To practice hiking or trekking in Peru is to travel through beautiful Andean landscapes with fantastic views of snow-capped mountains and lagoons. It is to cross the Qhapaq Ñan, the network of roads that united the Inca Empire; know the culture of the communities; Cross the Cordillera Blanca and Huayhuash in Ancash or find more than one route to Machu Picchu in Cusco.
Virtually the entire mountain range, including valleys, plateaus and mountain ranges, hosts hiking or trekking circuits of varying degrees of difficulty. Only some of the circuits have been discovered as commercial trekking routes. The rest remains unexplored. Andes possess an extraordinary network of pre-Columbian trails and its more than 12,000 lagoons, with the deepest canyons on Earth, glaciers and snow-capped peaks, forests and waterfalls, beautiful villages and, above all, very hospitable people. There are roads so steep that they are lost in abysses, other zigzags that move along the mountain ranges; flat and extensive that seem to get lost in the immensity of the desert; Hidden and imperceptible among the thick vegetation of the Amazonian forests.
Camp areas on the Inca Trail
On the way from the Machu Picchu trail, there are camp areas, duly marked, coded, indicated and delimited.
The Travel Agencies, can not build their camps, in places NOT signposted, it would not be safe, for the group and the place would be preyed upon. On the way, there are basic hygienic services, for public use and are duly marked. The portable, biodegradable bathrooms that agency offers, can only be used in those places where there are no hygienic facilities.
In the camps you can find basic hygiene services. And in the last camp you can find basic showers. The agency during the trip will provide you with the facilities of the case, for your personal hygiene.
In the camp areas, you do not have electricity or a cellular network, so it is recommended that you take the necessary precautions. Bring a personal flashlight, charge your batteries in advance and be ready, to enjoy a starry sky and depending on the day will have the light of the full moon.
The camp areas, are permanently protected by the guards, you will be safe, without annoying noises. The surveillance personnel will be in charge of controlling any risk that may arise.
In the camps, remember, there should be no trace of your step, do not leave traces of your stay, all garbage should be delivered to the staff of the agency, have your own bag of garbage and at the end of the walk, deliver it; the support staff will be responsible for selecting the solid waste in organic and inorganic waste and removing it from the Inca Trail.
Do not step on mosses, die quickly, do not start flowers, leaves, branches, etc. If you visit an animal, do not approach it, do not disturb it, observe from a distance and thank you, good luck to see it.
Do not leave food waste, scattered, on the floor, apart from dirtying the camping site, you can alter the natural feeding of wildlife. If any waste is found, that has been left by another person, please pick it up and hand it over to the agency staff, it will be an action, that all the walkers will thank you, because it will be collaborating, with the maintenance of the Peru Machu Picchu hike, will be an activist to avoid, the environmental impact, in this natural and historical cultural attraction.
When is the best time to hike the Inca Trail?
The best season is during the dry season, which covers the months April to the end of September. In October the rains begin and you can find Machu Picchu covered by clouds. If you travel in June, we recommend you to book the Inti Raymi 2025 Tour that takes place in June 24th, and also hike the Palcoyo Mountain Tour, which is an incredible Rainbow Mountain located in the Andes.
Alternative Treks to Inca Trail
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.
- Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 days
- Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 5 days
- Inca Quarry Trail 4 Days
- 2 Day Inca Trail Tour
- 2 Day Inca Trail with Camping
- 3 Day Inca Trail
- Vilcabamba Hike to Machu Picchu 6 days
- Choquequirao trek to Machu Picchu 9 days
- Ausangate trek 7 days
If you want to visit Machu Picchu, we recommend you to book your Machu Picchu Ticket in advance, so you will enjoy your Vacation in Machu Picchu without any problem.
Lodges on the Salkantay trekking
This exciting expedition takes guests along an ancient road called Salkantay Trekking, going from camp to camp among the spectacular Vilcabamba mountain range. The route crosses the magnificent Salkantay Valley, passing many splendid peaks and crossing lush tropical vegetation on the way to the legendary ruins of Machu Picchu.
This exciting expedition takes guests along an ancient road called Salkantay Trekking. You will cross the rugged and rocky terrain of the Vilcabamba Mountain Range, crossing the magnificent Salkantay Valley Pass, and traversing lush tropical vegetation on the way to the legendary ruins of Machu Picchu. Previous hiking experience is recommended. This hike is differentiated by the camps along the way, which make up a well deserved resting place after a day surrounded by the beauty of nature. All the camps were designed in such a way as to help them integrate with Andean landscapes and make conscious efforts to minimize their impact on the ecosystems that surround them.
