The right trek depends on your interests, your fitness level and the kind of experience you want. Each route offers something different:

• Salkantay Trek: best for mountain lovers and adventure seekers. You hike past the snow-capped Salkantay Mountain, glacial lakes and lush cloud forest on your way to Machu Picchu. A great choice if you enjoy a challenging hike and big scenery.
• Lares Trek: best for culture and authentic Andean life. You walk through traditional Quechua communities, meet local families, see weaving traditions kept alive and enjoy beautiful mountain scenery. Some itineraries also include natural hot springs. Ideal if you want to connect with the people of the Andes, not just the landscapes.
• Choquequirao Trek: best for history lovers and experienced hikers who want a remote adventure. You explore the vast Inca ruins of Choquequirao, often called the sister city of Machu Picchu. Expect challenging trails, a deep canyon and far fewer visitors than on the popular routes.
• Ausangate Trek: best for high-altitude trekking and wilderness lovers. Glaciers, turquoise lakes, colorful mountains and remote valleys where alpaca herds outnumber hikers. A challenging trek for experienced hikers who are well acclimatized.
• Inca Jungle Trek: best for active travelers who like to mix things up. You combine mountain biking, hiking and, on selected itineraries, white-water rafting on your way to Machu Picchu. A fun alternative to walking every day.
• Huchuy Qosqo Trek: best for a shorter, quieter cultural hike. Andean landscapes, traditional villages and the Inca site of Huchuy Qosqo, high above the Sacred Valley. An excellent option if you want a gentler trek with far fewer people on the trail.
• Cachicata Quarry Trek: best for Inca history off the beaten path. You discover the ancient stone quarries that supplied Ollantaytambo, big mountain views and peaceful trails. Ideal for exploring lesser-known archaeological sites at your own pace.

Still unsure? Tell us your travel dates, your fitness level and what interests you most. Our local trekking specialists will help you choose the right route for your Machu Picchu adventure.

Three things change:

• The arrival. The Inca Trail is the only route where you walk straight into Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. Most alternative treks finish the hike earlier, then take you to Aguas Calientes so you can visit Machu Picchu the next morning, rested and ready.
• The permits and Machu Picchu circuits. The Inca Trail needs a special permit with a daily limit, and permits often sell out months in advance. That permit is linked to Machu Picchu Circuit 3 (Route 3B); the Circuit 1 viewpoints need an additional ticket if your tour includes them. Alternative treks don't need an Inca Trail permit, but you still need a Machu Picchu entrance ticket for Circuit 1, 2 or 3, depending on the itinerary and availability. The most popular circuits sell out quickly, so booking well in advance matters here too.
• The landscape. Each alternative route has its own character, from the Salkantay glacier to the Apurímac Canyon. In high season Salkantay is a popular trail too; Lares, Choquequirao, Ausangate and the newer routes are noticeably quieter.

You don't need an Inca Trail permit for the alternative treks: Salkantay, Lares, Choquequirao, Ausangate, the Inca Jungle or the newer routes. The exceptions are the combination tours that include the Short or Classic Inca Trail (Huchuy Qosqo + Short Inca Trail, Lares + Short Inca Trail, Salkantay + Short Inca Trail and Salkantay + Classic Inca Trail). Those run on official Inca Trail permits, which are limited and should be booked well in advance.

Machu Picchu tickets on alternative treks: treks like Salkantay and Lares only need a Machu Picchu entrance ticket, not an Inca Trail permit. At TreXperience we normally include Circuit 2 (the Classic Circuit), one of the most popular ways to explore Machu Picchu. If Circuit 2 is sold out, we arrange Circuit 3 or Circuit 1 instead, depending on availability. The popular circuits go fast, so booking early gives you the best chance of getting the circuit you want.

