Inca Highlands
Photo: James Heilman, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Inca Highlands, the center of Inca civilization in Peru, features numerous attractions, notably the world-famous Machu Picchu (the "Lost City of the Incas") and the Inca Trail which leads to it. There are numerous other attractions in and around the city of Cusco (the Inca capital) and the neighboring Sacred Valley, and many treks and adventure sports in the surrounding mountains and valleys.
UnderstandCusco was the capital of the Inca Empire, and the area is the center of Inca culture, of which the most popular destination is Machu Picchu and the most popular trek is the Inca Trail.
PrepareDue to the need to acclimatize to the altitude (particularly before embarking on a trek or other physical activity), and the remoteness, there is a relatively standard itinerary: first light tourism while acclimatizing,…
Get inPer Peru#Get in, fly into Lima, thence Cusco (bus between Lima and Cusco possible but long).
Get aroundTo visit sites, easiest is to hire a driver, particularly as part of a tour; cheaper is to use buses that go to main tourist sites.
GoA classic visit to the Inca Highlands featuring a trek begins with a flight into Lima, then a flight to Cusco, a few days in the Sacred Valley and Cusco acclimating and seeing sights, then a 4-day trek on the Inca…
BuySee Peru#Buy and Cusco#Buy for what and how to buy: the same goods are available throughout this itinerary, with price and quality being the main variables.
Stay safeA key concern is altitude, both acclimatization to altitude and harsh high-altitude conditions, notably strong UV light and dry air.
Go nextThere are many other destinations in Peru, to extend this trip or for future trips; see Peru#Other destinations and Cusco#Go next. Notable convenient ones include:
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Inca Highlands" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: James Heilman, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons