The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Dream Mountains returns to Peru. Walk the ancient stone paths of the Inca, cross high Andean passes and arrive at Machu Picchu with a team that is climbing for something bigger than themselves.
When
June 7 to 15, 2027
Nine days, including Lima and the Inca Trail
Team
16 spots
Led by Brett Starke
Goal
$5,000 per climber
for one of our 7 charities
Join the team Applications are open for the 2027 Dream Team. Space is limited to 16, so apply early.
Apply to joinInfo session Saturday, November 14, 11 AM ET, at The Starke Group office (613 King St W, Toronto) or on Google Meet
Sign up to attendWatch the film
Dream Mountains: Machu Picchu (2016)
A film documenting the 2016 Dream Mountains charity climb of the Inca Trail in Peru.
Film by Garry Tutte
The Trail
Piscacucho to Machu Picchu
Every level is a point on the trail. Tap any marker to explore each camp and pass, and the training level that gets you there.
- 1Cusco, Acclimatize 3,399 m
- 2Piscacucho 2,572 m
- 3Huayllabamba, Camp 1 3,000 m
- 4Dead Woman's Pass 4,205 m
- 5Pacaymayo, Camp 2 3,590 m
- 6Runkurakay Pass 3,950 m
- 7Wiñaywayna, Camp 3 2,700 m
- 8Machu Picchu 2,435 m
From 2,572 m at Piscacucho to 4,205 m at Dead Woman's Pass.
Distances from the trail map. The map gives no distance for Runkurakay Pass or the 3,630 m point, so those two are placed approximately between Pacaymayo and Wiñaywayna. Cusco, level 1, sits before the trail and is not part of the 39 km.
Itinerary
Nine days, Canada to Peru and return
June 7 to 15, 2027. Five hotel nights and three camping nights, based on double occupancy.
C$2,199 + HST per person
Day 1 | June 7, 2027
Depart Canada / Arrive in Lima
Upon arrival in Lima, transfer to your hotel.
Meals included: None listed
Day 2 | June 8, 2027
Lima / Cusco
Fly to Cusco. Enjoy a free day to acclimatize.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 3 | June 9, 2027
Cusco / Ollantaytambo
A full-day guided Sacred Valley tour includes the G Adventures-supported women’s weaving co-op and a local pottery-making community. Lunch at Parwa Community Restaurant in Huchuy Qosco. Afterwards, choose an optional hike to the Ollantaytambo storehouses or explore the cobblestone streets and a local chicheria.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
Day 4 | June 10, 2027
Inca Trail
Travel by van from Ollantaytambo to km 82. Begin hiking alongside streams, Andean scenery and ancient Inca ruins.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5 | June 11, 2027
Inca Trail: Dead Woman’s Pass
Start early for the steep climb to Warmiwañusca, Dead Woman’s Pass, the highest point of the trek at 4,198 m (13,769 ft). Most hikers reach camp by early afternoon.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6 | June 12, 2027
Inca Trail: passes and cloud forest
Cross Runquraqay at 3,950 m, then hike through cloud forest and original Inca constructions to a second pass at 3,700 m. Continue to Phuyupatamarca at 3,650 m. Camp here or continue another 1.5 hours to Wiñay Wayna at 2,650 m. Views of the Cordillera Vilcabamba and Urubamba Valley depend on clear weather.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 7 | June 13, 2027
Machu Picchu / Cusco
Begin before dawn to reach the Sun Gate before sunrise. On a clear day, catch the first views of Machu Picchu. Hike down for a guided tour of the ruins, then take the train back towards Cusco.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 8 | June 14, 2027
Cusco / Lima
Fly back to Lima and spend a night in the city.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 9 | June 15, 2027
Depart Peru
Depart Peru for the return flight to Canada.
