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The vast Vilcanota Mountain Range was shaped over millions of years, the construction of Inca Trail to Machu Picchu took the Inca Civilization many decades, and we have 5 days to hike through this area’s most awe-inspiring scenery to arrive at the iconic citadel of the Incas–Machu Picchu, a signature 5-day adventure curated by Carlos our veteran in trekking and co-founder of Peru Summit Adventures to immerse in the wilderness of the highland regions of Ausangate and immerse in the archaeology and history of Inca Trail.
Ausangate Trek and Short Inca Trail is the quintessential destination for anyone who wants to arrive at Machu Picchu differently. With its great snow-clad mountains and lush forest, its great outdoors, and great adventure, the landscape will inspire a sense of exploration in young and old alike.
Follow in the footsteps of ancient Peruvians on a challenging trek that begins in Upis Village and takes us all the way into a valley dotted with many alpacas, llamas, and other wild animals. Along the way, we move past crystal blue lakes, colored hills, crystal streams, meadows, lush cloud forests, high passes, and fascinating ancient Inca constructions. We keep our eyes peeled for vicuñas, vizcacha (andean chinchilla), and fox, letting the soothing songbirds be the soundtrack to our journey towards Machu Picchu.
Our Trek Leaders lead the way, giving us trekking tips and tricks to hone our skills. Each evening after dark, we enjoy the abundant, star-filled skies, reveling in the day’s adventure with our trek mates while enjoying a cup of coca tea.
Join us for the adventure of a lifetime – give us a call at +51 984 464 391 or shoot us an email at [email protected] to learn more or book your spot today!
This trip is officially operated by Peru Summit Adventures, a 100% local tour operator based in Cusco.
Traveling with us you are making a big difference in favor of the environment, our trips are rated as eco-friendly trips to ensure that fragile ecosystems are protected and maintained for future human generations, also maintain ecosystem and environment integrity through considering a sustainable and ethical business model. Making genuine and sustainable itineraries often translates to real costs, with a host of responsible travel practices that underpin our prices.
Upgraded Comfort
UPGRADED COMFORT: Premium or Comfort trips are led by Peru Summit Adventures experts, an experienced crew at your side, or top trip leaders/guides, and tap into private local experts' resources to allow for in-depth exploration and special access to unique sites that only the local leaders/guides know. Itineraries are carefully crafted and fully planned, with plenty of free time to roam. Camping gears are high-end and accommodations are high-end or best available. Ground transportation and most meals (especially in hikes) and activities are included in the trip price.
STRENUOUS: Designed for experienced active travelers in excellent physical condition. Full-day hikes (6-9 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 ft) on many hikes. 4-day to 6-day trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 14,500 ft are in this category with some exposed sections.
Hiking, Camping, Archaeology & Cultural Adventures
While we expect the tour will run as the itinerary describes to Ausangate Trek and Short Inca Trail. Participants should accept that there is the possibility of changes, being necessary liable to local conditions, eg, strikes, natural disasters, these changes might be at the discretion of your travel company.
Pro 4-season tents in Black Diamond and North Face with Pro Sleeping pads in Therma-Rest and pillows, tents are roomy and cozy designed for 3 people but used only for 2 guests. Our hotel in Machu Picchu town is the Inti Punku Suites & Hotels (or a similar hotel) a lovely hotel for pleasant rest.
Min 2 ppl, Max 8 ppl
Minimum of 02 people is needed to depart. Family groups, couple travelers, friends, or even if you’re a SOLO traveler, you are welcome to our trips. Price is per person, which is based on two people who might share a room/tent. The itinerary is described and based on shared services as well as semi-private service; however, if you are looking for a private service, that would be upon request.
Yes, to protect MACHU PICCHU, the number of people allowed a day is limited to 3044 (spaces may vary depending on new regulations). That is why you should reserve your space as soon as possible. Spaces can be filled up three to four months in advance. Spaces fill more quickly in the high tourist season, from May to September.
