30 guides
The Cusco region is one of the world's great trekking destinations. We compare routes, days, maximum altitudes, permits and seasons so you can pick the right trek for your fitness.
How to get Inca Trail permits: limited spaces, licensed operators only, when to book, the February closure, the classic 4-day route, the 2-day version and what to pack.
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Salkantay Trek guide: 4–5 day route over a pass of about 4,600 m, Humantay Lake, cloud forest, arrival in Aguas Calientes, difficulty, best season and agency vs independent.
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Inca Jungle guide: 3–4 day route with a bike descent from Abra Málaga, optional rafting and zipline, a hike to Santa Teresa, hot springs and arrival in Aguas Calientes.
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Choquequirao trek guide: a 4–5 day route from Cachora through the Apurímac canyon, elevation changes, what to see on site, best season, agency vs independent and the extension to Machu Picchu.
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Ausangate trek guide: a 4–6 day circuit above 4,000 m with passes over 5,000 m, lakes, glaciers and Rainbow Mountain, best season, cold, agencies and safety.
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Lares trek guide: a 3–4 day route through weaving communities, hot springs, altitude and difficulty, best season, how it links to Machu Picchu and how it compares with Salkantay and the Inca Trail.
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Huchuy Qosqo trek guide: what this Inca site is, the 1–2 day route from Cusco to Lamay, elevation, difficulty, entrance, going with an agency or independently, and what to pack.
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Short Inca Trail guide: the one-day hike from km 104 via Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna to the Sun Gate, permits, difficulty, season, inclusions and differences from the classic trail.
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Trekking gear in Cusco: renting sleeping bags, poles and jackets, outdoor shops, what agencies include, what to bring from home, checking gear and a packing list.
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How to hike from Ollantaytambo to the Inca ruins of Pumamarca: route up the Patacancha valley, distance, elevation gain, walking down only, what to bring and tips.
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How to hike from Chinchero to Urquillos on an Inca road: start point, distance, descent, tourist ticket, getting back from Huayllabamba, season and tips.
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Machu Picchu treks compared: classic and short Inca Trail, Salkantay, Inca Jungle and Lares. Days, distance, altitude, permits, difficulty and which to choose for your trip.
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Honest comparison of Choquequirao and Machu Picchu: access, days, difficulty, crowds, excavated ruins and who each suits. No invented fixed prices.
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How to visit Rainbow Mountain from Cusco: tours, the hike, altitude (~5,000 m), horses, Red Valley, Palccoyo, best season and what to pack.
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Practical guide to Humantay Lake (~4,200 m): tours from Cusco, going independently via Mollepata and Soraypampa, the hike, altitude, best season and packing.
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We compare Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain: height, elevation gain, time, vertigo, views, quotas and which ticket you need for each.
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We compare Vinicunca and Humantay: altitude, difficulty, schedule, scenery, weather and approximate cost, to decide which to do with one day (or how to do both).
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How to reach Machu Picchu without the outbound train: van from Cusco to Hidroeléctrica via Santa María and Santa Teresa, the walk along the tracks to Aguas Calientes, timings, risks and tips.
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Waqrapukara guide: what it is, where it is, how to get there from Cusco on a tour or independently, the hike, altitude, what to pack and when to go to this little-visited site.
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Palccoyo guide: the hike, altitude, getting there from Cusco, the stone forest, entrance, comparison with Vinicunca and tips to enjoy it without the crowds.
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Ausangate Seven Lakes guide: the loop from Pacchanta, altitude and difficulty, hot springs, getting there from Cusco, best season, what to pack and comparison with Humantay.
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Kinsa Cocha lakes above Pisac: getting there by taxi or on foot, altitude, difficulty, local communities, best season, what to bring and pairing with Pisac's market and ruins.
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How to reach Inti Punku, Machu Picchu's Sun Gate: route 1-C (high season only), hike length and difficulty, the views, the Inca Trail connection and practical tips.
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Guide to Huchuy Picchu, the small peak beside Huayna Picchu: route 3-D (high season only), what the climb is like, the views, how it compares with other mountains and tips.
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What Route 3-C to the Great Cavern or Temple of the Moon at Machu Picchu is like: season, timings, difficulty, what the ticket covers and how it differs from Huayna Picchu.
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A guide to camping in the Cusco region: treks with camps, night temperatures, gear rental, water, permits, communities, safety and alternatives such as glamping.
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A guide to mountaineering in Cusco: the summits of Ausangate, Verónica and Campa, the May to September season, acclimatisation, technical level, gear and choosing a guide.
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A guide to trail running in Cusco: the effects of altitude, acclimatisation, training areas near the city and in the Sacred Valley, safety, dogs, weather and gear.
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Packing list for Cusco and Machu Picchu: layered clothing, dry and rainy season, the backpack size allowed at Machu Picchu, an altitude first-aid kit, documents and what to leave home.
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An honest comparison of Humantay Lake and the Ausangate Seven Lakes: altitude, difficulty, drive time, crowds, hot springs and which traveller each day hike suits best.
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