The classic 4 day (3 night) walk to Machu Picchu in Peru is along 42km of graded path much of which consists of stone steps. It is only possible to do the walk with a registered company, guide and porters. Expect to pay between USD$550 and $650 per a person (this cost includes park fees, guide, porters, camping, food, entrance to Machu Picchu and return train to Cusco). Each day only 500 persons are allowed to start the walk (this includes the guides, porters and walkers).

The first day is a gentle walk of 12km from an altitude of 2800m to a campsite at 3000m at Wayllabamba. The second day (11km) is the hardest with a climb over Dead Woman's Pass at an altitude of 4200m and a steep descent to the next camp at 3600m. Two more cols of 4000m and 3700m are climbed on the third day (16km) before the descent to the final campsite. The final day starts early (3:30 am to allow for the porters to catch the first train back to Cusco). The walkers have to wait for a control gate to open at 5am and then walk 4km or so to the Sun Gate. Here you get the first view of Machu Picchu and if you arrive between 6am and 7am (depending upon the season) you see the first of the sun's ray illuminate the archaeological remains. From here there is a 1000m descent over about 2km to reach Machu Picchu.

The walk requires a good level of physical and mental fitness but we didn't find it too hard (Kernowclimber says that the Mamm Turks traverse is harder). Most persons find the descent harder but we took the Black Cra approach and mostly run down the descents. High altitude sickness can also affect some and spending some days at Cusco (at 3600m) prior to the walk helps (as does the Coca leaves!).