Welcome to Peru, in South America.
Peru is full of incredible sceneries and ancient secrets, and you could easily spend months at a time getting to know everything on offer here.
What organization should you choose for the classic Inca Trail in Peru? DISCOVER IT BELOW!
The Inca Trail in Peru is by far one of the most COMPLETE experiences you can have here, and could easily rank as one of the best hikes in South America.
Over the course of a 4-day guided trip, you’ll see ruins that are otherwise off-limits, animals that are native to the Peruvian Andes, and be able to hike through a variety of beautiful ecological zones. It has been one of our best experiences during all our travels.
Are you interested in learning what secrets the Inca Trail holds and what organisation to book with? Read on to find out six reasons why you’ll want to hike this formidable route!
6 Reasons To Hike The Inca Trail To Machu Picchu In Peru
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- 4-Day Inca Trail – Key Stops and Experiences: The 4-day Inca Trail features exclusive ruins like Sayacmarca and Wiñay Wayna, offering breathtaking views and historical insights. Campsites like Chaquicocha enhance the adventure with scenic Andean landscapes.
- Nature Views – Spectacular Scenery and Wildlife: The Inca Trail provides stunning views of the Andes and cloud forests. Hikers can spot llamas, Cock-of-the-rock, and Spectacled Bears, adding to the trek’s natural beauty.
Incredible Ruins That Are ONLY ACCESSIBLE With Inca Trail Permits
When we think of ruins in Peru, the strong majority of us will think of Machu Picchu and the classic mountain-top sceneries that can be seen from atop. Whilst incredible in its own right, there are many others that can only be seen along the Inca Trail. The Inca Trail hike involves walking along ancient narrow paths that lead deep into the Peruvian countryside and high into the Andean mountains.
The Inca civilization, once roamed up and down this sacred path to get to Machu Picchu, and given the length of 42 km, they had built various strongholds and towns along the way.
Some sites like Sayacmarca offer incredible JUNGLE views, where you can also see HIDDEN STONE STRUCTURES when the mists clear. This stronghold was once used for administrative purposes, in order to carefully check who was trying to access Machu Picchu. This was the same for ruins like Runkurakay, which are much smaller in stature.
Then we have the jaw-dropping sites of Wiñay Wayna and Intipata. These ruins offer unforgettable views over the thundering Urubamba River and will be seen on the third day of an Inca Trail trip. These once-thriving sites were used to grow a variety of crops, such as quinoa, rice, and potatoes, to feed the many who once lived there.
Go Camping In Unforgettable Andean Sceneries Near Dead Woman’s Pass
What makes the Inca Trail an unbeatable hiking experience is the fact that you’ll be stopping to camp multiple times along the route.
Not only does this give you a chance to properly rest up before continuing your journey the next day, but the campsites also offer some extraordinary views of the remote Andean mountains and surrounding jungle foliage. The campsites also provide views of the lush cloud forest, with its rich birdlife and diverse flora.
Chaquicocha is a popular campsite for your first day, where you will sleep right under the towering mountain peaks. You’ll also be able to see out for miles whilst brushing your teeth in the morning!
The camping area of Wiñay Wayna is also another popular one. Here, you’ll be just a 5-minute walk from this popular site, which will also put you at the perfect starting point on day four, where you will walk to the Sun Gate (which overlooks Machu Picchu).
BEWARE: Many of these camping sites sell out quickly (usually months in advance), so once you’ve decided which you would like, you’ll need to book your tour ASAP to guarantee your spot!
Have An Enriching, Culturally-Immersive Experience
One of the things we often hear from travelers who arrive back in Cusco after hiking the historic Inca Trail isn’t actually the ruins or scenery.
Instead, it’s how they fell in love with the Andean culture and the relationships they built with the local workers and indigenous communities that they met along the way. Most who work as porters or chefs on the Inca Trail are from the surrounding region (in towns such as Ollantaytambo) and offer us a much more holistic experience than just plain sightseeing.
During your hike, you will have your OWN PERSONAL PORTER that helps you share your weight as you walk over the four days, and you’ll often see local workers sharing jokes or teaching Quechua phrases to travelers along the route.
The majority of the local workers speak little English and instead speak in either Spanish or their native Quechua language. However, even if you aren’t fluent, just picking up a few phrases before your trip will open the door to some memorable experiences and insights from your work along the Inca Trail.
Feast On Delicious, Local Peruvian Cuisine
If you’re ever been to Peru before, then you’ll know how tasty and varied the cuisine can be here. In fact, back in 2023, the World’s best-rated restaurant was a Peruvian restaurant located in Lima!
Many of the nation’s top Peruvian dishes hail from the Andes, from regions such as Cusco and Junín. On the Inca Trail tour, you’ll have your own professional chef who will prepare three excellent meals for you daily.
This includes Ají de Gallina, which is a chicken-based dish with a spicy sauce added, as well as Papa a la Huancaína which consists of sliced potatoes, a boiled egg, and a special creamy sauce. There’ll also be familiar dishes from other global cuisines prepared for you, just in case you want more home comforts!
It’s important to know that every year all chefs undergo advanced training courses, so they can also prepare tasty meals for those who are vegetarian, vegan or have any type of food allergy or intolerance.
Spot Rare Wildlife Endemic To The Peruvian Andes In The Cloud Forest
With so many stunning ruins and views to see along the Inca Trail, it’s easy to forget that we will be walking through diverse biomes that are bursting with life. On a clear day, you can even catch a glimpse of Machu Picchu Mountain, offering spectacular views of the ancient city from a distance.
Usual animals we can see along the route include Llamas, Viscachas, and Andean deeras, as well as the giant Condors which soar overhead. On days one and three, you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled for the stunning Cock-of-the-rock, which is found along the forested trails. Known as the national bird of Peru, it’s known for its bright orange feathers and is a true delight to see on your trek.
It’s also possible to see rarer animals of the region. This includes the famous Spectacled Bear (which was the inspiration for Paddington Bear), Andean Pumas, Otters, and the Giant Hummingbird.
As with any nature hike, it’s important not to approach or try to touch any wild animals or insects that you see. If you do happen to see one, just keep walking past and let it do its thing. In any case, all guides are trained to deal with wildlife and will manage any potentially dangerous situations.
Help Support And Improve Wages For Local Indigenous Communities
The Inca Trail holds many ancient secrets that date back thousands of years; however, these are only kept visible to us given the efforts of both organizations and workers from the local communities.
Here we’ll find that the strong majority of workers (such as porters, guides, and chefs) hail from this region of Peru and come from very humble backgrounds. Historically, they have earned very little in terms of wages and also had to carry massive weights that exceeded what’s permitted today.
Various companies have done their part to change this, including local Peruvian tour operator AB Expeditions. Based in Cusco, owners Abel and Elsa once worked themselves along the Inca Trail and had to endure some pretty tough hardships for many years.
Now they’re doing their part to increase local workers’ wages, which they’ve already managed to improve in the last few years. In addition to this, they also supply high-quality gear and clothing for their porters in order to make sure they can work comfortably along the route.
By heading on their Inca Trail hike, you can also help them to keep increasing the standards for local workers and communities within the region, all while seeing some pretty unforgettable ruins and scenery along the way!
Overview
Found within the secluded mountains of Peru, the iconic Inca Trail is one of the most memorable hikes you can experience when in this nation.
Here you will wake up to vistas of towering Andean peaks, walk along untouched jungle, spot native animal species, and also really be able to get in touch with the local culture and communities.
Even better is that if you do decide to head on the Inca Trail, you’ll also be helping to maintain and preserve the secrets of this sacred path for future generations to see too.
