4-Day Inca Trail

plan your trip with a local travel specialist

Travelers love kimkim

- ., traveled to in

Peru Travel Insights

Sunlight on Machu Picchu
Ultimate Guide to the Inca Trail: Peru's Most Famous Trek

Thousands of people visit Peru every year for a chance to hike one of the world’s most famous treks — the ancient Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. In order to plan a great trek and memorable experience, here’s an insider’s guide on what to expect, what to avoid, and how to get started in organizing your trip.

Hiking along the Inca Trail
Inca Trail Permits for 2018

Only a limited number of people are permitted to hike the Inca Trail each year. If you have your heart set on this classic trek to Machu Picchu, be sure to book your trek months in advance to get permits for your desired dates.

Machu Picchu
Map of Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

If you're looking for the best way to hike the Inca Trail, this classic route offers a unique approach that avoids the main crowds and follows the ideal schedule for timing your visit to Machu Picchu.

View from the Santa Cruz trek in Peru
Map of Best 10 Treks in Peru
Best 10 Treks in Peru

Peru — a nation with abundant natural diversity, from coast, to mountains, to jungle — has long attracted lovers of the Great Outdoors. The Peruvian Andes, running like a backbone down the centre of the country, contain mesmerizing variations in landscape that make for some of the best trekking in the world. Cloud forests, 5000m+ cordilleras (mountain ranges), the world’s deepest canyon and the striking remains of ancient civilizations all await.

Making a pilgrimage to Machu Picchu on one of these two treks makes your arrival even more spectacular
Salkantay Trek vs the Inca Trail: Which is Right for You?

Trekking to Machu Picchu is a dream for many travelers—but there's more than one way to get there. The classic Inca Trail lets trekkers walk in the steps of the Incas, while the more remote Salkantay route offers solitude and wildlife. Compare your options for getting to Peru's most famous place on foot, from distance and cost to overnight options.

Huchuy Qosqo
Map of Best Day Hikes in the Sacred Valley near Cusco
Best Day Hikes in the Sacred Valley near Cusco

Peru is famous for the Inca Trail and other multi-day hikes, but if you are short on time, there are plenty of excellent day hikes throughout the Sacred Valley. These hikes are a great way to visit some of the rural communities and lesser-visited ruins throughout the Valley.

How it works
Chat with specialist icon Step 1
Tell us what kind of trip you want
Complete our quick travel quiz
Chat icons Step 2
Chat with a local travel specialist
Work out the details together
Credit card icon Step 3
Securely book your trip
100% satisfaction guaranteed

Meet our Local Travel Specialists

Experienced travel agents with a passion for Peru
Travel specialist Jimena Salazar
active 49 mins ago

Jimena Salazar

For me, traveling is about much more than just visiting places. It’s about opening new paths in your life—through the people you meet, the flavors you try, and the landscapes that take your breath...

read more...
Travel specialist Liz Karen L. Jihuallanca
active 11 mins ago

Liz Karen L. Jihuallanca

Peruvian food, culture, and history aren’t just things I love—they’re a part of who I am. As a proud Cusqueñian, I carry my roots with pride and love sharing my culture with others. I've lived...

read more...
Travel specialist Io Gillhuber
active 1 min ago

Io Gillhuber

Growing up in Germany, I was lucky to spend several vacations in different places in Europe. When I finished school, I started exploring the world on my own, and I couldn’t get enough of it....

read more...
Travel specialist Anne Godoy
active 7 mins ago

Anne Godoy

I fell in love with Peru's landscapes, culture, food, and people—not only because of what I learned in college but also because of what I had seen and lived my whole life. That passion and love...

read more...

Trip Reviews for Peru

The latest reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim

Phenomenal local guides!
Peru | Apr 2 - Apr 11, 2026

Helen
Helen M.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Apr 18, 2026
I am so incredibly grateful for the expert planning and support of the kimkim team and the local partners they worked with in Peru. Our family of 6 had an incredible trip over Spring Break. We loved the family friendly food tour in the Barranca neighborhood of Lima, where we also learned about the local culture and art scene. After Lima we spent a few days in the Amazon jungle where our guide, John, led us on very memorable excursions - fishing for piranhas, searching for anacondas,... Read more

I am so incredibly grateful for the expert planning and support of the kimkim team and the local partners they worked with in Peru. Our family of 6 had an incredible trip over Spring Break. We loved the family friendly food tour in the Barranca neighborhood of Lima, where we also learned about the local culture and art scene.

