Inca Trail · permit required
Classic Inca Trail
Hike the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu with a local Cusco operator. Permit, Machu Picchu ticket, porters, meals and Vistadome return included.
Routes on foot
Machu Picchu Hikes and Treks
There are two ways to hike to Machu Picchu. The Inca Trail follows the original route and enters through the Sun Gate; it needs a personal government permit and closes in February. Salkantay, Lares and Inca Jungle do not need that permit and reach the citadel by train after the trek. Ausangate and Choquequirao are remote high-Andes routes that can be paired with a separate Machu Picchu visit. Tours range from the one-day Inca Trail to five-day treks; inclusions vary by route.
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Compare Machu Picchu hikes and treks
Published prices are starting points. Your quote confirms dates, services, permits, partners and final price before payment.
| Tour | Duration | Difficulty | Group from | Private from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Inca Trail | 4 days | Challenging | US$ 789 | US$ 1,490 |
| Short Inca Trail | 2 days | Moderate | US$ 559 | US$ 799 |
| One Day Inca Trail | 1 day | Moderate-challenging | US$ 469 | US$ 690 |
| Salkantay Trek | 4-5 days | Challenging | US$ 489 (4 days) | US$ 790 (4 days) |
| Lares Trek | 4 days | Moderate | US$ 599 | US$ 899 |
| Inca Jungle Trek | 4 days | Moderate | US$ 389 | US$ 640 |
| Inca Trail 5 Days | 5 days | Moderate | US$ 929 | US$ 1,690 |
| Salkantay & Short Inca Trail | 5 days | Challenging | US$ 949 | US$ 1,390 |
| Lares & Short Inca Trail | 5 days | Moderate | US$ 849 | US$ 1,290 |
| Ausangate & Rainbow Mountain | 4 days | Challenging | US$ 590 | US$ 790 |
| Choquequirao Trek | 4 days | Very challenging | US$ 559 | US$ 759 |
Salkantay prices shown are for the 4-day option; the 5-day group tour starts at US$ 579 and the private 5-day option at US$ 899. Ausangate and Choquequirao do not include Machu Picchu as standard; add a train tour afterwards if you want both.
Inca Trail · permit required
Short Inca Trail
Hike the last stretch of the Inca Trail, enter through the Sun Gate and sleep in Aguas Calientes. Permit, train, hotel and Machu Picchu ticket included.
Inca Trail · permit required
One Day Inca Trail
Hike from Km 104 to the Sun Gate and return to Cusco the same day. Permit, train, bus and guide included. A full-day route for fit hikers.
Inca Trail · permit required
Inca Trail 5 Days
The Classic Inca Trail over 5 days: shorter hiking days, quieter camps and a second Machu Picchu visit. Permits and tickets included.
Andean trek
Salkantay Trek
Cross the 4,630 m Salkantay Pass, turquoise Humantay Lake and cloud forest to Machu Picchu. Camps, meals, train and Machu Picchu ticket included.
Andean trek
Lares Trek
Walk through weaving communities, high lakes and the Lares hot springs, then visit Machu Picchu. Meals, camping, train and ticket included.
Andean trek
Inca Jungle Trek
Mountain biking, rafting, zipline and hot springs on the way to Machu Picchu. Hostels, meals, activities, train back and ticket included.
Andean trek
Salkantay & Short Inca Trail
Combine the Salkantay Pass with the last section of the Inca Trail and enter Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. Permits and tickets included.
Andean trek
Lares & Short Inca Trail
Andean communities on the Lares Trek, then the Short Inca Trail to the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu. Permits, camping and tickets included.
Andean trek
Ausangate Trek
Trek around snow-capped Ausangate, past glacier lagoons and hot springs, to Rainbow Mountain without the crowds. Lodging, meals and guides included.
Andean trek
Choquequirao Trek
Hike down the Apurímac canyon and up to Choquequirao, the Inca city you can only reach on foot. Camping, meals, guide and entrance fee included.
Routes on foot
Inca Trail hikes: arrive at Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate
The Classic, Short and One Day Inca Trail routes use different sections of the same historic route. They are the only hikes in this collection that approach Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. Each requires a personal permit issued for the named traveler, and places depend on the allocation for your date.
