10 Best Inca Trail Alternatives: Other Treks to Machu Picchu

The Salkantay Trek, Lares Trek, and Choquequirao Trek are the three most popular Inca Trail alternatives, each reaching Machu Picchu (or a comparable Inca site) without needing the Inca Trail's limited government permit. Salkantay suits fit trekkers wanting dramatic glacier scenery, Lares suits travelers who want cultural immersion in Andean villages, and Choquequirao suits anyone wanting fewer crowds and a genuine "lost city" feel. Below are 10 real alternatives, with the practical details (distance, difficulty, permits) to help you pick.

10 Inca Trail Alternatives, Compared

Trek	Duration	Max Altitude	Difficulty	Permit Needed?
Salkantay Trek	5 days	4,650m	Challenging	No
Lares Trek	3-4 days	4,450m	Moderate	No
Choquequirao Trek	4-9 days	3,100m	Very challenging	Entry fee, no trek permit
Ausangate Trek	4 days	5,000m	Very challenging	No
Inca Quarry Trail	4 days	4,300m	Moderate	No
Inca Jungle Trek	4 days	2,720m	Moderate	No
Vilcabamba Traverse	7-9 days	4,400m	Very challenging	No
Manu National Park	3-7 days	Low, rainforest	Easy to moderate	No
Ancascocha trek	4-5 days	14,512 ft (4,549 m)	Moderate – Difficult.	No
Huchuy Qosqo Trek	1-2 day	3,600m	Easy	No

Why Travelers Choose an Alternative Over the Inca Trail

Three reasons come up most often when travelers book one of these routes instead of the Inca Trail itself. The first is simple availability: Inca Trail permits are capped at roughly 500 per day and sell out 6+ months ahead for June through August, so travelers who plan later in the process often turn to an alternative by necessity rather than preference. The second is crowding, even at full capacity, the Inca Trail sees far more daily foot traffic than routes like Choquequirao or Vilcabamba, and some travelers specifically want the quieter trail. The third is variety, Ausangate's high-altitude scenery, the Inca Jungle Trek's mix of biking and rafting, and Manu's rainforest wildlife all offer an experience the Inca Trail simply doesn't, regardless of permit availability.

The 10 Alternatives, In Detail

1. Salkantay Trek

The most popular Inca Trail alternative. A 5-day, 4-night route beneath the Salkantay glacier, reaching 4,650 meters before descending through cloud forest and ending in Aguas Calientes, where you take the train up to Machu Picchu on the final day. No government permit needed, only trail access and campsite fees, making it far easier to book on short notice than the Inca Trail.

2. Lares Trek

A 3 to 4 day route through Andean villages, valued more for cultural immersion than dramatic peaks, you'll pass through communities where Quechua weaving traditions are still practiced daily. Most Lares itineraries combine the trek with a train ride into Machu Picchu on the final day. Moderate difficulty, no government permit required.

3. Choquequirao Trek

Often called the "sister city" of Machu Picchu, Choquequirao is a genuine Inca site that receives a fraction of Machu Picchu's visitors, sometimes fewer than 20 people a day versus Machu Picchu's thousands. The trade-off is a demanding trek, steep descents and re-ascents into the Apurímac Canyon, with itineraries ranging from 4 days to a 9-day version that continues on to Machu Picchu itself. No Inca Trail-style permit, but there's a separate site entry fee.

4. Ausangate Trek

For experienced high-altitude hikers. This 4-day route circles the Ausangate massif, reaching around 5,000 meters, higher than any point on the Inca Trail, with views of Peru's famous Rainbow Mountain along some routings, plus turquoise glacial lakes and traditional alpaca-herding communities rarely seen by tourists. It doesn't lead to Machu Picchu itself, better suited to travelers prioritizing raw Andean scenery over reaching the ruins on foot. The altitude here is genuinely serious, proper acclimatization in Cusco beforehand matters more on this route than almost any other on this list.

5. Inca Quarry Trail (Cachicata Trek)

A shorter, less crowded 4-day route that passes the actual stone quarries the Incas used to build Machu Picchu and Ollantaytambo, offering a more direct connection to Inca engineering history than most alternative routes. It descends toward the Sacred Valley before connecting to the train into Machu Picchu. Moderate difficulty, a good scenery-to-effort ratio, and no permit competition since it isn't the Inca Trail itself, making it easier to slot into a trip planned on shorter notice.

6. Inca Jungle Trek

The adventure-sport alternative. This 4-day route mixes hiking with mountain biking and, on some itineraries, rafting, dropping to a much lower altitude (around 2,720 meters at its lowest) through cloud forest before reaching Aguas Calientes. Popular with younger, adrenaline-seeking travelers rather than those chasing high-altitude Andean views.

7. Vilcabamba Traverse

One of the longest and least-traveled options on this list, a 7 to 9 day route through the remote Vilcabamba mountain range, the last stronghold of the Inca resistance after the Spanish conquest. Genuinely remote, minimal infrastructure, and best suited to experienced multi-day trekkers who want solitude over convenience.

8. Manu National Park

Not a trek to Machu Picchu at all, but a genuine alternative for travelers who'd rather experience the Amazon side of Peru. Manu is one of the most biodiverse protected areas on Earth according to SERNANP, Peru's national protected-areas service, with itineraries from 3 to 7 days combining jungle lodges, wildlife spotting, and river travel. Low altitude, easy to moderate physical demand, a completely different kind of "alternative" than the mountain treks on this list.

