Trekking to Machu Picchu in the Andes

A longtime San Ramon, California, technology professional, Vikas Mishra engages with Robert Half as an AWS solutions architect. Outside of his work in the San Ramon area, Vikas Mishra enjoys experiencing new cultures and has visited locales from Australia to Machu Picchu. 

Situated in the Peruvian Andes, Machu Picchu was part of the Inca Empire and stands as one of the most remarkable archaeological discoveries of the early 20th century. Since Hiram Bingham and local farmers rediscovered the abandoned city in 1911, the site has earned UNESCO World Heritage status. It attracts thousands of visitors each day, both by tour bus and on foot. 

The classic way of reaching Machu Picchu is via a 26-mile stretch of the Inca Trail, which has been in use for centuries and features cobblestones along much of its length. The high-altitude hike takes four days from the terminus of Ollantaytambo on the Sacred Valley railway line and traverses a number of minor Inca ruins before reaching the Sun Gate, or Inti Punku. At this point, dramatic drystone terraces emerge on the steep mountainside, reflecting centuries of agricultural history.

If trekking into Machu Picchu, it makes sense to plan well in advance, as only 200 trekkers, accompanied by 300 trekking staff, are allowed on the Inca Trail on a daily basis.