Cusco, along with Patagonia, is one of the most sought-after trekking destinations in South America, and it's no coincidence: the Andes Mountains run through the entire region, leaving snow-capped mountains, deep canyons, turquoise lagoons, and Inca stone trails very close to the city.
This guide answers the most frequently asked question before putting together an itinerary: what is the best The Cusco to Machu Picchu hike , and the shortest options if you don't have several days available. You'll find the most recommended routes, with their distance, duration, and difficulty level , as well as the starting points from Cusco. Some end at Machu Picchu after several days of hiking; others can be completed in a single day and are ideal if your time is limited.
The guide is organized into four groups: multi-day routes ending at Machu Picchu, Choquequirao as an archaeological alternative, single-day hikes, and directions to each starting point. If you already know what type of trek you're looking for, you can directly check the trekking and hiking excursions in Cusco. available for your travel date.
Before going into detail about each route, this table summarizes the 7 options so you can compare them at a glance:
Distances and altitudes are reference points; they may vary slightly depending on the operator and the exact route variant.
The best multi-day hikes from Cusco to Machu Picchu
If your ultimate goal is to hike to Machu Picchu, there are three main routes to choose from, each offering a very different experience. The Inca Trail is the most famous and the only one that takes you directly to the citadel through the Sun Gate; the Salkantay Trek is the most comprehensive alternative in terms of scenery, with snow-capped peaks and high jungle all in one trek; and the Lares Trek is the least traveled option, offering more contact with Andean communities.
All three treks last around four days and end in Aguas Calientes, from where you take a bus up to Machu Picchu. The difference between them lies in the scenery, the difficulty level, and, above all, how many tourists you want to encounter along the way.
If you're interested in an adventure tourism trip to Cusco, this package includes the best trekking, hiking, and historical site visits.
Now, let's get into the details of the best hikes in Cusco, Peru.
Classic Inca Trail, the original route to Machu Picchu
The Inca Trail is the only trekking route that enters Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate (Inti Punku), the same entrance used by the Incas. It's a 4-day, 43-kilometer trek that begins at kilometer 82 of the railway line, near Ollantaytambo, and progresses in stages of 12, 10, 16, and 5 kilometers per day . You can book it as the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu trek , with a guide, porters, cook, and all camping equipment included.
The highest point is the Warmiwañusca Pass, or Dead Woman's Pass , at 4,215 meters above sea level, considered one of the most demanding and most photographed sections of the entire trek. Along the way, you'll visit archaeological sites such as Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca, and Wiñay Wayna, before reaching Inti Punku at dawn on the fourth day, with the first view of Machu Picchu in the background.
An important fact: places for the Machu Picchu excursion from Cusco are limited and the road closes every February for maintenance , so it is advisable to book several months in advance, especially in high season, which runs from May to August.
The annual closure in February is the reason why many opt directly for the Salkantay or Lares as an alternative, since these are the only months in which the Inca Trail does not operate under any modality.
Salkantay Trek in Cusco, the most complete alternative route
Chosen by National Geographic as one of the 25 best hikes in the world, the Salkantay Trek It is the most popular alternative to the Inca Trail, and does not require the same limited number of participants . The route covers approximately 60-78 kilometers in 4 to 5 days, depending on the variant, passing through Humantay Lagoon, the Salkantay Pass, and the Santa Teresa River valley , where the landscape abruptly changes to a high jungle with coffee and banana plantations.
The first day usually includes a stop in Soraypampa (3,800 m above sea level) and an excursion to Humantay Lagoon before camping , generally in tents with transparent roofs to observe the starry sky at night.
On the third day, the descent towards the Santa Teresa valley completely changes the landscape: from the snow-capped mountains at the beginning, you move on to banana, passion fruit and coffee plantations, with the possibility of seeing condors flying over the canyon.
You can book it as the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu , the classic 4-day version with entrance to Humantay Lagoon included, or as the Salkantay Hike to Machu Picchu , another way to book this same route depending on the operator and the type of service you prefer. In both cases, the trek combines packhorses for heavy luggage with nights camping under starry skies .
