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THE BEST TREKS IN PERU FOR 2023

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Published: 22-05-2023

Peru is famous for the iconic archaeological site of Machu Picchu, the stunning Lake Titicaca, and its delicious cuisine, but did you know that Peru is one of the leading destinations for trekking in the world? By trekking in Peru, you can explore the stunning landscapes and cultural treasures of Peru firsthand. Whether you embark on a trek of the legendary Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, delve into the challenging trail to Choquequirao, or the highland regions of the Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain, the terrain of this country is diverse, fascinating and incredibly stunning. Here are some of the best treks in Peru for 2023.

Huaywash Trek

Day treks

Gocta Waterfall

Nestled in the lush jungle of the Amazonas region of Peru is the tremendous Gocta Waterfall (Catarata de Gocta), the third-highest waterfall in the world! Many travelers aren’t aware of such beauty because this attraction is located in Chachapoyas, a small city in the lesser-visited north of Peru. Along with Kuelap, also known as the Machu Picchu of the North, they make up the top things to do in the Chachapoyas region.

Gocta Waterfall

Humantay Lagoon

The stunning glacial Humantay Lake is one of the most popular hiking day trips from Cusco. Nestled in the snow-capped mountains of the Andes region, Humantay Lake and its surrounding landscapes belong on the cover of National Geographic magazine. The minerals from the rocks deposit into the lake water, giving it a surreal turquoise-blue color. The hike to Humantay Lake starts at around 3800 meters above sea level. After a gradual incline for 1.5 hours, you arrive at 4200 meters, where the beautiful lake is situated.

Humantay Lake

Paron Lagoon

As the biggest lake inside Huascaran National Park, Laguna Paron (Lake Paron) is one of the best hikes in Peru. Featuring beautiful blue glaciated water surrounded by dramatic snow-capped giants, Laguna Park offers a hypnotizing landscape unlike anywhere else in Peru. While most of the prized views appear at the end of a treacherous hike, the trailhead of the Laguna Paron hike starts on the shore of the glacial lake, offering incredible views of the surroundings already. Visitors can then hike up to the nearby mirador (viewpoint) along a rocky trail with numerous boulders near the end. It is at the Mirador that hikers can see the famous Artesonraju mountain, the same mountain that appears on the Paramount Pictures logo. The hike to the viewpoint is only about 45 minutes to an hour and should be fairly easy for hikers of any level of experience. It is at 4,200 meters above sea level, so some degree of acclimation is required.

Paron Lagoon

Lagoon 69

If there is a must-do day trip hike in Peru, it has to be the Laguna 69 hike (Lake 69) in Huaraz. It is a beautiful and challenging hike, high in the Huascarán National Park, a UNESCO Heritage site with outstanding natural value. The trail begins at 3900m above sea level and reaches a breathtaking 4600m. Before attempting to hike to Laguna 69, make sure that you are fully acclimatized to the altitude, otherwise, you probably won’t be able to make it to the lake. Those who make it to Laguna 69 will be rewarded with beautiful turquoise waters that flow into the lake from the mountain glaciers. It makes for a refreshing (and cold!) swim if you fancy a dip or sit back and enjoy the view before heading back along the same trail. The whole hike takes around 5-6 hours.

Laguna 69

Rainbow Mountain

Rainbow Mountain is one of the best day hikes in Peru. Also known as the Vinicunca or La Montaña de Siete Colores (Mountain of Seven Colors), Rainbow Mountain was only discovered in 2015 but has become very popular since then due to the mountain’s unique colors. The hike itself is relatively short at 7km round-trip, but what makes it difficult is the altitude. The trail starts at just under 5,000m and goes up to 5,200m. Starting at this kind of elevation makes it much more difficult to breathe, so it’s important to take your time going up. It takes about two hours to get to the top. If you aren’t up for hiking, there is also an option to take a horse up Rainbow Mountain. It takes about two hours to get to the top. If you aren’t up for hiking, there is also an option to take a horse up Rainbow Mountain. Despite its physically demanding nature, the hike’s breathtaking views will keep anyone motivated to the summit. The trail passes along snow-capped mountains, fields of llamas, and colorful valleys. Rainbow Mountain itself is not visible until the very end of the hike but upon reaching it, you will be rewarded with an explosion of colors.

