The Inca road system, known as the Qhapaq Ñan, once extended over more than 30,000 kilometers, connecting the political, economic, and ceremonial centers of the Inca Empire across western South America. Portions of this network remain accessible today, with the Inca Trail from Cusco to Machu Picchu representing its most iconic and best-preserved section.
Considered one of the world’s most remarkable trekking routes, the Inca Trail combines archaeological heritage with exceptional natural diversity. Along the route, hikers encounter original Inca pathways, ceremonial sites, high-altitude puna grasslands, cloud forests, waterfalls, and a wide range of endemic flora and fauna. The journey culminates at Inti Punku (the Sun Gate), where the first view of Machu Picchu emerges—an arrival that reflects the ceremonial and symbolic importance of the route itself.
