The Inca Trail is already the kind of trip that tends to stick with you. Add private campsites, massages, four-course meals and wine, and you get something that feels very different from a standard hiking vacation.
Reader’s Digest highlights glamping along the Inca Trail as a memorable way to reach Machu Picchu. Travelers $TRV hike each day with private guides who share the history of the Inca and pre-Inca people, then arrive at private campsites where the experience gets considerably more comfortable.
The contrast is part of the appeal. The days involve long, strenuous hikes, while the evenings offer amenities that are hard to associate with a traditional trek. There are massages, four-course meals and wine, along with the chance to relax at a private campsite after spending hours on the trail.
The scenery is another major draw. According to Reader’s Digest, some stretches of the trail were surprisingly quiet, giving travelers the chance to take in the landscape without the crowds they might encounter at Machu Picchu itself.
That combination makes this more than a sightseeing trip. You have to earn the views, but you do not have to sacrifice every comfort along the way.
For travelers who want a little adventure without giving up the good parts of a luxury vacation, glamping on the Inca Trail hits an unusual sweet spot. You still get the physical challenge and sense of accomplishment that come with a serious hike. You also get a comfortable place to recover afterward.