Machu Picchu hikes

• Difficulty: Strenuous
• Duration: Four days
• Max elevation: 4,215 metres (13,828 ft)
• Accommodation: Camping
• Start/end point: KM82 to Machu Picchu

The Inca Trail is easily the most famous of all the Peru treks. Since it first opened, it’s been included in every roundup of the world’s best trekking routes, and for good reason. There’s something profoundly magical about making this pilgrimage, as the Inca once did from Cusco to Machu Picchu.

Only on this classic route can you actually arrive at the famous ruins on foot. For any of the so-called alternative Inca Trail treks, the route will finish at a different point, and you’ll arrive in Machu Picchu via train to Aguas Calientes.

Although you’ll certainly see your share of stunning landscapes as you head from the mountains to the high jungle, this trek is particularly known for its stop-offs at numerous Inca sites along the way. While you’ll be sharing the path with a great number of other tourists, porters, cooks, and guides, you can still snatch some private moments to take in the scenery, not to mention the history, of the trail.

For me, a major downside to the Inca Trail is its deeply problematic workers' rights concerns. Be sure to book with a responsible operator, or consider one of the alternatives.

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Duration: Six to seven hours' hiking
• Distance: 11km
• Max elevation: 2,500
• Start/end point: Km 104 to Machu Picchu

If it’s important for you to arrive at Machu Picchu by foot, consider doing the KM104 hike to Machu Picchu, which I’ve done twice. You get the epic arrival with a less crowded experience.

Although tour operators typically refer to this as the "Two Day Inca Trail", it actually only involves one day of hiking. The second day you visit Machu Picchu after spending the night in a hotel Aguas Calientes.

A little-publicised benefit to the KM104 trek is that you arrive at Machu Picchu in the afternoon, when the light is beautiful and the crowds are beginning to thin out. You are not allowed to enter the ruins, but you have a great view of them from the Sun Gate (Intipunku) and can stop to take photos on some of the upper terraces. Even better, you return the next morning for a full guided tour.

My ultimate pro tip: combine the Lares trek for the multi-day hiking experience, followed by the KM104 hike for the epic Machu Picchu arrival.

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Distance: Various routes, classic route approx 33km (20m)
• Duration: Three to four days
• Max elevation: 4,400 metres
• Accommodation: Camping or lodges
• Start/end point: Huarán - Lares Hot Springs

Known as the “cultural trek” to Machu Picchu as it offers opportunities to interact with local communities along the way, the Lares trek is one of the shorter treks, which makes it a good option for those who are short on time. This is probably my favourite of all the Machu Picchu region treks, for the cultural interactions that are less common on some of the other routes.

Hiking from the Sacred Valley up to high mountain passes, you’ll be treated to some stunning vistas on this route. However, the real treat here is meeting the local inhabitants of indigenous villages along the way, learning about ancestral weaving techniques directly from the descendants who are still practising them today. An added (and welcome) bonus is finishing at the hot springs in Lares.

Expert insight, by Miles Buesst of PeruNorth, a specialist in Peru trekking tours: "There are in fact several routes going by the name of 'Lares Trek', with varying heights and lengths. All include a stop at the remote town of Lares (3,171 m / 10,404 ft), usually on the first day of the trek, and most involve just two days of hiking in total, crossing one high pass. The last time I did the Lares Trek, what most surprised me was the amount of interaction with the local, Quechua-speaking people, who appeared at our arrival and seemed un-jaded by the attention of foreigners. Unlike the Inca Trail, there is no need to purchase hiking permits months in advance, which makes the Lares Trek a popular option for those who want to enjoy Andean rural culture and scenery, prior to going to Machu Picchu."

• Difficulty: Strenuous
• Distance: Approx 64km (40m)
• Duration: Four to five days depending on pace
• Max elevation: 3,300 metres
• Accommodation: Cabins or camping
• Start/end point: Capuliyoc

Until recently, relatively unknown and vastly overshadowed by the “sister ruins” of Machu Picchu, the Choquequirao complex is a true hidden gem that receives just a handful of visitors each year.

