Trek Comparisons
The table below will assist you with your trek planning in the Cusco area! Before making your final plans for a trip, you should visit the trek page and read the itinerary in detail, including the price and inclusions for the trip. This is the best trek comparisons chart for hikes in the Cusco and Machu Picchu area!
Apus Peru are specialists in Inca Trail Alternative Treks and provide unique alernate routes to arrive in Machu Picchu. We hope that these treks will be developed sustainably and responsibily and at all times ask that the visitor to Peru consider their impact on the places that they visit - see our Responsible tourism pages. How difficult are these Inca Trail alternative treks? For notes on trek difficulty see below the table.
Difficulty explanation*
* difficulty really depends on your prior trekking experience, your fitness and your overall hardiness/durability. If you have any doubts as to your fitness, please talk with your Travel Consultant.
Easy - this means "Easy by Andean standards", which still means it involves hiking distances uphill at altitude. (Never easy!)
Moderate - has some easy parts, and some not so easy parts. This is usually a challenging hike for the non hiker or people of average fitness.
Difficult - For an experienced hiker, this will present challenges. For someone with not much hiking or outdoor experience this will be a difficult trek. Only fit and acclimatised people should attempt these treks.
Inca Trail Treks Comparison - all these treks rquire permits!
| Treks | Sites visited | Best Trek For... | Off the beaten track factor | Terrain | Difficulty | Hours of travel (approx) | Highest Altitude | 2012 8 ppl price, USD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short Inca Trail 2 days/ 1 n | Chachabamba, Wiñaywayna, | A taste of the Inca trail, no camping involved (you stay in Aguas Calientes) | Commonly done | Lots of steps and climbing | Easy-moderate | 5 hours | 2730m Inti Punku |
$450 |
| Classic Inca Trail 4 d/ 3 n | Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu | Excellent ruins, established campsites, walk thru Inti punku to Machu Picchu | Most touristed trek | Mostly steps, climbs and slopes | Moderate | 5 hours | 4200m Warmihuañusca | $620 |
| Inca Trail in Five Days (5d/4 n) | Follows Classic Inca Trail route | Camping in less touristed campsites, walking at slower and different pace than the Classic tour | Good to get "out of sync" with the crowds | Mostly steps, climbs and slopes | Easier than 4 days | 5 hours | 4200m Warmihuañusca |
$655 |
| Inca Trail Marathon (3d/2n) | Follows Classic Inca Trail route | An high altitude, challenging marathon! | Rarely done! | Lots of steps and climbing | Difficult | 5 hours | 4200m Warmihuañusca |
$635 |
| Salkantay and Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (6d/5n) | Follows Ancascocha route, then Classic Inca Trail | Stunning mountains, ruins and doing something different | Days 2 & 3 you will see few, if any other tourists | lots of climbs and descents | Moderate- Difficult | 8 hours | 4850m Incachiriasca | $625 |
| Choquequirao, Salkantay, and Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 12 d/ 11n | Choquequirao, Salkantay pass, Inca Chiriasca, then Classic Inca Trail | Everything! Compare little visited Choquequirao with Machu Picchu | Very adventurous and off the beaten track | canyons, dusty trails, rocks, and stpes | Difficult | 9 hours | 4850m (twice) Yanama & Incachiriasca | $965 |
| please note: you should always check the trek's full itinerary, inclusions & pricing in conjunction with this page! | ||||||||
We are currently working on making this treks Comparison page more useful! If you have a good suggestion, please email Ariana at reservas@apus-peru.com with your suggestions!