The Classic Inca Trail
The Classic Inca Trail covers about 40 km over four days, crossing Dead Woman's Pass at 4,215 m and passing archaeological sites including Runkurakay, Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca and Wiñay Wayna. The final approach is through the Sun Gate. The listed group service has up to 10 hikers, a guide team, chef and porters; the included personal porter carries up to 7 kg of your gear as described on the tour page.
For shorter walking stages, the Inca Trail 5 Days spreads the same route over five days, with three camping nights and a hotel night in Aguas Calientes. It still crosses the high pass, so the extra day changes the pace rather than removing the demanding climb.
The Short and One Day Inca Trail
The Short Inca Trail starts at Km 104 and covers about 12 km of hiking in one day, with a highest point around 2,720 m. The route includes Chachabamba, Wiñay Wayna and the Sun Gate, then an overnight in Aguas Calientes and a guided visit the next morning. A separate permit allocation applies.
The One Day Inca Trail walks the same section without the hotel night and returns to Cusco the same day. It is an approximately 18-hour itinerary. Its listed services include the permit and Machu Picchu entry, but an extra ticket is required for a full guided citadel visit. Check the ticket route and schedule in your quote.
Read how Inca Trail permits work and our guide to how hard the Inca Trail is before choosing between the routes.
Alternative treks to Machu Picchu (no Inca Trail permit)
Salkantay: high mountain scenery
The Salkantay Trek is about 70 km on the five-day itinerary, with a four-day option. It passes Humantay Lake and crosses the Salkantay Pass at 4,630 m below the 6,271 m snow peak, then descends toward cloud forest. It does not use the Inca Trail permit, but the high pass and long days make acclimatization and fitness important.
Lares: villages and hot springs
The Lares Trek is a four-day cultural route through Quechua communities, weaving traditions and high lakes, with a maximum altitude around 4,400 m. The listed itinerary includes hot springs and community fees. It offers a different experience from the archaeological Inca Trail and has no Inca Trail permit requirement.
Inca Jungle: active itinerary
The Inca Jungle Trek combines downhill biking, rafting, a zipline option, hot springs and walking through the cloud forest on its four-day itinerary. Activities can depend on conditions and the package; the tour page explains what is included. Travel insurance that covers adventure activities is strongly recommended.
The Salkantay and Lares combinations with the Short Inca Trail add a permitted final section and Sun Gate arrival: see Salkantay & Short Inca Trail and Lares & Short Inca Trail. These combinations require the Short Inca Trail permit and do not operate in February when the Inca Trail route is closed.
Remote treks near Cusco
Ausangate: glaciers and high lagoons
The Ausangate Trek is a four-day, 36–40 km circuit through remote high-Andes scenery. Its itinerary includes glacier lagoons and the Rainbow Mountain area, reaching about 5,034 m. Accommodation ranges from a cabin and mountain huts to a tent night, so expect cold conditions and a more remote style of travel.
Choquequirao: a demanding Inca city trek
The Choquequirao Trek descends into the Apurímac canyon and climbs back to the Inca site, with steep elevation changes of around 1,400 m. It is very challenging and uses basic camping. Choquequirao is not Machu Picchu, and the standard itinerary does not include a Machu Picchu visit.
Ausangate also does not include Machu Picchu as standard. Both remote routes can be followed by a separate train visit arranged in a custom quote; allow time between strenuous trekking and the next itinerary.
What's included in our Machu Picchu treks
Every route has its own inclusions. Trek packages generally identify the guide, transport to the trailhead, accommodation, listed meals and route or community fees. On routes that include Machu Picchu, the ticket, bus and train are listed on the individual tour page. The Inca Trail permit is requested in the traveler's name after the payment specified in the quote.
Sleeping bags, trekking poles, tips, travel insurance and personal purchases may be excluded or offered as extras. The Inca Jungle requires particular attention to adventure-sports insurance. Read the included and excluded lists for your route and ask us to confirm any dietary, equipment or mobility needs before paying.
