Peru, found in the northwestern corner of South America, is home to a section of the Amazon rainforest and the famous Machu Picchu, an ancient Incan city found in the Andean highlands. Peru is rich in archaeological sites, especially in the region near Machu Picchu which contains the Sacred Valley, the Inca Trail and the colonial city of Cusco. One way to explore Peru is by hiking the Inca Trail. However, this trip is not for the faint of heart since it requires nearly six to eight hours of physical activity per day. The trip begins with an arrival in Cusco and a short hike to start acclimating to the high altitude. The following day the hike begins in Chinchero and includes some farm work. Chinchero, while a small village, has many Incan ruins and is home to Peruvian weavers. Following a stop in Chinchero, the trip moves to Ollantaytambo where the Inca Trail hike will begin. The following few days of the trip include hiking and camping as well as exploring archaeological sites along the way. The trip ends with a stunning arrival at Machu Picchu and a tour of the ancient ruins before returning to Cusco.
This is a 7-day trip that costs $2,095. The trip is led by Under30Experiences, a trip company that caters to solo travelers and adventurous young adults ages 21-35, but they don’t enforce a strict age limit. They are a small team that loves sustainable travel by supporting local communities in an eco-friendly way. The company was founded 10+ years ago by co-founders Matt Wilson and Jared O’Toole. They were rated one of CATALYST PLANET’s 8 Best Sustainable Travel Companies.