It is strongly recommended that participants attend the ACCLIMATIZATION PROGRAM before attending this Adventure or take 2 days at least before the trek in Cusco City.
You will be picked up from your hotel at 5:30 AM by your Trek Guide, you will then drive for about 3 hours to reach the trailhead located in Upis Village (4400 m/ 14,436 feet), at this place, you will meet your muleteers, after a brief introduction, you will make your adventure start.
The first section of the trail until the lunch spot is gentle uphill, the trail passes through an Andean Valley where is possible to see lots of alpacas and llamas and the massif Ausangate glacier at backdrops.
After 2 hours of hiking, you will arrive at the lunch spot, where you will have a delicious lunch prepared by your cook. Following the lunch break, you will still hike up to the first pass called Arapa at 4800 m/ 15,748 feet for 2 hours, from where you will enjoy stunning vistas of the great highland mountains and valleys. The next trail section to the campsite is downhill for 2 hours. Today, you will camp at 4650 m/ 15,256 feet. Lunch and dinner included.
Moderate to Demanding
A hot breakfast prepared by our cook will make you ready for today’s hike, next, you will make your rucksacks ready and start with the adventure, the trail starts from a gradual uphill to a very steep uphill as you get closer to the next pass, after 3 hours hiking you will get to the next pass at 5,000 m/ 16,404 feet.
This section from the last campsite to this pass is one of the most scenic sections of the trail, from the pass, you will soak up mesmerizing views of Ausangate Glacier, reddish valleys, and the massive Vilcanota Mountain Range. After gazing out at the amazing views, you will hike downhill to reach a valley where you will have lunch.
In the afternoon, after lunch, you will hike up again for 2 hours to reach the next pass called Warmisaya located at 5000m / 16,404 feet. This is another amazing spot and you will even see Rainbow Mountain in a far location. You will still walk downhill for 30 minutes from the pass and you will arrive at the next campsite (Qomercocha) located at 4800 m/ 15,748 feet.
Very Demanding
After enjoying our last breakfast prepared by our cook, you will set off towards Rainbow Mountain, the section from the campsite is a gentle uphill for 1 hour and 30 minutes. After a while, you will reach the top of Rainbow Mountain way before than the crowds and have plenty of time to enjoy this fascinating site.
You will then hike to Red Valley, which is another spectacular place that makes you feel literally in a different world, here you will see reddish pale valleys, hills, and small mountains and the coolest thing is that you will hike through it. After experiencing this gorgeous valley, you will keep walking downhill to the end of the trail where our private transportation will be waiting for you to transfer to Ollantaytambo train station. Upon arrival in Ollantaytambo town, you will have a late lunch at a local restaurant and stay at a hotel where you will enjoy a nice shower and deserved rest for the following day.
Moderate to Demanding
Early wake-up, train journey, Inca Trail, gaze out stunning Inca sites and the unique Machu Picchu will make this first-day hike an unforgettable day.
Today, you will start between 5:20 AM – 6 AM from your hotel, our guide will come to your hotel to pick you up, you will then go to the train station. The scheduled train for this morning is at 6:10 AM or 7:05 AM (depending on the availability and the train is Expedition Class Train), the reason we opt for the earlier schedule is to have enough time for the hike and beat the crowds.
From Ollantaytambo to the trailhead (KM 104) you will have a train ride for 1 hour and 30 minutes, the railway follows the banks of the roaring Urubamba river, from the train, you will scan amazing views of the Urubamba mountain range, Incan ruins, and as you go farther and farther you will reach the high jungle (very lush forest), the views are just stunning! and it’s how we will reach the trailhead where the train will stop briefly to get out.
