The best option to get to Machu Picchu is the one that resonates with your spirit. For the total adventurer, the Inka Jungle. For the trekking purist, Salkantay. For the history pilgrim, the Inca Trail. For those seeking comfort and speed, the train is the way.
I’ve lost count of the times, sharing a cup of coca tea with travelers newly arrived in Cusco, that I’ve heard the same question, filled with excitement and a bit of anxiety: “What is the best option to get to Machu Picchu?” It’s a question that goes beyond simple logistics. It’s a search for a guarantee, the fear of making a mistake on what could be the trip of a lifetime. And my answer, forged over years of guiding souls along these paths, always begins the same way: the question isn’t what the best path is, but what your path is.
Peru doesn’t offer you a single trail to its most precious jewel; it offers you a mirror. Each route is a reflection of a way of traveling, of feeling, and of connecting. True wisdom isn’t found in a universal answer, but in understanding yourself to choose the experience that will transform you.
Beyond “the best,” which route is for YOU?
Let’s forget rankings and mass opinions for a moment. Close your eyes and imagine your ideal trip. What do you see? What do you feel? Your answer lies in that vision. Now, let’s see which path corresponds to it.
For the Contemplative and Efficient Traveler
The Magic of the Train If your time is limited, if the idea of a multi-day hike doesn’t appeal to you, or if you’re traveling with family and seeking comfort, the train is not a “lesser” option; it’s an intelligent decision. It’s the way to reach the heart of the sanctuary with your energy focused on contemplation. However, a piece of advice from someone who has seen many travelers regret it: don’t do it in a single day from Cusco. It’s an exhausting journey that robs you of your peace. Our founder, Sofía, always recommends spending the night before in Aguas Calientes. Travel in the afternoon, enjoy the spectacular scenery of the Sacred Valley without rushing, have a quiet dinner, and go up to Machu Picchu the next morning, refreshed and with your spirit ready to receive the site’s magic.
For the History Pilgrim: The Legendary Inca Trail
This is not a simple hike; it’s an immersion in history. To walk the Inca Trail is to tread the same stones that Inca nobility walked centuries ago. It’s to feel the weight and privilege of a sacred route, discovering monumental ruins that are only revealed to those who earn the right to see them on foot. The arrival at Inti Punku (the Sun Gate) at dawn, watching the citadel reveal itself through the clouds, is an experience that marks the soul. But be honest with yourself: it requires more than six months of planning due to high demand and limited permits. It’s a commitment.
For the Lover of Challenge and Pure Mountains: The Majestic Salkantay Trek
If your heart beats faster when you think of the Andes, imagining snow-capped peaks, turquoise lagoons, and the imposing solitude of the high mountains, the Salkantay is your calling. This route is pure trekking, a direct dialogue between your endurance and the force of nature. It’s more physically demanding than other options, will take you to considerable altitudes, and will reward you with landscapes that will make you feel both small and eternal. It’s a “wilder” route, an opportunity to disconnect from the world and connect with yourself through effort and visual reward.
For the Adventurous and Sensory Spirit: The Inka Jungle Experience
What if you don’t want to choose between the mountains and the jungle? What if your body craves adrenaline, variety, and a total immersion in the changing landscapes? For you, we designed the Inka Jungle. It’s not just a tour; it’s an experiential transition. One day you feel the wind on your face while descending by bicycle from the Andean highlands to the jungle’s edge. The next, you’re rafting the rapids of a river born from glaciers. And finally, you walk along stretches of the ancient Inca path surrounded by the scent of coffee, cacao, and the humidity of the jungle. It is the route for those who want to “feel it all,” for those who understand that adventure is the sum of many vibrant experiences.
A final piece of advice from your guide in Cusco
I know that organizing this trip can be a maze of options and that your greatest desire is for every moment to be perfect. That’s why our job isn’t to sell you a tour, but to design the canvas on which you will paint your memories. We take care of the complex logistics, the details that make a difference, and the security that comes from having a local team backing you up, so your only concern is to live, feel, and discover.
If you want to chat about which of these paths resonates most with you, write to us on WhatsApp with no obligation. I would love to hear from you and help you shape that idea.
In the end, the stone citadel will await you all the same, imposing and mysterious. But how you get there will forever define your story with Machu Picchu. It’s not just about seeing the ruins; it’s about the person you become on the way to them. Choose not the best path, but your path. And walk it completely.
