Going on a hiking route in Peru is an essential part of your trip. There are thousands of beautiful walks that will take you to dream places. No matter where you are in Peru, there are always options to continue exploring on foot.
In this article I collect a total of 8 best walks and trekkings to do in Peru, they are some of the best, because they take you to see some of its wonders.
Although it is not necessary to do the walks to visit some of the places that I will tell you about below, it is a great experience that is worth it.
On the other hand, many of the destinations that I indicate if it is necessary to do some walking to get to them. Some of the paths are smooth and comfortable, on the other hand, some of the treks require more effort.
I am not an expert in very long or very intense treks, even so, I always try in all my trips to do everything I can to get to know valleys, viewpoints, volcanoes... And the effort always has a great reward.
You must take altitude sickness into account. In Peru, many of the essential destinations to visit are at a high altitude, which is why altitude sickness is very common. You have to be prepared and know how to avoid it as much as possible. You can read how to prevent altitude sickness in Peru at this link.
Peru is known for its Inca empire. Its rich culture, history and gastronomy make Peru a perfect country for those looking for a trip full of experiences.
THE 8 BEST HIKES AND TREKKINGS TO DO IN PERU
1. Trekking to Vinicunca, the rainbow mountain of Peru
This is probably one of the most fashionable excursions in recent years. On our first trip to Peru, we didn't even know that this marvel existed and years later, when we returned to tour the country from end to end, a local gentleman explained to us that there was a trek to visit this rainbow mountain.
Vinicunca (mountain of 7 colors) as I told you, was an unknown place until a few years ago. This is because years ago, the mountain was totally covered by snow.
The trekking is quite demanding since the mountain is 5,200 meters high. Although the journey does not have many kilometers from when the transport leaves you until you get there, the height makes it much more difficult, making the climb an hour and a half at a good pace. From Cusco it will take you almost 4 hours to get here by car. And although you may be thinking that it is too long by car and a lot of walking, but it is worth it! The place is spectacular.
2. Great route of the Inca Trail
Although there are many variants of organized excursions that cover the Inca trail, there is a very complete 4-day option. It is for true adventurers and trekking lovers. This tour will end in Machu Picchu.
It is a complete tour that includes nights in accommodation in camps, transportation, guides and entrance fees.
You start trekking up the mountain to see the locations of Miskay and Llactapata. The Llactapata archaeological site and the Huyllabamba community are located in this last population. The day ends upon reaching the Wayllabamba camp at 3,000 meters above sea level.
The next stage begins to take the route in the direction of the Lluncachimpa Valley to go up to Llulluchapampa. We cross the Warmihuañusca pass, at 4,200 meters above sea level. After a stop for lunch, the trekking begins again to tour the Pacaymayu valley and the Runcuray pass. The day ends upon arrival at the Pacaymayu camp, at 3,650 meters above sea level.
On the third day, the walk begins through leafy and tropical forests where archaeological remains can be seen. Later you will arrive at the archaeological complex of Phuyupatamarca and Winay Wayna, the largest and most surprising of all the trekking. It is in this place that the camp is located.
On the fourth and last day of the trekking, the route towards Inti Punku begins. This journey is done at night, in order to arrive in time to see the sunrise at Machu Picchu. During this day, all corners of the archaeological site of Machu Picchu will be covered with a guide. And the day ends by taking a bus in the direction of Aguas Calientes.
If you want to visit Machu Picchu on your own, I explain all the options you have and how to do it from the Complete Guide to visit Machu Picchu.
3. Trekking to Choquequirao
Known as the cradle of gold, this trek is an alternative wonder for those wishing to explore lesser-known Inca ruins. This route is much less visited by travelers, so you can enjoy it without crowding, practically for yourself.
The walk is not easy, it is quite hard. There are organized tours that take walks between 4 and 5 days. The best way is the guided trekking, since it guarantees that you will not deviate from the route, it includes a local and specialized guide, as well as meals and accommodation.
The trekking starts in Cachora (near Cusco). And the route starts uphill until you reach the Capulliyoq viewpoint. Where you can see the Apuriamac river and the Choquequirao ruins. The road will continue until reaching Chiquisca. Where is the first camp.
The next day the route of about 8 hours begins, where 2 stops will be made; one in Santa Rosa and the other in Marampata. The day ends at the archaeological site of Choquequirao.
On the third day there will be time to tour the archaeological site of Choquequirao. In this site it still preserves remains of temples, warehouses, public spaces and remains of essential buildings to learn about Latin American history in pre-Columbian times. The third night is also spent here.
On the fourth and last day of trekking, the walk begins to reach the archaeological site of Pinchiunuyoq, whose ruins are located in the heart of the Apurimac Valley. The next stop is 4 hours later in Capuliyoc (the same viewpoint from where the trekking starts), a beautiful viewpoint from where there will be a stop to eat and where the trekking ends.
4. Excursion through the Cotahuasi Canyon
The Cotahuasi canyon is one of the deepest canyons in the world. To give you an idea, it is twice the size of the Grand Canyon of Colorado.
