfront about the pricing and the details of the days we had planned. We had Domingo as our guide for Rainbow Mountain and Miguel as our guide for Machu Picchu — could not recommend either one of them more!! They were both phenomenal and so informational about the cultures and sights. The guides always had our tickets and everything prepared and ready to go. Traveling to the sites was seamless, and the communication the days before the trip was very helpful to help know what to pack for the treks. Will absolutely be back to book another tour with this company the next time we are back in Peru!
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David I profile picture
David I
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Unforgettable 4-Day Inca Trail Experience with Wayki Trek Planning the Inca Trail can be challenging, especially when choosing an operator due to mixed online reviews about porter conditions and overall quality. I can confidently say that choosing Wayki Trek was one of the best decisions we made. From the very beginning, communication with the office was quick, clear, and professional. On the trail, everything was exceptionally well organized, from the quality of the camping equipment to the meals and daily logistics. One aspect we truly appreciated was being part of a small group. It made the experience far more personal, relaxed, and immersive, and allowed the days to be paced perfectly without feeling rushed or crowded. Our guide, Josce, was outstanding. He shared his deep passion and knowledge of Inca history, took the time to explain sites in detail, and perfectly paced each day so that it felt like we had the whole trail to ourselves. His attention to detail and care for the group truly elevated the experience. The entire crew deserves enormous respect. The porters were incredibly strong, kind, and clearly well looked after, something that really mattered to us when choosing an operator. Special mention to Andres, the chef: the food was exceptional and among the best we had in all of Peru, with generous portions and even insights into traditional cooking methods. We did the 4-day small group Inca Trail in January, during the rainy season, which meant the trail was quieter and the experience felt more personal, something we absolutely appreciated. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience made unforgettable by a passionate, professional, and caring team. Wayki Trek looked after us incredibly well, and we feel very lucky to have experienced the Inca Trail with them. Highly recommended.
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Paul F profile picture
Paul F
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Great low season cultural experience and trek in Jan 2026 I did the 4 day small group Inca Trail in January with the Wakyi Experience at the beginning. Our guide was Jose. The trail was not busy as January is the rainy season. We were advised to prong a poncho as well as our quality rain coats. However, we were lucky with the weather, it was mainly raining at night. I highly recommend the Wayki Experience. We visited the village, stayed with one of the team, and had direct interaction with the culture through food, digging potatoes and daily ceremonies. We also got to know our chefs and porters. Jose was very knowledgeable and diligent in imparting that knowledge on the Inca, Quecha culture and modern Peru. I overhead some other groups and got the impression we were getting much more detail. The pace was entirely manageable for our group who were fairly fit and ranged from 27 to 63 years old. I highly recommend Wayki if you are looking for culture and history in a small group.
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Excursion58292454432 profile picture
Excursion58292454432
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Los mejores Desde el primer contacto, vía Email, la empresa Wayki me pareció muy profesional. Atenta, organizada e informativa. El Camino Inca junto al equipo Wayki lo recomiendo 100%. Nos sentimos parte del equipo, como una familia. El trato, la comida, la organización y todo lo demás fue excepcional.
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Phillip H profile picture
Phillip H
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Trip of a lifetime We did the 4 day Inka trek with Wayki Trek and I can't recommend them highly enough. The trek was simply amazing and something we will never forget. Wayki were incredible from start to finish. The communication from our initial enquiries right through to the conclusion of the trek was perfect. Wayki provided the perfect environment for us to just relax and enjoy this incredible experience. We can't thank them enough. From the staff, to the chefs, the porters and our guide Joyce, everyone was brilliant. The food was amazing and Joyce's knowledge of the Inkas was second to none. And the sight of Macchu Picchu after four days hiking was just incredible!!