Lares Trek, the least traveled route
If your priority is encountering fewer tourists and more Andean communities along the way, the Lares Trek is the best option. You can book it as the Lares to Machu Picchu trek , with a medium level of difficulty, making it more accessible than the Salkantay for those new to mountain trekking.
The 4-day route starts near the Lares hot springs and climbs up to the Condor Pass. and descend to the community of Cancha Cancha. In this final stage, you can visit local families and learn about their textile traditions.
Unlike the Inca Trail and the Salkantay, the Lares Trek does not end with a hike to Machu Picchu: the final stretch is done by train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes , and from there by bus to the citadel.
Choquequirao, the most challenging trek near Cusco
Known as the "sister" of Machu Picchu for its similar architecture, Choquequirao is a much less visited Inca citadel, located atop a mountain overlooking the Apurímac River canyon . The archaeological site is estimated to have been built around 1536 and is now a National Cultural Heritage site, with excavations still revealing new areas of the complex.
Unlike the three previous routes, this one doesn't end at Machu Picchu: it's an out-and-back trek, designed for a more secluded and physically demanding experience. The elevation change is the main feature of this trek : you descend to the bottom of the canyon and then climb back up twice, making it one of the most challenging hikes in the region.
Trekking to Choquequirao: how to get there from Cusco
To get to Choquequirao You have to travel 4 hours by car from Cusco to the town of Cachora, the starting point of the trek . From there, the 4-day trek covers about 62 kilometers round trip.
The first day involves descending to Playa Rosalina and continuing to Santa Rosa, a 17 km hike. The second day is an ascent to the Choquequirao campsite, with time to explore the ruins and watch the sunset over the canyon. The third day begins the return journey to Chiquisca, and the fourth day completes the final climb to Capuliyoc, with a panoramic viewpoint overlooking the entire canyon before returning to Cusco.
You can book it as the Choquequirao trek , a challenging trek with a professional guide, pack mules, and entrance to the citadel included. It's a recommended excursion for those with experience in mountain trekking who are looking for a less crowded alternative to the Inca Trail.
Ausangate, the less traveled alternative
If you prefer an even more secluded route, the Ausangate trek is ideal . This 4- to 5-day circular route circles the highest mountain in the Cusco region, remaining above 4,000 meters above sea level for much of the trek. It doesn't lead to any archaeological sites nor does it end at Machu Picchu: its appeal lies in the glacial lagoons of varying colors, the herds of alpacas and llamas, and the possibility of combining it with a visit to Rainbow Mountain on the same trip.
The starting point is usually the community of Pacchanta, about 3 hours from Cusco. This village, with its natural hot springs, is where many groups spend the night before or after the trek.
Lacking the popularity of the Inca Trail or the Salkantay, it is one of the least touristy routes in the entire region , although it requires good prior acclimatization due to the sustained altitude of the route.
Short hikes in Cusco for a single day
Not all travelers have four or five days available for a long trek, and that's where short hikes in Cusco come in. These are day trips, with hotel pickup included, that still allow you to see high-altitude landscapes without needing to camp. They're also the best option if you're traveling with someone who prefers not to carry camping gear, or if your itinerary already includes several days dedicated to other activities.
The two most popular choices are Humantay Lagoon and Rainbow Mountain , either the more well-known Vinicunca or the less crowded Palccoyo. Both share a common characteristic: they start very early in the morning, between 4 and 5 am, to reach the highest point before the crowds gather and the clouds obscure the landscape.
Humantay Lagoon from Cusco, the most popular day hike
Humantay Lagoon is the most photographed day trip in all of Cusco : a lagoon of intense turquoise color, at the foot of the Salkantay mountain, formed by the melting of two glaciers. You can book it as the Humantay Lagoon trek , with breakfast, lunch, and a guide included. It's a great introduction to high-altitude trekking for those who don't have time to do the entire Salkantay trek, since the lagoon is actually part of that route.
The starting point is Mollepata, about 90 km from Cusco , from where you continue by car to Soraypampa and walk uphill for an hour and a half to the viewpoint of the lagoon, at 4,200 meters above sea level.
