Alternative Treks to Machu Picchu
An alternative trek is any route to Machu Picchu that does not follow the Classic Inca Trail. These treks need no permit, so you can book weeks instead of months ahead and still depart in February. Our Salkantay treks cross the Salkantay Pass at 4,600 m and end at Machu Picchu; the Choquequirao Trek visits Choquequirao.
An alternative trek is any route to Machu Picchu that does not follow the Classic Inca Trail, and it is often the smarter choice. These trails cross glaciers, turquoise lakes, cloud forest and remote Andean villages, they need no trekking permit, and you will share the path with far fewer hikers. If the Inca Trail is sold out, or if you want more wilderness and more freedom with your dates, an alternative trek is the answer.
At ViajaXmundo we design every alternative trek around what you want to see and how hard you want to walk. Choose the Salkantay Trek 5 Days, the most popular Inca Trail alternative, crossing the Salkantay Pass at 15,090 ft (4,600 m) beneath a glacier, the shorter Salkantay Trek 4 Days on the same pass, or the Choquequirao Trek 4 Days to the Inca citadel of Choquequirao.
Why Choose an Alternative Trek?
The big advantage of an alternative trek is availability. There is no daily permit quota and no limit of 500 spaces, so you can book weeks instead of months ahead, and we can still depart in February when the Inca Trail is closed for maintenance.
Our Salkantay treks end with your Machu Picchu entrance ticket and a guided tour of the citadel, exactly like the classic route. The Choquequirao Trek visits Choquequirao, the “Golden Cradle of the Incas”, and returns to Cusco on the fourth day.
The best time to go is the dry season, from May to September, while April and October bring fewer crowds and green landscapes.
Altitude and Acclimatization
One more thing before you go: the Salkantay routes climb above 13,000 ft (4,000 m), up to the Salkantay Pass at 4,600 m, while the Choquequirao Trek never goes above 3,100 m. Spend at least 2 days acclimatizing in Cusco. Our guides, cooks, horsemen and camping gear are part of every departure, so your only job is to enjoy the trail.
Our Alternative Treks Compared
| Trek | Duration | Highest point | Difficulty | Ends at | Group size | Price from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salkantay Trek | 5 days / 4 nights | Salkantay Pass, 4,600 m | Challenging | Machu Picchu, guided tour | 2 to 16 people | US$570 per person |
| Salkantay Trek | 4 days / 3 nights | Salkantay Pass, 4,600 m | Challenging | Machu Picchu, guided tour | 2 to 16 people | US$620 per person |
| Choquequirao Trek | 4 days / 3 nights | 3,040 m | Challenging | Choquequirao, return to Cusco | 2 to 16 people | US$360 per person |
Nights, Stops and Tickets on Each Trek
| Salkantay 5D/4N | Salkantay 4D/3N | Choquequirao 4D/3N | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where you sleep | Sky Camp at Soraypampa, Andean Huts at Chaullay, jungle dome at Lucmabamba, hotel in Aguas Calientes | Sky Camp at Soraypampa, Andean Huts at Chaullay, hotel in Aguas Calientes | Rural lodges at Chikiska, Marampata and Santa Rosa Baja; no camping |
| Stops along the way | Humantay Lake, Salkantay Pass, organic coffee farm, Llactapata | Humantay Lake, Salkantay Pass, Llactapata | Saywite, the Apurimac Canyon, Choquequirao |
| Hardest day | Day 2, over the pass (about 22 km) | Days 2 and 3 back to back | Day 2, a 1,500 m climb in 3 to 4 hours |
| Entrance tickets included | Machu Picchu; Humantay Lake fee paid separately | Machu Picchu | Choquequirao; Saywite fee paid separately |
| Getting back | Consettur bus, train to Ollantaytambo, private transfer to Cusco | Train to Ollantaytambo and transport to Cusco | Road from Capuliyoc, back in Cusco around 21:00 on Day 4 |
| Departures | Ask us when you book | Ask us when you book | Group departures every Monday |
How to Choose Your Alternative Trek
Start with one question: do you want the trek to end at Machu Picchu? If yes, choose Salkantay. Both Salkantay treks finish with your Machu Picchu ticket and a guided visit, and both see Humantay Lake on the first afternoon. The Choquequirao Trek goes to a different Inca citadel and brings you back to Cusco, so it suits travelers who have already seen Machu Picchu or plan to visit it separately by train.
Between the two Salkantay treks, the pass, the lake and the arrival are the same. The 5-day version splits the walk after the pass into shorter days and adds a night in a jungle dome at Lucmabamba and a visit to an organic coffee farm. The 4-day version joins those stretches into one longer push and saves a day. Our article Salkantay Trek: 4 or 5 days? goes through the difference day by day.
Altitude is the other deciding factor. The Salkantay routes cross 4,600 m, while Choquequirao stays below 3,100 m but makes up for it with a steep canyon descent and a long climb back out. If big altitude worries you more than steep hills, Choquequirao is the gentler choice for your lungs, though not for your legs.