Once at the checkpoint of KM 104, we will register ourselves and for this, you must bring your original passport as the rangers will review all information on the permits and passports. After this checkpoint, we will begin our hike towards Machu Picchu for about 7 hours, right after the trailhead we will arrive at the first Incan site, which is a small archaeological site whose name is Chachabamba, this is an Inca site from the 15th century that today still showcases great constructions in rocks and sculptures on granite rocks that most likely were religious constructions and other as dwellings for people who lived here. At this place, your guide will deliver great information about the Incas and their development in the Andes of Peru and you will learn a lot about the Inca history through these Inca sites along the trail until Machu Picchu.
After enjoying the history of the Incas at the Chachabamba Inca site, we will continue walking gradually uphill enjoying the spectacular landscape until reaching the Wiñaywayna Incan temple whose meaning is “forever young” where you will have an opportunity to learn more about the Inca civilization. This section of the trail to Wiñaywayna is very scenic, you will soak up stunning vistas of the Urubamba mountain range in further directions, the lush Urubamba Valley with the roaring river, and the trail goes through slope parts of the mountain that makes the hike more challenging and interesting. Wiñaywayna is rated as the most beautiful Inca site along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and this place makes justice for it as the site has outstanding constructions, temples, water fountains, terraces, and dwellings, all of these constructions overlooking or oriented to the mountains around.
Walking about 5 minutes from Wiñaywayna, we will arrive at the official campsite for the 4-day Inca Trail hikers where we will have our lunch box (packed lunch) and have a break before heading out to Machu Picchu. From Wiñaywayna, we’ll continue hiking for 1 hour to reach Sun Gate, this part of the trail is mostly flatter and the trail goes through the forest, upon arrival at Sun Gate, we’ll have the first views of the famed Incan city, and you will take your time to make great pictures, this place is very touching and exciting for most hikers since the iconic city of the Incas is finally uncovered after hiking for several hours.
From the Sun Gate, we will still hike for 1 more hour to get to Machu Picchu, this part of the trail is a gentle downhill. Once we arrive at Machu Picchu, we will reach the official viewpoint from where we will have the classic views of this wonder of the world (as seen in the magazines) because the afternoon is usually with fewer people, the visit to this lookout point is a must since the following day you are not going back to this place, otherwise, you will visit the middle part of the citadel. We’ll then take the bus to Machu Picchu Town (Aguas Calientes town) where we’ll have an overnight stay at a hotel, and have dinner at the restaurant (this last dinner is not included).
Moderate
Today a nutritious breakfast will make us ready at the hotel for our tour of Machu Picchu, after breakfast and picking you up from the hotel, we will walk to the bus station to take the bus back to Machu Picchu, once at Machu Picchu, we will visit the middle and lower part of this citadel because the Inca Trail ticket allows us to visit this part of Machu Picchu (Circuit 3, see the circuit map here) where our guide will deliver great information of this unique site and you will take plenty of time to enjoy the views and take amazing pictures. The tour will be for about 2 hours, 2 hours of enjoying the history and seeing unique spots like temples, granaries, dwellings, terraces, plazas, aqueducts, and the fascinating views that surround this impressive Inca citadel.
If you have booked an extra ticket for Huayna Picchu Mountain, you’ll climb up the mountain after the tour; however, spaces are subject to availability. In the unlikely event that Huayna Picchu permits are not available for your tour date, you will climb up Machu Picchu Mountain instead. This hike to the mountain would be unguided.
After having a great time at the Incan emperor’s palace, we’ll take the bus down to Machu Picchu Town (Aguas Calientes Town) where we’ll have lunch (not included). In the afternoon we’ll take the train back to Ollantaytambo train station, where our driver will be waiting for you to transfer back to your hotel in Cusco City. (this transfer service from the train station to your hotel is included).
