Inca Trail Trek

This Explore Worldwide small-group tour follows the original Inca Trail from Kilometre 82 to Machu Picchu, crossing mountain passes, cloud forests and secluded ruins that rarely see many visitors. The trek starts after a couple of days in Cusco, where a walking tour reveals the layers of history beneath the Spanish-style streets, including the vast stone ramparts of Sacsayhuaman and local markets filled with seasonal fruit and artisan crafts.

The route itself offers a steady progression through diverse landscapes. Highlights on the trail include the night camp beneath the ruins of Llaqtapata with its open skies, the challenging ascent over the Dead Woman’s Pass, and the final descent past terraces at Intipata and the hillside settlement of Winay-Wayna. On the last morning at Machu Picchu, the option to climb either Machu Picchu Mountain or the steeper Huayna Picchu offers early views before a guided tour of the site.

Each section of the trail brings its own surprises, such as narrow granite stairways accessing Sayacmarca’s ruins or tunnels cut by the Incas, and the mix of altitude and cloud forest keeps the pace interesting. The trip finishes with a train journey and bus ride back to Cusco, allowing some of the Sacred Valley to slip by as a backdrop rather than a focus.