The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu tour is a classic for lovers of hiking and landscaping. This route offers you the best experience, from the first day you will take your tour you will witness the best preserved natural and archaeological wonder of the powerful empire of the Incas. Andean Great Treks has been working on this route to Machu Picchu for more than 15 years. Thus, we offer different routes with connection to the Inca trail.
The classic 4-day Inca trail that was one of the first trails to be visited by tourists in the 60s. It continues to captivate with its landscape and archaeological charms, it is a 45 km trail, which in its 4 days offers you the best ecosystem ranging from the inter-Andean valley, subtropical mountainous forest, and the cloud forest jungle. Where the largest amount of natural flora and fauna reserves in Cusco are located. Its historical attractions in themselves describe a past full of power and magnificence, which this road represented in the Inca era. That is why you will have the opportunity to explore its religious, urban, agricultural and magical centers throughout its total area. Every day you will visit a different landscape with your route guide, who will explain and answer all your questions about this Wonder. And to finish the tour you will have the advantage of seeing the citadel of Machu Picchu from the famous Puerta del Sol.
The short Inca trail tour is designed for people who are not very used to taking long walks, however this small route will delight you with its exclusive natural attraction of beautiful orchids, waterfalls, viewpoints, and the imposing palace of Wiñaywayna, which belonged to the most famous emperor of the Incas Pachacutec. From where you can see how it has an exquisite contrast with the mountains and the Verónica snow-capped mountain. On both tours you will visit the sacred city of Machu Picchu, you will see all the most important sectors, such as the temple of the three windows, royal palace, temple of the sun, sacred rock, houses of the nobles, granaries and terraces. For all of the above, you should visit Peru, a country full of wonderful places, and the best culinary destination in South America.
Andean Great Treks is a trekking operator in the city of Cusco. We organize high mountain tours and treks to the best mountain destinations, where you can enjoy the best landscapes surrounded by beautiful lakes, turquoise color, and an intense blue sky. Our mission is to make you know the greatest natural paradises such as the great Ausangate circuit, where we offer you the best trekking experience, lakes of glacial origin, of different colors, likewise you will visit the mountain of colors before any traveler manages to arrive and contemplate a sunrise just for you.
Another highly recommended destination is the Lares Trek circuit, where you will directly appreciate the craft and textile traditions of the people of Lares, Wacawasi, and Cancha Cancha, they are considered the last descendants of the Incas, due to their wide wisdom in all fields of Andean science, such as natural medicine, organic agriculture, and constructive technology of agricultural terraces.
The Inca Quarry tour is very special for its attractive landscape, in this trek you will enjoy varied landscapes such as the Veronica snow-capped mountain, and the Sacred Valley of the Incas, and a direct contact with mother earth, highly respected by the Incas.
And finally we cannot miss the other major archaeological attraction of Cusco, the fabulous Choquequirao, this jewel of the Incas, is considered one of the best trekking circuits by the National Geografic magazine, which you must visit at least once in your life. This is due to the incredible landscape where this ancient Inca city has been built. Precisely you reach Choquequirao going down the canyon of the Apurimac river, and then an ascent to the cloud forest, and once there you will enjoy the best experience, since this adventure will be worth it, there is no other similar place like this Inca palace.
To all these tourist attractions, our company organizes expeditions, in small groups, and an assistance service with the best quality standards, with the best route guides, highly experienced cooks, and the best trekking equipment for your maximum enjoyment. Decide your next adventure today, and get to know these unique and mysterious beautiful places.
Located on top of a mountain in the middle of a tropical forest, it is considered the best tourist attraction in Peru. The historical sanctuary of Machu Picchu is a place that captivates tourists not only because of its dazzling architectural beauty, but also because of its important historical-cultural legacy, which has led it to be recognized and admired throughout the world.
This ancient Inca city is one of Peru's most precious treasures. It was built in the mid-15th century and it is believed that it was one of the residences of the ninth Inca of Tahuantinsuyo, Pachacútec, although there are also the remains of a sanctuary. Its name means old mountain, and refers to the place where it is located, at about 2,453 meters above sea level, on a rocky premonitory between Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu.
