1) Km 82 Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Topping our list is the classic four-day, three-night trek from Km 82, an astonishing journey steeped in history. As the original route for Inca royalty to reach Machu Picchu, this trail offers the chance to discover a variety of ancient ruins, from outposts to storage houses. However, the trail has become increasingly popular with tourists and campers, making it harder to experience in peace each year. To manage this, the Peruvian government has limited the number of permits for this hike, which often sell out more than a year in advance and have a strict purchase deadline for travel companies.
This situation can lead to overbookings and chaos with shared excursions. At Latin Excursions, we specialize in private travel to avoid these issues. We will guide you and your group along the Inca Trail undisturbed, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the spirit of the Inca without distractions. For this Peruvian journey, we highly recommend reaching out to us more than a year in advance with a complete head count for your party. This allows us to book private campsites away from the crowds, offer private chefs, portable bathrooms, a masseuse, extra guides, elevated beds, and upgraded tents, ensuring peace of mind with secured permits and an uninterrupted journey.
2) Km 104 Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
A personal favorite, this route is perfect if you're seeking an adventurous entry to the Seventh Wonder of the World while still enjoying the comfort of sleeping in a bed with a roof over your head instead of a tent. The trail starts with an immediate ascent, offering stunning views of the Urubamba River flowing towards Machu Picchu below. After about two hours of steep hiking, the trail levels out for about an hour until you reach the ruins of Wiñay Wayna, an Inca outpost where soldiers once monitored access to the royal Machu Picchu ruins. From there, you’ll make one final climb before entering the cloud forest region.
In the cloud forest, you'll feel a cool breeze as you make your final descent to Inti Punku (the Sun Gate), where you'll catch your first glimpse of the magical Machu Picchu. Unlike the main crowds arriving by bus, the Sun Gate allows travelers to truly appreciate the remoteness and grandeur of this ancient kingdom.
3) Inca Jungle Trek: For Adrenaline Junkies
Love the sound of the Inca Trail but want to inject a big dose of adrenaline into your experience? Then the Inca Jungle Trek is just the ticket! This four-day adventure to Machu Picchu incorporates thrilling activities like mountain biking, white-water rafting, and zip-lining, all enjoyed en route to the Lost City of the Incas.
Starting in Cusco, adrenaline junkies are driven to the Abra Malaga Pass (elevation 4,316 m) where a thrilling 60 km downhill bike ride awaits, with an option for white-water rafting in the afternoon. After an overnight stay in Santa Maria, the second day involves a 15 km trek through low-lying jungle towards the hot springs of Cocalmayo and onwards to Santa Teresa.
Day three offers the chance to experience zip-lining, soaring up to 150 m above the ground, before continuing to Aguas Calientes on foot or by train, depending on your energy levels. The fourth and final day is dedicated to exploring Machu Picchu itself, with plenty more exhilarating activities to enjoy.
4) Vilcabamba Trek
For a more rigorous Peruvian hike, strap on your walking boots and embark on the Vilcabamba Trek. This five-day route to Machu Picchu is certainly not for the fainthearted and requires a good level of fitness. The effort is rewarded with remote trails, isolated viewpoints, and little-known archaeological sites that are rarely visited by those walking the Inca Trail.
Even on the first day, trekkers face physical challenges, beginning from Ollantaytambo with a varied, albeit relatively short, afternoon of hiking. Early ancient sites include Rosaspata or Vitcos and Ñusta Hispana, followed by a lengthy uphill climb of five straight hours on day two, reaching 3,915 m above sea level at the Asuntina Pass, with fantastic valley views as a result.
Adventurers will hike through quaint villages and rural pastures on the Vilcabamba Trek, witnessing Yanococha Lake and the Tullu Tacanca Pass, which stands at a full 4,500 m above sea level. After conquering four full days of extreme undulations and varied terrain, passing dilapidated ruins and small settlements, the journey concludes with arrival at Aguas Calientes and a visit to Machu Picchu the following day.
