Alternative Treks to Machu Picchu are treks that are not hiked on the Classic Inca Trail. Most alternative treks do arrive at Machu Picchu to allow the hiker to get the opportunity to visit Machu Picchu Citadel, however the trail does not lead to Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate.
There are many routes to Machu Picchu that retain their appeal to visitors each year. If you want to avoid following the crowd, we have devised a list of alternative treks to Machu Picchu.
The most popular of the treks is the Inca Trail – the only one taking you directly to the Inca ruin. While it’s the most popular, it is not necessarily the best. Those whose hearts lead them off the beaten track will love the following trails.
There are some great alternative treks that still lead to Machu Picchu. These are gaining in more popularity as they become more well known. These are not restricted by the government so they are available any time of the year. The two most popular are the Lares trek 4D/3N or the Salkantay trek 5D/4N. There are others that do not end at Machu Picchu, such as Choquequirao 5/4N, a new lost city of the Incas larger than Machu Picchu.
The actual hiking views on these Alternative Treks to Machu Picchu might be even more spectacular than what you see on the Inca Trail but instead of hiking directly into the ruins, your trek ends at Aguas Calientes and spend the night there in a hotel. These treks tend to be less crowded and you still have the Machu Picchu tour the next day and in fact get to the ruins 2 hours before the Inca Trail trekkers. On clear mornings you will see the sun rising over Machu Picchu the surrounding mountains.
