HUMANTAY LAGOON AND SHORT INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU 3 Days / 2 Nights

The trip begins in the city of Cusco at approximately 4:30 in the morning (we will pick you up at your lodging). After two and a half hours by car we will arrive at the town of Mollepata, where we will have breakfast. The trip continues for about 45 minutes until reaching Soraypampa (3,870 meters), a place used as a camping area. From this place begins the walk of about an hour and a half until you reach the beautiful Laguna de Humantay.

You, without a doubt, will be impressed by the turquoise color of the Humantay lagoon, which is at an altitude of (4,200 meters). Even if you are a little short of breath, you will be very happy to be in this beautiful and impressive place. You can also see two great mountains such as Humantay and Salkantay, mountains considered sacred by the Incas.

After enjoying the tranquility and the beautiful landscapes of the place, we will begin the return to Soraypampa that will take us approximately an hour and a half walking. Then we will go back to the town of Mollepata to have lunch. On the way back to our final destination we will be able to see more beautiful landscapes and a beautiful sunset. Finally, tired but happy, we will arrive at the city of Cusco (6 in the afternoon) approximately

The short Inca Trail tour to Machu Picchu starts from the pick up at your hotel or hostel (4:00 am approx.) We will travel for an hour and a half to Ollantaytambo where we will stop for breakfast (not included in the price of the tour). After our stop we will drive you to the train station where you will board the train that leaves the Ollantaytambo train station heading to Km 104 (start of our walk). The train trip lasts an hour and a half, on that journey you will be able to appreciate beautiful landscapes and different ecosystems.

Upon reaching km 104 and then crossing a suspension bridge to reach the checkpoint, you must present your passport or document with which you made your reservation. At the end of the respective controls we will start with the walk uphill for 4 hours until we reach the Inca Wiñaywayna site, which in Quechua means (forever young) Wiñaywayna has a height of 2680 meters above sea level and is considered one of the most attractive sites of this tour. . After your guided tour we will stop to eat our box lunch or snack.

After recharging our energy we will continue our walk for an hour and a half until we reach the Intipunku (Puerta del Sol) where you can enjoy the first panoramic views of Machu Picchu.

Finally we will continue walking along the last section of the Inca trail until we reach the place where you can take the classic photo (postcard photo) with the ancient citadel. After this short break, we will go down to the main entrance, here we will get on the bus that will take us to Aguas Calientes to spend the night. Once we arrive in Aguas Calientes, you will have some time to relax in the hotel before your dinner and then plan the tour in the citadel on the last day of the tour.

On the second day you will be able to enjoy and get to know Machu Picchu to the fullest and you can do it in two ways: 1) You can walk for an hour and a half from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu through a path with stairs or 2) You can take the bus for about 25 minutes to Machu Picchu.

If you are interested in seeing the sunrise in this ancient Inca city, you should get up very early to go to the bus station where you will have to wait for the departure of the first buses to Machu Picchu; Once you have arrived at Machu Picchu, you will have your 2-hour guided tour of this historic site, followed by ample time to make your own tour.

Starting at 15:30 pm we will meet at a restaurant in Aguas Calientes for our last lunch together (optional and not included in the tour price). After lunch you will be given your train tickets for your return trip to Cusco.

Inka Trail Backpacker is an adventure tour operator, traditional travel and Eco tourism that has been authorized to be an operator on the route of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu since 2014.

All tourism companies that wish to be operators on the Inca Trail network to Machu Picchu must be certified and have an Inca Trail operator license granted by the government of Peru. This process is very rigorous and strict; not everyone who participates can be successful. This authorization is renewed every year in the month of December and at Inka Trail Backpacker we have the operator authorization of the Inca Trail valid until March 2025. We have a team that is only in charge of renewing our authorizations year after year and thus continue to be a company. authorized to carry out tours through the Inca Trail in its different versions.

