Trails Other Than The Inca Trail

The popularity of the Inca Trail and the scarcity of available spots have led to the opening of several alternative hikes of varying length and difficulty.

The three- to seven-day Salcantay trek is named for the 6,270-meter (20,500-foot) peak of the same name. It begins at Mollepata, four hours by road from Cusco, and is a strenuous hike that goes through a 4,800-meter (15,700-foot) pass. The Salcantay excursion joins the Inca Trail at Huayllabamba.

The Ausangate trek takes its name from the Nevado Ausangate, 6,372 meters (20,900 feet) in elevation, and requires a day of travel each way from Cusco in addition to the standard five-six days on the trail. Nearly the entire excursion takes you on terrain over 4,000 meters (13,100 feet).

Relatively new to the region's trekking scene are four-day hikes through the Lares Valley, north of Urubamba and Ollantaytambo. The excursion offers a cultural dimension, with stops at several villages along the way. The Lares trek compares in difficulty to the Inca Trail.

Various treks bearing the name of Choquequirao take in ruins that some have trumpeted as "the new Machu Picchu," another long-lost Inca city. The site, still little excavated and not yet accessible to mass tourism, sits at 3,100 meters (10,180 feet). The four- to 11- day treks entail a series of steep ascents and descents.

The Chinchero-Huayllabamba trek has two selling points: it can be accomplished in one day—about six hours—and is downhill much of the way, although portions get steep. The hike begins in Chinchero, north of Cusco, and offers splendid views as you descend into the Sacred Valley.