Easy to Moderate
Although we do our very best possible to adhere to the schedule above, this itinerary is subject to change for several reasons beyond our control, including strikes, weather, natural disasters, and terrain conditions. On some occasions, these conditions may demand us to deviate from our original schedule, in which case we will provide the best available alternative options. And we’ll make a great experience of it!
| Number of participants | Price per person | Total ($ USD) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Participant | We have special rates for SOLO travelers. Get started by filling out the inquiry form. | Enquire Now | |
| 2 Participants | $ 2,200.00 | $ 4,400.00 | Enquire Now |
| 3 Participants | $ 2,000.00 | $ 6,000.00 | Enquire Now |
| 4 Participants | $ 1,800.00 | $ 7,200.00 | Enquire Now |
| 5 Participants | $ 1,600.00 | $ 8,000.00 | Enquire Now |
| 6+ Participants | We have special rates for groups, which are over 6ppl. Get started by filling out the inquiry form. | Enquire Now | |
| # | |
|---|---|
| 1 person (We have special rates for SOLO travelers. Get started by filling out the inquiry form.) | Enquire Now |
| 2 people $ 2,200.00 | Enquire Now |
| 3 people $ 2,000.00 | Enquire Now |
| 4 people $ 1,800.00 | Enquire Now |
| 5 people $ 1,600.00 | Enquire Now |
| 6+ people (We have special rates for groups, which are over 6ppl. Get started by filling out the inquiry form.) | Enquire Now |
Prices are quoted in US Dollars and all payments must be made in US Dollars. Prices are per person based on SEMI-PRIVATE service; we depart with 2 ppl as a minimum, 8 ppl as maximum, and an average of 4 ppl in a group. This trek is also based on double occupancy for tents in the trail.
Making a choice of your right travel company/ tour operator is the most important decision you will make as you make your plans for a long-anticipated dreamed adventure. At first glance, some companies may seem cheaper. However, when you research a little deeper, you will see why traveling with Peru Summit Adventures assures that you will have the most memorable travel experience possible. In fact, we guarantee it, our TripAdvisor reviews say that.
Making genuine and sustainable itineraries often translate to real costs, with a host of responsible travel practices that underpin our prices, here are the reasons why you should go with us!
Besides, Machu Picchu offers one of the world’s most spellbinding travel experiences. But it’s also a world-renowned destination, and touring the site in a big group with multitudes of tourists shoving for photos, and competing to hear the guide, your once in a lifetime visit to this World Heritage Site may lose its magic. Our Machu Picchu Trips are scheduled with an average of just four travelers, allowing for a deeper exploration of the lost city of the Incas, with our Local Experts / Tour Leaders.
We are very confident the quality of our Ausangate Trek and Short Inca Trail will get your expectations and that you will savor the best possible of cultural travel experience, nature travel experience, and adventure travel experience if you are dissatisfied, we’ll happily give you credit for an extra trip or for a future journey. It’s, to our knowledge, the best guarantee in the travel business.
Probably you will see that most of the tour operators mention it on their websites that are local tour companies, however, if you research a little deeper you will find out that’s not true, they might be although half of the operation is done from here and another half abroad, they even have NorthAmerican phone number or European phone numbers, which is a clue to find out, we are not against the foreigner companies or half foreign companies, what we are against is that they lie.
In Cusco exist just few truly local tour operators. If you did not know, foreign companies come to Peru to get rich without paying a General Sales Tax or Tax Contribution to our country. If you did not know that, according to the United Nations, for every US $100 spent on a tour in a developing country or foreign travel companies, only $5 stays in the local economy. Normally, almost all of the money flows back to large companies operating outside the destination countries. As we are a local family enterprise, we guarantee that your travel expenditures will support the local economy, and improve the lives of Peruvians through contributing to general sales tax.
Be a responsible traveller! Let’s make this world a better place for everyone and for everyone that lives in it! The natural environments that we travel to are fragile and abundant with beautiful culture and traditions that are often reliant on tourism. We have a responsibility as travelers to minimize the impact of our presence, protect what is delicate, and leave a positive influence everywhere we can.
