Trekking and Hiking in Peru
Peru offers some of the best treks in the world, and trekking in Peru is one of the best ways to take advantage of the country's incredible natural beauty. We have a range of treks to suit all tastes, from those of you who want to do some serious hiking to those who would rather just try some day treks to see what Peru has to offer. It's an amazing way to get close to some of Peru's incredibly beautiful scenery, from turquoise glacial lagoons and snow-capped peaks, through tropical jungles and the mysterious cloud forest...
Many people's first thought is to trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, and it's certainly a worthy addition to any holiday in Peru, but for our money the best hiking in Peru is to be found a little further north, in the Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Huayhuash near Huaraz, which has arguably the best high altitude trekking anywhere in the world.
Further south, the majestic Colca Canyon offers some superb acclimatisation treks, and also the chance for even novices to climb a 6000m mountain, in the beautiful El Misti volcano.
Contact us to start planning your trek!
Inca Trail Treks to Machu Picchu
There's no doubt which of Peru's treks is the most popular: the famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is on most hikers' bucket lists, but it's certainly not the only great trek in Peru, or even to Machu Picchu. You can see all our Inca Trail holidays elsewhere, but we also have some other great treks departing from the ancient Inca capital of Cusco:
Choquequirao Trek (4/5-day trek from Cusco)
Sometimes known as Machu Picchu's sister, the little-known Inca site of Choquequirao is incredibly impressive and the only Inca site to compare to Machu Picchu itself. This excellent trek takes you through a lower, largely semi-tropical environment so you don't quite as much acclimatisation time, although it can be extended to continue on to Machu Picchu as well.
Peru Treks in the Central Andes
Peru's Central Andes around Huaraz, including the Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Huayhuash, offer the chance for trekking in a pristine Alpine-style environment, with colossal snow-capped peaks and beautiful glacial lakes, interspersed with glorious wildflower meadows and babbling streams. It's no exaggeration to say it's some of the best high-altitude trekking in the world.
Santa Cruz Trek (4 Day trek from Huaraz)
Setting out from the trekking centre of Huaraz in Central Peru, this superb 4-day trek takes you through some of the best of Peru's alpine scenery, including the high peaks like Huascaran and beautiful glacial lakes such as Lake Llanaganuco.
Lake Churup Trek Day-trek from Huaraz
This lovely day trek is a great way to acclimatise for any of the longer treks in the Huaraz area. it offers a fairly steep ascent without extreme altitude, and it's hard to beat the views from the banks of the crater lake of Churup as you sit down for a well-earned picnic lunch!
Cordillera Huayhuash Trek 8-day expedition trek from Huaraz
Offering possibly the best high-altitude trekking in the world, the Cordillera Huayhuash mountain range is a Mecca for dedicated trekkers. The enormous snow-capped peaks, the stunning series of glacial lakes and the sheer remoteness of this amazing environment have to be experienced to be believed.
Trekking in Colca Canyon
Just outside the beautiful colonial city of Arequipa, the Colca Canyon is the world's second-deepest Canyon and it's twice as deep as the more famous Grand Canyon in the US. There are some great treks down into the Canyon itself, or you can try your hand at climbing one of the area's volcanoes...
Colca Trek 3-day trek from Arequipa
If you'd like to experience Colca Canyon in a slightly more adventurous way than the usual minibus tour, then this 3-day trek (really with only 2 days of trekking) will allow you to explore some more of Colca's fantastic landscapes and see more of the giant Andean condors who make the Canyon their home.
El Misti Ascent 2-day climb from Arequipa
If you don't have any prior experience but you'd quite like to get a 6000m mountain under your belt, then this could be your chance. We won't say it's easy, but with the right acclimatisation, anyone can climb El Misti and standing at the summit is a truly amazing feeling...