You can explore this wonder of nature on various types of hikes. There are some one-day options and there are long treks and multi-day excursions that go deep into the canyon to see virtually unexplored corners.
The 3-day path will take you to see waterfalls, suspended bridges, leafy paths, precipices, spectacular viewpoints...
During the 3 days of trekking you will visit the Cotahuasi Canyon, the Majes and Huaynacotas Valleys and the Solimana and Coropuna volcanoes.
This trekking is done from Arequipa, the white city of Peru. If you did not plan to visit this part of Peru, you can read some of my articles about this area that will surely encourage you to include Aerquipa and its surroundings on your route. If you don't have time to visit the Cotahuasi Canyon, you can also visit the Colca Canyon, near Arequipa. Much smaller, but accessible by car. I leave you the link of the article so you can see the tour.
5. Laguna 69
Laguna 69 is a beautiful turquoise blue lake located in the Cordillera Blanca.
The glacial landscape that surrounds it is marvelous and it is undoubtedly one of the best 1-day treks to do in Peru.
La Laguna is located in the Huascarán National Park. So if you want to visit the lagoon it is advisable to stay in the town of Huaraz.
The walk lasts about 3 hours uphill and although the path is not at a very high level, good physical condition and, above all, comfortable and suitable footwear are recommended.
The temperature in the lagoon is very low, so remember to wear warm clothes. In summer it is not usually higher than 12 degrees. Only a few brave dared to set foot in the water... The water comes from the glacier. It's frozen!
The color of the water is a very intense turquoise blue, and the surrounding landscape is wonderful.
To do this trekking it is possible to do it for free. Once you arrive at the parking lot in the lower area, there is a sign indicating the way and during the journey it is well signposted. The entrance to the National Park is about 30 soles.
However, if you want to do it with a guide, you can book an excursion that includes transportation and a guide in Spanish.
6. Kuelap fortress
To discover the Kuélap fortress you must climb to the top of the Andes. Kuelap is a walled city built by the Chachapoyas.
To be able to visit this fortress you must stay in Chachapoyas, a small city quite far from everything. It is located about 14 hours by car from the city of Trujillo, almost 4 hours from the city of Jaén and almost 7 hours from the city of Tarapoto. (Cities that you can reach by local planes). I recommend that you get to Jaén, since any of the 3 options has winding roads and from Jaén the journey by car is shorter.
The excursion to visit the Kuélap Fortress is 1 day, with a gentle walk. There is also the option of trekking for several days until you reach the fortress. But it is a route of between 6 and 7 days and quite intense. So the alternative of a day trip is the best option if you want to enjoy nature, a nice walk and visit the fortress.
The organized excursion begins by taking the cable car that will take you up to Kuelap. For those who prefer to climb the path to the top on foot, right where the cable car leaves there is a map with the itinerary to follow and the entire route is marked. You should bear in mind that by cable car it takes about 20 minutes to reach the top, and walking takes about 4-5 hours (depending on your pace) to get there.
Once up you will discover the walled city built on top of the Andes with a great wall 20 meters high that surrounds it by cliffs and cliffs in the middle of the jungle. You will be able to tour the fortress through the walled alleys, see the circular buildings and visit the 3 buildings that stand out the most in the fortress; the Tower, the Inkwell and the Castle.
7. Trekking to Moray and the Salinas de Maras
Moray and the salt flats of Maras are an essential stop to make if you visit Cusco. There are several ways to get to know them, the easiest is to book a tour for less than 15 euros, which takes you to see them. It includes transportation and a local guide and you will spend half a day enjoying this wonder.
Another not so easy option is to do the trekking (not circular) of about 20 kilometers to get to know Moray and the Salinas. Crossing the salt flats is something impressive. You will be able to walk through the walls that divide the spaces.
8. Excursion to the Humantay Lagoon
This trek is quite short but quite hard. Even so, when we reached the top, at the Humantay Lagoon, a small lake of intense blue color located at the foot of a mountain of the same name, all evils were removed from us. It is spectacular! The climb is approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. The path is quite steep and the height (4,200 meters above sea level) makes it quite a difficult climb. Take your time and take short breaks to catch up on some air. Despite the difficulty, it is one of the excursions from Cusco that you cannot miss. You must know this place!
To do this trekking (just like almost all the excursions in Peru) you must wear good mountain shoes.
And here comes the list of the 8 trekkings to do in Peru. Peru is a huge country with many places to visit and of course, many trekking. This list is some of the most beautiful and best organized for travelers to know different landscapes and not so popular places of interest in the country.
If you dare to do any of these walks, tell me about your experience when you return and if you do something different, tell me in the comments so that I can do it on my next trip to Peru.
PLAN YOUR TRIP STEP BY STEP
I hope you enjoy your trip to Peru a lot and that this article has been useful to you. You can continue reading many more related articles on the blog.
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A hug and see you soon!
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