The full day lasts about 13 hours, leaving the hotel around 4 a.m. to arrive before most groups, since at midday the viewpoint is usually full of visitors and fog can cover part of the landscape.
Palccoyo, the alternative rainbow mountain
If you've already experienced (or want to avoid) the crowds at Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca), Palccoyo is a less-traveled, more recently discovered alternative with a much easier hike. It's about a 3.5-hour drive from Cusco to the district of Checacupe, and from there the hike to the rainbow mountains is only 30 minutes—much shorter than the climb to Vinicunca.
Palccoyo sits at 4,900 meters above sea level, near the Ausangate mountain. Instead of a single colorful hill, it offers several distinct formations spread across an area of approximately 9 hectares, allowing for leisurely walks among them. You can book the Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain tour , which includes breakfast, a typical lunch in the town of Cusipata, and a guide, on a day trip of about 12 hours.
How to get to the starting points of trekking in Cusco
Most of the treks in this guide don't start in Cusco itself, but in nearby towns that require travel, either by car, tourist transport, or train . Understanding these distances helps explain why almost all tours include transportation as part of the package, rather than leaving it to the traveler, and also why most departures start so early.
A particular case is Ollantaytambo, the town in the Sacred Valley that serves as a connection point for several of these routes , either as a stop along the way or as a train station towards Aguas Calientes.
How to get to Ollantaytambo from Cusco
The distance from Cusco to Ollantaytambo is about 70 kilometers, a 1 hour and 30 minute drive along the Sacred Valley Route . For those wondering how to get to Ollantaytambo from Cusco , the options are a private or shared transfer, a public bus from the Pavitos terminal , or combining it with a day trip to the rest of the Sacred Valley.
Ollantaytambo is also the train station from which most services depart for Aguas Calientes. For this reason, many of the Ollantaytambo to Cusco hikes that people search for actually refer to the return journey: after the trek, the train drops you off in Ollantaytambo, and from there a tourist bus completes the return trip to Cusco .
It's worth keeping this in mind when planning your schedule for the last day, because between the bus from Aguas Calientes, the train, and the final transfer, the return trip can take several hours longer than it seems.
Tips to prepare yourself before any trek in Cusco
Before setting out on any of these routes, the most repeated recommendation among agencies and travelers is the same: arrive in Cusco at least two days in advance to acclimatize to the altitude , avoiding intense physical exertion and alcohol in those first few days.
The city is already over 3,400 meters above sea level, and several of these treks climb even higher, reaching 4,600 or 4,900 meters at their most demanding points. Chewing coca leaves or drinking coca tea is another way to alleviate mild symptoms of altitude sickness.
The dry season, from April to October, is the best time for any of these hikes. During this period, there is less chance of rain and the trails are in better condition. The months from November to March, on the other hand, bring more frequent rain, but also fewer tourists and greener landscapes.
Whichever route you choose, wearing layers of clothing, sunscreen, and tried-and-tested trekking shoes is essential.
What is the best hike from Cusco to Machu Picchu?
It depends on your priority: the Inca Trail is the only one that enters Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate, the Salkantay offers the most varied landscape (snowy mountains and high jungle), and the Lares is the option with fewer tourists and more contact with Andean communities.
What is the distance from Cusco to Ollantaytambo?
About 70 kilometers, a journey of approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes by car, the usual starting point of the Inca Trail and the return train station for several of the other routes.
What short hikes in Cusco can be done in a single day?
Humantay Lagoon and Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca or its alternative Palccoyo) are the two most popular day trips, both with hotel transfer included.
Is it necessary to book the Inca Trail well in advance?
Yes. Unlike other routes, the Inca Trail has limited daily permits due to Peruvian government regulations, so it is recommended to book at least 5 or 6 months in advance, especially between May and August.
Which trek in Cusco is the most difficult?
Ausangate and Choquequirao are usually considered the most demanding: the former because of the sustained altitude above 4,000 meters above sea level, and the latter because of the steepness of going down and up the Apurímac canyon twice on the same route.