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Qhapaq Ñan Network

Top Hiking Trails in South America

Explore the top hiking trails in South America along the UNESCO World Heritage Qhapaq Ñan — 30,000 kilometers of ancient paths through Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, and Argentina.

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Explore Qhapaq Ñan

Countries

6 Nations

Trail Network

30,000+ km

Highest Point

6,768m

UNESCO Sites

137 Heritage

World Heritage

Since 2014

Discover South America’s Best Hiking Trails

From the sacred paths of Machu Picchu to remote Andean valleys, South America offers the world’s most spectacular hiking experiences. The Qhapaq Ñan connects top hiking destinations through 6 countries, offering trails for every skill level across diverse landscapes.

  • Top-rated trails across 6 South American countries
  • UNESCO World Heritage certified ancient pathways
  • Diverse difficulty levels from beginner to expert
  • Cloud forests, Andean peaks, and coastal deserts
  • Cultural immersion with indigenous communities
  • Year-round trekking with seasonal recommendations
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The Best Hiking Trails Across South America

South America’s top hiking trails follow the legendary Qhapaq Ñan spanning 30,000+ kilometers from Colombia to Argentina. These trails offer unmatched diversity—Ecuador’s volcanic landscapes, Peru’s iconic Machu Picchu paths, Bolivia’s high-altitude adventures, and Chile’s dramatic terrain.

Peru: Heart of South American Trekking

Peru contains the most celebrated hiking trails including the world-famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, the challenging Salkantay Trek, and the remote Choquequirao route. These trails showcase the finest Inca engineering while traversing cloud forests, high passes, and archaeological wonders.

Beyond Peru: Continental Trail Diversity

The Qhapaq Ñan extends across South America. Ecuador’s volcanic trails circle Cotopaxi. Bolivia’s Altiplano routes reach extreme elevations. Colombia’s northern segments reveal pre-Inca cultures. Chile and Argentina’s southern extensions approach sub-Antarctic wilderness.

UNESCO Heritage: World-Class Trail Standards

Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014, the Qhapaq Ñan represents humanity’s most ambitious ancient road network. The 137 protected sites across six countries preserve engineering marvels—stone staircases, suspension bridges, and mountain tunnels—making these top hiking trails historically significant.

Frequently Asked Questions about Inca Trails

The top hiking trails in South America follow the Qhapaq Ñan network across 6 countries. Highlights include Peru's Inca Trail and Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, Ecuador's Cotopaxi circuit, Bolivia's Takesi and El Choro trails, and Chile's approaches to Patagonia.

Peru offers the most iconic hiking trails including routes to Machu Picchu. However, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, and Colombia each provide unique top-rated experiences—from volcanic peaks to high-altitude deserts to sub-Antarctic wilderness.

The Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru is South America's most iconic hiking trail, requiring permits limited to 500 daily visitors. The 4-day trek follows original Inca stonework through cloud forests and mountain passes.

South American hiking trails range from moderate day hikes to challenging multi-day expeditions at extreme elevations (up to 5,000m+). Most top trails like the Inca Trail require good fitness but no technical climbing skills. Altitude acclimatization is essential.

Peru and Bolivia: May-September (dry season). Ecuador: June-September. Chile/Argentina Patagonia: November-March (summer). The Qhapaq Ñan spans multiple climate zones, enabling year-round trekking by selecting appropriate regions.

The Inca Trails, known as Qhapaq Ñan or "Great Road," formed an extensive network spanning over 40,000 kilometers across six South American countries: Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, and Argentina. Built primarily during Emperor Pachacutec's reign in the 15th century, these ancient pathways connected the entire Inca Empire with Cusco as its central hub.

Peru offers multiple hikeable Inca Trails beyond the famous Machu Picchu route. Popular options include the Salkantay Trek passing the sacred 6,000m peak, the Lares Trek through remote Andean communities, the Choquequirao Trail to the "sister city" of Machu Picchu, and the Quarry Trail. Each follows sections of the original Qhapaq Ñan network.

The Inca Trails served multiple essential functions: military mobilization for rapid troop deployment, economic integration connecting diverse ecological zones for trade, administrative communication via chasqui relay runners who could cover 240km daily, and cultural exchange spreading language, traditions, and technologies throughout the empire.

Yes, the Qhapaq Ñan was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014 following a joint application by all six countries sharing the network—the first multinational submission of its kind. UNESCO recognized the trails for their technological achievement, cultural significance, and 308 associated archaeological sites throughout South America.

Inca engineers demonstrated exceptional skill adapting to challenging landscapes. They used locally available materials—stone slabs at high altitudes, compacted sand in coastal areas. They constructed suspension bridges from ichu grass fibers spanning gorges, carved stone stairways into mountainsides, and built roads reaching over 5,000 meters elevation without modern tools.

The Qhapaq Ñan comprised two principal north-south highways: the Camino Real (Highland Road) stretching 6,000km through the Andes from Quito to Santiago, and the Camino de la Costa (Coastal Road) running 4,000km along Pacific valleys. Numerous transverse routes connected these main arteries, creating a comprehensive network across the empire.

The Inca Trails connect numerous significant archaeological sites including Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo, Choquequirao, Vilcabamba, Pachacamac near Lima, Ingapirca in Ecuador, and administrative centers like Huánuco Pampa and Cajamarca. Many trails pass through tambos (rest stations), ushnus (religious platforms), and fortresses that served empire functions.

While studies have identified over 60,000 kilometers of original routes, much has been destroyed since the Spanish Conquest through horse traffic, modern road construction, and natural deterioration. Some sections were deliberately destroyed by Incas protecting sacred sites. Today, preserved segments are actively restored for tourism and cultural heritage preservation.

The Qhapaq Ñan extends through six countries: Peru contains the most famous sections including routes to Machu Picchu; Ecuador features trails near Ingapirca; Bolivia offers highland paths through the Altiplano; Colombia marks the empire's northern frontier; Chile and Argentina contain southern extensions reaching toward Patagonia.

The Incas believed their trails connected the material world (Kay Pacha) with the world of the gods (Hanan Pacha). Many routes were aligned with astronomical points, sacred mountains (apus), and holy water sources. Trails led to important ceremonial centers and pilgrimage sites, integrating spiritual practice with daily travel throughout the empire.