The Inca Trail

Peru

South America Travel Guide

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Two hikers walk up steps to a stone ruin in the Andes.

Two hikers walk up steps to a stone ruin in the Andes.

Why visit The Inca Trail

The most famous hike in South America, the four-day Inca Trail is walked by thousands every year. Although the total distance is only about 24 miles (39km), the ancient trail laid by the Incas from the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu winds its way up and down and around the mountains, snaking over three high Andean passes en route, which have collectively led to the route being dubbed ‘the Inca Trail.’ The views of snowy mountain peaks, distant rivers and ranges, and cloud forests flush with orchids are stupendous – and walking from one cliff-hugging pre-Columbian ruin to the next is a mystical and unforgettable experience.

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Peru Uncovered: A Journey from Coast to Andes

14 days / 13 nights

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  1. 1Embarking on a 10-hour luxury train ride through the Andes and over the Altiplano
  2. 2Watching llamas and vicuñas graze at the foothills of volcanic mountains
  3. 3Finding the sacred in the Sacred Valley, where intricate engineering reflects Incan ingenuity
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Things to Know

Travelers who want to trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in 2022 should start planning – permits for the epic hike are available.


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