Peru - Off the beaten trail to Machu Picchu

📍 Cusco, Peru      

🏔️ The Andes         

📅 1 – 17 May 2026

🥾 Advanced         

Price per person

€ 2995

What to expect

• Inca heritage: Explore the legendary Machu Picchu and the equally impressive, lesser-known ruins of Choquequirao.
• Diverse landscapes: Walk through fertile Andean valleys, traditional villages and remote mountain passes.
• Spectacular mountain views: Admire snow-capped Andean peaks, distant glaciers and the colourful slopes of Rainbow Mountain.
• Varied trekking: Combine steep climbs and descents with quieter trails, long hiking days and a challenging ascent to 5200 m.
• Camping adventure: Sleep in tents along remote trekking routes and enjoy evenings under the Andean stars.
• Settling into Peru: Discover Cusco's colonial history, explore the Sacred Valley and acclimatise before the trek on Rainbow Mountain

Trekking Together

I organise my Peru treks in partnership with a local company I first travelled with ten years ago, when we followed lesser-known trails to Machu Picchu. The company is 100% Indigenous-owned and was founded by Roxner, who began his career as a porter. Deeply rooted in the Andes, the team is committed to fair working conditions, responsible tourism and supporting local communities. Throughout our journey, we'll be accompanied by an experienced Peruvian team of guides, porters and cooks who take care of the arrangements, share their knowledge of Inca history, Andean culture and mountain life, and make our camping days comfortable. My role is to bridge cultural differences, help with communication through my Spanish, share my own experience of travelling in Peru and look after your wellbeing, pace and acclimatisation along the way. Together, we want you to feel well cared for while discovering the Andes in a personal and meaningful way.

Why trek with us

• Two guides: A local guide with in-depth knowledge of the Andes and a UIMLA-certified International Mountain Leader.
• My experience: More than 150 days of high-altitude trekking and camping worldwide inncluding the Andes.
• A trusted local team: Experienced guides and porters, treated with respect and provided with fair pay, insurance and proper equipment.
• Your wellbeing comes first: Careful acclimatisation, a flexible pace and two guides to ensure everyone feels safe and supported.
• Personal support: Practical advice and individual guidance before and throughout the trek, whenever you need it.

Programme

Saturday – Arrival
I highly recommend arriving in Cusco (3399 m) a few days before the tour officially begins, if possible. This gives you time to recover from your flight and adjust gradually to Cusco's altitude. Upon arrival, whether by air or bus, you’ll be picked up and transferred to our hotel in the heart of the historic city centre. The rest of the day is yours to settle in, rest or explore the nearby streets at your own pace.

Sunday – Exploring Cusco
Today we discover Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire. On a guided walking tour, we explore the historic centre, including the Plaza de Armas, Qorikancha and the charming neighbourhood of San Blas. The afternoon is free to relax, enjoy one of Cusco's many cafés or continue exploring. We're deliberately taking things slowly during these first days to give our bodies time to adjust to the altitude.

Monday – Social Project Visit
Our local trekking partner supports education projects in rural Andean communities, contributes to a school fund near Cusco and works with a local children's home. Today we'll visit one of the projects they to learn more about its work and the local community. We'll keep the rest of the day relaxed, with time to explore Cusco or rest before heading into the Sacred Valley.

Tuesday – The Sacred Valley & Pisac
We leave Cusco and travel into the beautiful Sacred Valley of the Incas. Our first stop is Pisac (3300 m), where we explore the impressive Inca terraces and archaeological ruins overlooking the valley. Afterwards, we visit the colourful local market and continue through the fertile countryside to Urubamba, where we spend the night at a lower altitude.

Wednesday – Maras Salt Pans
Today we visit the remarkable salt pans of Maras (3200 m), where thousands of small pools have been used to harvest salt for generations. Along the way, we'll enjoy views across the Sacred Valley and the surrounding mountains. Depending on time and interest, we may also visit the nearby archaeological terraces of Moray. In the afternoon, we return to Cusco.

Thursday – Rainbow Mountain 
4 km, ↑↓ 400 m, 4 hours
We set off very early through the South Valley, stopping for breakfast in Cusipata before continuing to the trailhead at Llacto (4638 m). From here, we hike steadily uphill through a beautiful high-altitude landscape, passing grazing alpacas and llamas, traditional Quechua farms and striking red mountains. After around 3 hours, we reach Rainbow Mountain (5020 m), famous for its colourful mineral layers and sweeping Andean views. After lunch, we return to Cusco in the early afternoon, leaving time to rest before our final trekking briefing and preparations for the days ahead.