Treks 2-3 days including Inca trail treks.
| Treks | Sites visited | Best Trek For... | Off the beaten track factor | Terrain | Difficulty | Hours of travel (approx) | Highest Altitude | 2012 8 ppl price, USD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short Inca Trail 2 days/ 1 n | Chachabamba, Wiñaywayna, Machu Picchu | A taste of the Inca trail, no camping involved (you stay in Aguas Calientes) | Commonly done | Lots of steps and climbing | Easy-moderate | 5 hours | 2730m Inti Punku |
$450 |
| Lares Chupani Special with Machu Picchu 3 d/ 2 nights | Remote weaving communities, Lares Hot Springs, Machu Picchu | Remote weaving villages, off the beaten track | Custom designd route, by Apus Peru | green mountains, mostly established trails, some cross country | medium - difficult | 10 hrs | 4200 m Chaullacocha pass | $485 |
| Ancascocha corta 3d/ 2 nights | Ancascocha community, sacred valley, machu picchu | remote, rugged experience in short time, mountains & valleys | Very off the beaten track | mostly established trails, some cross country | medium - difficult | 7 hours | 4200 m Puca Ccasa |
$515 |
| Old Peak & Small Cusco 3d/ 2 nights | huchuy qosqo ruins, machu picchu | Short trek near Cusco, includes Machu Picchu | Quite popular | established trails, undulating, gentle. steep rocky descent | Easy | 5 hours | 4350m | $535 |
| Huchuy Qosqo Adventure 2d/1 night | Huchuy Qosqo Ruins | trek from Cusco to the Sacred Valley | Quite popular | established trails, undulating, gentle steep rocky descent |
Easy | 2.5 hours | 4350m | $235 |
We are currently working on making this treks Comparison page more useful! If you have a good suggestion, please email Ariana at reservas@apus-peru.com with your suggestions!
| Treks (listed in alphabetical order) | Sites visited | best trek for | Terrain | Length | Difficulty | Hours of travel (approx) | Highest Altitude | 2012 price per person (8 ppl in group)$US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ancascocha corta | Ancascocha community, sacred valley, machu picchu | remote, rugged experience in short time | snowcapped monuntains, valleys | 3 days/2 nights | medium - difficult | 5 hours | 4650 m | $370 |
| ancascocha alternative via salkantay | ancascocha community, sacred valley, machu picchu | remote, rugged experience | snowcapped monuntains | 5 days/4 nights | difficult | 5 hours | 5000 m | $470 |
| ausangate 5 days | Ausangate mountain, Tinqui village | snow views | high mountains, snow | 5 days/4 nights | difficult | 6 hours | 5,100m | $315 |
| ausangate sibinacocha | Ausangate mountain, | snow views, high alpine lakes | high mountains, snow | 7 days/ 6nights | moderate, if acclimatized | 8 hours | 5,100m | $395 |
| INCA TRAIL | Classic or Traditional Inca Trail to Machu Picchu | ruins, good campsites, walk into Machu Picchu | high mountains, ruins, varied vegetation | 4 days/3 nights | easy-moderate | 5 hours | 4200m | $495 |
| SHORT INCA TRAIL | Short version Inca Trail to Machu Picchu | ruins, good campsites, walk into Machu Picchu | walking into Machu Picchu | 2 days/1 nights | easy-moderate | 5 hours | $370 | |
| the last bastion of the Incas | Choquequirao - Vilcabamba (Vitcos/Rosasapatas) | history & isolation | high mountains, no snow, ranging vegetation | 8 days/ 7 nights | difficult | 8 hours | 4600m | $450 |
| choquequirao - vilcabamba - machu picchu | Choquequirao - Vilcabamba - Machu Picchu | history & isolation, Machu Picchu | high mountains, no snow, ranging vegetation | 10 days/ 9 nights | difficult | 12 hours | 4600m | $695 |
| Back Door to Machu Picchu | Santa Maria to Machu Picchu non- hiking option | alternate entry to machu picchu | jungle | 3 days/ 2 nights | easy | 13 hours | - | $please enquire |
