Where We Camped: Inca Trail Night by Night
Quick stats: 3 nights on trail/in town · Wayllabamba (9,757 ft) → Pacaymayo (~11,800 ft) → Aguas Calientes (~6,700 ft) · crew of 23 porters + 2 guides for 16 trekkers
What to expect
The classic 4-day Inca Trail has you camping two nights on the trail itself, with a third night in the town of Aguas Calientes instead of a high camp near Machu Picchu. Here’s exactly where we slept each night, how the crew set it up, and what the campsites were actually like.
Campsites night by night
Night 1 — Wayllabamba (9,757 ft), after Day 1 (KM82 to Wayllabamba)
Night 2 — Pacaymayo (~11,800 ft), after Day 2 (the climb over Dead Woman’s Pass)
Night 3 — Aguas Calientes, town (~6,700 ft), after Day 3 (reaching Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate)
A note on the Day 3 → Day 4 split
Many standard itineraries camp a third night at Wiñay Wayna, closer to the Sun Gate, and finish the approach to Machu Picchu on the morning of Day 4. Our trek covered the full distance from Pacaymayo through the Sun Gate and into Machu Picchu in a single long day (finishing by early afternoon), then stayed in Aguas Calientes that night before returning for a separate Huayna Picchu climb the next morning. Both structures are common — worth confirming with your operator which one your itinerary follows, since it changes how the days feel.
Our crew
Booked through TReXperience as part of a group of 16 trekkers, supported by 23 porters and 2 guides. The crew handled everything beyond walking: guiding, carrying group gear, setting up and breaking down tents each day, and cooking fresh meals at every stop. This is the standard fully-supported model for the Classic Inca Trail — you carry a daypack, the crew carries the rest.
Campsite basics
Wayllabamba is the last stop with any real amenities — small shops selling cold drinks and paid wifi access
Pacaymayo sits higher and colder; expect a noticeably chillier night than Wayllabamba
Tents, sleeping mats, and (on fully-supported treks) meals are typically handled by your trekking crew — porters carry camp gear ahead of the group each day
FAQ
Do you camp the night before reaching Machu Picchu?
It depends on your itinerary — many standard treks camp at Wiñay Wayna near the Sun Gate and finish the approach on the morning of Day 4. Ours covered the full distance in one long Day 3 and stayed in Aguas Calientes instead.
Do porters carry your camping gear?
Yes — on the standard fully-supported model, porters carry group gear including tents and sleeping mats, and set up camp before you arrive each day.
Read the story: The Inca Trail: Four Days to Machu Picchu (journal)
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