July 2025 – dates TBA
The Inca Trail is 26 miles (43km) over four days. We will also undertake two shorter day hikes before to acclimatise.
If you are interested in getting a group together (minimum of 5) for the challenge, please email us on info@thephoenixprojects.org . This can be during the last three weeks of July.
We will plant trees to help cover your carbon footprint for the challenge, including inbound and outbound flights.
Saturday
Fly into Cusco (3,400m / 11,152 feet) for acclimatization and a welcome dinner.
Sunday
A short hike to get used to the altitude includes the Sacsayhuamán ruins and Cusco. Hotel in Cusco.
Monday
We will take on a day’s activity warm-up hike to include the Moray Incan agricultural testing site, Maras salt mines and other places of interest. Hotel in Cusco.
Tuesday
The Inca Trail. We will start hiking at 2,750m (9,000 feet). 7-8 hours hiking; 8 miles (12km); highest altitude during the day will be 2,954m (9,691 feet) which is the first campsite in Huayllabamba. Camping.
Wednesday
The Inca Trail. We will take on 7-8 hours hiking; 5 miles (8km) from Huayllabamba over Warmiwañusca (ahem, the Dead Woman’s Pass) 4,200m (13,780 feet) in the morning to the next campsite in Pacaymayo at 3,350m (10,911 feet). Camping.
Thursday
We will undertake 7-8 hours hiking; 9 miles (14km) hiking from Pacaymayo via the Runkuraqay pass at 3,975m (13,035 feet) and Puyupatamarca at 3,650m (11,975 feet) and camping in Wiñayhuayna at 2,550m (8,366 feet). Camping.
Friday
We kick off the final day with 1-2 hours hiking; 2 miles (3 km) from Wiñayhuayna to Inti Punku (Door of the Sun) and Machu Picchu. We will have a tour and spend lots of time there before heading down to Aguas Calientes and lunch and then taking the train back to Cusco. Hotel in Cusco.
Saturday
Head to the airport and back home.
From Saturday evening through to Saturday morning all hotels (single rooms) are included where needed. All meals are included though alcoholic drinks are on your tab! All trips, entrance fees, internal transport and airport pick-up and drop-off are included.
On the trail itself we have guides and porters to carry the camping equipment – a “half porter” which will carry up to 7kgs of personal items is included per person meaning you will only carry what you need during the day in a small backpack. All tents, food, entrance fees into Machu Picchu and transport are included. Please note the price is based on shared tents (two people) though if you want a single tent this is an extra £45 ($55). We recommend to bring your own sleeping bags (£20 -$25 to rent if needed) and sticks (£17 – $20 to rent if needed).
Note: Tips aren’t included for the guides, cooks and porters – we recommend to bring a minimum of £85 ($100) to be changed into Soles once in Cusco to cover tips for the day trips and also for the Inca Trail which are handed out on the final night of the trail for them to distribute amongst themselves.
Initial costs (they may change though not by much) for all explained above are £1,110 ($1,280).
Due to the limits on daily numbers on the trail and high demand, we will need a non-refundable deposit of £300 ($350) which covers the Inca Trail pass, entrance fees and other costs which are not reimbursed by the authorities.
Please do remember this is a fundraiser for Phoenix and not just a trip so we do ask you to fundraise as well and we will provide you with fundraising pages.
