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5 DaysSalkantay and Inca Trail
5 DaysDurationSmallGroupsAll-inPricing
Two legendary routes in one — Salkantay glaciers and the classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
From$850
View tourReach Machu Picchu your way
Sold-out Inca Trail? No problem. These spectacular routes reach Machu Picchu — or rival it — with wilder scenery, fewer crowds and no permit waiting list.
Beyond the classic trail
When the Inca Trail permits sell out, the adventure is far from over. Peru’s alternative treks offer some of the most dramatic mountain scenery on the continent — and most need no permit, so you can book closer to your dates.
Cross the glacier pass on the legendary Salkantay Trek, walk through living villages on the Lares route, discover the remote ruins of Choquequirao, or circle the sacred peak of Ausangate. Every trek is run by our local team, in small groups, with porters and chefs treated fairly.
Two legendary routes in one — Salkantay glaciers and the classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
The famous four-day Salkantay route over the high pass to Machu Picchu.
A fast three-day Salkantay trek for adventurers short on time.
Glaciers and the turquoise Humantay Lake in a perfect two-day escape.
An epic expedition linking two lost Inca cities across the Apurimac Canyon.
Eight days from Cachora to Choquequirao and on to Machu Picchu.
Five days to the remote Choquequirao citadel, the sister city of Machu Picchu.
The hidden Lost City of the Incas, far from the crowds, in four days.
Sacred Valley highlands and the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
Little Cusco and Machu Picchu over three spectacular days.
A rewarding single-day trek through Chinchero to the Little Cusco ruins.
Andean weaving villages and the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
The living culture of the Lares Valley, finishing at Machu Picchu.
Five days around the sacred Ausangate peak and its colorful glacial lakes.
Ausangate glaciers paired with the famous seven-color Rainbow Mountain.
Quality service
We are committed to world-class experiences that go far above and beyond the mass-produced tours so common today.
The Salkantay trek was tougher and more beautiful than I imagined. Our guide and chef were world-class — worth every step.
Why book with us
Most routes need no government permit, so you can book with far more flexibility than the Inca Trail.
Our Cusqueño guides know every pass, ruin and shortcut — and the stories behind them.
Quality tents, warm sleeping gear and chef-prepared meals even at high altitude.
Fair pay for porters, leave-no-trace camping and real support for the communities we cross.
Good to know
The Salkantay Trek is the most popular — stunning, varied and permit-free. For culture choose Lares; for solitude Choquequirao; for high-mountain scenery Ausangate.
No. Unlike the classic Inca Trail, these routes do not require the limited government permits, so they can usually be booked much closer to your travel dates.
Salkantay, Lares, Huchuyqosqo and Inca Jungle all finish at Machu Picchu. Choquequirao and Ausangate are destinations in their own right and can be combined with a separate Machu Picchu visit.
These are multi-day high-altitude treks. Good general fitness and two days of acclimatization in Cusco are essential. We grade each route so you can choose the right challenge.
Both. We run friendly small-group departures and fully private treks with your own guide, chef and team.
Not sure which route suits you? Tell us your dates and fitness — a local expert will match you to the ideal trek.
From our journal
Expert guides and stories to help you plan, straight from our team in Cusco.
A side-by-side guide to Peru’s two greatest routes to Machu Picchu.
Read article →Living Andean villages, weavers and hot springs on the way to Machu Picchu.
Read article →How to prepare for Peru’s most spectacular high-altitude circuit.
Read article →