This splendid isolation is down to the ruins’ absolute lack of access: no luxury train and bus connections here, just a gruelling three-to-four day trek over challenging, but hugely rewarding, terrain. The roundtrip distance is 64 kilometres, not counting how much you walk around the ruins themselves.

• Difficulty: Strenuous

• Distance: 50 km

• Duration: Four days

• Max elevation: 4,959m/16,270ft.

• Accommodation: Camping

• Start/end point: Socma to Piscacucho

This is another lesser-known trek in the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu area, and is one of the most difficult in the whole Cusco region.

On the final day of my preferred route you link up with the first day of the classic Inca Trail, but in the opposite direction. Despite this, very few other hikers do this trek, making it a great hidden gem in an otherwise busy region.

My preferred route starts at Socma and follows the same route as the Cachiqata trek (Quarry Trail). But where that trek veers north, this route goes west into the Chancachuco Valley and, on the second day, over some strenuous mountain passes to beautiful Ancascocha Lake, fed by glaciers from Huayanay mountain. The mountain scenery up here is out of this world.

The downhill stretch from Chancachuco to Chilca or Paukarcancha is particularly stunning, with beautiful wild orchids lining the trail.

On the third day you see the first day of the classic Inca Trail in reverse and get to visit the ruins of Paukarcancha and Llaqtapata before finishing the hike where the classic Inca Trail begins. From here, you can either take the train to Aguas Calientes and a bus to Machu Picchu or, my favourite, finish with the KM 104 (‘short Inca Trail’) and arrive at Machu Picchu on foot.

No permits are required unless you’re combining the hike with the classic inca trail.

• Difficulty: Mild

• Distance: 23 km

• Duration: Two days

• Max elevation: 4,335 metres

• Accommodation: Camping

• Start/end point: Patabamba to Lamay

This is one of my favourite shorter treks in the Sacred Valley region. The hike leads to the remains of Huchuy Qosqo, which means ‘small Cusco’ in the indigenous Quechua language.

The Huchuy Qosqo Trek is an excellent choice for inexperienced hikers as it is the easiest trek in the Cusco area. The hardest climb takes only three hours, followed by a downhill walk. I usually recommend this hike for groups with kids or older trekkers, although proper acclimatisation is still essential.

One of the most impressive features is the Leon Punku Canyon, which leads you through a stunning Inca road that runs along the bottom of the canyon. Another interesting feature of this hike is that it’s the only trek where you can camp within Inca ruins.

The route starts in Patabamba and leads through grassland puna as it climbs towards Sihuas pass, following some of the original Inca roadway, of which the more famous Inca Trail is just one section. Eventually on the end of the first day you reach the site of Huchuy Qosqo and make camp at the ruins. (With no light pollution for miles, the high altitude night sky here is one of the best places to stargaze.) The next morning you can explore the ruins before descending and finishing in Lamay town, which is an interesting place to explore for an hour or so.

Probably my favourite way to hike to Machu Picchu is by combining the Huchuy Qosqo trek with the KM 104 (‘short Inca Trail’) hike, and entering Machu Picchu on foot rather than by bus with all the day trippers.

If you prefer more of a challenge, the alternative routes via Ccor Ccor or Cuper Alto are just as impressive, but a bit tougher.

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Distance: Approx 28 km

• Duration: Three days

• Max elevation: 4,440 metres

• Accommodation: Camping

• Start/end point: Socma to Ollantaytambo

The Cachiqata (Cachicata) trek, also known as the Quarry Trail, is one of my favourite short treks in the Sacred Valley area. Although close to Ollantaytambo, Cachiqata has a real “off the beaten path” vibe, with very few tourists compared to the area’s other more popular trekking routes.

