After Machu Picchu on Inca Trail Treks

The first destination that anyone planning to embark on Inca Trail treks intends to visit is inevitably Machu Picchu €" and for good reason. The Lost City of the Incas is truly magical, perched atop a mountain in a region of snow-capped peaks. Since its rediscovery by Hiram Bingham in 1911, it has been recognised as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and is one of the most popular ancient sites in South America. However, the region is far from a 'one-hit wonder'. After adding a day €" or several €" exploring the phenomenal ruins of Machu Picchu to your Inca Trail trek's itinerary, consider some of the below sites as well.

Inca P­sac

Located in the Sacred Valley, the hill-top ruins of P­sac were originally positioned on a major Inca route and controlled access to the eastern jungle. The ruins are expansive enough to allow several hours of exploration. Highlights include Q'allaqasa (the citadel) and the main Intihuatana (temple), which is equal to the structures found at Machu Picchu. Agricultural terraces surround the ruins and are still in use today. The narrow rows of terraces beneath Q'allaqasa are believed to represent the wing of a partridge, from which the ruins take their name. P­sac is a fine beginning to Inca Trail treks.

Vitcos

As the Incas fled further from the Spanish invaders, they founded their last refuge at Vitcos. The ruins are rarely visited, which is a shame because they provide a fascinating insight into the troubled history of the region. The Peruvian authorities have been restoring the site since 2004. A visit to Vitcos on Inca Trail treks is also an opportunity to see the nearby Nusta Espanan (Yuroc Rumi), one of Incas' most sacred shrines. This granite megalith, magnificently carved on every side, is where Manco Inca was stabbed to death by Spanish traitors.

Choquequirao

Choquequirao is a ruined mountain-top city similar in architecture and structure to Machu Picchu, but it is so rarely visited on Inca Trail treks that a journey to the ruins is like visiting Machu Picchu in the first half of the twentieth century. Some groups have spent the entire day alone in the site. Temples, ceremonial plazas and other buildings are set along a high promontory, aligned with the movements of the sun and stars, with a backdrop of ice-sculpted mountains. Climbing to ridge-top gives a 360-degree perspective, like that of the condors wheeling overhead on the thermals. Choquequirao is a truly spectacular addition to Inca Trail treks.