Inca Trail Alternative treks

Many are the routes that take you to Machu Picchu, but none is like the Inca Trail Tours, the most famous pedestrian path in the Americas. After flying from the capital of Perú, Lima, you will arrive in Cusco to walk for four days along a path through forests and dense fog, millenary stone steps and discovering the ruins of ancient fortifications and Inca cities, and all the time enjoying majestic views. 

The 4 Day Inca Trail Trek is one of the most popular and well know, but unfortunately it sells out very quickly and bookings must be made well in advance.

What is an Alternative Trek?

An Inca Trail alternative route is an alternative option of a trek instead of the 4 Day Inca Trail, also in the Andes Mountains and Cusco region. The most popular alternative treks are: 3 Day Inca Trail, 2 Day Inca Trail Tour, and the 2 Day Inca Trail with Camping. There are some great Inca Trail alternative treks that still lead to Machu Picchu. These are gaining in more popularity as they are more well known. These are not restricted by the government so they are available any time of the year.

When hike to Machu Picchu?

For the best of both worlds, the months at the beginning and end of the dry season are ideal. If you travel in June, we recommend you to book the Inti Raymi 2024 Tour that takes place in June 24th, and also hike the Palcoyo Mountain Tour, which is an incredible Rainbow Mountain located in the Andes. 

Top 5 best Inca Trail Alternative Treks

Here are a number of brilliant Inca trail alternative treks to Machu Picchu each offers something truly unique

1. The Salkantay Route

The Salkantay Trek covers the southern part of the Vilcabamba mountain range, showing beautiful landscapes that vary from the pampas to the jungle. From those chilly heights, the trail descends into subtropical cloud forest, where it meets up with an ancient Inca highway (part of the original Capac Ñan network that connected the far ends of the empire) that leads to the recently rediscovered ruins of Llactapata. A downhill walk ends at the small train station, where a frequent shuttle runs along the Urubamba River to Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu complex.

Far from the agglomeration of tourists and the bureaucratic difficulties of the best-known circuits, Salkantay offers privacy and authenticity to travelers who dare to go on this trek.

With a duration of 5 days, this tour visits several Altiplano localities, as well as lagoons, hot springs and the famous Salkantay mountain.

2. The Lares Route

A route through the impressive landscape and a great diversity of cultures, which is located in the beautiful Lares valley surrounded by snow-capped peaks and a wide variety of hot springs. You will visit the Sacred Valley highlands with distant settlements where life remains as it was centuries ago and the local inhabitants preserve the Inca coasts of their predecessors: authentic and traditional clothing, agriculture with llamas and alpacas helping to cultivate the best of corn and potatoes around the world. The Lares Trek ends near the historic ruins of Ollantaytambo, and from there the train trip to Machu Picchu is only 90 minutes.

3. The Choquequirao Route

The Choquequirao Trek is a spectacular hike that connects the most challenging Inca trail alternative treks in Cusco region. Choquequirao ruins or at the same time called 'Golden cradle', is also considered one of the last strongholds and refuge of the Incas and was used presumably, as a checkpoint since it served as a link between the Amazon rainforest and the imperial city of Cusco . It is estimated that 30% of the city has been exposed and is called the 'Sacred Sister' of Machu Picchu, for its similarity in structure and architecture. We will camp under the stars, we will walk from the snowy peaks through the tropical river of the Apurímac river valley and we will go up to the high jungle. This challenging and unconventional adventure will take us through small Andean towns, along Inca roads and landscapes will always change.

4. The Ausangate Route

Ausangate is one of the places of beautiful landscapes of the mountain chain of the Peruvian Andes, Ausangate is imposed as one of the highest mountains of Cusco, the Ausangate Glacier (6384 m.), Has the presence of the white spirits of the snow of the Andean men of the Cordillera de Vilcanota. During the Ausangate Trek , you will appreciate the presence of the diversity of ecosystems, with its varieties of flora and fauna species of the Peruvian Andes. The Rainbow Mountain is also seen in this trekking adventure! Ausangate circles snowy Ausangate, which is about 60 miles east of Machu Picchu. It is one of the most beautiful and sacred treks in the Cusco region, but sees significantly less traffic. The 5 day trek is most famous for the Qoyllur Riti pilgrimage, which takes place every year in June to honor the harvest season and Inca heritage. 

5. The Inca Jungle Route

Inca Jungle to Machu Picchu is one of the best Inca Trail alternative route to Machu Picchu, which will take you on a combined route, including mountain biking, hiking and a few stretches by car, in addition to optional adventures such as; rafting, zip line or zip line, for 4 days until Machu Picchu. The Inca Jungle Trek begins in the city of Cusco and ends at Machu Picchu. During the journey you will cross the Sacred Valley of the Incas, then enter the jungle of Cusco to finally reach the Wonder of the World. 

6. Cachicata Trek to Machu Picchu

The incredible masonry of Ollantaytambo is one of the best examples in the Sacred Valley. The Inca Quarry Trail gives us the opportunity to see where the Incas extracted the stones. The trail is somewhat long along the route that the stones would have transported. Interestingly, some of the rocks that never reached Ollantaytambo can still be found around the quarry, these are like "tired stones" and there are almost 100 of them around the main quarry site.

Inca Trail vs Alternatives Treks

Here we explain you the main differences between Inca Trail vs Alternatives, so you can decide the trek you prefer. Whichever route you choose, you will spend the last day of your Machu Picchu Vacation in the citadel, exploring and admiring the Lost City of the Incas- the perfect culmination of a rewarding hike.