The Andes is the longest continental mountain range in the world, so it should come as no surprise that it is home to some of the best hiking and adventure travel opportunities there are. That is especially true on the renowned Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, which winds its way through Peru before arriving at the famed Inca settlement. The hike offers visitors the chance to see a wide variety of environments, but there are certain highlights that are not to be missed.
Ruins of the Inca hillfort of Huillca Raccay
One of the earliest stops on the trek, these beautiful ruins are located high above the banks of the river Cusichaca. The fort served an important role in the Inca community because it gave them an excellent view of the valley below. Today, while it may not be used for its original purpose, it still offers hikers a breathtaking panorama of the Urubamba mountain range.
La Abra de Huarmihuañusca
Further up the Inca Trail is La Abra de Huarmihuanusca, which means Dead Woman's Pass in English. Most hikers will recognize this as one of the challenging parts of the early going and it reaches some of the highest points of the whole trail - around 13,400 feet. Despite being exposed to some harsh elements, the breathtaking views of Andean valleys at the top are worth it.
Phuyupatamarca
There are Incan ruins along much of the trail, but perhaps the most stunning that arrives before Machu Picchu is Phuyupatamarca. Translated to Town in the Clouds, it more than lives up to its name as it is surrounded by a perpetual cloud cover. The enormous ruins can only be accessed via a steep staircase, but it will surely be a highlight of the adventure.
Wiñay Wayna
Located further up the trail, Winay Wayna may not be quite as famous as Phuyupatamarca, but it is no less stunning. The ruins are situated on the steep side of a hill and hikers can look below and see the homes as well as agricultural terraces built by the native Inca.
Intipunku
The last thing travelers see before arriving at Machu Picchu, Intipunku will leave a lasting impression. Translated to Gateway of the Sun, the ruins are a nearly vertical flight of stairs and gives hikers a preview of what awaits them when they finally reach their destination.
Top five highlights of the Inca Trail
Posted on Thursday, July 12th, 2012
