Dan Arnold Hiking
  • Trips
  • Favorites
  • Photos
  • Gear

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu


Machu Picchu hike on the Inca trail
Machu Picchu

Day One: Piskacucho to Ayapata

The hike on day one was relatively flat with a climb in the final few miles to the campsite (8.7 miles, 2000ft gain).
Start of the trail
Starting point of the Inca Trail
Exploring Llactapata
Exploring the first site, Llactapata
Llactapata ruins on the trail
Mt Veronica was in view during the first day
Mt Veronica
Near the end of the first day
Llactapata terraces
Llactapata terraces
Ayapata campsite on the inca trail

Day Two: Ayapata to Chaquiccocha

Day two had a morning climb to the high point on the Inca trail, Dead Woman's Pass followed by a climb and descent of a second pass in the afternoon (10 miles, 4500ft gain, 3500ft loss).
Dead Woman's Pass
Dead Woman's Pass
Hiking companions for the week at Dead Woman's Pass
Hiking companions James and Sara at the top
Our porters serving snacks
Porters serving snacks at Dead Woman's Pass
Hiking down Runcuraccay pass
The sky opened up after lunch as we descended from Runcuraccay Pass
Sayacmarca Inca Site
Sayacmarca Inca Site
Valetin our tour guide
Our guide Valentine
Highest campsite at Chaquiccocha on the inca trail
The highest campsite of the trip, in the clouds at 12,000ft

Day Three: Chaquiccocha to Winay Wayna

The hike on day three was mostly downhill and shorter in distance allowing time at the Intipata and Winay Wayna Inca sites (6 miles, 3000ft loss)
Our group in green ponchos
Our group in green during the rainstorm
Intipata Inca site
Sunshine in valley from Intipata inca site
View from the Intipata terraces
Our final meal
Tongo presented our final meal as a turtle chewing on a coca leaf

Day Four: Winay Wayna to Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu
Tree that stands alone in Machu Picchu
Valentine explaining the temple walls
Valentine pointing out the perfection in the stonework of the temple (near side) versus other structures (far)
Temple of the sun in Machu Picchu
Temple of the Sun
The King would make the pilgrimage to Machu Picchu twice a year around the winter and summer solstices, the dates the sun would shine directly through the windows on the Temple at sunrise.
Machu Picchu hike
Machu Picchu panorama

Huayna Picchu

Stairs on the Huayna Picchu hike
Machu Picchu from Huayna Picchu
Huayna Picchu hike in Peru

Alpaca Expeditions Group

Group photo at Machu Picchu
Picture
Resources:
Alpaca Expeditions

2022   2021   2020   2019   2018   2017   2016  2015   2014

Favorite Hikes
Photos
Current Gear
Complete List of Hikes
Photos, text and design by Dan Arnold
Contact: darnoldhiking@gmail.com

  • Trips
  • Favorites
  • Photos
  • Gear