Our license as an Official Travel and Tourism Agency in Peru is under the name of Inka Trail Backpacker E.I.R.L
Our authorization to organize tours through the Inca Trail is under the name of INKA TRAIL BACKPACKER E.I.R.L. We also work with the authorizations of the associated companies of which we are a part, such as INTI SUN TREK E.I.R.L and GRUPO CAMINOS DEL PERU E.I.R.L. Duly registered on the official website of the Peruvian Government: www.machupicchu.gob.pe.

Yes, the fact of offering lower and accessible prices does not mean that we neglect the pay and well-being of our porters or the staff that work with us. Since the end of 2014, Inka Trail Backpacker has been paying the porters who work the Inca Trail a salary of 200 Soles per person for the 4-day trek plus their transportation cost and the cost of their food, we also provide them with adequate equipment for that they can carry out their work in the best way. That is almost 20% above the legally required minimum wage agreed with the Porters Union which makes Inka Trail Backpacker a competitive company that offers good treatment and good benefits for them. After conversations with our porters, they tell us that only a few trekking companies pay them the same as we do and that only two companies pay a little more (they charge their clients around US$150 per person more than we do). Of the other 170 operators authorized to operate the Inca Trail only 60% pay the legal salary and 40% pay less than the legal salary, this is difficult to prove as their porters receive a low salary, but they are asked sign receipts showing they get more!compared to we charge less for tourists who book with us Inka Trail Backpacker

As a traveler, you know that one of the most rewarding and memorable experiences of going to new places is the people you meet along the way. By booking a trek or tour with us, you can be sure that your group will have travelers looking for adventure similar to yours in the Peruvian Andes. Our groups offer a great opportunity to meet new people and network in a friendly environment. You never know who you’ll meet!

We are really proud of the work we do for our local communities. This is the main focus of our company. We have worked directly with the villages to help them meet their needs. All the products we buy for food on our walks come from local farmers and markets, so we guarantee that our food has fresh and organic ingredients.

At Inka Trail Backpacker, we like to think that we trek a little differently than our competitors. We stand by our clients and guarantee that we meet 100% of our departure dates on our trips, even if you are a solo traveler, you will always find a place within our groups that you can join.

In general, if you are Latin American, North American or European, you will not need it. If you are a citizen of Mercosur, all members can enter Peru just by carrying your DNI or with a valid passport. If you are from a non-Mercosur country then you will need a valid passport and in some exceptional cases depending on your country of origin, a visa. Here the complete relationship.

If you are a minor you will need to pass in the company of your parents. If you are a father and you are traveling with children, you will need a marriage certificate, birth certificate of the child.

No vaccine is mandatory, but the Peruvian Ministry of Health “recommends” getting vaccinated against Yellow Fever to go to certain regions of the jungle. Normally nobody does, so it’s up to you if it’s worth the risk or not. In several countries this vaccine is free and when it costs, it is not expensive.

If you are Argentine, Ecuadorian, Chilean, Colombian or you come from a place where it is hot in summer as much as possible, in Cusco it is the opposite. Do not think that your summer is replicated in this region. The periods of intense and cold rain are between December and April while in the capital it is very hot. Be it summer or winter, in Cusco at some point of the day it is cold. Always wear a coat. It is typical that in sunny places you feel hot and in shady places cold. The sun is radiant, and with the climate of the place it can damage your skin. Bring sunscreen and/or buy cocoa paste pills at pharmacies, which are very cheap and useful. Machu Picchu, unlike the city of Cusco, is located on the edge of the jungle, that is, at a hybrid point where the mountains meet the jungle and the vegetation changes, showing characteristics of both regions at times. The best season to visit is usually between July and October (high season) when there is not much rain and always blue skies, however this place is visited all year round and it never disappoints.

Perhaps you have never experienced a lack of oxygen. This is commonly felt in Cusco due to the height and makes everything cost triple the effort so you do not have your usual physical resistance which will be diminished. Your digestion will be a little slower and your sleep dense and deep. The ideal is to stay calm the first day to acclimatise. It is very normal that all pharmacies sell pills for altitude sickness. Coca tea also helps as well as candies.