Currently, this Inca jewel is one of the tourist centers of the country. Travelers go to Aguas Calientes to start the Inca route that Hiram Bingham, of Yale professor, popularized at the beginning of the 20th century. The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is considered one of the seven new wonders of the modern world and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1983. It is probably the most amazing architectural construction of the Inca Empire. This citadel is made up of temples, palaces, terraces, monuments, ensembles and walls; In addition to water channels, built with large blocks of stone, without any type of amalgam, proof of the great wisdom of the Inca civilization.
The flora and fauna of Machu Picchu are of great importance not only for their natural beauty, but also for their ecological and cultural value. The rich biodiversity present in the area is essential to maintain the ecological balance and sustainability of the region. The flora and fauna of the Machu Picchu area have been used for centuries by local inhabitants, both for food and for traditional medicine. The flora of Machu Picchu is varied, with more than 2,000 species of plants identified in the area. Among the most common plants are orchids, bromeliads, ferns, mosses and lichens. There is also a wide variety of trees, such as alder, cedar, cinchona and molle, growing throughout the valley.
The fauna of Machu Picchu is equally impressive and varied, with more than 400 species of birds identified in the region. Among the most common birds are the hummingbird, the quetzal and the cock-of-the-rock. You can also find a wide variety of mammals, such as the spectacled bear, the llama, the puma. Reptiles and amphibians are also present in the area. Among the most common mammals in Machu Picchu are spectacled bears, who "usually feed on fruits, leaves, insects and small mammals." These animals are crucial to the area's ecosystem.
We spent 4 days / 3 nights in Manu with Andean Great Treks. We wish we could have stayed longer, but that's all time allowed, but we still love the experience.
The pickup was perfect on time, the bus was very comfortable and the trip to Manu park is long but fun. During the trip, you will get enough stops at nice places! You will see hundreds of hummingbirds during this trip! The accommodations themselves were simply amazing. Imagine sleeping in the lodges in the middle of the jungle with (bug-proof) sleeping with all the sounds of the jungle. Truly amazing experience! The lodge itself is very clean, well maintained and above all has a very nice shower! I wish I could sleep with the sounds of the jungle every day, such a special place.
Day/night activities are a nice variation of jungle walks, boat rides, visits to the clay lick early in the morning (to see the magnificent birds). Sailing on the amazon rainforest river with all the sounds of the jungle and beautiful views was such a peaceful, truly wonderful experience.
Our guide Willy impressed me so much, his eyes could spot animals so easily, very impressive, worth every second and penny to stay a little longer and let him create this jungle bubble for you.
Koen de Bock Magnificent adventure in Manu
To start, the one day express trek to Machu Picchu is some of the most excitement and activity that my wife and I have ever packed into a day.
We were very impressed by this entire operation. Elmer has everything from start to finish fine tuned. Every single transfer and detail was figured out and transitioned nicely so that all you have to worry about is enjoying the Inca Trail and taking in Machu Picchu.
There were other groups on the same hike with a lot of people that did not have nearly the same intimate experience as we did. They try to keep the groups between 2-4 people to maximize the experience for the hikers and personalize the pace of the hike which we were incredibly grateful for.
Our guide, Gilber, had such a great attitude, was a wealth of knowledge, and had answers for every question we had along the way.
I think the one thing that I didn’t find in other reviews and didn’t fully understand prior to booking was how the fee structure is broken up for this trip. I initially had sticker shock, but after seeing what goes into the entire experience, you wonder how they can do it so cheaply.
As a breakdown - The AGT team picks you up from your hotel in the morning and drives you ~1.5 hours to the train. The train tickets are around $60 depending on when you go. The permit to hike on the Inca trail is only sold to guide companies but from just doing some quick googling, they’re around $80. The ticket to enter Machu Picchu is $45. Then you add in the porter that brings your delicious lunch to the halfway point, a full time guide, a very nice dinner in one of the most expensive towns in Peru, a bus ride back Cusco, and personal taxi back to your hotel you realize that it is worth every penny (or soles)!
