Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Ancient path in Sacred Valley, Peru

The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a hiking route through the mountains in the Cusco Department of Peru, linking several archaeological sites over roughly 26 miles (42 kilometers). The route crosses different vegetation zones and ends at the entrance to the historic site of Machu Picchu.

The network of stone paths was built in the 15th century as part of a larger system connecting regions across the Inca Empire. The route served to transport goods and messages between the highlands and the valleys.

The trail's name comes from the Inca road system, and hikers still walk on original stone paving, stairways and a long Inca tunnel. The ruins along the route include Runkuraqay, Sayaqmarka, Phuyupatamarka and Wiñay Wayna, reachable only on foot. At Phuyupatamarka, five fountains and an altar probably used for llama sacrifice follow the natural contours of the ridge.

Permits for the route are limited to 500 people per day, including guides and porters, so booking several months ahead is recommended. The hike usually takes four days and requires good physical condition for the steep climbs.

The trail passes the Inca tampu Runkuraqay, a ruin overlooking the Pakaymayu valley that was heavily restored in the late 1990s. Further on, a long Inca tunnel and a viewpoint over the Urubamba and Aobamba valleys sit along the route.