Meals included: Breakfast
Included
- Arrival and departure airport transfers
- Five hotel nights and three camping nights, based on double occupancy
- Four-day guided Inca Trail hike with cooks and porters dedicated to Dream Mountains
- Guided Machu Picchu tour
- Internal flights
- Transport between destinations and to/from included activities
- Eight breakfasts, four lunches and three dinners
- Ccaccaccollo Community and Women’s Weaving Co-op visit
- Parwa Community Restaurant visit in the Sacred Valley
- Sacred Valley guided tour and pottery-making demonstration
- Dream Mountains Group Leader
- G Adventures representatives in Lima and Cusco, plus a specialist Inca Trail Chief Experience Officer dedicated to Dream Mountains on the hike
- Dream Mountains team jacket
- Team video
- Visit to SOS Children’s Villages in Cusco (Programa Cusco)
Not included
- International flights
- Meals and activities not mentioned in the itinerary
- Insurance: mandatory emergency medical insurance covering emergency evacuation and repatriation to US$200,000. All-inclusive cancellation/interruption insurance is strongly recommended
- Private transfers if not arriving at the same time as the group
Powering your 2027 Dream Mountains Trek
Centrum Travel is a proudly Canadian-owned travel agency.
Darren Prashad brings a personal connection to Dream Mountains, having both coordinated its adventures and taken part in them. His firsthand experience offers a thoughtful perspective on the journey, from the planning stages to the trail itself.
How it works
- Choose your charity. Each climber picks one of our seven partner charities.
- Raise $5,000. You fundraise through your charity's CanadaHelps page, so every gift goes straight to the charity, which issues the tax receipt.
- Pay your own way. Each climber pays for their own trip, so every fundraising dollar goes to the cause. Trip cost: C$2,199 + HST. International flights are not included.
- Train together. Follow our StairMaster training levels and packing list below. Info session details will be shared separately.
Inca Trail permits are limited and are bought by name, with passport details, so apply early. Space on the team is limited. Deposit amount and deadlines will be confirmed separately.
Training
Dream Team Stair Training
Ten levels, from Cusco to Lead Guide. One standard for every StairMaster and every stairwell. Only up counts.
1 floor is about 16 steps and 3 m of climb. Only the climb counts.
The ladder
Ten levels to the summit of your training
Train in a stairwell or on a StairMaster. Same ten levels, same standard.
One set is 450 stairs. On a StairMaster, one floor is 16 steps, so each 450-stair set is about 28 floors.
Stairwell levels are based on a 32-storey building. Only the climb is timed, yet the walk back down matters just as much, because the Inca Trail descends as often as it climbs. For that reason, the stairwell is preferred over the StairMaster.
Your building
Not 32 floors? Build your program
Every set is one climb of a 32-storey building. Enter the floors you climb in one lap of your stairwell and we will convert all ten levels for you.
My Dream Team stair program
| Level | Name | Laps | Target per lap | Total climbing time | Notes |
|---|
Only the climb is timed. Walk back down after every lap; the descent is part of the training.
Calculator
Find your level
Or enter stairs per floor instead (16 steps = 1 StairMaster floor)
Packing List
What to pack
From the 2016 Dream Team list. Some items can be adjusted to your preference, how you regulate your body temperature, and budget. Tap an item to tick it off. Your progress is saved on this device.
In addition to everything here, bring a suitcase of city clothes for Cusco and Lima. You can store it at the Cusco hotel while you hike.
On the Trail Daily
What you will wear every day.
Additional Layers
Options to rotate and layer.
Camp and Sleep
Camp clothes stay dry, worn only at camp.
Daypack
On you all day. 15 lb allowance, including 2 to 3 L of water.
Camp Gear
Toiletries and Sundries
Documents and Money
Optional Comforts
Luxury items, if they earn their weight.
Packing Tips
- Line your duffel or porter pack with a garbage bag to keep gear dry.
- Consider 1 or 2 small compression bags.
- Consider Ziploc bags for your clothes: waterproof, compressed and see through.
- Think versatility and layers when choosing your clothes.
- Think functional clothes that make it easy to get dressed.
- Collaborate with your tentmate to avoid duplicate items like sunscreen.