Inca Trail Day 2: Dead Woman’s Pass

Quick stats: ~8.5 mi · +3,900 ft · high point Warmiwañusca (13,828 ft) · camp Pacaymayo · moving ~9.5 hrs · effort: hard — the toughest day on the trail

Key waypoints

• Llulluchapampa — trail checkpoint, 12,336 ft, last stop before the final push to the pass

• Warmiwañusca / Dead Woman’s Pass — 13,828 ft, the highest point on the entire Inca Trail. Considered sacred ground in Inca times; ceremonies and offerings to the Apus (mountain deities) were held here.

• Pacaymayo — Day 2 campsite, reached via a steep descent on the far side of the pass

What to expect

The climb to the pass gains close to 3,000 feet in just over three miles — steep stone stairs the whole way, with visible switchbacks stretching up into the clouds. Altitude effects are real here; expect your heart rate to run noticeably higher than on Day 1, even at a slow pace. The descent afterward is its own challenge: the stone steps down to Pacaymayo are oversized and hard on the knees after a long climbing morning. Trekking poles earn their keep on this day more than any other.

Facts & logistics

• This is the day operators build in the most rest stops and flexibility — don’t feel pressured to match anyone else’s pace

• Weather often turns by afternoon; rain at Pacaymayo camp is common

• Altitude sickness risk is highest on this day of the trek; go slow on the ascent regardless of fitness level

FAQ

Is Day 2 really the hardest day?

Yes — it’s the toughest day on the classic Inca Trail by most measures: the biggest elevation gain, the highest point, and a long, punishing descent afterward. Days 3 and 4 are longer in distance but Day 2 is the one people talk about.

How high is Dead Woman’s Pass?

13,828 ft (4,215 m) — the highest point on the entire trek. The name comes from the silhouette of the ridge, said to resemble a woman lying on her back.

Read the story: Day 2 — Dead Woman’s Pass (journal)

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