Friday – Chiquisca (1900 m)
8 km, ↓ 1000 m, 4 hours
An early private transfer takes us through the Andean highlands to Capuliyoc (2900 m), where we meet our trekking team and enjoy our first views into the enormous Apurímac Canyon. After lunch, we begin our trek with a long descent along winding mountain paths. The vegetation changes as we lose altitude, and by afternoon we reach our first campsite.

Saturday – Choquequirao (3150 m)
14 km, ↑ 1600 m, ↓ 500 m, 10 hours
Today is one of the most demanding days of the trek. We descend to the Apurímac River (1550 m), cross the bridge and begin the long, steep climb towards Maranpata. After lunch and our first close views of Choquequirao, we continue uphill to our campsite near the ruins (3150 m). A challenging day, but a wonderful feeling to arrive in this remote corner of the Andes.

Sunday – Pinchuyniyoc (2500 m)
8 km, ↑ 300 m, ↓ 850 m, 4 hours
This morning we have plenty of time to explore Choquequirao, often called the sister city of Machu Picchu. Hidden high above the Apurímac Canyon, its temples, ceremonial terraces and remarkable stone llama carvings receive only a fraction of the visitors of its famous neighbour. After our guided visit, we cross Choquequirao Pass (3318 m) and descend through the mountains to our campsite at Pinchuyniyoc (2500 m). 

Monday – Río Blanco & Maizal (3000 m)
10 km, ↑ 1000 m, ↓ 500 m, 9 hours
We begin with a steep descent to Río Blanco (1990 m), where we cross the river before tackling another long climb. The path winds through lush cloud forest, gradually gaining altitude until we reach our campsite at Maizal. The afternoon offers time to rest and enjoy the peaceful mountain surroundings.

Tuesday – Yanama (4100 m)
12 km, ↑ 1200 m, ↓ 650 m, 9 hours
Today's trail climbs through cloud forest and past the abandoned Victoria silver mines before reaching Abra San Juan Pass (4130 m). From the pass, we enjoy sweeping views of the Vilcabamba mountains and the Pumasillo glacier. With a little luck, we may even spot an Andean condor overhead. A long descent brings us to the remote mountain village of Yanama (4100 m), where we camp for the night. 

Wednesday – Totora (2950 m)
14 km, ↑ 1100 m, ↓ 1300 m, 9 hours
Today we cross the highest pass of our trek. The climb to Yanama Pass (4672 m) is long and steady, with spectacular views of the surrounding peaks, including Salkantay. After reaching the pass, we descend through changing landscapes towards our overnight stay at Colpapampa. A short vehicle transfer is included in the final part of today's journey.

Thursday – Lucmabamba (2020 m)
14 km, ↑ 200 m, ↓ 1000 m, 6 hours
After several demanding mountain days, we enjoy a gentler walk through lush vegetation along the Santa Teresa River. The landscape becomes increasingly tropical, with coffee plants, banana trees, passion fruit and waterfalls along the way. In Lucmabamba, we'll visit a local coffee farm, learn how the beans are harvested, roasted and ground, and enjoy a freshly prepared cup. We camp nearby for the night.

Friday – Aguas Calients (2040 m)
13 km, ↑ 800 m, ↓ 950 m, 7 hours
Our final full trekking day follows an old Inca trail through cloud forest to the little-visited ruins of Llactapata (2700 m). From here, we enjoy our first distant views of Machu Picchu, beautifully framed by the surrounding mountains. We descend towards the hydroelectric station and take a short train journey to Aguas Calientes. Tonight, after seven nights in tents, we enjoy the comfort of a hotel and a well-deserved shower. 

Saturday – Machu Picchu (2430 m)
Today we visit one of the most extraordinary archaeological sites in the world. An early shuttle bus takes us up to Machu Picchu, where our local guide leads us through its terraces, temples and ceremonial spaces, explaining the history and remarkable engineering of the Inca civilisation. Afterwards, we return to Aguas Calientes and travel by train to Ollantaytambo, followed by a private transfer to Cusco. 

Sunday – Cusco 
After our adventure in the mountains, today is yours to enjoy Cusco at your own pace. Explore the colourful markets, visit a museum, browse local handicrafts or simply relax in one of the city's lovely cafés. This day also provides some flexibility should our trekking schedule need to change due to weather or other conditions. In the evening, we come together for one last group dinner to celebrate our journey. 

