Treks in Peru

There is more, much more to trekking in Peru than the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Of course we operate treks to this most famous of Inca settlements, but after combing the country for over ten years, we also offer some inspiring and different treks to suit you, whatever your experience and aptitude. Choose from:

Trekking in the Cuzco area

Trekking in the Cuzco Area

Hotel-Based Hikes (up to 7 hours walk)

These treks vary in difficulty, and can be as short as 3 hours and as long as 7. We can put together an itinerary including some or all of the treks below, while over-nighting in the most conveniently located hotels and lodges. The hikes below are organized from shortest to longest. Please note that for the One-day Inca Trail, permits are required.

Short Camping Treks (1 or 2 nights)

These treks are ranked as easy, but the campsites can be at high altitude. (Over 3,800m or 11,400 ft ).

Loops

This are the only two treks that take you completely or partially around a mountain!

Village Treks

These treks take you close to communities and populated areas where you can still see traditional ways of life in the Andes :

Alternatives to the Inca Trail

We say these could be alternatives to the Inca Trail for two distinct reasons: In the case of Salcantay, the route it follows is close to the Machu Picchu area and you can actually see Macchu Picchu from your last campsite. You can then take the train to Aguas Calientes and you are in Machu Picchu! In the case of Choquequirao and Vilcabamba, both treks, whilst being quite different to the Inca Trail, lead you to two important and beautiful Inca sites. If you want to join both treks together and cross the Vilcabamba range, that is quite possible (18 days).

High Altitude Treks

This trek will keep you consistently at above 3800m/11,400ft. The Auzangate trek we feature is the basic route, but we can add a few days so you can try climbing part of Auzangate or doing a circuit around Lake Sibinacocha .

Low Altitude Treks

This trek offers the rare opportunity for those with problems with altitude, to trek in the Andes. All of the trek takes place in the cloudforest and below 3,600m/11,000ft

Archaeology Treks

If you love archaeology, the Andes around Cuzco are a haven to trek and see archaeology at the same time. From 1-day to multi-day hikes, including of course the Inca Trail, all of the treks below offer you the unique opportunity of visiting archaeology whilst in the midst of sensational geography.

Festival Treks

If there is one authentic and powerful experience in the Andes, it is the pilgrimage to the temple of Our Lord of Qoyllur R'iti (Star of Snow)

Treks in the north (Huaraz area)

Trekking in the Cordillera Blanca (Parque Nacional Huascaran) is quite different from Trekking in the Cuzco area. Whereas there are local populations you will encounter, especially in some treks such as the Huayhuash circuit, or archaeology in the Olleros - Chavin Route, here the emphasis is on the breathtaking mountain scenery. There are over 50 peaks that exceed 5,000 metres (15,000ft) and during either the relatively short Santa Cruz-Llanganuco trek or the longer and more strenuous Huayhyash, you are spectacularly close to these giant mountains from the first day of your trek.

The Cordillera Blanca is the highest tropical mountain range in the world which makes a haven for climbers, as it enjoys a longer season than other climbing hotspots such as the Himalayas. It is considered to be equally or even more beautiful than the Annapurna in the Himalayas, according to the experts.