The trail is named after an Inca Quarry in the mountains above Ollantaytambo. It’s an extensive site and was the main source of stone for the town. You can see quarried stone still left unfinished, burial houses and even a cave with mummies still in situ. This is the only trek around Machu Picchu where you can see firsthand the techniques used by Inca stonemasons to cut and shape rocks for the empire’s impressive constructions.

My preferred route starts from the small settlement of Socma, south of Ollantaytambo. You follow a valley towards the waterfalls and ruins at Perolniyoc before camping for the night in Rayan. The next day you climb a mountain pass and cross high Andean plateau until you reach Cachiqata quarry, going via an Inti Punku ‘sun gate,’ (not to be confused with the more famous sun gate on the Inca Trail), which offers a stunning balcony view of the majestic Veronica mountain.

On the third day you spend most of the day exploring the site before descending to Ollantaytambo. From here you can continue to Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu, or head in the opposite direction back to Cusco.

No permits are required for this hike, unless you want to combine it with the KM 104 (short Inca Trail’) afterwards.

• Difficulty: Strenuous
• Distance: Approx. 60km (37m)
• Duration: Four to five days
• Max elevation: 4,630 metres
• Accommodation: Camping or lodges
• Start/end point: Challacancha - Santa Teresa

The Salkantay Trek is the most popular alternative to the Inca Trail, described by National Geographic as one of the best treks in the world. While there are no ruins along the way unless you do the lodge-to-lodge version, the opportunity for gorgeous landscapes is even greater than on the Inca Trail, leading it to be known as the “Nature Trek.”

From snow-capped mountains down to high jungle, this trek is known for its varied ecosystems and landscapes. You’ll pass high mountain glaciers, walk along rolling fields and pastures, and end up in the high jungle that surrounds Machu Picchu.

The length of this hike can vary, both in mileage as well as in the number of days. The traditional version is four days of hiking, covering a distance of about 37 miles. If you choose the much more comfort-oriented lodge-to-lodge version of the trek, you will hike for six days, covering a bit more distance but with less hiking time per day.

Expert insight, by Miles Buesst of PeruNorth, a specialist in Peru trekking tours: "The last time I did the Salkantay Trek, despite being tired from the first day’s hiking, I made the effort to climb up the lateral moraine left by Salkantay Glacier. Boy, it was worth it! I was rewarded with a vast lunar landscape of rocks and craters, left by the retreating ice sheet. I could hear the occasional sound of the glacier calving a kilometre above me, and falling rocks and ice. It was easy to see why locals - past and present - have worshipped these mountains as gods, called apus."

• Difficulty: Strenuous
• Distance: Approx. 96 km (60 miles)
• Duration: Four to five days
• Max elevation: 5,200 metres
• Accommodation: Camping or lodges
• Start/end point: Tinki - Pacchanta

The classic Ausangate route is a beast of a trek, although - as with Salkantay - there is a lodge version that brings some very welcome creature comforts to the overall experience.

The landscape here is rugged, wild, and pristine. You’ll be surrounded by awe-inspiring glacier mountains, turquoise lagoons of various sizes, and wildlife such as an abundance of waterfowl, raptors, and vizcachas, a cousin of the chinchilla. There are also some high mountain communities in this area who shepherd their alpacas in the region and offer some of the most beautiful weavings you’ll see in Peru. You’ll also get to soothe your aching feet in hot springs along the way.

• Difficulty: Strenuous
• Duration: Five days
• Distance: 55 km
• Maximum elevation: 4500m
• Start/end point: Huancacalle - Yanatile

The Vilcabamba Trek takes hikers through the remote and rugged Vilcabamba mountain range, home to the last Inca stronghold during the Spanish conquest. Few trekking agencies run trips here but if you do go, you’ll likely have the place to yourself. Two amazing Inca ruins that you’ll visit are Vitcos and Ñustahispana.

