South America

Inca Trail Without the Crowds

5 Days, Departs daily. Contact for pricing.
Details

Overview

Imagine having the most famous trek in the world, all to yourself. Your 5-day Inca Trail does just that. By leaving later than everyone else, and allowing an extra day, you spend the whole trek out of sync with others. It remains an exclusive trail, with permit numbers strictly controlled. From windswept mountain passes to lush tropical jungle, bustling villages to lonely ruins this is the journey of a lifetime through some of the most beautiful and varied scenery of any trek in the world.

Itinerary Highlights

  • Hike the trail above the Urubamba river to camp beside the spectacular ruins of Llactapata
  • Experience the outstanding views and see the Andean deer
  • Climb to Dead Woman's Pass, the high point of the trail
  • Experience the spectacular views towards Pumahuanca mountain in the Vilcabamba range
  • A chance to see the sunrise from Phuyupatamarca
  • Campsites are carefully chosen to get the best views or to be close to the best ruins
  • You have time to yourself to enjoy the trek. Time to take photos, time to fully explore all the ruins and time to relax at campsites and take it all in.
  • Visit Machu Picchu twice, making sure you have time to explore it properly. 

Itinerary in Brief

  • Day 1: Cusco - KM82 - Cusichaca
  • Day 2: Cusichaca - Llulluchapampa
  • Day 3: Llulluchapampa - Phyuypatamarca
  • Day 4: Phuyupatamarca - Machu Picchu
  • Day 5: Machu Picchu - Return to Cusco

Travelling with Eclipse

Peace of Mind
  • Eclipse Travel is Australian owned and run, and an ATAS accredited travel agent.
  • 24/7 emergency numbers and local contacts provided for support while you’re abroad.
  • We provide all the information you need to organise your visas and vaccinations, making travel preparation stress-free.
  • No currency surcharges. Once your deposit is paid, your price is guaranteed.
Specialists
  • Our consultants are true destination experts, with firsthand experience and extensive travel in the regions we offer.
  • Expect quick, professional responses and dedicated service from our knowledgeable team.
  • We conduct regular checks on destinations, hotels, and services to ensure quality for every trip.
Authentic Travel
  • Tailor-made itineraries designed around your unique requirements.
  • Freedom to select your preferred style and standard of accommodation.
  • Unique itineraries that take you beyond the major highlights, immersing you in each location.
  • Committed to responsible travel: we reinvest in the environment and local communities across our destinations.

Day 1 - Cusco: Transfer to KM82 & Hike to Cusichaca

Transfer to KM82 & Hike to Cusichaca
Your 5-day adventure begins at 6am this morning when you are picked up from your hotel and privately transported towards KM82, the starting point of the Inca Trail. From here you will begin your hike, walking along the left bank of the Urubamba River, following the flat trail until you reach the community of Miskay (2800m / 9184ft). You will find that the first two hours of the trek are relatively easy as you make your way to the first Inca site, Patallacta. From here you will continue down into the canyon where you will have lunch with views over Patallacta. Continue on at an easy pace, taking in the scenery and hearing stories from your guide. It will be around 2 hours until you reach your camp site at the village of Cusichaca (3300m).


Lunch and Dinner included.

Day 2 - Sacred Valley: Cusichaca to Llulluchapampa

Cusichaca to Llulluchapampa
Following an early breakfast this morning you will head off on a gentle climb up the Cusichaca Valley to the small hamlet of Huayllabamba, the last inhabited place on the trail. You will then notice the path get a little steeps as you head up the beautiful Inca path, past hummingbirds and stunted cloud forest to your camp at Llulluchapampa (3680m / 12073ft). This beautiful grassy area has outstanding views and if you're lucky, you may even see the Andean deer that come to feed here.


Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 3 - Sacred Valley: Llulluchapampa to Phuyupatamarca

Llulluchapampa to Phuyupatamarca
Today will be the most challenging day of your trek but also the most exhilarating. You will first climb to Dead Woman's Pass (4212m / 13819ft), the high point of the trail before dropping in to the Pacasmayo Valley. Climbing once more you will pass the Inca control post of Runkuracay to the second pass of the day (3998m / 13117ft). On a clear day you will be able to take in spectacular views towards Pumahuanca Mountain in the Vilcabamba range. From here you will continue along a well-preserved Inca trail to Sayacmarca. Located at the junction of two old Inca road, historians still argue over its exact purpose. A few more gentle inclines and declines before you arrive to your stunning campsite for the night, Phuyupatamarca, or 'the place above the clouds' (3650m / 11975ft).


Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 4 - Sacred Valley: Phuyupatamarca to Machu Picchu

Phuyupatamarca to Machu Picchu
Today is the day that you will finally reach Machu Picchu. As you step out of your tent the views are stunning. Perhaps you will see the sun rising over the snow-capped mountains of Salkantay (6200m / 20341ft). Or perhaps you will have a cloud inversion, with the clouds filling the valleys beneath your feet. After bidding your porters a fond farewell, it is time to put on your boots and head to Machu Picchu. You will descend through the cloud forest on beautiful Inca stairways to Winay Wayna, another interesting ruin full of swallows and orchids. Finally you contour the hillside to arrive at Inti Punku, the gateway of the Sun. As you step through the old stone gateway, Machu Picchu appears laid out before your eyes. Take some time to take in this spectacular place and take plenty of photos. After your time here you will catch the bus down to the colourful town of Aguas Calientes where you will spend the evening in a hotel.

*Please note, if you choose deluxe accommodation this evening, dinner will be included.

Please note:
• If you are visiting Machu Picchu with a shared tour, the guide will select which circuit you will take for the tour.
• If you are doing a private tour and you purchased your entrance ticket before 20th June 2024, you are not able to pre-select the circuits below, this will be decided at the entrance of the citadel with your guide.
• For private tours and new tickets purchased after 20th June 2024, it is possible to indicate which circuit you would like to purchase. We will pre-select the best available circuit but please let us know if you have a preference.
• If you wish to see more than one circuit during your visit, you must purchase a second entry ticket.
• To see the different circuit options, please visit https://eclipsetravel.co.nz/machu-picchu-visitor-information/


Breakfast and Lunch included.

Day 5 - Machu Picchu: Machu Picchu Tour - Return to Cusco

Machu Picchu Tour - Return to Cusco
Feeling relaxed and refreshed after a comfortable night in your hotel, you will head back up to Machu Picchu for your full guided tour before the crowds arrive. There will be time afterwards to hike to the Inca Bridge, Watchman's hut or just wander through the ruins, soaking up the atmosphere. After your time here you will descend back down to Aguas Calientes to board the train back to Ollantayambo, one of the great rail journeys of the world.

After disembarking in Ollantaytambo you will be met and transferred the remainder of the way to Cusco where you will be dropped off at your hotel.

Please note:
• If you are visiting Machu Picchu with a shared tour, the guide will select which circuit you will take for the tour.
• If you are doing a private tour and you purchased your entrance ticket before 20th June 2024, you are not able to pre-select the circuits below, this will be decided at the entrance of the citadel with your guide.
• For private tours and new tickets purchased after 20th June 2024, it is possible to indicate which circuit you would like to purchase. We will pre-select the best available circuit but please let us know if you have a preference.
• If you wish to see more than one circuit during your visit, you must purchase a second entry ticket.
• To see the different circuit options, please visit https://eclipsetravel.co.nz/machu-picchu-visitor-information/


Breakfast included.

Please contact us for dates
Comfort

Machu Picchu, Peru - El Mapi Hotel

Superior

Machu Picchu, Peru - El Mapi Hotel

Deluxe

Machu Picchu, Peru - Sumaq Hotel

What’s included?

  • Transfers between Cusco and Ollantaytambo
  • Accommodation: 3 nights in a tent, 1 night in a hotel
  • Entrance fees
  • Meals as per the itinerary
  • Train ticket Machu Picchu - Ollantaytambo (Expedition Train for Comfort package, Vistadome Train for Superior and Deluxe packages)
  • Private tour with an English speaking guide
  • Ticket for the bus between Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes town
  • Foam sleeping mat
  • Dining tent with tables and chairs
  • Boiled water in the morning to refill your water bottle
  • Comprehensive first aid kit including oxygen bottles

What’s not included?

  • Airfares
  • Gratuities for guides, drives, waiters and luggage porters
  • Beverages during meals
  • Sleeping bag and porter
  • Insurance of any kind
  • Any items of a personal nature

Price Assurance

At Eclipse Travel, our expert destination knowledge and decades of travel planning experience come at no extra cost to you. While many think booking through a tour operator is more expensive than planning a trip independently, that’s not the case. We’re paid by our travel partners—such as hotels, activity operators, and cruise providers—via commissions, not by our clients.

Our team negotiates the best rates for you and ensures you receive unbiased advice, with no preference for any particular supplier. In fact, where we secure higher commissions, we often pass the savings on to you, giving us a competitive price edge.

Additionally, we lock in exchange rates at the time of your deposit, ensuring no surprise costs when it’s time for final payment. You can rest easy knowing we’ll handle the details with our suppliers. The only exceptions are national park fee increases or fuel surcharges imposed after your booking, though these are rare.

Take advantage of our team’s expertise and let us help you plan the perfect holiday—hassle-free!

Destination: South America

The vivid sights and sounds of South America offer something for everyone. Stretching from the Caribbean to Patagonia, the variety of cultures, climates and landscapes has to be experienced firsthand to be believed. The memories you take home will leave you wanting more – we’re sure you’ll want to return again and again, just like us!

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Inca Trail Without the Crowds

5 Days, Departs daily. Contact for pricing.