10 Best Multi-Day Treks From Cusco To Machu Picchu
Cusco was the ancient capital of the Inca Empire and today it is the gateway to some of Peru’s most iconic hiking treks and cultural experiences, exploring the animistic traditions of Quechua-speaking peoples.
While most travellers come here for Machu Picchu, there’s a whole world of multi-day treks in the mountains around Cusco that rival it in beauty and adventure. While Machu Picchu is awe-inspiring to visit, it’s one of the most visited (and busiest) tourist attractions in the world.
If you’re looking to go where busloads of mass tourism don’t go, there are a number of bucket-list worthy trails beyond the must-do Inca Trail and Salkantay Treks to Machu Picchu that also deliver snow-capped peaks, glacial lakes, Inca ruins, and unforgettable high-altitude landscapes.
This guide breaks down the top multi-day treks from Cusco, Peru so you can pick the one that best fits your time, fitness, and trekking style. If you have time, I recommend doing a couple of them because there is so much variety here and day hikes can be exhausting with the long drives.
I’ll also include 3 lesser-known treks (with much fewer crowds) that don’t go to Machu Picchu directly but you could combine them with a 1-day guided tour on the bus and train combo from Cusco to Aguas Calientes below the Machu Picchu citadel.
While nearly all of these treks with tour companies start with a morning pickup in Cusco, it’s usually a 2-3 hour drive to the trailheads where the hiking begins. With the exception of the Inca Trail, you can DIY a lot of these multi-day treks if you’re experienced and prepared.
Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains links to highly-rated guided tours. Booking through these links helps support this blog (at no extra cost to you). You’ll also find AllTrails maps if you want to DIY your hike.
1. Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Duration: 4 days
Distance: 42 km
Max Altitude: 4,215 m (Dead Woman’s Pass)
Difficulty: Moderate
Tours: $600–$950 USD
Trail Map: AllTrails
Highlights: Iconic ruins, cloud forests, and the Sun Gate arrival at Machu Picchu
This is Peru’s most famous trek for good reason. You’ll hike through lush valleys, pass ancient Inca sites like Runkurakay and Wiñay Wayna, and finish with an awe-inspiring sunrise walk through the Sun Gate to Machu Picchu just as Incan pilgrims did.
The 4-day Inca Trail is moderately challenging thanks to the altitude and steep stone steps, but it’s well-supported and well-marked. You’ll camp in organized sites and be accompanied by guides, porters, and cooks who make everything easy.
Inca Trail Permits are limited and sell out fast, so make sure to book 4–6 months in advance. It’s the classic Inca pilgrimage and one of the most fascinating historic treks found anywhere in the world.
2. Salkantay Trek To Machu Picchu
Duration: 5 days
Distance: 72 km
Max Altitude: 4,650 m (Salkantay Pass)
Difficulty: Challenging
Price: $300–$600 USD
Trail Map: AllTrails
Highlights: Glaciers, epic peaks, jungle, and diverse ecosystems
Salkantay is the best alternative to the Inca Trail. It doesn’t require a permit and offers a more remote, rugged experience. Keep in mind that you’ll still need a permit to visit Machu Picchu and many tour operators will include this if you book more than a month in advance.
Alternatively, you can line up in the morning to obtain one of the 1,000 permits available per day in Aguas Calientes. I did this once in high season and arrived at 9:30 am, and I was the 610th person so it was relatively easy but there’s no guarantee.
You’ll pass turquoise Humantay Lake, cross the dramatic Salkantay Pass, and descend into lush rainforest on the edge of the Amazon basin. The trek ends near Machu Picchu with a final train or hike along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes. Some tours include a night in a lodge or even glamping domes.
If you want a trail that mixes epic scenery and a lower price point than the Inca Trail, this is it. I recommend booking at least 1-2 months in advance to get your permits to Machu Picchu. Also, make sure to book the Huayna Picchu Mountain (Wayna Picchu) climb on your permits, which was the highlight of Machu Picchu for me.
3. Lares Trek
Duration: 3–4 days
Distance: 33 km
Max Altitude: 4,450 m
Difficulty: Moderate
Price: $300–$500 USD
Trail Map: AllTrails
Highlights: Quechua villages, weaving traditions, mountain passes
The Lares Trek is a quieter, more culturally immersive trek through remote Andean villages. You’ll hike past traditional stone homes, meet local Quechua weavers, and camp near crystal-clear lakes that you may have entirely to yourself.
The trekking route varies depending on the tour operator, but most treks end in Ollantaytambo at the northern end of the Sacred Valley, where it is easy to book a train ride to Aguas Calientes to visit Machu Picchu.
This is a solid option for travellers who want to connect with the local animistic culture of Quechua-speaking peoples as much as the mountains.
4. Vilcabamba Trek to Machu Picchu
Duration: 5–7 days
Distance: 60–70 km
Max Altitude: 4,500 m
Difficulty: Challenging
Price: $500–$900 USD
Trail Map: AllTrails
Highlights: Lost Inca cities, remote jungle trails, and epic solitude
This wild and less-trodden route traces the path of the last Inca resistance to the Spanish conquerors. You’ll visit forgotten ruins like Vitcos and Espíritu Pampa on your way to Machu Picchu.
It’s remote, rugged, and full of magic and mystery. Fewer local tour companies offer this trek, so expect real adventure and few other hikers.
The Vilcabamba Trek is ideal for history buffs and experienced trekkers looking for something truly off-the-beaten-path.
