Peru

Backpacking Machu Picchu

It’s nothing like you’ve seen in the photos. There’s simply no way to get an idea of the majesty of the Incan Ruins at Machu Picchu. Here’s the thing: while everyone will see the same incredible sights, not everyone will get there the same way.

Essentially, there are two ways for backpackers to get to Machu Picchu. You can either walk, or take the train. Both options have their merits, so each backpacker must make their own call as to which will work better for them.

If you’ve done some research, you may have encountered the Inca Trail. This is only one of the options for hiking to Machu Picchu. There’s also the Salkantay, which developed as an auxiliary route. Here’s what the guys hawking trips on the square in Cusco won’t tell you: both are overcrowded (especially in summer), overpriced, and overhyped. While the scenery is gorgeous, you’ll spend all day in a pack of hundreds of other hikers.

Some backpackers might instead decide to take the train to Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu. From there, it’s only a short bus ride up to the ruins. While some might think this a cop-out, consider this: about 200 miles to the east, you can hike bigger mountains will less people for way cheaper. Flip to the Bolivia page if that’s what you’re into.