Machu Picchu hikes: choose by time, effort, season and age
By time: one day for the One Day Inca Trail; two days for the Short Inca Trail; four days for the Classic Inca Trail, Salkantay, Lares or Inca Jungle; five days for the Inca Trail 5 Days or a Salkantay/Lares combination with the Short Inca Trail.
By effort: the Short Inca Trail has one main hiking day; the Classic and Salkantay include high, sustained climbs; Choquequirao includes steep descents and ascents. Altitude can make any route feel harder. Allow time to acclimatize and compare the route profiles in our best treks to Machu Picchu guide.
By season: the Inca Trail closes every February. The other treks may run at other times, but weather, trail conditions and supplier availability vary. April to October is generally drier; from November to March, expect a greater chance of rain and muddy paths.
By age: the Classic and Short Inca Trail listings set a minimum age of 10. Requirements differ across other tours, so check the specific product page rather than assuming one age rule applies to every trek.
For another perspective on difficulty, seasons and permits, read the Machu Picchu altitude guide before choosing a high route.
How to choose
How to choose your Machu Picchu hike
The right trek depends less on hype and more on what you want to feel each day: history, scenery, remote places, cultural contact or adventure.
Want to arrive at Machu Picchu on footClassic or Short Inca Trail
Want big mountain scenerySalkantay or Ausangate
Want villages, textiles and hot springsLares Trek
Want biking and adventure activitiesInca Jungle Trek
Want remote Inca ruins with few visitorsChoquequirao Trek
Planning guides
Plan your Machu Picchu hike: useful guides
Use these guides to understand tickets, altitude, timing and route options before sending your enquiry.
Plan with our Cusco team
Permits, altitude and quote-based planning
Only the Inca Trail requires a government trek permit. For every hike, we check services, route conditions and available dates before payment, then confirm the exact plan in writing.
Frequently asked questions
Machu Picchu hikes: FAQs
Which hike arrives at Machu Picchu on foot?
Only Inca Trail routes enter on foot through the Sun Gate, including the Classic, Short and combinations that finish on the Short Inca Trail. Salkantay, Lares and Inca Jungle reach Aguas Calientes by their listed route, then continue to the citadel by train, bus or other included transport.
What is the easiest hike to Machu Picchu?
The 2-day Short Inca Trail is a shorter way to arrive on foot: one hiking day from Km 104, a hotel night in Aguas Calientes and a guided Machu Picchu visit the next day. The trail still includes a sustained uphill section and requires a permit.
What is the best alternative to the Inca Trail?
Choose Salkantay for high-mountain scenery, Lares for Andean communities and hot springs, or Inca Jungle for activities such as biking and rafting. These treks do not need the Inca Trail permit, but their routes and inclusions differ.
Do I need a permit to hike to Machu Picchu?
A permit is required for the Classic, Short and One Day Inca Trail, and for combinations that include the Short Inca Trail. Salkantay, Lares, Inca Jungle, Ausangate and Choquequirao do not require that Inca Trail permit.
Can I hike to Machu Picchu in February?
The Inca Trail closes in February for maintenance, including combinations that use its Short Trail section. Other routes such as Salkantay, Lares and Inca Jungle may operate, subject to weather, route conditions and availability.
How fit do I need to be for a Machu Picchu trek?
It depends on the route. The Classic Inca Trail and Salkantay include long uphill days at high altitude, while Choquequirao has steep descents and climbs. Allow time to acclimatize, review the route profile and ask a medical professional about personal health concerns.
Is the Salkantay Trek harder than the Inca Trail?
Salkantay reaches a higher pass at about 4,630 m, while the Classic Inca Trail reaches about 4,215 m at Dead Woman’s Pass. Salkantay is longer on the 5-day itinerary; the Inca Trail has steep stone steps and several days of hiking. Which feels harder depends on the traveler.
Do Ausangate and Choquequirao include Machu Picchu?
Not in their standard itineraries. Both can be followed by a separate Machu Picchu train tour, arranged through a custom quote.
Talk to a local specialist
Plan your Machu Picchu Hikes and Treks
Tell our Cusco team your dates and travel style. We will check available services and send a clear quote.