The highlight of the trek is the visit to the remote and well-preserved Inca site of Espiritu Pampa, also known as "The Last City of the Incas." Read “Turn Right at Machu Picchu” by Mark Adams for a humorous account of his gruelling trek to Vilcabamba. This is a difficult trek because of the high mountain passes.

• Difficulty: Challenging
• Duration: Nine days
• Distance: 115 km
• Maximum elevation: 4200m
• Start and end point: Capuliyoc - Machu Picchu

This trek is a combination of the Choquequirao Trek and the Salkantay Trek, offering a more challenging and remote experience for adventurous hikers. The trek takes hikers through rugged Andean landscapes, traditional Andean villages, and ancient Inca ruins, past the remote Choquequirao to the iconic Machu Picchu. The highlight of the trek is the opportunity to visit two of the most important Inca sites in the region, as long as you want to walk that far.

• Difficulty: Challenging
• Duration: 10-12 days
• Distance: 184 km
• Maximum elevation: 4350m
• Start and end point: Capuliyoc - Huancacalle

This is a long trek that is perfect for people with time who want to hike to the two best Inca ruins: Choquequirao and Machu Picchu. The trail is difficult but many agencies offer horses for those who want to ride part of the way. You will camp near small mountain communities each night, so bring small change if you want to buy alpaca weavings or other souvenirs directly from the people who make them.

The trek ends at Huancacalle but agencies include transportation to Santa Teresa, from where you can walk or take the train to Aguas Calientes. Check that the agency also includes the shuttle up to Machu Picchu, then train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and shuttle back to Cusco. Camping on the trail, plus lodging in Santa Teresa and Aguas Calientes should be included.

• Difficulty: Challenging
• Duration: Eight days
• Distance: 120 km
• Maximum elevation: 4,500m
• Start and end point: Hidroelectrica - Lares

This trek is a combination of the Vilcabamba Trek and the Lares Trek, offering a more challenging and remote experience for adventurous hikers. The trek takes hikers through the remote and rugged Vilcabamba and Lares mountain ranges, home to the last Inca stronghold during the Spanish conquest and traditional Andean communities. The trek offers a mix of beautiful Andean landscapes, traditional Andean villages, ancient Inca ruins, and hot springs. The highlight of the trek is the visit to Espiritu Pampa, also known as "The Last City of the Incas"

• Difficulty: Easy
• Duration: One hour
• Max elevation: 2,500
• Start/end point: The trail starts at the far side of the Machu Picchu citadel

While Huayna means young in Quechua, Huchuy means little. It’s an apt name for this small hill next to Huayna Picchu. New in 2022, this short hike is for people who want something extra, but bought tickets too late to get Huayna or Machu Picchu Mountain. In fact, it’s so little that some consider it a waste of time. On the plus side, there is no extra cost.

You’ll get a view over the Machu Picchu citadel similar to Huayna Picchu, though not from nearly as high. It’s still a lovely spot to take photos.

This is more of a short walk than a hike. Most people take a half hour, even if they stop to take lots of photos. If you want to stretch it out, you could take an hour on Huchuy Picchu.

There are 30 tickets to Huchuy Picchu available each hour starting at 7 am. At 11am and 12pm there are 40 tickets per hour, for a total of 200 tickets per day. Even though it does not cost any more than the regular Machu Picchu ticket, you must select this add-on when you purchase the ticket. If you buy tickets with Huchuy Picchu, you will do circuit four through the citadel.

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Duration: Two to four hours
• Max elevation: 2,693
• Start/end point: The trailhead is at the far end of the Machu Picchu citadel

The classic Machu Picchu day hike, Huayna Picchu is best known as the perfectly triangular peak that towers behind Machu Picchu in all the classic photos.

Many of the breathtaking photos you’ve seen that are taken from a vantage point far above the ruins were shot from this peak.

Huayna means young in Quechua, as opposed to “machu” which means old. Huayna Picchu is the smaller of the two peaks that bookend the main archeological site and Machu Picchu Mountain is the larger one.