Monday – Departure 
We say goodbye over breakfast, and you can start your travel home or onwards at any time.

Note that our hiking days may differ from the described programme due to weather and path conditions or the physical ability of the group.

Physical requirements

This is a challenging, remote trek that requires good fitness, previous multi-day hiking experience and a willingness to spend several nights camping. Although the trails are non-technical, the steep terrain, long hiking days and high altitude make this considerably more demanding than an ordinary hut-to-hut hike in the Alps.

You should be comfortable with:

• Long hiking days: Walking for up to 8–10 hours, including several demanding days in a row.
• Steep climbs and descents: Crossing deep valleys with sustained ascents and descents, sometimes on rough or uneven paths.
• High altitude: Hiking up to 5000 m with overnight stays up to 4000 m.
• Physical resilience: Coping with sustained physical effort, changing temperatures and limited facilities.
• Camping: Sleeping in tents for seven nights, with shared campsite facilities and few everyday comforts.
• Changing climates: Experiencing warm canyon valleys, humid cloud forests and cold mountain mornings and nights.

Please keep in mind that you're in the best position to decide whether this trip is the right fit for you. Multi-day hikes in the Alps can sometimes feel more challenging than expected, especially if you're new to Alpine hiking. If you haven't hiked with me before, or you're unsure about your fitness level or equipment, I'd be more than happy to have a chat with you beforehand and help you decide whether this tour is a good match for you.

Altitude & Health

Your safety is our priority. We spend several days in Cusco and the Sacred Valley before beginning the trek, allowing time for gradual acclimatisation. Our experienced guiding team monitors everyone's wellbeing, and we keep the pace flexible. Nevertheless, altitude sickness can affect anyone, regardless of fitness or previous mountain experience. Our local team carries can arrange individual support, descent or medical assistance if necessary. 

There are generally no special vaccination requirements for travellers arriving in Peru directly from Europe or the Americas, although requirements depend on your travel history. You'll receive more detailed information on altitude, health precautions and preparation after signing up.

Service included

Framework & Organisation

• Small group of 4–12 guests
• Tour organised and insured by a registered travel company
• Experienced Peruvian guiding team and a Europe-based International Mountain Leader (UIMLA)

Personal support prior to the trip

• Practical advice on flights, visas, vaccinations and packing
• Detailed travel information and an online group meeting before departure
• Individual support by email, phone and a WhatsApp group chat

Accommodation & Meals

• Hotel accommodation in Cusco and Aguas Calientes, including breakfast
• Seven nights of fully supported camping, including tents and communal camping equipment
• All meals during the nine-day trek, freshly prepared by our trekking cook

Transport & Trekking

• Transfers on arrival and departure, whether travelling by plane or bus
• All scheduled group transport, including private transfers, train journeys and shuttle buses
• Transport of up to 10 kg of personal luggage per guest
• Entrance fees and guided visits to all sights mentioned in the programme

Extra costs

• Travel to Cusco
• Meals outside the trekking programme, unless specifically mentioned as included
• Drinks, snacks and personal expenses
• Personal trekking and camping equipment (i.e. poles, sleeping bag)
• Tips for the local guides, cooks and horsemen
• Additional activities 

Practical Information

Travel

Our journey begins and ends in Cusco. You can fly from Lima in around 1.5 hours or take a bus (approximately 24 hours). If you have more time, it's worth breaking up the journey with stops in Paracas, Huacachina, Nazca or Arequipa. I travelled this route myself on my first visit to Peru and am happy to help you plan your journey.

Visa
EU citizens do not need a tourist visa for stays of up to 90 days in Peru. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry.

Accommodation

In Cusco and Aguas Calientes, we stay in comfortable hotels or guesthouses. During the trek, we spend seven nights camping in remote locations along the trail. Our local team transports the equipment, sets up camp and prepares our meals. Facilities are simple, and nights can be cold, especially at higher elevations. You'll receive detailed advice on sleeping bags, clothing and other equipment before departure.

Food

During the trek, our local cooks prepare fresh, hearty meals to keep us going throughout the day. We'll enjoy a mixture of Peruvian dishes and familiar trekking favourites. Outside the trek, you'll have the chance to discover Peru's varied cuisine, from traditional Andean dishes to Cusco's many restaurants and cafés.

Payment Information

A deposit of €150 is required within seven days of booking, with the remaining balance due 30 days before the start date. Payment in instalments is possible; please contact me directly at info(at)shantitreks.com. Please note that the cancellation policy applies as outlined in the T&Cs.