Rainbow Mountain

Marcahuasi

Though it is not known for hiking or trekking in Lima, there is one hike that is worth the effort: Marcahuasi. At first, Marcahuasi might look like ancient Inca ruins, but historians believe that it is pre-Inca. The hike to Marcahuasi is one of the lesser-known hikes in Peru and that’s one of the things that make it special. Located about 100 km from the capital Lima, Marcahuasi is the kind of place that not even Peruvians usually know about. The origins of Marcahuasi are unknown – to date, there is still no certainty if this is a man-made site or a natural one that was formed through erosion. Locals believe the site has cosmic energy. Though the trail is very easy to follow and to walk, the fact that the hike starts at 3200 meters above sea level and that you gain a further 800 meters during the walk makes it incredibly hard.

Marcahuasi

Multi Day treks

Choquequirao Trek

Meaning Cradle of Gold in the original Quechua, Choquequirao is an archaeological site located in the Vilcabamba mountain range close to Machu Picchu. The Choquequirao trek is a challenging two days, one-way with over 13 kilometers of steep ascent through the Apurimac Canyon – comprising a series of switchbacks and false summits and a maximum elevation of 3,050 meters above sea level – across the 32-kilometer trail. After a brutal climb to reach the site – which sits on a flattened hilltop at 2,950 meters above sea level – you can spend a day exploring the agricultural terraces and temples of Choquequirao that have been excavated from the encroaching jungle. The best bit? There are hardly any visitors each day, meaning you might well experience it alone. You can continue on to Machu Picchu (a further five days’ trekking and an additional 78 kilometers that is only for the brave and the acclimatized) or return the way you came, taking the total hiking distance to 64 kilometers.

Choquequirao Trek

The Inca Trail

The iconic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is not only considered one of the best treks in Peru, but one of the best treks in the world. Though there are many other hikes and treks to Machu Picchu, the famous 4-day Inca Trail provides you with a cultural experience unlike any other. This once-in-a-lifetime experience is definitely a must-do in Peru, and it is not surprising how early in advance you have to reserve this tour. Because there are only a limited number of Inca trail permits, the classic Inca Trail books out far in advance. The Inca trail is a high-elevation hike, so it’s a good idea to spend a few days before in Cusco so your body can acclimatize to the altitude. The highest point on the hike is on day 2, where you go over a section of the trail known as Dead Woman’s Pass at a height of 4,215 meters above sea level.

Inca Trail

The Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

The Lares region hikes are some of the best hikes in Peru simply because they are very customizable. The shortest Lares hikes are 2 days, and the longest is 5 days. As a Lares region trek can take a variety of routes, you can cross a number of different passes of up to 4600m, though most are around 4400m. The Lares Trek generally finishes in Ollantaytambo, a town and archaeological site in the Sacred Valley where visitors can take the famous train to Machu Picchu. What makes the Lares Trek in Peru so unique is not only the stunning landscapes but also the different Quechua-speaking indigenous villages you encounter. Until recently the Lares region of Peru was totally inaccessible by car. As a result, many typical villages remained living a traditional lifestyle high up in the mountains, largely unaffected by the world outside. They still farm using Inca agricultural practices, among other fascinating facts. Their clothing remained the same and their agricultural practices were handed down from the Incas.

Lares Trek

Huaywash Trek

If you are an experienced hiker looking for the ultimate trek in Peru, the Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit Trek is perfect for you. The Huayhuash Trek has been considered one of the most beautiful treks not only in Peru or South America, but the entire world. It is the dream of many hikers in the world to complete this trek! The Classic Huayhuash Trek is a 12-day trek that takes you up to enormous ice-capped peaks, down the surreal cascading rivers, and around the breathtaking turquoise glacial lakes. On the trek, you will see many famous mountains in Peru, such as the Yerupajá, the second-highest mountain at 6635 m. You will also see Siula Grande, a 6344-meter-tall mountain made famous by the book and movie, “Touching the Void.” If you have seen that movie, you will know how stunning those mountains are! Most of the trek involves hiking at altitudes more than 4000 meters and some passes are more than 5000 meters, so proper acclimatization is needed. Though it is possible to trek the Huayhash Trek independently, we highly advise against it, as hiking in such difficult conditions can be quite dangerous.

Huaywash Trek

Ausangate Trek

If you enjoy tough hikes in Peru and jaw-dropping scenery with a fraction of the tourists on the Inca Trail or Salkantay Trek, then the Ausangate Trek is perfect for you. This lesser-known 5-day circuit trek is gifted with fantastic turquoise lakes, hanging glaciers, snow peaks of the Andes, impressive waterfalls, indigenous animals such as llamas and alpacas, and even a visit to the famous Rainbow Mountain if you decide to take a short 1-hour detour. As beautiful as it sounds, the Ausangate Trek will test your physical and mental capabilities before rewarding you with its best features.