9 of the Best Treks and Trails to and at Machu Picchu

Follow in the footsteps of the Incas when you take the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, part of an ancient network of paths that traversed the so-called Inca Empire and were used as a pilgrimage route to the sacred site.

When trekking, you can typically choose from 2-, 4-, 5-, or 7-day itineraries. However, all of them include steep stretches of trail and lots of stone steps, so prepare accordingly. This is the flagship Machu Picchu trek, attracting thousands of visitors each year, which also means it’s more crowded than some of the other options on this list.

Related: Know Before You Go: Visiting Machu Picchu

The Salkantay Trail is a Cusco-to-Machu Picchu tour, beginning outside of the Andean city. This 48.8-mile (78.5-kilometer) route may be less known than the Inca Trail, but it’s one of the most scenic and rewarding ways to get to Machu Picchu.

To trek Salkantay, you’ll start at the impossibly blue Humantay Lake before continuing over the roughly 15,000-foot (4,600-meter) Salkantay Pass. The altitude makes for gorgeous views, but can also be challenging for those coming from lower elevations, so make sure to look up altitude and preparation tips before attempting this trek.

Although still challenging, the Lares Trek is one of the most accessible routes to Machu Picchu at just 20 miles (33 kilometers) long. It also doesn’t have any technical sections, and is beloved for providing plenty of opportunities to soak up Peruvian culture and history.

Start the route near the town of Lares in the Sacred Valley, and from there wind through Andean villages and stop at the Maras Salt Pools before making your way to Ollantaytambo. There, you catch the train to Aguas Calientes, the small town at the foot of Machu Picchu.

Outdoor adventurers looking for true adventure travel in Peru should book the Inca Jungle Trek. That’s because this experience isn’t so much a different route to Machu Picchu as a completely different kind of adventure, offering not only hiking but also ziplining, biking, and rafting.

It starts in the Sacred Valley, crossing a section of the original Inca Trail on the way to Huacayupana, Lucmabamba, and eventually Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu. This is a fun addition to your Sacred Valley itinerary.

You probably would recognize Huayna Picchu from photos—it’s the tall hump of a mountain that sits directly behind Machu Picchu. For the Incas, this mountain was sacred, and some believe it’s where the high priest lived.

However, because the number of daily visitors to this mountain is limited, you’ll have to reserve your spot in advance and select the circuit 3A that includes Huayna Picchu access. The hike to the summit is very challenging, and involves going up a set of incredibly steep stairs. But it’s also worth the tough climb for stunning views of one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Once you climb every last step of the jokingly called “stairs of death” on Huayna Picchu, you have two options to return to the trailhead: the short trail or the long trail. One of the reasons to choose the long trail is the Temple of the Moon, an ancient cavern that's believed to have been used for sacred ceremonies.

Keep in mind that there's a special Machu Picchu ticket (Circuit 3) required to visit this temple—it’s a challenging hike there and back but absolutely worth the effort.

The entire site of Machu Picchu spans thousands of acres, so you have lots of additional options for on-site hikes. The most recent trail to open is that of Huchuy Picchu, a small mountain on the grounds that offers a relatively achievable hike and plenty of photo-worthy views at the top, without the fog that often clouds the view from Huayna Picchu.

It may take just 15–30 minutes to hike, depending on your fitness level. Just remember that a hike up Huchuy Picchu isn’t necessarily included when you book a guided tour of Machu Picchu, though.

Huayna Picchu is thought to be the most challenging hike around Machu Picchu, but if you’re not up for it, you still have other options—such as Machu Picchu Mountain, another cloud forest–carpeted peak that overlooks the Inca ruins.

This hike is relatively unknown, so you won’t have many crowds to contend with. Plus, you get excellent views of the citadel and the surrounding mountains. To climb Machu Picchu mountain, reserve your spot on a special tour. Keep in mind that the hike takes more than two hours round-trip, so plan accordingly.

One of the most convenient ways to get to Machu Picchu is on the train from Ollantaytambo. The train winds through river valleys in between the Andes, offering nonstop views before you arrive in the small town of Aguas Calientes, the closest town to Machu Picchu.

From there, explore Aguas Calientes itself before hiking up to Machu Picchu, or ride the bus there on a private tour. First, you’ll take Hiram Bingham road before scaling hundreds of stone steps in a journey that takes about an hour.