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

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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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Writer, Emily Pennington, and her Mom hiked the Inca trail for her 30th birthday.

How hiking the Inca Trail with my mom revamped our entire relationship

May 6, 2022 • 10 min read