Compare Our Trips in Peru

Follow in the footsteps of the Incas on the world’s most iconic trek

Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

This is a bucket-list trek. You’ll spend five days on the Inca Trail, the ancient royal highway to Machu Picchu, crossing two high passes (the highest, Warmiwañusqa, at 13,776′). Along the way you’ll also explore remote Inca ruins only reachable by Inca Trail hikers: Runkuraqay, Sayaqmarka, Phuyupatamarka, and Wiñay Wayna. While most companies rush the trail in four days, we devote five for better acclimatization, fewer crowds, and more time at archaeological sites many hikers miss. Our private campsite at KM 82 features walk-in chalets, hot showers, a sauna, and a hot tub. The trek culminates with a hike to Intipunku, the Gate of the Sun, for our descent into Machu Picchu, followed by an overnight at the elegant Sanctuary Lodge, just steps from the ruins. Inca Trail permits sell out months in advance, so early sign-up is critical. This is our most challenging Machu Picchu adventure, ideal for fit hikers who want the full pilgrimage experience.

A culinary & cultural journey through the heartland of the Inca Empire

Treasures of the Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu

For travelers drawn to Peru’s history and acclaimed cuisine, this cultural walking adventure is the one to book. Over eight days, we explore the heartland of the Inca Empire—the Sacred Valley—in depth. We start in Cusco, and highlights include explorations at Incan fortress-ruins like Ollantaytambo, grand terraces, and the ancient salt mines of Maras, still in use today. A pachamanca feast in a small village that’s home to generations of WT’s Inca Trail staff offers a genuine insider’s experience. Three overnights at the Tambo del Inka give us ample time in the Sacred Valley, and our grand finale overnight at the Sanctuary Lodge next to Machu Picchu means unhurried access to the ruins during “golden hour” after the day-trippers have left and an unforgettable dawn entry the next morning. With hotel accommodations throughout and cultural walks lasting two to three hours per day, this is our least physically demanding Peru trip—but one of the richest.

Hike off-the-beaten-path trails to Machu Picchu

Hiker’s Journey to Machu Picchu

This itinerary hits the sweet spot between a full Inca Trail trek and a cultural walking trip—it has more trail time than Treasures of the Sacred Valley, without the multiple camping days. We hike to off-the-beaten-path Inca sites like Huchuy Qosqo (“Little Cusco”) and the Pisac fortress-ruins, trek to the alpine lakes at Kinsacocha with llamas carrying our picnic supplies, and visit the traditional village of Patacancha for a pachamanca feast. The grand finale: our hike from Kilometer 104 up to Intipunku, the Gate of the Sun, for the same iconic entrance to Machu Picchu as the Inca Trail—but this day hike doesn’t require a permit. Accommodations include a colonial hacienda-style hotel, the tented eco-resort at Las Qolqas, and the elegant Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. This journey is ideal for experienced hikers who want varied trails and a dramatic arrival at Machu Picchu, without camping.

Take on seven high passes in the world’s highest tropical mountain range

Trekking the Cordillera Blanca

This is a different Peru journey altogether. Beginning and ending in Huaráz, not Cusco, this 10-day trek traverses the Cordillera Blanca, a towering realm where more than 70 peaks top 18,000 feet, including Huascarán (22,204′) and Alpamayo (19,506′). Pre-trek acclimatization hikes to the ruins of Wilkahuaín and Lake Churup prepare us for the days ahead. Full-service camping—with a dining tent, camp crew, and pack animals carrying all gear—supports the journey across roughly 65 miles of rugged mountain terrain. We cross high passes, camp beside turquoise glacial lakes, and spend a day at Alpamayo Base Camp with optional hikes to a 16,165-foot overlook. At Level 6+ (Very Strenuous), this is our most physically demanding Peru adventure, and it does not visit Machu Picchu. It’s designed for seasoned trekkers with high-altitude experience who are drawn to raw, remote mountain landscapes.