I am planning to be in Peru this September and want to do some hikes. Of couse Machu Picchu is on the list but I was wondering if there are any other special hikes a bit less unknown and off the beaten path that I should consider. And if I do Machu Picchu, which route is the best?
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There are quite a few hiking options to Machu Picchu! I did the Salkantay Trek, and loved it. This would be a great option: Salkantay Trek 5 Days to Machu Picchu – Glamping & Vistadome by TreXperience with 84 Tour Reviews - TourRadar
Of course, the Inca Trail is the most famous, but I think that either of these would be great.
If you have more time to visit cities other than Cusco, I can HIGHLY recommend Huaraz for some amazing hiking! It’s the perfect base to do day trips such as Laguna 69 and Laguna Parón. If you have more than a couple of days… I did the Santa Cruz trek from Huaraz and can also highly recommend it!
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Thank you so much. This does give me a few options. Appreciate it. If I do extend I might do a bit of a trip into the jungle as well. If you have any suggestions on that part, I’d like to hear them. I have done the Amazon in Ecuador for 5 days and it was amazing.
I sailed down the Amazon from Iquitos to Belem, via a little road trip from Santarem.
Our bus broke down in the mud on the Trans Amazonia Highway.
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a real adventure. just how I like it
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But did you do a hike @TravelNotes ? 
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I’d highly recommend trekking in the Colca Canyon. It’s jaw dropping!
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That does look amazing. Thanks I will look into that one @BigAndyC
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I didn’t get a chance to do much trekking aside from the Inca Trail in Peru - but I saw you asked which route is best.
I know the Inca Trail might seem like a clichè as it is the most popular, and of course the only one i experienced so I can’t speak for the rest - but i think it is the most popular for a reason.
As they limit the tickets sold each day, there can only ever be a certain amount of people on the route (500 including all porters/guide etc, so 200-250 trekkers). It might sound like a lot, but when I did it, it really does not feel like many people about, several times on the trek I was walking alone without anyone else in sight. You rarely see other groups other than yours except at some of the camps or main stops - but it never felt busy to me.
One reason I loved this trek were the various different ruins along the way, which to me were even better than Machu Picchu, especially Wiñay Wayna, as they were just as impressive, just not as famous.
It is also the only trek where you walk directly into Machu Picchu via the sungate (first view of the site) where you can see the sunrise over the city (before it gets crazy busy), and this was the highlight of the whole experience for me! Other routes go via Agues Calientes, or nearby, rather than through the mountains, and access the site from the main entrance (although Im sure they offer a more off the beaten path experience in other ways, and maybe more of a challenging trek). I wanted to add a perspective about the Inca Trail for you to consider too!
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I never used to do much hiking, but doing more of it lately.
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