After Lima we spent a few days in the Amazon jungle where our guide, John, led us on very memorable excursions - fishing for piranhas, searching for anacondas, finding tarantulas at night, hiking the jungle, climbing the viewing tower, enjoying the boat rides and most of all sight-seeing. We saw several types of monkeys, macaws, parrots, capybaras, caymens, and much more. His expertise not only made it educational - he made it very fun! The Finca lodge was perfect with sweet staff and enjoyable community meals.

After the jungle we flew to Cusco and enjoyed the Sacred Valley for a few days before spending a day at Machu Picchu. Out guide Willy was phenomenal! He took us to various stops - salt quarries, llama farms, forts, trains and more - and excellent restaurants. He was following our tour schedule, but when he learned of my affinity for Catholic Churches, he adjusted the schedule so we could see the Cathedral in Cusco, which was a highlight for me! I was so grateful for his in-depth knowledge and proactiveness to suggest this schedule change. And his positive attitude kept all my kids engaged. Our family was definitely feeling the altitude, and we were all struggling with some stomach issues. Willy helped us find electrolyte drinks and other remedies to help quell our issues and get back to enjoying the trip. He was truly excellent!

Hotel Reviews
Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay
Urubamba

The hotel was so wonderful. I was genuinely surprised by all of its offerings. The rooms were large, clean, very modern and well decorated with great character. The kids love the lofted bed section. The building and grounds were stunning with old, well-maintained walkways, architecture, beautiful plants, eye-catching lighting , unique chapel, and more. The different restaurants and food spots offered a variety of options for our family. We enjoyed a high-end gourmet dinner one night, Pisco Sours at the bar, and homemade Italian pizza the next. My family also loved the breakfast buffet with the made-to-order omelets and fresh juices. I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone. It has a traditional local Peruvian flare mixed with modern amenities and a stellar staff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
There is nothing really around this hotel. So if you like to take off walking, this isn't really the place for you. We found so many things to do in this former monastery that we didn't need to leave it!
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Finca Sachabacayoc

After a 2 hour boat ride we pulled up to a steep set of stairs that led in to the heart of this beautiful oasis in the middle of the amazon jungle. It features several cabins and a main lodge. The lodge includes a bar, hammock area, sitting area and the main dining hall where we enjoyed community meals. Our cabins were large with screened in walls, beautiful wooden furniture, poster beds with mosquito nets and private bathrooms. The staff was incredibly friendly and quickly came to remove a large frog that made its way into my children's cabin. I would highly recommend this place for people who are ready to have a jungle adventure.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Finca Sachavacavoc - D2 - Chuncho Claylick and Condenado Lake
Finca Sachavacavoc - D2 - Chuncho Claylick and Condenado Lake
Tambopata

We woke up very early to see the sunrise while we were boating to the clay licks. Our guide John set up his scope so we could see the different types of macaws and parrots flying around the clay lick. The crew prepared a lovely breakfast for us before we headed back to the Finca by boat. In the afternoon we hiked to Condenado Lake where we saw a family of feisty river otters and then enjoyed time fishing for piranhas. My kids just loved catching them! Luckily the rain opened up on us to cool us down a bit. Fantastic day in the jungle!

