Llactapata: The Inca complex on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Published: 06 January 2023 | Update: 16 October 2025 | Reads: 3673

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A few hours after starting the Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu, hikers have their first significant encounter with Inca architecture at the Llactapata complex. Located in the Cusichaca river valley, this extensive archaeological site is the first large settlement seen on the route, serving as an introduction to the engineering and organization that will characterize the entire journey.

Llactapata functioned mainly as an agricultural center and a control post. Its most notable feature is the system of andenes or farming terraces that adapt to the mountainside, designed for the production of corn and other crops that probably supplied travelers and the elite heading to Machu Picchu.

For travelers, Llactapata presents itself as an impressive panoramic view. Generally, the site is not walked through inside, but is observed from a viewpoint on the opposite hillside, which allows you to appreciate its design and its integration with the surrounding landscape. This first vision sets the tone for the trek, revealing the scale and complexity of the Inca settlements that will be found in the following days.

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu - Llactapata:

Llactapata - Llaqta = Town, Pata = High place, is an Inca town, located at 2,840 m. / 8,136 ft. at the confluence of the Cusichaca, Urubamba rivers in the mountain called Patallaqta, province of Urubamba, department of Cusco.

These are constructions with several well-defined sectors, enclosures, platforms, squares, canals, etc. Highlight, especially the agricultural terraces and their drainage system. This archaeological site should not be confused with another place of the same name, located west of Machu Picchu, which can be visited on the famous Salkantay Trek, which was a ceremonial center.

Llactapata of the Inca Trail was an eminently agricultural town, it was probably the place where the products of the Valley were concentrated. It has constructions separated from the platforms that could be barns.

Inca trail to Machu Picchu llactapata

How is the tour of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu?

The Inca Trail shows rugged geographies with ascents and descents on the side of precipices. The mountains reach great heights with uneven stretches. In the jungle areas you will see the variety of tones of green tropical forests.

Day 1: Cusco - Wayllabamba (13 kilometers)
The Inca Trail begins at kilometer 82 of the railway that leads to Machu Picchu (2 hours and 30 minutes by bus from the city of Cusco). Then the ascent to the valley of Cusichaca will begin. The visitor will visit the ruins of Llactapata (2,840 masl) until reaching the town of Huayllabamba (3,057 masl).
Day 2: Wayllabamba - Pacaymayo (11 kilometers)
The second day is the most difficult due to the physical demand. The tourist will ascend to the Warmiwañuska ('Passage of the dead woman'). This is the highest point of the route (4,215 m.a.s.l). From this point it is possible to see the archaeological site of Runkurakay (3,760 m.a.s.l).
Day 3: Pacaymayo - Wiñay Huayna (16 kilometers)
On the third day, the descent will be vertiginous to the valley of the Pacaymayo river. The section goes down a stepped slope of almost 1, 600 meters to the site of Sayaqmarca (3,625 m.a.s.l). Here the view is extraordinary.
Day 4: Wiñay Huayna - Machu Picchu (3 kilometers)
The last day hides some of the best Inca exhibitions: Phuyupatamarka, Wiñaywayna. When leaving these ruins, a gradual descent will be undertaken that will become more complicated in the end. Finally, you will arrive at the Intipunku or Sun Gate. From there you will walk for another 30 minutes to the Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu.

Wiñay Huayna Machu Picchu

Particularity of the picturesque road Llaqtapata - Hidroelectrica:

Inca Trail, the only place where you can see the back of the citadel of Machu Picchu.

Actual state:

It is in a good state of conservation, by intervention of the Decentralized Directorate of Culture Cusco (former Regional Directorate Of Culture).

Llactapata to Machu Picchu

About tickets to enter the Inca Trail:

Due to the high demand for tickets, you must get entry tickets to the Inca Trail a long time in advance (6 months). The purchase is made only through the Internet through the website of an authorized tourism agency. In total 500 people enter the trails of the Inca Trail every day. Of them, only 200 are tourists. The rest is support personnel such as cooks, porters, guides. The ticket to enter the Inca Trail includes the support staff.

Didn't you find availability for the Inca Trail? Don't worry, finding the Inca Trail permits sold out is a common situation due to high demand. Fortunately, there are excellent alternatives to get to Machu Picchu, each offering a different experience. Below are the main options:

Trekking Alternatives: If your goal is to reach Machu Picchu on foot through a multi-day route, the two most recommended alternatives are:
→ Salkantay Trek: Considered the main alternative to the Inca Trail. This 5 day trek takes you through impressive high mountain landscapes, passing by the imposing Salkantay mountain and Humantay lagoon, before descending to the cloud forest.
→ Lares Trek: This route offers an experience more focused on culture, passing through remote Andean communities and beautiful valleys. It is generally combined with a train trip on the final stretch to Aguas Calientes.
Direct Travel Alternative: If you prefer not to do a multi-day hike, the most direct and comfortable option to get to Machu Picchu is by train. The journey departs from Ollantaytambo (or Cusco) and offers panoramic views of the Sacred Valley until you reach the town of Aguas Calientes, from where you take a bus to go up to the citadel.

It is essential to remember that, regardless of the route you choose, the entrance ticket to the citadel of Machu Picchu must be booked separately and well in advance, as it also has limited availability.

When is the best time to travel the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu?

From May to September (dry season) is the ideal time to travel the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. These months are usually good for the crossing due to the low frequency of rains. In the months of November to March the summer (rainy season) occurs. This time is usually very rainy, which makes walking and access difficult. Even, it will not be able to cross the Inca Trail in February due to the precipitations and works of maintenance.

Hikes to Machu Picchu

Getting to Machu Picchu on foot is an experience that combines effort, adventure, and unique landscapes of the Peruvian Andes. Each route offers views of mountains, valleys, and archaeological remains that make the journey as memorable as the final destination. Discover the most iconic hikes to the Inca citadel:

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