Before committing to this hike, it’s important to know that it is definitely not for people who have a fear of heights. While this can be an issue anywhere in the Andes, climbing Huayna Picchu involves plenty of narrow paths with exposure to sheer drop-offs. There are handrails in the worst spots, but not everywhere you may want them.

Although there are some ruins toward the top, the main reason people do this hike is for the great perspective it gives you, looking down on Machu Picchu. If you are more adventurous, you can also go over the top and around the other side. This will allow you to visit the Temple of the Moon and the Great Cavern.

As with so many hikes in Peru, the hard part isn’t the distance as such, it’s the vertical gain over a very short distance that makes the route so challenging. Be prepared for over 300m (1,000 ft) of ascent, with steep rock stairways all the way up. It takes most people between one and two hours. If you choose to do the hike around to the back as well, you should give yourself a good four hours to complete the circuit and have time to explore the cave.

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Duration: Two to four hours
• Max elevation: 3,082
• Start/end point: The trail starts on the upper terraces of the Machu Picchu citadel

Agreat alternative to Huayna Picchu, and one which does not sell out so quickly, is Machu Picchu Mountain. Higher than Huayna Picchu but a more up-and-down sort of climb, the hike to the top is longer and more gradual, although it will take longer.

While Huayna Picchu is the one most known for its photo opportunities of Machu Picchu, many feel that Machu Picchu Mountain actually offers some more impressive vistas.

Between Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain, it’s hard to say which is more difficult. Some feel that the up-and-down nature of the trail up Machu Picchu Mountain, combined with the longer distance, makes it more difficult. Machu Picchu Mountain also reaches a higher altitude–3,082m (10,112 ft) vs. Huayna Picchu’s 2,720m (8,924 ft). Others prefer Machu Picchu Mountain for its lighter traffic, wider path with less crumbling stairs, and less exposure to sheer drop offs than Huayna Picchu–although there are a few dicey spots.

There are no ruins on this mountain. The climb is purely for the adventure of it, plus the fantastic views that you will get of Machu Picchu below. Another plus is that it is not as popular as Huayna Picchu so the path tends to be less crowded.

To reach the top of the mountain, you will gain a little over 610m (2,000 ft) in altitude. You’ll need up to two hours to reach the top, and about an hour to hike back down. From there, it’ll take you some time to make your way back to the front gate, so be sure to allow for that when considering your return train.

As of 2023, entrance tickets to Machu Picchu Mountain are limited to 100 per day; 50 people may enter between 7 and 8 am, and 50 more between 8 and 9 am. This is a significant reduction compared to previous years, so be sure to check current regulations in case this changes again. If you buy Machu Picchu Mountain tickets, you will do circuit three through the citadel.

• Difficulty: Easy
• Duration: One hour
• Max elevation: 2,500
• Start/end point: The trail starts on the upper terraces of the Machu Picchu citadel

A little known part of Machu Picchu is an Inca bridge around the back of the ruins. It was like a secret back door to Machu Picchu and may have been designed as an escape route. The bridge itself is wooden, unlike Q'eswachaka, an Inca rope bridge that is rebuilt every year.

You’ll have a fantastic view west, up the Urubamba River valley behind Machu Picchu. The trail is narrow but you don’t have to cross the precarious bridge to enjoy it. Many visitors hike up to the bridge for the view but don’t try to walk across.

This is an easy 20-30 minute walk on a relatively level dirt and stone pathway. It’s great if you want to see something extra without a demanding hike or extra cost.

There are 30 tickets for the Inca Bridge available each hour from 7 am to 10am. From 11am to 2pm there are 40 tickets per hour, for a total of 280 people per day. Even though it does not cost any more than the regular Machu Picchu ticket, you must select this add-on when you purchase the ticket. If you buy tickets with the Inca Bridge, you will do circuit one or two through the citadel.