Reach 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.
Best choiceTwo legendary routes in one — Salkantay glaciers and the classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
Best choiceThe famous four-day Salkantay route over the high pass to Machu Picchu.
FastA fast three-day Salkantay trek for adventurers short on time.
WeekendGlaciers and the turquoise Humantay Lake in a perfect two-day escape.
RecommendedAn epic expedition linking two lost Inca cities across the Apurimac Canyon.
Best choiceEight days from Cachora to Choquequirao and on to Machu Picchu.
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RecommendedFive days to the remote Choquequirao citadel, the sister city of Machu Picchu.
RecommendedThe hidden Lost City of the Incas, far from the crowds, in four days.
Best sellerSacred Valley highlands and the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
ScenicLittle Cusco and Machu Picchu over three spectacular days.
Best choiceA rewarding single-day trek through Chinchero to the Little Cusco ruins.
Best choiceAndean weaving villages and the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
CultureThe living culture of the Lares Valley, finishing at Machu Picchu.
RemoteFive days around the sacred Ausangate peak and its colorful glacial lakes.
IconicAusangate 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.
Beyond the classic trail
Not everyone wants to walk the same path. Our alternative treks reach Machu Picchu through Peru’s most dramatic scenery — glacier lakes, cloud forest and remote Andean passes — with far fewer crowds than the Classic Inca Trail.
The Salkantay Trek is the most popular alternative, crossing a 4,600 m pass beneath the sacred Salkantay glacier before descending into lush cloud forest. The Lares and Inca Jungle routes trade altitude for living Andean culture and adrenaline.
Every departure is run by our own licensed guides and muleteers, with quality tents, real meals cooked on the trail, and small groups. No permits sell out months ahead as they do on the Inca Trail, so these treks are ideal for last-minute travelers.
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.
SalkantayA side-by-side guide to Peru’s two greatest routes to Machu Picchu.
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LaresLiving Andean villages, weavers and hot springs on the way to Machu Picchu.
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AusangateHow to prepare for Peru’s most spectacular high-altitude circuit.
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