Quality of Experience
The mix of the boat ride and clay lick experience in the morning with the afternoon dedicated to hiking and fishing was great!
Food
The large breakfast spread was such a delightful surprise.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
We all just loved the boat rides!
Full Day Machu Picchu Exploration
Full Day Machu Picchu Exploration
Peru

Definitely a highlight of our trip. We woke up early and took the van to the train station. Our train stopped halfway through, and the last three cars joined together for live music, drinks and dancing! Felt like we were in a movie - it was so magical. We arrived at the train stop and took a bus up a very steep switchback road until we reached the top. Our prebooked tickets put us on the second circuit, and we saw some of the most incredible views. Our tour guide Willy was very knowledgeable and helped bring the Inca empire to life for our family. We were amazed by their planning, building and craftsmanship. Highly recommend this adventure!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
The train ride with live music, free hats, Pisco Sour tastings, dancing and more was totally unexpected and so fun!
Exploring the Sacred Valley: Maras, Moray, Ollantaytambo
Exploring the Sacred Valley: Maras, Moray, Ollantaytambo
Peru

Really enjoyed learning about the Inca empire - from the salt quarries and agricultural testing to the fort and Inca trail, this was an educational day.

Pass by Pisac Market & an Andean camelid Farms
Pass by Pisac Market & an Andean camelid Farms
Peru

The kids just absolutely adored feeding the llamas and learning about them. The tour guide was a young local man who was learning English and seemed to really enjoy engaging with us. Great way to open up our trip to the Andean region.

Walking food tour at Barranco for families!
Walking food tour at Barranco for families!
Lima

Nancy led our family on a fabulous walking tour of Barranca. We love the ceviche at awhich, the fish sandwiches at Horneando and of course, making our own chocolate!! Her knowledge of the history and culture of the area was great and helped us better understand the neighborhood. We also enjoyed checking out the street art from Jade and other local artists.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Anne Godoy
Anne
Anne Godoy
Local specialist in Lima | Replied on Apr 20, 2026
Hello Helen, Thank you so much for your incredibly kind words, it truly means a lot to all of us. It’s wonderful to hear that your family had such a memorable Spring Break in Peru. I’m especially happy to hear how much you enjoyed your time with John and Willy. They are both truly passionate about what they do, and it’s great to know they made the experience not only educational, but also fun and meaningful for your family. I love that Willy was able to adapt the itinerary; we make sure... Read more

Hello Helen,

Thank you so much for your incredibly kind words, it truly means a lot to all of us.

It’s wonderful to hear that your family had such a memorable Spring Break in Peru.

I’m especially happy to hear how much you enjoyed your time with John and Willy. They are both truly passionate about what they do, and it’s great to know they made the experience not only educational, but also fun and meaningful for your family. I love that Willy was able to adapt the itinerary; we make sure that they are able to, as those personal touches often become the most memorable moments.

Thank you again for trusting us with such a special trip. It was a pleasure being part of your journey, and we would love to help you plan your next adventure whenever the time comes!

Kim Kim has been great from start to finish!
Peru | Apr 2 - Apr 10, 2026

Neelam
Neelam P.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Apr 13, 2026

Kim Kim has been great from start to finish. They payed attention to the key places we wanted to see and activities we were interested in. All the guides were so nice. Shout out to Valeria and the food/market tour. Blanca did amazing job taking us around Lima for a 1 day city tour and Martin was really that cherry on top! Martin completed our experience of Peru and we couldn’t have asked for a more knowledgeable and kind guide. He looked after us all so well.

Local specialist: Anne Godoy
Anne
Anne Godoy
Local specialist in Lima | Replied on Apr 14, 2026
Hello Neelam
Thank you so much for your kind words! It truly means a lot to hear that your experience in Peru met your expectations from start to finish.
We’re especially happy to know that the itinerary reflected what you were hoping to see and do—that’s always our main goal. I’ll be sure to pass along your lovely feedback to Valeria, Blanca, and Martin. They’ll be thrilled to hear they made such a positive impact on your journey. It sounds like Martin really helped bring everything... Read more

Hello Neelam
Thank you so much for your kind words! It truly means a lot to hear that your experience in Peru met your expectations from start to finish.

We’re especially happy to know that the itinerary reflected what you were hoping to see and do—that’s always our main goal. I’ll be sure to pass along your lovely feedback to Valeria, Blanca, and Martin. They’ll be thrilled to hear they made such a positive impact on your journey.

It sounds like Martin really helped bring everything together, and that’s exactly the kind of experience we aim to create.

Thank you again for trusting us with your trip—we hope Peru stays with you for a long time, and we’d love to help you plan your next adventure whenever you’re ready.

