Treks to Machu Picchu: The 15 Best Routes

1.Salkantay Trek Challenge – 3 Days / 2 Nights

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 101 reviews · 3 days (approx.) · from $680Our pick

This three-day Salkantay Challenge takes you from Cusco over the 4,630-meter pass to Machu Picchu. You will hike with a guide such as Marco, Guido, or Cesar Quispe, sleep in an Andean camp and Aguas Calientes hotel, and travel home by panoramic train. Expect a hard first day, small groups, packed meals, and horse-carried gear.

“Salkantay Trekking does a great job in ensuring all the conditions are set for this hard challenge to be doable for everyone.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Choquequirao Trek 4 days and 3 nights

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 81 reviews · 4 days (approx.) · from $698

Trek from Capuliyoc through the Apurimac Canyon to Choquequirao, one of Peru’s least crowded Inca sites. This four-day trip includes Cusco transfers, a guide, chef, porter, camping meals, and a visit to Saywite. Expect steep climbs, early starts, basic camping, and a small-group format, with guides such as Elias, Sebastian, and Gary praised for care and encouragement.

“Trip of a lifetime! We did the 4-day, 3-night TreXperience Trek with Gary (lead guide) and Sergio (support guide) and “Chef Ratatouille” Balbino starting Sept 8th, 2025. Length of trip was just about right - long enough to get good hikes bu”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Machu Picchu: 5-Day Salkantay Trek with Panoramic Train

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 79 reviews · 5 days · from $655

Spend five days crossing Peru’s Salkantay route from Cusco to Machu Picchu. You’ll hike to Humantay Lake and Salkantay Pass, camp at Llactapata with views of the citadel, share Pachamanca and coffee in Lucmabamba, and return by Vistadome or 360° train. Guides such as Cesar, Roger, José, and Miguel are praised for care and encouragement.

“Very good service and excellent guides. Food was amazing and everything was well organised. Well recommended for sporty and adventurous people.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Ancascocha Trek To Machu Picchu 4 Days And 3 Nights

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 77 reviews · from $730

You’ll hike from Soqma through waterfalls, Inca ruins, farming valleys, and the 14,599-foot Kuychiccasa Pass before reaching Machu Picchu. Action Peru Treks provides guides, camping equipment, meals, park fees, hotel transfers, and one night in Aguas Calientes. Guides associated with the company include Lino, Eddy, Christian, and Lina, though assignments vary.

“My brother and I did this trip and had an amazing time! This trail, while not the classic Inca trail, is a great experience. The hike goes through the mountains and gives amazing views without the crowds of the classic trail. We visited several Incan Read more”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5D/4N or 4D/3N by glamping

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 35 reviews · 5 days · from $35Best value

This five-day small-group trek follows a quieter route from Cusco to Machu Picchu, with Humantay Lake, Salkantay Pass, coffee country, hot springs, Llactapata, and one night in Aguas Calientes. English and Spanish guides may include Ruben, Roger, Reynaldo, Tupac, or Nidia. Expect long mountain days, simple camps, excellent cooking, and several optional costs.

“was good, saw lots of cool places, just a bit annoying that was in a group of half young people and half old people meaning we had to do a lot of waiting for then to catch up, but apart from thatvit was good”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.4 days/3 nights: Inka Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 25 reviews · 4 days · from $420

Travel from Cusco to Machu Picchu in a group of up to 15, combining mountain biking, jungle hiking, hot springs, and an optional zip line. Guide Gustavo Candia is named in several bookings. The route includes three hostel nights, meals, Machu Picchu entry, and the train back toward Cusco.

“Experiencia espectacular. El tour está muy bien diseñado, con actividades variadas todos los días. El personal demuestra gran dedicación y atención al detalle. Mención especial para el guía Gustavo, altamente preparado y siempre atento a las necesidades. El dia 1 para mi fue el mejor andando en bici y haciendo rafting Para el dia 2 hay que tener más preparación fisica pero nada de otro mundo El dia 3 es mas tranquilo dado que es solo caminata El dia 4 es la llegada a Machu Picchu por lo cual es magico La recomendación es hacer la reserva con tiempo dado que si no encuentran ticket, el tour se acorta dado…”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Cusco: 4-Day Lares Trek to Machu Picchu with Panoramic Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 20 reviews · 4 days · from $690

This four-day route pairs a demanding high-altitude trek with Andean village visits, Lares hot springs, Maras salt pools, Ollantaytambo, and Machu Picchu. An English- or Spanish-speaking guide leads you, while muleteers carry up to 7 kilograms of camping gear. Guides such as Manolo and Filio have been praised for their care and steady pacing.

