There are several hikes to Machu Picchu including the most famous Inca Trail and others such as Lares and Salkantay which are becoming increasingly popular for those wanting to go off the beaten track a bit.
Alternatively, you can opt to travel from Cusco to Aguas Caliente by train and get the bus up, one of the things that makes it great, despite its remoteness comparable to other wonders of the world, its accessible to almost anyone. If you opt to get transport, it's definitely still worth doing it through a tour, so you can learn all about Machu Picchu's history. All the treks are known to be treks to Machu Picchu but what many don't realise is that not all of them actually take you there, the only trek that takes you directly to Machu Picchu itself is the Inca Trail. Other options finish elsewhere, usually, Aguas Caliente, the closest large town, and then you get the bus or do a one day hike. This is purely an informative post for our personal experience head over to our Inca Trail Guide
Alternatives to the Inca Trail
We explain why we chose the Inca Trail over on our guide, however, we didn't want to not discuss the alternatives to visiting Machu Picchu. The Classic Inca Trail is a 4 day 3 night trek, however, you can combine the Salkantay route with the Inca Trail for a longer hike. We briefly discuss the other options to help you decide!
#1 The 'Short' Inca Trail
The short Inca Trail is designed for those with less time who still want to experience the Inca Trail, you miss out the highest point of the classic Inca Trail, Warmiwañusca 'Dead Women's Pass', therefore also making it a lot easier. Whilst still getting the best views the Inca Trail has to offer, commonly seen on day 3 of the classic trail. Often the itinerary of such treks means you will get the train to km 104, start trekking, reach Machu Pichu, go to Aguas Caliente and return the following day by bus to experience sunrise, so really you get to visit twice. Some companies will start much earlier in the morning and turn this into a 1 day trek too. Visiting Machu Picchu twice may affect the cost.
#2 One Day Trek
If you've got even less time, get the train from Cusco to Aguas Caliente, from there you can opt to hike up a zigzagging trail to Machu Picchu, it flanks the side of the shuttle bus road, whilst weaving its way through the jungle. Whilst the elevation gain from Aguas Caliente to Machu Picchu is 390m's and less than the likes of Snowdon, don't forget you're already at altitude, thus even this treks is still deemed moderate and will take you approximately 1.5-2 hours.
The Lares Trek, at 3 days 2 nights you get one night to freshen up in Aguas Caliente before getting the bus, a great perk. It's hard not to compare the alternatives hikes to the Inca Trail, but in the words of G Adventures there is no runner up, it just depends what you want to get out of your trip. It is much more remote and at points you'll feel like you've got the trail to yourself, you'll visit local communities. If you do the Lares Trek through G Adventures, you'll visit one of their Planterra projects high up in the mountains. We're sure as the Lares Trek becomes more well known, the trail will slowly get busier, so if this hike is for you, get your trip booked! In addition, you can combine this with 1 day Inca Trail.
You can take more weight as mules are allowed on this trek, still, don't go overboard. The highest point on the Lares Trek is a further 500 metres higher than the highest point on the Inca Trail. At the same time we were trekking the Inca Trail those trekking the Lares Trek were trekking through snow!
The Salkantay trek is a longer, higher trek. Usually 4 days 3 nights. Travel through remote villages, see the stunning snow capped mountains including the sacred peak of Salkantay, colourful valleys, waterfalls, stunning vistas and a truly unique high up side view of the whole of Machu Pichu before descending to Aguas Caliente and getting the bus up for sunrise the following morning after a freshening up, its a great alternative to the Inca Trail, and can be extended and combine if you wish to do so. You are hiking through where the Humantay Mountains meet the Andes so be prepared for the cold and the heat. Both Salkantay trek and the Lares Trek are deemed slightly higher in difficulty and that bit more gruelling compared to the Inca Trail, to add to the ever growing list of reasons of which hike to choose.
#5 Longer and more difficult
These are the routes which you are more likely not to have heard of. If you're keen for a greater challenge, and have got more time try Vilcabamba Traverse Route or Choquequirao or the Lodge Trail.
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