Alternative Treks to Machu Picchu

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 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. Every trek ends with your Machu Picchu entrance ticket and a guided tour of the citadel, exactly like the classic route. The best time to go is the dry season, from May to September, while April and October bring fewer crowds and green landscapes.

One more thing before you go: most of these routes climb above 13,000 ft (4,000 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.

Here are our alternative treks to Machu Picchu, designed just for you. Ready to choose your route and start the adventure?