5. Huchuy Qosqo Trek
Duration: 2–3 days
Distance: 20 km
Max Altitude: 4,200 m
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Price: $150–$300 USD
Trail Map: AllTrails
Highlights: Hidden ruins, Sacred Valley views, and a short itinerary
This is one of the shortest multi-day treks near Cusco and perfect for acclimatizing. You’ll hike from Tambomachay or Chinchero to the ruins of Huchuy Qosqo, perched above the Sacred Valley.
It’s not a technical trail, and you can camp or stay in homestays along the way with local Quechua families. The final stretch brings you down into the town of Lamay, which has some of the best examples of ancient Incan terraces.
This is a great pick for first-time trekkers or those short on time. It can be extended to Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley, where you can catch the train to Aguas Calientes to visit the Machu Picchu citadel.
6. Ancascocha Trek
Duration: 4–5 days
Distance: 56 km
Max Altitude: 4,650 m
Difficulty: Challenging
Price: $500–$700 USD
Highlights: Stunning passes, alpine lakes, and Inca ruins
Dubbed the “Hidden Inca Trail,” this route climbs through the Huayanay mountains and offers some of the best scenery in the region. You’ll pass lakes, waterfalls, and old Inca paths far from any tourist traffic.
It’s a strenuous trek, but well worth the effort. Some itineraries connect to the Sacred Valley or finish in Ollantaytambo, which makes it easy to catch the train to Aguas Calientes to visit Machu Picchu.
This trek is perfect for those who want solitude, challenge, and Inca history rolled into one.
7. Inca Jungle Trek
Duration: 4 days
Distance: 50 km (varies)
Max Altitude: 4,350 m
Difficulty: Moderate
Price: $250–$450 USD
Highlights: Biking, rafting, ziplining, and hiking to Machu Picchu
This is a multi-sport trek for adrenaline junkies. You’ll mountain bike down from Abra Malaga, raft a jungle river, zipline through cloud forest, and hike to Machu Picchu.
It’s one of the most fun, dynamic routes and requires less hiking than traditional treks. Expect hot springs, coffee farms, and jungle trails.
If you’re looking for adventure over altitude, this one’s for you. It’s also a lot cheaper than the full Inca Trail trek.
8. Ausangate + Rainbow Mountain Trek
Duration: 5–6 days
Distance: 70 km
Max Altitude: 5,100 m (Palomani Pass)
Difficulty: Difficult
Price: $400–$800 USD
Trail Map: AllTrails
Highlights: Rainbow Mountain, hot springs, and the sacred Ausangate massif
This trek is in the opposite direction from Machu Picchu but if you want a deep nature immersion experience surrounded by the most majestic peaks in the Peruvian Andes, then I highly recommend it.
The Ausangate Trek loops around the sacred mountain Ausangate, considered one of the holiest by the Quechua people (along with Salkantay and Veronica). Expect remote trails, thermal baths, herds of alpacas, and the wildly colorful Rainbow Mountain (known as Vinicunca).
This is one of the highest treks in Peru and therefore not for the faint-hearted. The nights can be freezing but you’ll sleep in remote high-altitude camps with awe-inspiring views of the entire Milky Way Galaxy.
You’ll need to be well-acclimatized before attempting this route, so make sure to spend at least 2-3 days acclimatizing in Cusco but the views and seculsion are absolutely worth it
9. Siete Lagunas (Seven Lakes) Ausangate Trek
Duration: 2 days
Distance: 12–15 km
Max Altitude: 4,600 m
Difficulty: Moderate
Price: $150–$300 USD
Trail Map: AllTrails
Highlights: Mineral lakes, hot springs, and day-hike friendly
This quick trek is a great mini-adventure near the Ausangate massif. You’ll visit seven turquoise lakes fed by glaciers and soak in rustic hot springs with epic mountain views.
It’s doable in a weekend and doesn’t require a guide, though most tours include transportation, meals, and an overnight stay.
I’d recommend doing this instead of a single-day tour to Rainbow Mountain because it’s a 3.5-hour drive from Cusco and you don’t get much time to enjoy the natural beauty on the day trips.
This short trek is great for acclimatization or as a warm-up before a longer trek like the Inca Trail or Salkantay Trek.
10. Choquequirao Trek
Duration: 4–9 days
Distance: 64+ km
Max Altitude: 3,300 m
Difficulty: Challenging
Price: $450–$850 USD
Trail Map: AllTrails
Highlights: The “sister city” of Machu Picchu, remote ruins, and steep terrain
Choquequirao is a massive, less-visited Inca site that rivals Machu Picchu in scale and mystery. The only way to reach it is on foot, with a steep descent and brutal climb back up.
If you’re up for a real adventure, you can extend the trek all the way to Machu Picchu over 8–9 days but many people visit Machu Picchu on their first trek and then return to visit the mysterious ancient city of Choquequirao.
The hiking trail is physically tough but incredibly rewarding, especially if you love ruins without crowds and you want to immersive yourself in the spectacular cloud forests along the edge of the Amazon basin.
Planning Your Peru Trek In The Andes
Cusco is so much more than just Machu Picchu. With dozens of epic treks through glacier valleys, ancient ruins, and colorful mountains, there’s a trail for every kind of traveller.
Some trails will push your limits. Others will slow you down in the best way. But every one of them offers a deeper connection to the Andes, its indigenous Quechua-speaking people who have resisted colonization for nearly 500 years, and the natural rhythm of life in the mountains.
Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or just getting started, use this trekking guide to pick your route and hit the trails. The spirit of the Andes is calling.
I have been running mindful hiking retreats for the last 7 years that integrate mindful awareness, experiential learning and community building practices.
I love exploring new places, flying my drone and sharing my adventures on my Instagram.
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