Top Quality of Service
Peru By Locals prides ourselves on having the best guides: both smart and fun and all University grads in Tourism. Our porters work endlessly to take care of your every need. Our office staff answers all questions.
Live an unforgettable experience
Inca Trail is arguably one of the most famous and most popular multi-day hikes in the world, the privilege to walk in the footsteps of Incan Pilgrims to their spiritual citadel at Machu Picchu. It’s popularity is unsurprising, as this ancient trail scales spectacular mountain passes with breathtaking views across the majestic Andes; it passes the ruins of numerous Inca settlements, many of them meticulously preserved by the passage of time; it winds through remote Andean communities still active in the livelihoods of generations past and it leads us through contrasting ecological environments from the barren mountainside, to eerie Cloud Forest to the lush green valleys.
We will camp for 3 nights in the most spectacular and remote locations. Far from the crowds and the lights of the city, the skies in the Andes are a wonder all to themselves and the display of constellations is truly mesmerising. We pride ourselves on making your camping experience as comfortable as possible, using only the highest quality equipment, and with a team of porters whose skill and experience will ensure your safety at all times. Perhaps the jewel in our crown though are our chefs, who are truly culinary masters on the mountain. You will be amazed at the delicious meals they prepare for us!
We take care of booking all transfers, transport and tickets, ensuring that the tour goes as smoothly as possible. Our guides are especially selected for their trekking experience, their historical knowledge and thier first aid in the wilderness; keeping us on the right path, setting the pace for the hike and providing historical commentary and context for the many sites that we will see along the way.
Our time on the trail demands a number of steep ascents to passes above 13,800ft. As such we consider this trek to be ‘Challenging’ and recommend it for people with a good level of fitness, and some trekking experience.
At PBL we believe it’s important that all of our guests have the opportunity to ask very last questions about the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (the itinerary, the challenges, what to bring etc) before we start. At a pre-arranged time, your guide will provide a full pre-trek briefing at your Cusco hotel the day before the start of the trek. A Peru by Locals representative will also be available at the briefing to collect any outstanding cash balance for the tour.
Day 1 kicks off with an early morning pick up from your hotel in Cusco. From there we take a three hour drive through picturesque villages along the way to the starting point of the Classic Inca trail to Machu Picchu at PISQACUCHO, also known as Km. 82, where we will meet our team (porters), who will be in charge for carrying all the equipment and cooking for us.
Our Classic Inca Trail starts along a trail surrounded by cacti and a dry forest, with a view of WAQAYHILLCA mountain with 5.800 m / 19.030 feet of elevation (the tallest mountain along the Sacred Valley mountain range). After about two hours of hiking we will stop for lunch.
The last 2 hours of the hike, the vegetation becomes jungle and you have a chance to spot the biggest hummingbird (Patagonia’s gigas). We can expect to arrive at our campground by 4 pm.
Our porters will provide you a bowl of warm water to wash. After you clean yourselves, we will have Inca trail happy hour with hot drinks, popcorn, cookies, etc. and dinner will be served by 7pm.
You will have an early wake-up call in the morning by one of our porters with a nice cup of coca tea served in your tent. You will also be given a bowl of warm water to wash yourselves before having a delicious breakfast; the hike begins around 7am. This day is especially demanding because of the high altitude and the ascent to the highest point on the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (Warmiwañusqa - 4.215 m / 13.776 feet)
The four hours of our hike winds through a high altitude jungle and all uphill, with beautiful mountain views. Once we reach the top of Warmiwañusqa or Dead Woman’s Pass (4.215 m / 13.776 feet), we descend to the campground at Paqaymayo (3.650 m / 11.975 feet), where we will spend the night. Here the temperatures may drop down to 0°C / 32° F in winter (from May to August).
