Inca Trail Map: Route, Campsites and Elevation Profile

Inca Trail Route Map at a Glance

The Inca Trail follows the Urubamba valley from Km 82, turns up the Cusichaca and Llulluchapampa valleys to Dead Woman's Pass, crosses two more passes along the ridge, then descends through cloud forest to Wiñay Wayna and the Sun Gate above Machu Picchu.

The simplified map shows the order of passes and campsites. It is illustrative and not to scale; use it to understand the shape of the trek, not for navigation. Licensed guides lead every group, so you will not need to navigate yourself.

Many travelers read our Salkantay trek difficulty guide next.

Elevation figures make more sense alongside our Inca Trail difficulty guide and the general Machu Picchu elevation guide. If the classic trail is full, compare it with the Inca Trail vs Salkantay comparison or check Inca Trail permit availability.

Inca Trail Elevation Profile

The Inca Trail elevation profile climbs from about 8,900 feet at Km 82 to about 13,800 feet at Dead Woman's Pass on day 2, then crosses Runkurakay (about 12,950 ft) and Phuyupatamarca (about 12,100 ft) on day 3 before dropping to Wiñay Wayna (about 8,700 ft) and Machu Picchu (about 7,970 ft).

Elevations are rounded from commonly published figures and vary by about 100 to 300 feet between sources. Total climbing over the trek is roughly 6,000 to 7,000 feet. How hard that feels is covered in our Inca Trail difficulty guide.

Inca Trail Campsites on the Map

Inca Trail campsites are assigned by the park, not chosen freely. Day 1 camps are usually at or above Wayllabamba, day 2 camps at Pacaymayo or Chaquicocha, and the last night at or near Wiñay Wayna, about 3.5 miles from Machu Picchu.

Camping higher on night 1 (such as Llulluchapampa) makes day 2 shorter but means a colder night. Camping closer to Wiñay Wayna on night 3 makes the dawn walk to the Sun Gate easier. Your operator confirms campsites when the permit is issued.

Ruins Along the Inca Trail Map

Main ruins along the Inca Trail map are Llactapata (Patallacta), Runkurakay, Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca, Intipata and Wiñay Wayna, before the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu itself. Most of these Inca sites are only reachable on foot, which is a big reason hikers choose this route over the train.

• Llactapata (Patallacta): large terraced site seen early on day 1.
• Runkurakay: small round structure below the second pass, thought to be a rest stop.
• Sayacmarca: compact hilltop site with dramatic cliff views.
• Phuyupatamarca: "town above the clouds" with ceremonial baths.
• Intipata and Wiñay Wayna: huge terraced hillsides near the last campsite.
• Inti Punku: the Sun Gate above Machu Picchu, your first view of Machu Picchu.

Short Inca Trail Map

The Short Inca Trail starts at Km 104 (Chachabamba, about 6,900 ft), climbs to Wiñay Wayna and joins the classic route to the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu. It covers about 7.5 miles in one day, with a top elevation near 8,900 feet.

Because it shares the final stretch, you still enter Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. Details and booking are on our Short Inca Trail 2 days page.

How the Inca Trail Map Connects to Cusco

From Cusco, groups drive about 2 hours to Ollantaytambo and Km 82 to start. After the trek, hikers take the bus down to Aguas Calientes and the train back to Ollantaytambo or Cusco, so the trail is a one-way route.

See our Machu Picchu train guide for the return and the Machu Picchu map for the layout of the citadel once you arrive. Ready to walk it? See the Classic Inca Trail 4 days.