Alternative treks to Machu Picchu

Hi all, I am heading to SA this July 2017 for 3 months. I am looking to do an alternative trek to Machu Picchu, since the Inca trail permits have all sold out for July, August and September. I would really appreciate if anyone who has done an alternative trek could tell me what they thought please. Also:
1) I know that the Lares and Salkantay treks are good alternatives to do, but are there any others?
2) I have also seen that combo treks are available, where for example the Salkantay and Inca treks have been combined - would I need to have a Inca permit to do these treks?
3) I like the sound of the seeing more nature on the Salkantay trek and witnessing more culture on the Lares trek - but, how accurate are these descriptions of the treks, i.e. do you actually meet indigenous people on the Lares trek?
4) I know that neither the Salkantay nor the Lares treks end directly at Machu Picchu (as a train/bus needs to be caught). Are there any alternative treks that do end directly at Machu Picchu?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

In my opinion the most beautiful trek is Ausangate, in a typical Andean environment. But it is not near MP.
There are different Lares treks, some of them pass through more untouched villages.

The Ausangate trek is to the Rainbow mountains, right? I am hoping to trek to the Rainbow mountains too, so I will definitely look into that. Would you advise booking ahead for that?

2) I have also seen that combo treks are available, where for example the Salkantay and Inca treks have been combined - would I need to have a Inca permit to do these treks?

No. The trekking company is responsible for permits.

3) I like the sound of the seeing more nature on the Salkantay trek and witnessing more culture on the Lares trek - but, how accurate are these descriptions of the treks, i.e. do you actually meet indigenous people on the Lares trek?

There's no possible way you can avoid encountering indigenous people on any of these treks. Almost certainly your trekking guide will be an indigenous Peruvian.

Thank you for your response, mstep!

No. The trekking company is responsible for permits.

Okay, I understand that the tour operators are responsible for sorting out the permits. What I meant was would I actually need an Inca trail to do a combo trek that includes a part of the Inca trail?

There's no possible way you can avoid encountering indigenous people on any of these treks. Almost certainly your trekking guide will be an indigenous Peruvian.

That's great to hear - I do not want to avoid indigenous people at all, it's quite the opposite!

If by indigenous you mean Peruvians you will find them everywhere (this would kind of go without saying). If you mean some undiscovered tribe that worship Mayan gods, send smoke signals etc. you are completely off.

IMO salkantay is a nice trek. Beautiful high mountain pass at the start but after that a little average. Can't compete with the trekking around huaraz (which is the place to hike in Peru if that's what you are looking for).

Salkantay trek goes all the way to aguas calientes so you don't need to take a bus/train to get to MP.

Thank you for your response, james2020! Which tour operator did you go with when you completed the Salkantay trek?

If by indigenous you mean Peruvians you will find them everywhere (this would kind of go without saying). If you mean some undiscovered tribe that worship Mayan gods, send smoke signals etc. you are completely off.

Oh, I now realise how stupid my comment was - I actually meant Peruvians in remote villages and farms.

Can't compete with the trekking around huaraz (which is the place to hike in Peru if that's what you are looking for).

My main reason for wanting to trek to MP is to see MP. I am looking to do a trek at least once during my trip, it does not necessarily need to be to MP. Which trek around Huaraz would you recommend, james2020?

I did salkantay on my own. Its easy enough to book through one of the many travel agents in Cusco and costs far less than booking in advance online.

You can see rural/traditional Peru in plenty of places without trekking. Leimabamba, Ayacucho, andahuaylas spring to mind, but really any small town/village will do.

You don't have to hike into MP. You can take the train which is very expensive but convenient as it gets you into aguas calientes. Cheaper option is to take a bus to hidroelectrica and hike (about 2 hours) along the train track to aguas calientes.

If you only want to do 1 trek and plan to go into north peru I would skip hiking around MP and do Santa Cruz trek from huaraz. If you are not planning to travel further north than Lima it may not be worth the travel time. (Personally I think it is but I love hikes and mountains).

Okay, I understand that the tour operators are responsible for sorting out the permits. What I meant was would I actually need an Inca trail to do a combo trek that includes a part of the Inca trail?

No, you do not.

I see that there are still permits for the 2-day Inca trails. How does this trek compare to the longer classic Inca trail? Is it worth doing the 2-day version?

The 2-day Inca Trail is not at all the Inca Trail, personally I don't think it is a real trek.

Yes, I think you are right willemspie.

Hi all,

I have come across a few other alternative treks to MP, but there is not that much information about them. This will be my first trek of this type, so just wanted to check whether any of the following were suitable for beginners:

• Vilcabamba trek
• Llactapata trek
• Huchuy Qosco trek

Would anyone recommend these as an alternative to the Inca trail? If so, I would really appreciate it if you could recommend a tour operator.

Many thanks,
reems19

Vilcabamba is a remote trek at lower altitude (jungle), not many tourists go there. But you can trek from Huancacalle Vitcos to Hydro and MP through Yanama, also untouristy. These treks are described in details in the Trailblazers guidebook.
Llactapata is just one day, the last day of the Salkantay trek (and also of the one i just mentionned).
Huchuy Qosqo can be visited as a dayhike from Lamay, or as a 2 or 3 day trek, in the hills and villages rather than mountains.

Thanks for the reply, willemspie! Would the Vilcabamba or 2-3 day Huchuy Qosqo treks be suitable for a beginner?

If you go with an agency or at least a guide, any trek is suitable for a beginner. If you go backpacking and camping on your own, you should choose a more established trek like Ausangate, Salkantay or Choquequirao.

Okay, thanks willemspie!

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