These mountain hotels enjoy an excellent location with panoramic views of the Andes mountains. The Salkantay lodge combine comfort and adventure with a lot of style to create a very comfortable walking experience and a well deserved rest after each day of walking.
Travelers spend one night in each of the four walking camps located at strategic points along the route: Soraypampa, Huayraccmachay, Collpapampa and Lucmabamba. Each Salkantay lodge Peru bear the names of these places, respectively:
- Lodge in Soraypampa (3,800 meters / 12,467 feet)
- Lodge in Huayraccmachay (3,850 meters / 12,631 feet)
- Lodge in Collpapampa (2,800 meters / 9,186 feet) Lucmabamba (2,135 meters / 7,004 feet)
The four camps were designed and built incorporating traditional construction techniques, concepts of Inca architecture (and their interaction with the landscape) and respect for the environment.
The base camp is located in the Andean high valley of Soraypampa at 3,800 meters (12,467 feet) above sea level. The camp is named after the summit of Salkantay, which with its 6,271 meters (20,574 feet) is the highest in the region.
Apart from offering the Andean Energy Kitchen, which consists of regional organic food designed especially for guests, the camp has a bathroom and dining room.
Ausangate camps
The snow of Ausangate is one of the highest peaks of Peru located in the Vilcanota mountain range at 130 kilometers from Cusco and reaches an altitude of (6,372 m / 20,905 ft) has several lagoons of a bright green / blue color, presents a landscape natural of great beauty. The Ausangate trek Peru is an indescribable adventure, and it is impossible not to be impressed by the enormous beauty of eternal snow. The Ausangate hike is one of the attractions of Cusco.
To this chain of mountains covered with perpetual snow several walks are made one of them the fervent pilgrimage to the snow of Ocongate that is made only once a year, it is located the Lord of Qoyllur Rity (snowy snow) that attracts every year to thousands of pilgrims, but to the Ausangate Rainbow Mountains you can visit frequently by all those who love adventure and like to be in contact with pure nature.
The establishment is located in Ocognate and offers comfortable rooms with free Wi-Fi. They feature a cozy living room with fireplace and a restaurant serving regional cuisine.
The Ausangate Lodges are located in a valley and have rooms decorated in a regional style and equipped with a TV and garden views. All have a private bathroom with a shower. The Ausangate is 20 km from the Lord of Qoylloritty Sanctuary. The property also has a tour desk.
Manu Lodges
The Manu National Park has 80% primary forest and the rest is mature forest with beautiful cocoa trees, coffee, avocados, exotic fruits of the Peru Jungle and a hundred flowers that attracts several species of birds and fascinating hummingbirds. This is a very rich place with different types of forest and excellent trail system.
The lodges in Manu are located in the heart of the Manu National Park. The tourist activity in the Amazon contributes to maintain the cultural identity of these communities and to preserve the natural resources of the Park. Each lodge offers all visitors the privilege of staying in one of the largest and most important Natural Parks in Peru, where the greatest biodiversity of Amazonian flora and fauna is found.
The hostel has rooms classified in single, double and triple rooms with private bathrooms and covered with their respective mosquito nets.
These ecological lodges were created to provide people living in Manu with a way to participate in ecotourism in the area, as well as a means to strengthen their culture.
The lodge has a large dining room and kitchen, perfectly covered with mosquito netting. It has bungalows; each one has double rooms, each bed has sheets, covers, pillows, mosquito nets and towels.
The best way to book a night in these lodges is by booking a tour in the Manu Peru Amazon. The service starts in the city of Cusco or Puerto Maldonado. We will pick you up at the airport in our private vehicle and transfer to the Port of Colorado. It is there where we will board our motorized boat that will take us to our Manu Lodge known as the wildlife paradise.
Do not miss the opportunity to stay at a lodge in the Peru Rainforest, in the heart of the Manu biosphere. This is the starting point of our excursions through the Manu National Park. It is a spectacular place with large lakes where you can see giant otter families and huge black caimans, visit the large collpa de Guacamayos, Tapir, peresoso bear, capivaras and a variety of monkeys and toucans. The excursions are oriented to explore and spot the great Jaguar cat (Panthera onca).