| vilcabamba to machu picchu | Huancacalle - Machu Picchu via Abra Muhun | isolated inca ruins & alternate entry to machu picchu, untouristed | snow capped mountains | 6 days/ 5 nights | moderate- tough | 16 hours | over 4000m | $555 |
| choquequirao | Choquequirao ruins | views of canyons | canyons, apurimac river | 4 days/ 3 nights | Difficult | 8 hours | 3300m | $310 |
| choquequirao comfort | Choquequirao ruin and leisurely visit | views of canyons | canyons, apurimac river | 5 days/4 nights | Difficult | 8 hours | 3300m | $410 |
| expreso salkantay | salkantay trek in 4 days! | quick salkantay trek | snowcapped mountains, high jungle | 4 days/ 3 nights | moderate-difificult | 6 hours | 4600m | $425 |
| four angles of Machu Picchu | Santa Maria, Llactapata, Wayna Picchu, PutuCusi & Machu Picchu | unique study of machu picchu | extraordinary views of machu picchu, high jungle | 4 days/ 4 nights | easy but not for those scared of heights | 13 hours | - | $395 |
| please note: you should always check the trek's full itinerary, inclusions & pricing in conjunction with this page! | ||||||||
| choquequirao to machu picchu - Great Ruins & Real Adventure | Choquequirao Machu Picchu | long hike ending in machu picchu | canyons, high puna, jungle | 9 days/ 8 nights | moderate - difficult | 8 hours | 4850m | $625 |
| Huchuy Qosqo Adventure | Huchuy Qosqo Ruins | unique 2 day trek | pretty sacred valley views | 2 days/1 night | easy/ moderate | 2.5 hours | - | $195 |
| In the footsteps of Explorers | Huancacalle - Puncuyoc -Espirtu Pampa | remote route | low jungle | 8 days/ 7 nights | easy | 24 hours | - | $455 |
| Inca ruins & jungle | Espiritu Pampa & Pogo de Mainique | little visited ruins and jungle | amazon jungle, ruins, ponqo de mainique | 7 days/6 nights | easy | 24 hours | - | $please enquire |
| Lares Trek & Machu Picchu | lares, traditional communities visits machu picchu | weaving | high mountains | 4 days/ 3 nights | moderate | 10 hours | 4460m | $485 |
| Lares | lares valley, lares hot springs | high alpine lakes | high lakes, cloud covered mountains | 4, 5 and 6 day options available | moderate | 5 hours | 4460m | $265 for 4 day trek |
| Traditional Lares & Machu Picchu | lares valley, lares hot springs, machu picchu | high alpine lakes& machu picchu | high lakes, cloud covered mountains | 5 days/ 4 nights | moderate | 10 hours | 4460m | $please enquire |
| Old Peak & Small Cusco | huchuy qosqo ruins, machu picchu | short trek, includes machu picchu | sacred valley views and machu picchu | 3 days/ 2nights | easy/ moderate | 11 hours | - | $395 |
| Tropical Inca Trail/ inca Jungle trail | Santa Maria to Machu Picchu - hiking option | bicycle and hiking option + unique homestay | jungle | 4 days/ 3 nights | easy | 13 hours | - | $450 |
| Salkantay | Salkantay mountain, Santa Theresa, Machu Picchu | well known alternative entry to machu picchu | snowcapped mountains, high jungle | 5 days/ 4 nights | Moderate | 6 hours | 4,600 m | $455 |
| Manu Jungle Expedition | jungle | 9 days approx. | rough conditions | contact us | ||||
| Nevado Ampay | Ampay mountain, Abancay | high puna, mountain, snow | 6 days approx | - | 12 hours | - | contact us | |
| Puncuyoc: A journey to the end of the earth | Vilcambamba , Puncuyoc, Vitcos- Rosaspatas | isolated ruins, archaeological aspects | high craggy mountains, remote | 5 days/ 4 nights | moderate | 24 hours | 3954m | contact us |
| Ratchi to Pitumarca and Tinqui, via Laguna Sibinacocha | Ratchi ruins, Pitumarca, Ausangate mountain | - | 11 days approx. | rough conditions | 14 hours approx. | high | contact us | |
| please note: you should always check the trek's full itinerary, inclusions & pricing in conjunction with this page! | ||||||||
