The department of Cuzco is a hiker’s paradise, with huge mountain ranges, winding rivers, isolated villages and ruins, varied eco- systems, and a huge range of altitudes.
The most famous trek in the Cuzco region is the Inca Trail, but it’s no longer the only, or even necessarily the best, show in town. It’s a stunning walk, but its name is some- what of a misnomer. What savvy tourism of- ficials and tour operators have christened the Inca Trail is just one of dozens of footpaths that the Incas built to reach Machu Picchu, out of thousands that crisscrossed the Inca empire. Some of these overland routes are even now being dug out of the jungle by archaeologists. Many more have been de- veloped for tourism, and an ever-increasing number of trekkers are choosing these over the Inca Trail. Whatever your pleasure – ruins, mountains, scenery, flora and fauna, cultural encounters – there’s a hike to suit you. For more detailed information on the following hikes, purchase an Alternative Inca Trails Information Packet from the South American Explorers Club. Closer to Cuzco, imaginative operators such as Chaski Ventura and Eco Inka have developed multiday Sacred Valley trekking itineraries that go well off the beaten track to little-visited villages and ruins such as Huchuy Qosqo.