As a locally owned and based Peruvian tour company, we integrate these practices into our in-country operations we are aiming for a style of travel that makes the world a better place for everyone, and for everyone that lives in it. Since our very first days as a tour operator, responsible business has been at the heart of what we do. Peru Summit Adventures is committed not just to treading lightly, but to making a real difference by helping and investing in local communities, education initiatives, environmental conservation projects. These values are not more than just words, they are ingrained in the culture and philosophy of our crew, daily operations of Peru Summit Adventures trips, and at our office too.
With Peru Summit Adventures, you will receive our exclusive high-end equipment for camping for the Ausangate Trek to Machu Picchu, which will guarantee a comfortable stay every night. We use proper gear for this type of terrain, our gear is thought to resist harsh weather at extreme elevations. Our gear is the best on the trail.
No hidden fees or middlemen, as a local tour operator to Ausangate Trek to Machu Picchu, at Peru Summit Adventures we ensure you an exclusive guarantee that clearly says that we will meet the high expectations we set forth on our website or promotional materials because this tour is operated exclusively by us.
The perfect custom-made private tours, adventure tours, or expeditions don’t just happen. It takes a team of talented, knowledgeable, passionate, and experienced professionals to bring it all together and possible. Our team of Peru Summit Adventures Leaders is comprised of local trip veterans, seasoned tour veterans with rich backgrounds on history, archaeology, culture, cuisine, geology, biology, and more.
With the highest staff-to-guest ratio in the travel industry, our Trip Leaders safely deliver your trip-of-a-lifetime to maximize your Peru journeys and adventures every step of the way. Our Tour/Trek Leaders have worked extensively in the Peru isolated mountains, archaeological sites, hiking the Inca Trail (at least 150 times), Amazon jungle, and being at Machu Picchu for over 400 times at least, this guarantees your trip a unique and memorable experience.
Camping Equipment: Great gear is a key part of every great journey, so we’ve made our gear warehouse featuring top-performing brands like Black Diamond, Patagonia, North Face Summit Series, Therma Rest, Marmot, Leki, this is a fantastic collection of our outdoor gear, accessories, which are offered in all trekking adventures, expeditions, and Peru Summit Adventures Logo items.
In all hikes, you’ll enjoy Pro 4-season tents in Black Diamond and North Face with Pro Sleeping pads in Therma-Rest and pillows, tents are roomy and cozy designed for 3 people but used only for 2 guests.
Hotels: We select carefully our hotels in each destination all over the country. And we select our accommodations for how well they represent the distinctive character of the destination you’re in. Some of these rooms and cabanas draw their inspiration from history and others from the views they offer. What’s consistent, however, is that we stand by each and every one of these for what they’ll add to your experience.
Make the most of Peru’s natural beauty with succulent meals on each adventure tour, and Discover the delights of Peruvian cuisine in each tour destination and trek. So the food is awesome!
A new introduction to holistic food, which is Natural Food in all our tour adventures (Treks, Picnic Trips, Amazon Jungle Trips, and Expeditions Trips). In a holistic diet, you eat natural food, avoid highly processed foods, and eat in moderation foods high in fat and sugar. Natural foods that are included in our holistic diet include vegetables, whole grains, fish, fowl, meats, fresh juices, local fruits, herbal teas, and coffee substitutes.
Freshly prepared foods provide more energy and are better for your well-being than previously prepared foods. Our Peru Summit chefs are to Food what Leonardo da Vinci is to Art, so we rely on really experienced chefs who were trained and chosen to make this food in the mountains, and they are our stars.
In addition, making the right food choices can help prevent future health problems on your trip, so because of that we introduced this service in each of our Treks.
We have created a custom comprehensive listing of Ausangate Trek and Short Inca Trail, Machu Picchu and Peru, Machu Picchu, and Peru travel books for this trip. Our reading list Peru is custom-designed to complement specific Peru Summit destinations. We feature a handpicked selection of travel guides, maps, literature, books on art, cuisine, nature, and culture, designed to help you get more out of your travels to Machu Picchu & Peru.
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