The city of Cusco is safe in the places where you see yourself surrounded by tourists, the center, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu. Avoid walking alone in the night markets or too far from the center with things of value and tourist appearance. Be aware of your pockets at fairs or areas where you are very close to people. In one of the most touristic cities in the world, petty theft and scams are predictable. To avoid this, simply do not leave your valuables alone or trust free things. Do not trust the excesses of unjustified kindness of strangers who will usually always want something from you.

Hygiene is very important to maintain health. Try whenever possible to see how the food served to you is treated. It is common for tourists to get sick to their stomachs from trying everything. To avoid this, be careful, and avoid things that are sold on buses and street vendors, especially fried foods and artisanal cheeses that can be carriers of dangerous bacteria. Boiled, freshly cooked or well washed food will almost always be fine. Long walks on rocky terrain can make you easy prey to dislocations or similar injuries. Wear good shoes. Cusco has good health care places that cater specifically to tourists. To access them do not forget to have travel insurance. Compare them all here so you can choose the cheapest travel insurance.

If you are a student, it is convenient to get the ISIC card (International Student Identity Card) that allows you to have discounts in hostels, in addition to getting the ticket to go up to Machu Picchu (it costs 152 soles) at half price as well as the tourist ticket in Cusco and other advantages.

Peru is one of the cheapest countries in South America so you can get rooms at ridiculously low prices. However, what you get is directly related to what you pay. You can review lodgings, see the photos and compare all the lodgings at http://hospedaje.mochileros.org so you will have a clearer idea

Food in the Laguana Humantay: The first day of this trek includes breakfast and lunch in our restaurant in the Poblado de Mollepata

Food on the Short Inca Trail: The first day of this trek includes a Boxlunch (cold snack) that generally consists of a sandwich, fruits and some cookies. As part of our commitment to eco-sustainability, your box lunch comes in a specially designed reusable cloth bag, which you can store at the end of your tour or return to your tour guide for recycling. Please note that you must bring your own box lunch during the trek. The bags are ideal to be placed in or on a backpack and weigh no more than two kilos when full.

For the first day of the tour we will reserve the hostel “Hanan Pacha” and for the second day “El tambo Machu Picchu” both hostels offer double rooms with private bathrooms, comfortable beds, hot water for the bathroom, Wi-Fi and breakfast.

NOTE: We guarantee the hostel reservation mentioned only if you make your reservation in advance. Otherwise, we may have to offer alternative accommodation.

Yes, each traveler has their own accommodation expectations, that is why we offer them the option of booking their own independent hostel.

If you wish to book your own hostel independently we will offer you a discount of 5 dollars per person on the price of the trip. You can use this money to pay for an alternative hostel.

The maximum group size allowed per group is 16 tourists. The rest is the support staff (porters, cooks) If our groups reach the maximum size we will employ two guides for better group management

For reasons of confidentiality we will not be able to inform you who will be part of your online group, it is impossible for us to answer precisely. Generally, it is a group of hikers of different nationalities and ages. You will meet the members of your group the day we carry out the orientation or informative talk one night before the departure of the tour

We require a minimum size of 4 people to start the trek. For the last few years Inka Trail Backpacker has always managed to meet the minimum group size for all of our departure dates and we have never had to cancel any groups. In the event that we do not reach the minimum number of people required for our outings, we reserve the right to combine our clients with another trekking company of similar cost.

are for the porters, cooks and guides, they are always welcome and are organized by the group on different days. They will also be very grateful for small gifts that can be for themselves or for their children. The suggested amount for tips is 40 to 50 soles for each porter and 80 to 90 soles for the cook and guide. We clarify that this amount is a suggestion and is not an obligation. Tips are collected from all members of the group and is not an individual contribution.

If we do not manage or fail to make your reservation for the Inca Trail, the payment of your deposit will be 100% refunded.

All our participants must inform us if they have or have had any illness that may affect their personal or group progress during the walk. They will also need to bring their own medications. We recommend that you visit your doctor before making your reservation if you have any health problems.

You can leave or store the things that you will not take to the Inca Trail in the hotel or hostel where you are staying. Most of these establishments have warehouses where they will store your things. If you do not trust the place where you are staying, we will gladly store your belongings in our office.