Machu Picchu circuits with the Short Inca Trail: tours that include the Short Inca Trail have a special advantage. You enter Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate (Intipunku) and enjoy the panoramic viewpoints of Circuit 1, then return the next morning with your guide for Circuit 3 (Route 3B), where you explore the main temples, terraces and archaeological sectors. Together, they give you one of the most complete Machu Picchu experiences: the iconic views and the history behind them. Many travelers find it even more rewarding than Circuit 2 alone.

What's included: every trekking tour that visits Machu Picchu includes your Machu Picchu entrance ticket, the bus between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu, the return on the panoramic Vistadome train (or the 360° panoramic train, depending on availability) and transportation back to Cusco. We arrange all of it so you can focus on the trail.

Our recommendation: book as early as you can, especially for the high season. Inca Trail permits and popular Machu Picchu circuits are limited, and early booking gives you the best chance of getting your preferred dates and circuits.

You don't need to be an athlete, but you do need to be comfortable walking 6 to 8 hours a day on uneven trails, with climbs and descents. Salkantay, Ausangate and Choquequirao are the most demanding because of altitude, steep sections or long days. Lares is moderate to challenging, with one high pass. The Inca Jungle and Huchuy Qosqo are moderate, with shorter hiking days. The best preparation is simple: in the two or three months before your trip, walk regularly, add hills or stairs, and break in your boots. On the trail, your guide sets a pace the group can hold and keeps an eye on how you're feeling.

Cusco sits at about 3,400 m, and the high passes on Salkantay, Lares and Ausangate reach between 4,600 and 5,000 m. Most people feel it at first: a mild headache, tiredness, shortness of breath on the climbs. The single most useful thing you can do is arrive at least two days before your trek and take it easy: drink plenty of water, eat light and avoid alcohol. Spending a night in the Sacred Valley, which is lower than Cusco, helps too. On the trail, your guide carries a first-aid kit and oxygen and knows how to adjust the pace. If you feel unwell at any point, say so right away. That is exactly what your guide is there for.

You can still hike and see Machu Picchu. The Huchuy Qosqo Trek fits in three days and ends at Machu Picchu. In two days, Lares Hot Springs + Machu Picchu combines a soak in the Lares valley with the citadel, and the Machu Picchu Tour by Car takes the scenic road via Hidroelectrica. If you'd rather spend your two days in the mountains without Machu Picchu, the Salkantay & Humantay Lake Hike gives you the best of Salkantay on a short, quieter loop. Tell us your dates and we'll help you fit it in.

It depends on the route, and we tell you exactly what to expect before you book. Here's what each trek looks like:

• Classic Salkantay Trek: your first night is at Salka Glamp, right beneath the Salkantay glacier, and your second night in our cozy Andean Huts. Both are mountain nights you'll remember, with the peaks right outside.
• Lares Trek: comfortable camping tents with sleeping pads. Our team sets up camp before you arrive, including a separate dining tent where you can relax and enjoy freshly cooked meals.
• Choquequirao Trek: tents with sleeping pads in remote Andean landscapes. Camp and dining tent are ready when you walk in, so you can rest after a rewarding day on the trail.
• Ausangate Trek: camping tents with sleeping pads, surrounded by wide-open high-altitude scenery. Camps are set up before you arrive, with a dining tent, warm blankets and hot-water bags for the cold mountain nights.
• Inca Jungle Trek: simple local lodges with comfortable beds instead of camping, a good place to recharge after days full of activity.
• Hotel in Aguas Calientes: every alternative trek that ends at Machu Picchu includes a hotel night in Aguas Calientes before your visit, so you arrive at the citadel rested.

Meals on the trek: our trekking chefs cook fresh Peruvian meals with local ingredients, and hot drinks are waiting for you at camp. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and other diets are cooked for, not worked around. Just tell us your needs when you book.

How your luggage is carried: on the Salkantay, Lares, Choquequirao and Ausangate treks, horses and mules led by local muleteers carry the camping equipment and your duffel bag (up to 7 kg). Porters may also help on certain routes. You only carry a small daypack with your essentials for the day.

