The 7 Best Hikes to Machu Picchu

Peru’s Andean landscape is connected by an intricate network of ancient trails. As a professional tour guide who has spent more than two decades leading expeditions across these mountains, I can confidently tell you that hiking is the absolute best way to experience Machu Picchu. Walking these paths allows you to understand the strategic, spiritual, and physical relationship the Incas had with their environment before you even step foot inside the citadel.

However, choosing the right trek depends entirely on your physical conditioning, your budget, and the type of scenery you want to experience. Here is my professional breakdown of the 7 best hikes to Machu Picchu, including their technical specifications and my personal recommendations for each.

1. The Classic Inca Trail

Typical Length: 4 days / 3 nights

Difficulty: Moderate to challenging

Best for: History enthusiasts who want to enter through the Sun Gate.

The Inca Trail (part of the ancient Qapaq Ñan highway network) is the only route that allows hikers to walk directly into Machu Picchu through the Intipunku (Sun Gate).

Guide’s Insider Tip: Permits for this route are strictly limited by the Peruvian government and sell out months in advance, especially for the high season (May to August). If you cannot secure a permit, do not look for unofficial channels; instead, choose one of the excellent alternative treks listed below.

2. Salkantay Trek

Typical Length: 5 days / 4 nights

Difficulty: Challenging (High altitude)

Best for: Hikers seeking diverse microclimates and dramatic alpine scenery.

Regularly recognized by international geography publications as a premier alpine trek, the Salkantay expedition offers massive ecological diversity. You will start among massive glacial peaks—crossing the Salkantay Pass at 4,630 meters (15,190 feet)—before descending directly into the high jungle (ceja de selva).

Guide’s Insider Tip: This route includes a visit to the famous Humantay Lagoon on day one. It is less crowded and more budget-friendly than the Classic Inca Trail, and it offers excellent glamping options for those who prefer comfortable dome accommodations over traditional tents.

3. Lares Trek

Typical Length: 4 days / 3 nights

Difficulty: Moderate

Best for: Travelers interested in Andean culture and rural community interaction.

If you want to experience how modern Andean farmers, weavers, and artisans maintain ancient traditions, the Lares route is your best choice. This trail bypasses the heavy tourist crowds and takes you through remote valleys where locals still dress in traditional red ponchos and herd alpacas.

Guide’s Insider Tip: The trek begins with a visit to the natural, medicinal hot springs in the town of Lares. It features stunning backdrops of Mount Veronica, but with a fraction of the foot traffic found on Salkantay.

4. Ancascocha Trail

Typical Length: 5 days / 4 nights

Difficulty: Challenging

Best for: Experienced trekkers looking for complete solitude.

Often referred to as the "Hidden Inca Trail," Ancascocha is a high-altitude route that remains largely untouched by mass tourism. You will navigate high mountain passes, follow rushing rivers, and camp near the striking alpine waters of the Ancascocha Lagoon.

Guide’s Insider Tip: This is a demanding hike with steep ascents. You will likely have the trail entirely to yourself, encountering only local shepherds, alpacas, and the occasional Andean condor flying overhead.

5. Huchuy Qosqo Hike

Typical Length: 3 days / 2 nights

Difficulty: Moderate

Best for: Hikers short on time who still want an authentic trekking experience.

This short trek is located in the Sacred Valley near Cusco and leads to Huchuy Qosqo ("Little Cusco"), an impressive Inca administrative and military complex that is only accessible on foot.

Guide’s Insider Tip: This is the only multi-day trek to Machu Picchu that begins directly within the immediate Cusco area, starting at the Tambomachay archaeological site. It provides excellent panoramic views of the Vilcabamba mountain range without requiring extreme physical exertion.

6. Choquequirao Trek to Machu Picchu

Typical Length: 7 to 8 days

Difficulty: Very Challenging

Best for: Hardcore trekkers wanting an elite physical challenge.

Choquequirao, meaning "Cradle of Gold" in Quechua, is Machu Picchu's sister city. It is significantly more remote and only partially excavated. The trek requires descending deep into the Apurímac Canyon and climbing back up under intense mountain heat.

Guide’s Insider Tip: The physical demands of this route are comparable to high-altitude base camp expeditions. It was one of the last refuges of the Inca resistance against the Spanish conquest. Only a handful of travelers visit this site daily due to its rigorous access requirements.

7. Inca Quarry Hike (Cachicata Trail)

Typical Length: 4 days / 3 nights

Difficulty: Moderate

Best for: Travelers interested in Inca engineering and stonework.

This alternative route focuses heavily on archaeological ruins and the famous Cachicata quarry near Ollantaytambo—the exact site where the Incas sourced the massive granite blocks for their fortresses.

Guide’s Insider Tip: Along the trail, you will stand inside an original Inca Sun Gate that perfectly frames the snow-capped peak of Mount Veronica. It is a fantastic option to avoid crowds while gaining deep insights into pre-Columbian engineering.

BONUS: The Inca Jungle Trek

Typical Length: 4 days / 3 nights

Difficulty: Moderate (Multi-sport)

Best for: Adventure seekers and younger travelers.

If you prefer an adrenaline-fueled approach over traditional multi-day walking, the Inca Jungle Trek combines downhill mountain biking, river rafting, zip-lining, and hiking through the high jungle canopy before reaching Aguas Calientes.

Summary: Which Hike is Right for You?

Plan Your Expedition with a Local Expert

Navigating Peru's trail regulations, high-altitude acclimatization, and changing permit systems requires local expertise. If you have questions about trail conditions, gear requirements, or current permit availability for the 2026 season, feel free to contact us at Machu Picchut Travel. Let's make sure your trek across the Andes is safe, authentic, and tailored to your fitness level.