The Inca Trail is the most famous hike in South America. Although the total distance is only about 39 km, the ancient trail laid by the Incas from the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu winds its way up and down and around the mountains, snaking over three high Andean passes en route, which has collectively led to the route being dubbed‚ "The Inca Trail". The views of snowy mountain peaks, distant rivers, ranges, and cloud forests flush with orchids are stupendous‚ and walking from one cliff-hugging pre-Columbian ruin to the next is a mystical and unforgettable experience.