Best alternative treks to Machu Picchu
Every year travelers discover too late that Classic Inca Trail permits have sold out for their dates. Here is the secret locals know: some of the finest treks to Machu Picchu are not the Inca Trail at all — and they need no permit.
Part of our complete guideThe complete Inca Trail guide →Why consider an alternative
The Classic Inca Trail is permit-capped and closes every February. The alternatives below are permit-free, often more scenic, and can be booked much closer to your travel dates.
The best alternatives
| Trek | Best for | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Salkantay | Mountain scenery and glaciers | 4–5 |
| Lares | Andean culture and quiet | 4 |
| Choquequirao | Remote ruins, few people | 4–9 |
| Inca Jungle | Adventure: biking, rafting, hiking | — |
| Short Inca Trail | Still want the Sun Gate (small permit) | 2 |
The most popular is Salkantay; for culture choose Lares; for true wilderness, Choquequirao. Compare them in Inca Trail vs Salkantay vs Lares.
Still want to walk in via the Sun Gate?
The Short Inca Trail uses a smaller permit that is easier to secure, and still finishes through Inti Punku — the Sun Gate. Check the permit calendar.
Find a trek for your dates
See every trek and what still has space.
The best alternatives to the Classic Inca Trail
The Classic Inca Trail is famous, permit-limited and often sold out — but it is far from the only way to walk to Machu Picchu. Several outstanding alternatives need no permit and each offers something the Inca Trail doesn't.
| Trek | Why choose it | Permit? |
|---|---|---|
| Salkantay | Big-mountain scenery beneath a 6,271 m peak | No |
| Lares | Living Andean weaving culture and hot springs | No |
| Inca Jungle | Biking, rafting and hiking — for the active | No |
| Choquequirao | A second lost city, almost crowd-free | No |
| Short Inca Trail | The original trail and Sun Gate in 1–2 days | Yes (fewer) |
How to pick your alternative
Choose by what you most want. For mountain drama, take Salkantay. For culture, choose Lares. For adventure sports, the Inca Jungle. For a second lost city and genuine solitude, Choquequirao. And if you still want the original Inca path but missed the permits, the Short Inca Trail delivers the Sun Gate finale. Our three-way comparison goes deeper.
Why an alternative might be the better trip
Beyond permit availability, alternatives often mean fewer crowds, lower cost and more flexible dates. They can be booked closer to your travel time, and many travellers find the scenery of Salkantay or the culture of Lares more memorable than the trail itself. All of them finish at Machu Picchu, so you lose nothing of the destination. Read our Inca Trail guide to see exactly what you'd be trading.
Frequently asked questions
Salkantay is the most popular for its glacier scenery; Lares is best for culture; Choquequirao for remote wilderness. None require an Inca Trail permit.
Absolutely. Salkantay, Lares and other treks all reach Machu Picchu without an Inca Trail permit, as does the train day tour.
Most reach Machu Picchu by train rather than the Sun Gate. The Short Inca Trail is the exception — it finishes through the Sun Gate with a smaller permit.