It is an early start and late finish, but I would recommend it to anyone. Buy the ticket, take the ride!
Angus Campbell Best Walk to Machu Picchu!
Este viaje fue espectacular! Los animales, la comida, el alojamiento, el transporte en los botes y autobuses, los guías y las actividades fueron increíbles, Gracias a Andean Great Treks todo estuvo perfectamente planeado
Edson, nuestro guía, estaba muy bien informado, era adaptable y ayudó a que el viaje fuera tan bueno como lo fue. Realmente apreciamos su capacidad para adaptar las actividades a nuestros intereses al incluir caminatas adicionales para encontrar más animales, ya que estábamos muy entusiasmados con esto. Fue hermoso ver tantos animales como nosotros en sus entornos naturales.
¡La comida fue muy rica! El personal hizo un gran esfuerzo para hacer de las comidas una experiencia cultural y nunca decepcionó.
Si no tiene miedo de ensuciarse las manos y está interesado en una aventura con animales, hermosos paseos por la jungla, deliciosa comida y alojamiento en medio de la jungla, ¡este es el tour para usted!.Fue toda una aventura que no olvidaré, y por eso, me alegro de haberlo hecho.
Una experiencia unica en el Manu
We booked a 4 day trip to Manu National Park with Andean Great Treks. From the briefing to the return to our hotel, the whole team looked after us very well. You could tell they thoroughly enjoyed what they were doing. The chef made a variety of delicious Peruvian dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It's hard to imagine a better guide than Fernando: he was SO knowledgeable about the region and everything we saw - his enthusiasm was so infectious that he made things like ants and tree bark exciting.
We came to visit Manu National Park with very low expectations, but we went home with impressions. Thanks to the crew we were able to observe a great diversity of wildlife. The range was from countless birds to insects and mammals. My personal highlights were the macaws clay lick. The variety of scenery from the road into the deep jungle was also impressive. I am very happy that we went into the jungle with such an experienced team.
All in all, a truly impressive Manu experience with diverse landscapes, delicious food and lots of wildlife.
Clara Curt Good service and Organizations
This Amazon jungle that preserves its life culture and is full of wild animals is recommended for any wildlife lover. I traveled to Manu in November with Andean Great Treks and they filled me with great joy by showing me this natural jewel. Honestly, we had some fear before to book with them but once in Cusco we met Elmer the manager of this agency who was very friendly and he cleared all our doubts and questions. Also, we met Ricardo our guide one day before our trip starting.
And the main reason we booked Andean Great Treks was Elmer told us that they provided job to local people and during the trip we realized that.
Vikranth Kattakuri Best Natural Wonder
El viaje que realize a la selva de Manu fue muy buena. El Parque Nacional de Manu cuenta con muy buena vista, cerca a las trochas para avistar diversas especies de flora y fauna. La atención A1, alimentación balanceada y sabrosa, los lodges cuentan con electricidad en determinadas horas del día. Además, se aprende bastante sobre la gran biodiversidad del Amazonas, de hecho, que volveré otra vez a esta hermosa región del Perú. Después de Machu Picchu, este es un lugar que no deberías dejar fuera de tu itinerario en Sudamérica.
Jose Camacho La Selva Amazonica de Cusco
Maravilloso lugar, cálido por el trato y acogimiento. Los lodges son cómodos y con actividades de inmersión en la selva amazonica. Ideal para desconectar el lado racional y acelerado de la ciudad y conectar con tu lado intuitivo interno. Pude observer muchas especies de aves, arboles gigantes, lo mas resaltante del viaje fu eel paseo en la balsa por la laguna Machu Wasi, disfrute Tambien la caminata nocturna. Senti que el tiempoo paso volando, junto al major guia de Manu, Thomas. Valio la pena decidirme por este viaje a la selva de Peru, muchas gracias amigos de Andean Great Treks.