We undertake the longest stretch on the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, but in return, you will have amazing views, many Inca sites to explore, orchids along the way etc. We start with one and a half hour ascent to the second pass on the Inca Trail, Runkuraqay (3.450 m / 12.959 feet). After taking some time to rest here and taking pictures, we descend to explore the Inca ruins of Sayacmarca before we head to our lunch spot. After lunch, we start one and a half hours hike up and down and descend for about 3 hours towards the camp at Wiñayhuayna, where we will spend the last night. Here you have a chance to take cold shower.
Today you will have the earliest wake up call at 3:30 am, but you are not leaving the camp site until 5:30 am, so, after you pack and have the last breakfast (until 4:15 am), you will walk to the check point of the camp site that is just 5 minutes from your tents, where you will line up for more than one hour until the gate opens at 5:30 am. All that is because our porters have the train that leaves really early from the bottom of the valley - it is the only train during the day they can load the equipment back to Cusco, so we thank you for your understanding.
Leaving at 5:30 am, you hike towards the Sun Gate, where you will have the first view of Machu Picchu. After that you will descend for fortyfive minutes down to Machu Picchu, where you will have two and a half hour tour given by your guide. Afterwards you will have time to enjoy Machu Picchu at your leisure. If you are brave enough and have more energy, you can climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain, i you booked your permits in adnace.
When you are ready to leave Machu Picchu, you will take a bus down to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town), where you can have a farewell lunch and a Peruvian Pisco Sour to celebrate your trek with the rest of the group, before taking the train back to Cusco which will mark the end of your journey to this magnificent site.
Trip exclude: Lunch and dinner on Day4, tips or gratitudes for your guide, porters and driver (tip recomended 10% of the total trip cost (guidelines will be provided throuhg email)
With year round departures and diverse unique itineraries from 1 to 12 days in length, we offer wide range of tours and treks, and all the tours will be customized according to your needs. We guarantee you the experience of a lifetime!
Our tours are designed for those who love adventure, want to explore new places, experience the local culture, love food, like history or photography, for all the ages whether you are travelling alone or with friends.
Small groups are the best and average tour or trek group is around 3-12 people. Why is this great? Well, have you ever waited in line while 40 other people get a coffee in the morning? Believe it or not, it is not fun. Taking small groups allows us flexibility to take you on adventure to places that nobody else goes.
Peru by Locals guides are knowledgeable about the Peruvian culture and fun loving folks with a passion to show you the real Peru. We select only the most enthusiastic, professional and committed guides for tours and treks, as we believe that the most important ingredient for a successful tour is a GREAT GUIDE.
Traveling with us is also going Green, we love protecting our Home - Ecosystem for the future, we use the lowest plastic products posible, we re-use, we use bio-degradable products.
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We are committed to provide world-class tours focused on exceptional customer service. We do this in a socially conscious way that promotes sustainable tourism. Peru by Locals is commited to protect and cherish our commitment and is to protect and cherish our environment, and to help creat jobs and empower local people. We believe in fair labour practices, honoring, and treating all our employees with the respect they deserve for the remarkable work they do.
We offer exciting, interesting and tailor-made tours.
100% Quality of Service
Peru By Locals prides ourselves on having the best guides: both smart and fun and all University grads in Tourism. Our porters work endlessly to take care of your every need. Our office staff answers all questions.
Peru by Locals Travel is based in Cusco, which was established by an ex porter and a current tour guide (me) along the Inca trail to Machu Picchu, Jose L. Condor, born in Huayllaccocha, a village between Cusco and Machu Picchu.
Our porters are from the valleys and mountains near the city of Cusco, simple peasants who work in the mountains in times that do not work in their fields, who continue to speak the Quechua language, language of our ancestors the Incas.
If you are looking for an adventure that involves colourful landscapes, very little known places, experince the real culture of natives, historical tours. We know Peru from corner to corner, Peru by Locals is what you are looking for.
Peru by Locals, are committed to provide you an exceptional experience and thank you for the opportunity to serve you and we look forward to seeing you soon!