Greatest Treks to the Lost City of Machu Picchu
The ancient Inca trails are some of the most iconic multi-day hikes in the world. Threading through the Andes Mountains to the sacred city of Machu Picchu, each paved stone speaks to more than 900 years of history—and each of these four adventures represents a unique window into the ancient world of Inca civilization.
Winding through lush tropical flora, past shrines and ruins, and disappearing into the heaven-piercing Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, these treks will be one of the most treasured experiences of your life. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to walk among the relics of one of the world’s most fascinating cultures, this is your chance to find out.
The birthplace of the Inca civilization
Peru’s earliest inhabitants arrived about 15,000 years ago and the Inca Empire developed sometime in the early 13th century. With 12 million inhabitants and more than 100 ethnic groups, they flourished for centuries before the Spanish Conquest in 1532.
The Empire once spread across a vast tract of South America that includes today’s Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. To connect the far corners of their expansive domain, the Incas built around 15,000 miles (24,000 km) of trails across four suyu (regions).
Three of the trails lead to the most mystical urban creation of the Inca Empire—the lost city of Machu Picchu. Embedded within a dramatic landscape at the meeting point between the Peruvian Andes and the Amazon Basin, it remained hidden from the Spaniards and was rediscovered in 1911 by professor Hiram Bingham.
- TEMPLES & TERRACES
- UNBLEMISHED NATURE
- SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE
- UNESCO HERITAGE SITE
- TRADITIONAL CULTURE
As close to the gods as you can get
For the variety of its charms and the power of its spell, I do not know another place in the world that compares to it. – H. Bingham
The sacred city of the Inca civilization, perched 8,000 feet (2,438 m) above sea level, is one of the greatest examples of the ingenuity of Incan engineers and architects. Built around A.D. 1450, Machu Picchu consists of palaces, temples, terraces, walls and water channels, made from large blocks of stone precisely cut to fit together without any mortar.
The unique design and perplexing hisotry are also a reason why it’s become a pilgrimage destination for spiritual seekers. The ancient Incas believed that the towering mountains were a place where mortals came closest to the gods.
Some scientist suggest that Machu Picchu was built as a royal retreat for the Inca ruler Pachacuti while other claim that it served as a cosmological and geographical centre but its purpose will forever remain enshrouded in mystery.
Iconic trails through Peruvian backcountry
The legendary Royal Road
To truly understand and appreciate the spiritual and architectural significance of Machu Picchu and the Inca civilization, walk the well-worn trails and steps over 500 years in the making.
The classic Inca Trail is the most famous stretch of the Inca road system, beginning outside of Cusco and ending at the Lost City 26 miles away. Winding through tundra and cloud forests, through the remnants of centuries-old pilgrimages, the trail is bathed in a unique blend of intact nature and historic sites.
And as truly beautiful as the hike may be, the reason for Inca Trail’s popularity lies at the very end of the adventure—passing through the Sun Gate at sunrise for that first magical sighting of Machu Picchu in the distance.
Meet the welcoming locals on the Lares Trek
Embark on the Lares Trek and zig zag through the Lares Valley, lush forest, and tranquil Andean lagoons.
On this alternative trail, you’ll meet traditional Andean communities that still preserve their ancestral customs. Witness the smiling Quechua people herding their alpacas and weaving colorful textile and get a better insight into ancient Incan culture.
As you aproach the end of the 22-mile hike, the incredible Machu Picchu will be your ultimate reward.
Connect with nature on the Salkantay Trek
This 46-mile long trek is an alternative route to Machu Picchu and although it was named after the Salkantay Mountain, it isn’t just the granite walls you’ll see along the way.
Because you’re hiking at altitude, you’ll witness cloud forests adorned with colorful orchids, roaring waterfalls, sacred alpine lakes and sites beyond the beaten path.
Each step closer to the sacred citadel will make it clearer why the Incas felt so connected to nature and the gods.
The hike to the ruins is like a hike through time itself
The beautiful El Valle Sagrado (the Sacred Valley) carved by the meandering Urubamba River stretches from Pisac Ruins to Machu Picchu’s citadel. This peaceful corner of the Andes is dotted with colonial towns, Quechua-speaking isolated villages, and Inca archaeological sites.
Your Incan odyssey begins here
The journey is the destination
WITNESS THE PERUVIAN BEAUTY
Peru is one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet, home to a wider variety of plants and animals than most other countries on Earth. From tundra to cloud forests and high mountain passes, you’ll travel through an array of scenery and ecosystems, challenging your legs and lungs with long climbs at high elevations.
Between the Andes and the Peruvian Amazon, where heaven and Earth collide, you’ll find the largest collection of native orchids in the world (over 370 types!) and lush unca and queñua forests. Queñua is the only surviving tree indigenous to the high Andes while the unca tree has been considered sacred since the Inca period.
SUPPORTIVE GROUP OF LOCAL EXPERTS
Because of its popularity, the Peruvian Government instituted several controls to reduce human impact upon the trail and within the ancient city. Since 2000, you can’t enter the Inca Trail without a licensed guide and porter crew. Because of that, it’s important to have a guide that knows all the secrets of the land, the best way to trek and a ton of information about every site visited.
A team of experienced porters that know every twist and turn will carry your bags allowing you to enjoy the landscape and sites without the burden of tents and equipment. As for the food, get ready for proper gourmet meals prepared on trail by your personal chef.
Every group of hikers will be accompanied by a knowledgeable driver as well. They are in charge of the group from the hotel pick up to the hotel drop off, so you can relax and not worry about any part of the trip!
The best view comes from the hardest climb
Your guides
Born and raised in Cusco, Roland Llave knows the lush mountains of Peru like the back of his hand. With over 15 years of guiding experience, his advice and expertise will help you prepare for your own Picchu-perfect adventure. He is a co-founder of CrossoverPeru, a guiding service offering small group adventure tours all around South America.
From ancient history and untouched nature to vibrant cultures and unique sites, CrossoverPeru will honor and enhance the special allure that Cusco and Peru hold for you. With a focus on exploration, cultural immersion and personal achievement, their adventures will challenge and inspire you as you bond with other like-minded travelers who share a love for exploring new places and cultures.