9. Ancascocha trek to Machu Picchu

Ancascocha to Machu Picchu is also one of the few treks, but there it is. The trailhead is again at Socma hamlet outside of Ollantaytambo, and yes, this is either to begin the Inca quarry trek or the Ancascocha trek to Machu Picchu. The minimum day of the trek is four days; plus the Machu Picchu day, it is a five-day trek in total.

10. Huchuy Qosqo Trek

The Huchuy Qosqo ("Little Cusco") trek is a stunning, lesser-known 1-to-2-day hike near Cusco, Peru. It passes high Andean lagoons and ancient Inca stone paths, ending at an isolated archaeological site 3,650 meters (11,975 feet) above the Sacred Valley.

Do These Alternatives Need a Permit?

No, and that's the main practical advantage over the Inca Trail. The Inca Trail is the only route in this comparison capped by a government-issued daily permit (roughly 500 total, about 200 for trekkers), which sells out 6+ months ahead for peak season. You can confirm current permit rules directly with Cusco's Dirección Desconcentrada de Cultura, the regional Ministry of Culture office that oversees Inca Trail permits. Every alternative on this list can be booked with far shorter notice, weeks rather than months in most cases, since there's no fixed daily quota. Choquequirao is a partial exception, it requires a paid site entry rather than a trekking permit, but availability isn't capped the way Inca Trail permits are.

How Do Alternative Treks Compare on Cost?

As a rough guide using our own pricing as a benchmark, a group Salkantay departure runs close to what a group Classic Inca Trail costs, both include a full crew, camping equipment, and meals for a multi-day trek, so the trail itself isn't dramatically cheaper or more expensive than the Inca Trail. Where costs shift is length and logistics: shorter routes like Llactapata (2-3 days) or Huchuy Picchu (1 day) cost less simply because they involve fewer days of crew, food, and camping gear. Longer routes like Vilcabamba (7-9 days) or the 9-day Choquequirao-to-Machu Picchu combination cost more for the same reason, more days on trail means more crew days to pay for. Manu National Park is priced differently again, lodge-based itineraries in the rainforest typically cost more per day than a camping trek, since jungle lodges, boat transport, and specialized wildlife guides add expense that a mountain trek doesn't have.

Best Time of Year for Each Alternative

The dry season (May-October) is the safest window for every route on this list, same as the Inca Trail, since trail conditions and mountain visibility are best when it isn't raining. That said, a few routes are more weather-sensitive than others. Ausangate and Vilcabamba both cross high, exposed passes where wet-season snow and cold hit hardest, better to stick strictly to dry-season months for these two. Manu National Park runs the opposite way, the rainforest is wet essentially year-round, so timing matters less there than avoiding the coldest, driest months when wildlife spotting can actually be harder. Salkantay, Lares, Choquequirao, Inca Quarry Trail, and Inca Jungle Trek all remain doable in the November-April wet season with the right gear, just expect more rain and mud than a dry-season departure, and note that unlike the Inca Trail, none of these routes have a mandatory annual closure month.

How to Choose the Right Alternative

• If Inca Trail permits are sold out for your dates: Salkantay or Inca Quarry Trail are the closest in spirit, both reach Machu Picchu via train on the final day.
• If you want fewer crowds above almost anything else: Choquequirao or Vilcabamba, both see a small fraction of Inca Trail traffic.
• If you're short on time: Llactapata (2-3 days) or Huchuy Picchu (1 day) fit tighter schedules.
• If you want adventure activities beyond hiking: Inca Jungle Trek adds biking and rafting to the mix.
• If mountains aren't your priority: Manu National Park offers a genuinely different, rainforest-based alternative.
• If altitude tolerance is a concern: Inca Jungle Trek and Llactapata sit at notably lower elevations than Salkantay or Ausangate.

Related Guides

Still narrowing things down? These guides cover the decisions that come next:

• Which Inca Trail Route Is Right for You, if you want a tighter, side-by-side comparison of the 6 most-booked routes rather than the full list above.
• Private vs. Group Inca Trail Tour, once you've picked a route and need to decide how you want to trek it.
• Trek or Train to Machu Picchu, if you're weighing whether to trek at all versus taking the train.
• 10 Best Inca Trail Tour Companies, for vetting operators once you've settled on a route.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best alternative to the Inca Trail?

Salkantay Trek is the most popular alternative, offering dramatic scenery and a genuine multi-day trekking experience without needing the Inca Trail's limited permit. The "best" choice ultimately depends on your fitness, timeline, and whether you want to reach Machu Picchu itself or explore a different site entirely.

Do I need a permit for any of these treks?

No trekking permit is required for any alternative on this list. The Inca Trail is the only route with a capped government permit. Choquequirao requires a separate paid site entry, but it isn't quota-limited the way Inca Trail access is.

Which alternative is easiest?

Huchuy Picchu (a single day) and Llactapata (2-3 days) are the most accessible options for travelers who want a real Andean trekking experience without a demanding multi-day commitment.

Can I book an alternative trek on short notice?

Yes, unlike the Inca Trail, none of these routes require booking 6+ months ahead. A few weeks' notice is usually enough, though peak season (May-October) still fills up faster than shoulder months.

Do any of these alternatives end at Machu Picchu?

Salkantay, Lares, Inca Quarry Trail, and Inca Jungle Trek all end with a train journey into Aguas Calientes, followed by Machu Picchu entry. Choquequirao, Ausangate, Vilcabamba, and Manu do not end at Machu Picchu, they're standalone destinations in their own right.

Which alternative has the best views of Machu Picchu itself?

Llactapata is unique on this list for offering a direct, if distant, view of Machu Picchu from across the valley, a vantage point most visitors never see since it's off the standard tourist route.