Luis Prieto Paisajes bonitos, mucha flora y fauna!
Tuve la oportunidad de visitar el Parque Nacional de Manu, apreciar la belleza natural, la tranquilidad que se puede apreciar a simple vista, lo importante de la flora y la fauna hace que sea un lugar único y especial en todos los aspectos. Pude sentir como mi corazón se desconecta un momento de todo y sentir lo marvilloso que es explorar un mundo completamente distinto al que conocemos. Aún con las cosas mas simples, todo puede cambiar en un segundo.
Muy aparte el servicio de calidad y profecionalismo que brinda el personal. Fue una experiencia indescriptible. Lo recomiendo en su totalidad, estoy segura que visitor el Manu Jungle, no se arrepentira!!!
Cristina Sanchez Mucho por aprender
Desde la primera vez nos recibieron con los brazos abiertos. Pudimos experimentar la jungla de una manera muy auténtica y no parecía una experiencia turística. Siempre estás tan entusiasmado con lo que verás en cada viaje a la jungla y nunca lo sabes.
Todo el personal de Andean Great Treks fue muy amable y servicial con nosotros. EL chino y Elmer nos sirvieron comida deliciosa. Thomas nuestro guia local, plasmo todo sus conocimientos sobre la selva ¡Todos hicieron un trabajo increíble que hizo que esta experiencia fuera tan buena!
Rafael Castillo ¡Un lugar increíble que debes visitar!
Yo junto a mis amigos visitamos este lugar unico en el Cusco, no sabiamos mucho sobre el atractivo natural, pero Elmer nuestro asesor de viaje fue muy bueno al brindarnos toda la informacion. Durante el corto tiempo que duro nuestra expedicion, pudimos apreciar muchos paisajes de los andes, bosques, aves, insectos y reptiles. Nuestro guia Tomas, un gran tipo, super informativo. Las caminatas por los bosques son una pasada, simplemente me enamoro todo, nuestro chef El chino, un admirable professional, nos deleito con los mejores platillos del peru. Definitivamente los recomedamos ir con Andean Great Treks.
Nestor Medina Visita el Manu, todo un Paraiso!
Why travel with Andean Great Treks?
LOCALLY INSPIRED, DELICIOUS FLAVOURS
There is something magical about artisanal farming in the Andes. The rich soils and unique climate give products an otherwise unattainable flavor. Our chefs serve local and international food. With unparalleled views of the fabulous Andean Mountains, amid the highland forests from your table, you’ll enjoy delicious gourmet food and new spins on classic Peruvian favorites. We use only local produce and fresh ingredients.
OUR PASSIONATE TOUR GUIDES
Unlock the secrets of Peru’s most iconic adventure destination. Our team is passionate about making sure your experiences are unique —some thrilling, some relaxing, all awe-inspiring. Our private guides will let you explore the Andes and rainforest at your own pace, stopping for a snack if you’re hungry, or racing to the top of a hill if you’re up to it.
YOUR SAFETY OUR PRIORITY
We work with certified guides, the latest high-tech equipment and satellite communication, to guarantee your safety every step on the trail. Each year we do the course of rescue and first aid with all our hiking team (guides, cooks, horsemen, drivers). The course is comprehensive and practical, including all of the essential principles and skills required to assess and manage medical problems in isolated and extreme environments.
ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY
We have deep love and respect for our Mother Earth or Pachamama since we are a 100% Cusco company. We know the importance of our Andean culture, and like good children of the earth, we do everything possible to avoid contamination.
CAMPING EQUIPMENT
It’s essential to have the best equipment when you’re walking in the mountains. Due to the constant climate changes in the region, we use tents suitable for all four seasons.
SMALL GROUPS & BIG ADVENTURES
With a maximum group size is 8 on most tours, it feels more like traveling with friends than being on an organized tour. You'll meet like-minded people where everyone is guaranteed to share a passion for travel.