These routes do not need an Inca Trail permit. Cross high Andean passes, visit weaving villages or reach the remote ruins of Choquequirao, then compare durations and difficulty to choose your trek.
Salkantay Trek CUSCO SALKANTAY PAMPA, SALKANTAY PAMPA QOLLPAPAMPA, QOLLPAPAMPA TO LUCMABAMBA, LUCMABAMBA TO AGUAS CALIENTES
Salkantay Trek 5 days: Humantay Lake, the Salkantay pass, Qollpapampa, Lucmabamba, Llactapata and a guided visit of Machu Picchu.
Tour Packages CUSCO TO PUYOC, PUYOC TO CUNCANI, CUNCANI TO AGUAS CALIENTES, MACHU PICCHU TO CUSCO
Lares Trek to Machu Picchu in 4 days from USD 650: the Sicllakasa pass (4,830 m), Lares Valley villages, the Lares hot springs…
Tour Packages CUSCO, SACRED VALLEY, AGUAS CALIENTES, MACHU PICCHU
5-day Choquequirao trek from Capuliyoc into the Apurímac canyon, with a full day at the Inca site of Choquequirao and camping…
Tour Packages CUSCO TO CHIKISCA, CHIKISCA TO MARAMPATA, MARAMPATA TO CHOQUEQUIRAO, CHOQUEQUIRAO TO MAIZAL
Choquequirao to Machu Picchu trek in 7 days via Maizal, the San Juan pass, Yanama and Llactapata: a demanding camping route with…
Day Tours CUSCO TO UPIS, UPIS TO PUCACOCHA, PUCACOCHA TO PHINAYA, PHINAYA TO OTORONGO COCHA, OTORONGO COCHA TO PACCHANTA AND CUSCO
5-day Ausangate trek with Rainbow Mountain: about 70 km around Ausangate (6,384 m), five passes up to 5,190 m, lakes and two hot…
Duration, distance, highest point, difficulty, group size and starting price, from each tour page.
| Tour | Duration | Distance | Max altitude | Difficulty | Group | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salkantay Trek 5 Days to Machu Picchu | 5 Days / 4 Nights | 74 km | 4,630 m | Moderate / Challenging | – | $420 |
| Lares Trek to Machu Picchu: 4 Days | 4 Days / 3 Nights | 40 km | 4,830 m | Moderate | Minimum 2 travelers | $650 |
| Choquequirao Trek: 5 Days | 5 Days / 4 Nights | 64 km | About 3,050 m | Moderate/Challenging | – | $680 |
| Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Trek: 7 Days | 7 Days / 6 Nights | 97 km | 4,000 m | Moderate/Challenging | Minimum 2 travelers | $1,350 |
| Ausangate Trek and Rainbow Mountain: 5 Days | 5 Days / 4 Nights | 70 km | 5,190 m | Challenging—suitable for trekkers in… | Minimum 2 travelers | $650 |
These treks do not need an Inca Trail permit. They cross high passes, Andean communities and remote Inca sites, and some of them end at Machu Picchu.
Not sure which one to choose? Read the best treks in Cusco.
Salkantay (5 days, 74 km, pass at 4,630 m) is the best-known alternative and ends at Machu Picchu. Lares (4 days, 40 km) crosses the Lares Valley and also ends at Machu Picchu. Choquequirao (5 or 7 days) leads to a remote Inca citadel, and the 7-day route continues to Machu Picchu. The Ausangate trek (5 days, 70 km) circles Ausangate mountain to Rainbow Mountain and does not go to Machu Picchu.
None of them uses the Inca Trail, so they do not need an Inca Trail permit. The routes that end at Machu Picchu need a Machu Picchu entrance ticket, and Choquequirao has its own entrance.
The Ausangate trek: it crosses several passes above 4,800 m and reaches 5,190 m (17,028 ft) at its highest point. Salkantay and Choquequirao are rated moderate to challenging.