Warm regards,
Anne

The trip was everything we expected. The smal...
Peru | Mar 18 - Mar 25, 2026

Sue
Sue J.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Mar 30, 2026
The trip was everything we expected. The smaller hotels were so much nicer than the larger ones, and the personal service was very much appreciated. The guides were extremely informative, and we'll be fortunate to remember even a portion of everything we were shown and told.
When my suitcase was taken, you were extremely helpful in recovering it.
My only complaint was the last day, when no transportation was provided for the cooking class. When we finally got there and found the area, it...
Read more

The trip was everything we expected. The smaller hotels were so much nicer than the larger ones, and the personal service was very much appreciated. The guides were extremely informative, and we'll be fortunate to remember even a portion of everything we were shown and told.
When my suitcase was taken, you were extremely helpful in recovering it.
My only complaint was the last day, when no transportation was provided for the cooking class. When we finally got there and found the area, it was late and we were unable to participate. Stacked against all of the positive, that was just a small glitch.
I still don't know why we had a charge of 500 dollars at Las Qolqas. I would like to know what it was for if possible. Could you do some research for me?
My daughter knows a couple of travel agents here in Billings, and she has shared with them several times who you are and how helpful you have been. We will definitely continue to spread the word and will again choose you when we travel again.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for a wonderful trip.

Hotel Reviews
Las Qolqas EcoResort Ollantaytambo
Ollantaytambo

What a beautiful setting!!! We felt pampered and blessed by the straight-up mountains that surrounded us. The staff were always helpful and polite, and the massage therapists did a great job. The drivers that took us to town and back were very polite and helpful with directions for getting around town. I'm not sure why we have an extra charge, but that is the only negative. Great choice!

Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Quinta San Blas by Ananay Hotels
Cusco

Again, the staff were extremely helpful and friendly and went out of their way to help us in any way. The courtyard was a pleasant place to relax, and sitting under the umbrellas during the showers with a glass of wine was very easy to do. The steep grade was hard at first, but we quickly adjusted to the climb, and soon it seemed quite natural.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Antigua Miraflores
Lima

Very helpful staff, wonderful area to sit and relax, good location for exploring.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Sacred Valley Tour: Chinchero - Maras - Moray - Lunch at MV
Sacred Valley Tour: Chinchero - Maras - Moray - Lunch at MV
Peru

Both my daughter and I, being plant enthusiasts, were particularly intrigued by the research center for plants. The way the earth was used as a lab for different growing conditions was captivating. This activity was both educational and enjoyable, offering a unique insight into local agriculture and plant life in Peru.

Full Day Cusco & San Pedro Market Tour
Full Day Cusco & San Pedro Market Tour
Cusco

The tour with Amelia through the food market was truly a highlight of our trip. She shared an incredible amount of information and introduced us to various fruits, letting us taste and learn about their unique characteristics. The opportunity to create edible combinations was a delightful experience. Amelia was knowledgeable and engaging, leaving us with so much to take in that even retaining a fraction of the information felt like a reward. The lush, green surroundings added to the beauty of the experience. Highly recommend this informative and immersive tour!

Arrival to Lima: Free Day to Explore
Arrival to Lima: Free Day to Explore
Lima

We appreciated the ideas you presented for our free time. The hotel was so close to the ocean, and the pyramid and other historic sites were fun to visit. We had no trouble filling the time for our first free day, and the courtyard of the hotel was amazing! What a wonderful place to sit and relax.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
City maps and street names were often confusing...
Local specialist: Johanna Fabian

Why travelers love kimkim

Custom trips for independent travelers who are too busy to plan
Customize your trip with the help of a local travel specialist

Kimkim has handpicked the world’s top local travel specialists so you will have peace of mind and an unforgettable trip that meets your exact requirements.

Authentic travel experiences

Kimkim’s local specialists ensure that you will have the best experience based on up-to-date local insights. On top of that, the vast majority of your money will go straight to support and grow local economies.

Secure & easy booking

Once you are happy with the trip, you can easily book via kimkim’s secure payment platform.

Local support during your trip

You can always reach your local specialist with a quick message or call in case you hit a snag during your trip, or simply want some great local recommendations.