Good to know: your duffel travels separately, so you'll only have access to it at the start of the trek and at each campsite, not during the hike. Pack your daypack with everything you need for the day: water, extra layers, a rain jacket, sun protection, snacks, personal medication and your camera. Keep anything important in waterproof or ziplock bags to protect it from rain and moisture.

Packing for the weather: Peru has a dry season and a rainy season, but the weather in the Andes and around Machu Picchu is unpredictable all year. Sunshine, strong wind, rain and cold can all happen on the same day, so be ready for four seasons in one, whenever you travel. Pack warm layers for the high passes and cold nights, lightweight clothing for the warmer valleys and cloud forest, and waterproof gear for sudden rain. A warm sleeping bag and trekking poles make a big difference to your comfort; bring your own or rent them from us.

We'll help you prepare: you'll receive a detailed packing list with your booking, and your guide will go over the essentials with you at the pre-trek briefing.

The dry season, from April to October, brings the clearest skies. May to August are the driest months and also the busiest. From November to March, expect afternoon rain, greener valleys and fewer hikers. Most treks keep running through the rainy season, weather permitting.

February is the only month when the Classic Inca Trail closes for annual maintenance. It is also the peak of the rainy season, and some treks, including Salkantay, may be suspended because of heavy rain, landslides and safety risks. The Lares Trek is one of the few routes that generally runs all year, including February. If you're planning to hike that month, Lares is usually your best option, depending on weather and trail conditions.

Whatever the month, be ready for sun, rain, wind and cold, sometimes all in a single day. We'll make sure you know what to pack.

Group tours: group departures are the standard in Cusco, and most operators follow similar size rules. On the Classic Inca Trail, groups can have up to 16 travelers, with one guide for every 8. Groups of 9 to 16 travelers go with two professional guides. These limits are set by the authorities for all authorized Inca Trail operators.

Alternative treks: we follow the same standard on Salkantay, Lares, Choquequirao and Ausangate. Our groups have up to 16 travelers, with one professional guide for every 8 and two guides for larger groups, so your guide always knows your name and your pace.

Private tours: every trek can also run as a private departure. You get your own professional guide, trekking chef and dedicated team, so you set the pace and enjoy more flexibility and personal attention. Private tours cost more than group departures because the whole team works only for you.

Thinking about a private trek? Send us your preferred route, travel dates and group size, and we'll prepare a personalized itinerary and quote.

Alternative treks don't need an Inca Trail permit, but Machu Picchu tickets and train seats are limited and often sell out in high season. We recommend booking 6 to 8 months ahead for travel between April and October, so we can secure Circuit 2 or the best available Machu Picchu circuit. When you book early, we prioritize Circuit 2 (the Classic Circuit); if it's sold out, we arrange Circuit 3 or Circuit 1, depending on availability.

Any route that includes a section of the Inca Trail, such as Huchuy Qosqo + Short Inca Trail or Salkantay + Classic Inca Trail, needs an official Inca Trail permit. For these, book at least 6 months ahead, and earlier for May to August, as permits are limited and sell out fast. Booking early also gives you the best choice of departure dates, and on the Short Inca Trail combinations it secures both the Sun Gate arrival and the Circuit 1 + Circuit 3 visit described above.

Yes, if you choose a route that includes the Short or Classic Inca Trail: Huchuy Qosqo + Short Inca Trail, Lares + Short Inca Trail, Salkantay + Short Inca Trail, or Salkantay + Classic Inca Trail in six days. You get the quieter alternative trek first, then the walk into Machu Picchu through Intipunku. On the other routes you enter by bus from Aguas Calientes, which has its own advantage: a hotel bed the night before and a fresh morning for the citadel. Salkantay 5 Days and the Inca Jungle also give you a first view of Machu Picchu from Llactapata, across the valley, the day before you walk in.