Alternative Treks
to Machu Picchu

The main distinction between the Alternative Treks and the Inca Trail Treks is that the hiking section of your journey will end in or near Aguas Calientes. The final night of the journey is spent in a rural hotel, and on the final day, you will take a bus up to Machu Picchu with your guide for a visit of the ruins.

• Salkantay Trek After the Classic Inca Trail, this is the most well-known alternative tour. The Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu will be a challenge to complete, but you will be rewarded with spectacular views of Salkantay mountain and Humantay lake. This tour is open to all travel enthusiasts without restrictions.
• Lares Trek If you enjoy culture, this journey is for you. During your tour, you will be able to interact with native Andean villages, which keep their traditions and have not altered much in the last 500 years.
• Choquequirao Trek Choquequirao, considered the most difficult excursion in the Cusco region, is an excellent choice for those interested in cloud forests, vegetation, and fauna. The Choquequirao complex is located at 3,050 meters above sea level and provides an alternative for people who have already visited Machu Picchu.

You can choose an Alternative Trek and ALSO add on 2 additional days of hiking the classic Inca Trail. This means you’ll hike gorgeous and less crowded alternative trek trails while STILL getting to walk through the Sun Gate into Machu Picchu early on your final hiking day! These optional treks are denoted by “Trek Name + Inca Trail.”

If you have any questions, please contact us via our live chat so that we can assist you in planning your dream vacation.

• Stellar scenery,
• Coffee farm,
• Glass cabanas,
• Stunning lakes,
• Beautiful Hobbit House.
• Campsite overlooking Machu Picchu.

Prepare everything you need for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure so that you can enjoy every location you visit on your journey through the various mountains, trails, lakes, wildlife, and more.

• Under an incredibly clear sky
• Life experience in the Andes
• Spectacular views
• Flora and Fauna

A moderately difficult hike, when planning to trek these alternative treks, it is best to plan your excursion by staying in Cusco to acclimate before beginning the hike. Regardless of fitness level, altitude is a serious issue that must be considered. A multi-day hike with var
ying walking hours per day.

• 2-3 wicking t-shirts
• 2-3 hiking pants
• 4 sets of undergarments.
• 4 sets of hiking socks
• 1 Fleece
• 1 Warm, down jacket: gets very cold at night
• 1 Rain jacket and pants
• 1 sun hat
• 1 wool hat
• Headlamp: essential
• Waterproof gloves (even if they are ski gloves, take them)
• Comfortable shoes for camp
• Walking boots
• Waterproof jacket/rain poncho
• Quickdry towel. We provide small ones, you might enjoy something a little larger.
• Small bottle of soap: we provide warm water each day to clean – might make you feel fresh if you had a little soap.
• Battery Charger: There is no place to plug in while trekking!
• Large plastic bags: to help organize and keep clean from dirty.
• Sleeping bag: Recommend down bags for -10C at least

• Sunscreen
• Face moisturizer
• Bug spray
• Hand Sanitizer
• Wet wipes
• Toothbrush and paste
• Toiletpaper
• Personal medication
• First aid kit: band aids, moleskin, etc.

• Water: we supply clean water at each meal. You are responsible for your first morning of water only as we won’t have time to filter water until your first lunch.
• Sunhat
• Rain gear
• Fleece
• Camera
• Music (IPhone)
• Toilet paper and small plastic bag for waste
• Extra Money for Souvenirs, Drinks & Tips
• Earplugs

Consider the following Alpaca Expeditions recommendations to make your trip memorable.

• First Aid: You must be honest with your guide about any health concerns you may suffer from. While guides are not medical professionals, they’re trained in First Aid. Alpaca Expeditions also works with a clinic in Cusco that can help assist our team.
• Weather is unpredictable. Typically, the dry season in Cusco is from April through October. However, this doesn’t stop rain from falling in June or the sun from coming out in December. The best plan is to just be prepared. No matter what month you’re doing the trek please be sure that you have rain gear that includes a waterproof jacket, pants, poncho, and waterproof gloves. Many people forget about gloves but being cold and wet makes hiking very unpleasant.
• Altitude sickness: we always recommend spending at least two days in Cusco before beginning any trek. If you have more time that’s even better. Cusco is an amazing city with a lot to do so you won’t be bored.