Who Each Trek Suits
- Salkantay Trek 5 Days: first-time trekkers in good shape who want Machu Picchu at the end and prefer more, shorter days. The extra night also gives you time at the coffee farm and at Llactapata.
- Salkantay Trek 4 Days: fit hikers who are short on time and are comfortable with long days at altitude. You sleep in the same Sky Camp and Andean Huts, then a hotel in Aguas Calientes.
- Choquequirao Trek 4 Days: hikers who want a quiet Inca site, often almost to themselves, and nights in lodges instead of tents. It is the best fit if you have already been to Machu Picchu or will see it another day.
- Not the right fit: if you want original Inca paving and the Sun Gate, only the Inca Trail gives you that, and it needs a permit booked months ahead. If you only have one day, see our Cusco day trips, where Humantay Lake runs as a full-day tour.
Best Season for Each Route
Roughly May to September is the driest stretch, which means clearer views of the Salkantay glacier and firmer paths into the Apurimac Canyon. Nights at Soraypampa are cold in those months, so a warm sleeping bag matters. From November to March you can still go, but expect rain and mud, especially on the descent towards the cloud forest. For Choquequirao, our team’s favorite months are April and May, after the rains and with everything green.
The treks also run in February, when the Inca Trail is closed. For a month-by-month picture, read the best time to visit Machu Picchu, which also covers Salkantay and Choquequirao.
Booking Tips for Alternative Treks
- Book Salkantay at least 1 to 2 months ahead, more in the dry season. There is no trekking permit, but Machu Picchu tickets are limited.
- Plan your Cusco days around Choquequirao’s Monday departures, and do not book a flight out of Cusco on Day 4: you get back at around 21:00.
- Leave one or two days in Cusco before you start. Our team recommends at least a day before Choquequirao and one or two before Salkantay, which climbs much higher.
- Rent what you do not want to carry from home. Sleeping bags and trekking poles are available to rent; tell us in your inquiry so they are ready.
- Carry cash in Peruvian soles for the Humantay Lake fee on the 5-day Salkantay, the Saywite fee on the Choquequirao Trek, and snacks on the trail.
- Leave your main luggage behind. On Choquequirao you only carry a daypack, and luggage you will not need can stay at your hotel in Cusco. A horse or pack mule can be hired for the rest; ask us when you book.
- Deposit: on the Choquequirao Trek, a 40% deposit confirms your place. For the Salkantay treks and for cancellation rules, see our booking and payment policies or ask us when you book.
More on These Treks
For the full story of each route, read our Choquequirao trek guide, Salkantay Trek: 4 or 5 days?, the Salkantay Trek packing list and Salkantay Trek vs Inca Trail. Before any of them, altitude sickness in Cusco explains how to acclimatize.
Alternative Trek Questions
Do I need a permit for an alternative trek to Machu Picchu?
No. Alternative treks have no daily permit quota, so you can usually book weeks instead of months ahead. On the Salkantay treks your Machu Picchu entrance ticket and guided tour are included.
Can I trek in February, when the Inca Trail is closed?
Yes. The Inca Trail closes every February for maintenance, but alternative treks can still depart that month.
Which alternative trek is easiest on altitude?
The Choquequirao Trek never goes above 3,100 m, so altitude sickness is less common than on the Salkantay treks, which cross the Salkantay Pass at 4,600 m.
Should I do the Salkantay Trek in 4 or 5 days?
Choose 5 days for shorter walking days, a night in a jungle dome and the coffee farm visit; choose 4 days if you are fit and short on time. Both cross the same pass and end at Machu Picchu. More in Salkantay Trek: 4 or 5 days?.
Does the Choquequirao Trek end at Machu Picchu?
No. Our Choquequirao Trek visits Choquequirao on Day 3 and returns to Cusco at around 21:00 on Day 4. If you want to see both citadels, ask us when you book.
Will I sleep in a tent?
Not in a standard tent. On Salkantay you sleep in the Sky Camp domes at Soraypampa, the Andean Huts at Chaullay and a hotel in Aguas Calientes (plus a jungle dome on the 5-day trek). On Choquequirao you sleep in rural lodges.
Can I rent a sleeping bag and trekking poles?
Yes. Sleeping bags and trekking poles are available to rent. Mention them in your inquiry so we can have them ready before departure.
How far ahead should I book an alternative trek?
For Salkantay, at least 1 to 2 months, because Machu Picchu tickets are limited, especially in the dry season. Choquequirao has group departures every Monday; ask us about availability for your dates.
Here are our alternative treks to Machu Picchu, designed just for you. Ready to choose your route and start the adventure?
Official sources: Ministry of Culture of Peru: official Machu Picchu and Inca Trail tickets · SERNANP, Peru’s protected natural areas service
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