The satisfaction of approaching Machu Picchu on foot is incomparable. This is why the Inca Trail trek has become so popular in recent years. Previously, travelers could arrive in Cusco and arrange the trek for the next day, or even the next week or month. Now, that era is over. In order to reduce road damage, the Peruvian government has limited access to 500 people per day, including porters. Permits during the peak summer season sell out months in advance.
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| Inca Trail to Machu Picchu |
Fortunately, the Incas were masters of road building. They've blazed trails through the Andes, including plenty of alternative treks to Machu Picchu (you'll only be a short train ride from the site). Here are six itineraries that mostly require no permits and can be arranged through any equipment supplier in Cusco. Some of these hikes are available in several variations and can be adapted to several levels of physical condition. The routes below are the most popular.
1. THE SALKANTAY TREK
The classic Inca Trail route is renowned for its diverse topography and ecosystem. However, the wide range offered by the Salkantay trek is even more impressive. Mount Salkantay, culminating at 6,271 meters above sea level, was one of the most sacred peaks of the Inca religion. Today, he is still revered in traditional Andean religion. This mule-assisted trek crosses the beautiful Mollepata Valley and the Salkantay at an altitude of over 4,500 meters. Once in these cool heights, the trail descends into a tropical cloud forest and joins an ancient Inca road that was part of the Capac Ñan network, which connected the ends of the empire. This artery leads to the recently discovered ruins of Llactapata. At this point, one can contemplate the valley for a stretch of several kilometers and have an exceptional side view of the Machu Picchu complex. The path descends the hill and ends at a small station, where a shuttle regularly runs along the Urubamba River to reach Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of Machu Picchu.
Duration of the trek: 5 to 8 days
Difficulty level: medium to difficult
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| Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu |
2. LARES TREK
The Sacred Valley, crossed each year by hundreds of thousands of travelers aboard the trains that connect Cuzco to Machu Picchu, is legitimately renowned for its beauty. It is also slightly crowded. However, the Lares Valley extends beyond the gigantic snow-capped peaks that mark the northern boundary of the Sacred Valley. In this place, for centuries, life has gone on undisturbed. Indigenous women in traditional Andean dresses hand-plant potatoes, herd llamas and alpacas, and weave, as previous generations did. These peasants and craftsmen may be the only people you will meet for several days. Generally, this hike starts in the small town of Lares, known for its hot spring, and passes through several villages. Along the way, stunning views of 5,500-meter-high Mount Veronica and several high-altitude lakes. The road ends at the historic ruins of Ollantaytambo, and from there the train journey to Machu Picchu takes just 90 minutes.
Duration of the trek: 3 to 5 days
Difficulty level: medium
3. THE INCA TRAIL IN A DAY
The usual Inca Trail Hike takes four days, although it's best to complete it in five. Travelers pressed for time who want to see two of the most beautiful sites of the famous trek can opt for its truncated version, which begins at kilometer 104 of the Machu Picchu railway. We climb a hill for three hours to the Wiñay Wayna, a spectacular site of stone ruins and curved terraced crops clinging to a steep ridge that overlooks the Urubamba River. Hikers then have a choice. They can either walk to Machu Picchu the same day or spend the night on the road in order to enter the sacred city at dawn through the Sun Gate, this striking entrance that offers users of the Inca Trail their first glimpse of the site. Note: The Inca Trail in One Day requires one of the 500 Inca Trail Day Permits, so must be booked well in advance.
Duration of the trek: 1 day (2 if you are camping)
Difficulty level: medium
4. THE ROAD TO VILCABAMBA
This march lasts a week and extends over nearly 100 kilometers. Sensitive souls refrain. It begins in the town of Cachora with a two-day trek through the canyon of the Apurimac River, one and a half kilometers deep, to reach the isolated ruins of Choquequirao ("golden cradle" in Quechua). , which have become famous in recent years due to their resemblance to Machu Picchu. Then, the path continues, in places on the old stone roads built by the Incas, and crosses the sparsely populated Vilcabamba mountain range, which has not changed since the first exploration of Hiram Bingham a century ago. Hikers meander through a mountain range, cross rivers and valleys, and enter some of Peru's most diverse biozones: arid scrub, lush cloud forest, and the puna, high-altitude grassland. The trek ends near Machu Picchu, accessible a few minutes on foot or by train.
Duration of the trek: 7 to 13 days
Difficulty level: difficult
5. THE HIKE-LODGE
This new route is for those who want to hike the way the ancient Peru explorers did: walk during the day and sleep every night in clean sheets after a few cocktails and a gourmet meal. You also have to be prepared to pay for the privilege of spending the night in the four fully equipped lodges that dot the path. The trip is similar to the Salkantay trek and offers stunning views of the sacred peaks and their glaciers, with the difference that it emphasizes comfort rather than physical exercise. The trail reaches an altitude of 4,500 meters before descending into a lush valley where bananas and coffee grow. Lodges near Machu Picchu and a private guided tour of the site are usually included in the package price.
Duration of the trek: 7 to 11 days
Difficulty level: medium
6. THE CHASKI (OR CACHICATA) TREK
The various posts of the vast Inca empire were connected by messengers who moved on foot, called chaski. According to stories, they ran so fast that the emperor could eat fresh fish caught in the Pacific Ocean for his dinner in Cuzco, 300 kilometers from the coast. This high-altitude path follows some of the trails taken by these runners and crosses little-visited Inca sites, canals, and quarries, where you can directly see how the Incas pulled the stones used in their construction projects. Most versions of the Chaski route include a stop at the spectacular waterfalls called Perolniyoc and its ruins. The trail ends at Ollantaytambo, where hikers can visit one of the most well-known Inca sites, before hopping on the train to Machu Picchu.
Duration of the trip: 3 to 5 days
Difficulty level: medium
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