Best Trekking Options in Peru

If you want to go trekking in Peru but all the Inca Trail permits are sold out, don't worry. There are plenty of trekking options in Peru! Here are a few of them.

Lares Trek. The Lares Trek is located near the Sacred Valley and is a multi-day trek through the Lares Valley, passing several traditional Andean villages and farms. This trek is moderate to difficult, similar to the 4-day Inca Trail, as it goes over passes at heights of 4,000 meters above sea level. After you finish this trek, you can take the train to see Machu Picchu if you want.

Salkantay Trek. This route is one of the best alternate routes to Machu Picchu. You pass the massive Mountain Salkantay and pass through a variety of terrain types, from icy moraines to high Andean plains. After you finish the hiking portion of your trip, you can easily take the train to Machu Picchu.

Colca Canyon. The Colca Canyon sits a few hours outside of the lovely city of Arequipa. It is one the deepest canyons in the entire world. This is a great place to visit, because it offers a different landscape and culture than you'll find around Cusco. You can trek some of the trails in the Colca Canyon by yourself, but most people take guided tours. The trek can last anywhere between two to five days.

Santa Cruz Trek. To start this trek you'll have to go to the central northern highlands of Peru, near Huaraz. The trek takes 4 days to complete, with about five to eight hours of hiking required each day. The first and second days are the most difficult, but they'll take you past some beautiful scenery. You'll pass over Punta Union pass, at 4,760 meters above sea level, a real feat.

Los Cedros-Alpamayo. This seven day trek is one of the most difficult options in the Cordillera Blanca. It covers 90 kilometers, taking you up and down several steep passes, and through traditional Quechua communities, that have no road access to the outside world.

Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit. Another difficult option in the same region is the Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit. This takes you to the world's second-highest tropical mountain. The trip takes 10 days and is very demanding. You can expect to spend up to 10 hours someday on the trail. One of the great things about this trek are the numerous side trails and variations you can take, so you can really customize your Peru trek to be whatever you want it to be.

This article about trekking in Peru was written by an expert in Peru travel at Peru For Less, specializing in Peru tours.

Article Source: Henry_Arnault