“Un excellent trek a faire en famille ou entre amis, la difficulté est abordable. Cependant il faut noté que le manque d’oxygène et le froid la nuit diminuent nos capacités physiques. Il fait déjà être sportif ou à minima en bonne condition physique. Les paysages sont époustouflants et le guide suit notre rythme (vous pouvez faire autant de pauses que nécessaire) ! Nos chefs cuisiniers étaient excellent, je recommande vivement !!”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Cusco: 4-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, Panoramic Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 17 reviews · 4 days · from $552

You’ll hike from Humantay Lake over the 4,630-meter Salkantay Pass, then descend through cloud forest to Machu Picchu. The trip includes glamping, Andean huts, a 3-star hotel, a Pachamanca barbecue, coffee-making, trail meals, guides in English or Spanish, and a Vistadome or 360° train return. Guides such as Alex, José, and Filio have been praised for careful group support.

“Thank you so much for this truly unique experience! Our guide, Filio, was incredible; he took care of us with such patience, professionalism, kindness, and was clearly passionate about his job and providing us with cultural and historical information. I really appreciated the attention to detail and warmth Filio and the team provided during our trek. Our chef, Dionissios, was very good and made sure all our needs were taken care of, serving us delicious hearty meals and surprise treats! Another team member that was always ready to help and always with a smile was Alberto- thank you as well! I would highly recommend Filio as a guide and Trexperience…”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.5-Day Salkantay Trek to Machupicchu Sky Lodge Dome

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 6 reviews · 5 days · from $700

Trek from Challacancha to Machu Picchu through Humantay Lagoon, the 4,650-meter Salkantay Pass, coffee country, Llactapata, and Aguas Calientes. You sleep in private domes with bathrooms and hot showers, then visit Machu Picchu with a bilingual guide. Small groups are limited to 10 people.

“Hee goed verzorgd! Goed eten en fijne bedden, laatste hotel was ‘oke’. De domes waren top! Alleen nacht 1 zeer koud maar ik Geloof dat dit bij alle domes van alle organisaties wel zo was! Eigen douche en toilet, top! Hike zelf prachtig!”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.From Cusco: 5-Night Trip with Salkantay Trek & Machu Picchu

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 6 reviews · from $650

Spend five nights moving from Cusco’s high Andes to Machu Picchu with Alpaca Expeditions. You’ll sleep in a glass cabin, campsite, Hobbit house, and hotel, hike past Humantay Lake and Salkantay Pass, visit a coffee farm, and return by Expedition train. English guiding, meals, transport, porters, and Machu Picchu tickets are included.

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days with Sky Lodge Domes

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 5 days · from $680

You’ll hike from Challacancha to Machu Picchu in five days with a bilingual guide, mule support, chef-prepared meals, three nights in Sky Lodge Domes, and one hotel night in Aguas Calientes. The route includes Humantay Lake, Salkantay Pass, Llactapata, part of the Inca Trail, and a final guided visit to Machu Picchu.

“Le trek du Salkantay au Pérou était une expérience incroyable. Les paysages étaient grandioses, variés et à couper le souffle -entre montagnes enneigées, vallées verdoyantes et le superbe lac Humantay, vraiment magnifique. L’organisation était globalement très bonne. En cas de mal d’altitude, il y a toujours la possibilité de monter à cheval (payant), ce qui est rassurant pour les moments les plus difficiles. Le cuisinier nous a préparé d’excellents repas tout au long du trek : variés, savoureux, et bienvenus après une longue journée de marche. Le guide était également très professionnel, sympathique et attentif à chacun. Le seul petit bémol : la seconde nuit, où l’hébergement n’était pas à…”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Inka Jungle trek to Machu Picchu 3 D/ 2 N

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 4 reviews · 3 days · from $410

Travel from Cusco over Abra Málaga by bike, then continue through the Inca Jungle by road, foot, zip line, and train. You’ll see Huamanmarca, plantations, waterfalls, and Machu Picchu, with two nights of lodging, meals, equipment, guide service, and entry included. English and Spanish tours run in groups of up to 18.

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Cusco: 5-Day Salkantay Ultimate Trek to Machu Picchu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 5 days · from $669

Spend five demanding days hiking from the high Andes through cloud forest to Machu Picchu. You’ll cross 4,630-meter Salkantay Pass, visit turquoise Humantay Lake, learn about coffee with a Lucmabamba family, camp four nights, and finish with a guided citadel tour. English and Spanish guiding, meals, transport, and porter horses are included.

“The trek was fantastic. Really good scenery, excellent guide and well looked after by the support team.”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.From Cusco: Salkantay trek 5 days/4 nights meals included

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 3 reviews · 5 days · from $460

You’ll spend five days hiking from Soraypampa to Machu Picchu, crossing the 4,650-meter Salkantay Pass, visiting Humantay Lake and Llactapata, and sleeping three nights in camp plus one night in Aguas Calientes. An English and Spanish-speaking guide, cook, meals, Machu Picchu entry, and return transport are included.

Check availability →Read our full review

15.From Cusco: Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5D/4N or 4D/3N

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 12 hours - 5 days · from $50

Walk from Cusco through Humantay Lake, the 4,630-meter Salkantay Pass, rainforest trails, Llactapata, and Aguas Calientes before visiting Machu Picchu. You get a guide, cook, meals, cabins, and one hotel night. Guide Fernandez, chef Edgar, and assistant Eulogio are named members of the team.

Check availability →Read our full review