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Saul, Orange Nations’ director, has been trekking and guiding in the Andes of Peru since 1999. Here he gives his recommendations of the best treks in the Cusco area. Starting with the Classic Inca Trail to the more remote and rugged mountain Ausangate Circuit.
Our Classic Inca Trail is a 4 day trek that runs as a small group tour. Stay at the popular campsites, use good camping equipment and thermarests to sleep on ( you can rent sleeping bags and thermarest from our office) and be well supplied with nutritious, plentiful meals and snacks. We offer daily departures, except in February, when the trail is closed. Orange Nation always includes a personal porter who will carry 7kg for you. We always include a private toliet tent on all of our treks.
Permits for the Inca Trail are limited to 500 per day and sold on a first come first served basis.
Cancelled spaces are not resold. So, if you can’t change your travel dates to fit with when permits are available then how about considering an alternative trek.
Our alternatives are all great treks in their own right and are less travelled. If you prefer having the mountains to yourselves, an alternative may be preferable anyway. See more information here!
Our Huchuy Qosqo, Lares, Salkantay, Choquequiaro and the Moon Temple treks all take you through the heart of the high Andes. Included a guided visit to Machu Picchu. Alternatively choose to hike the remote Ausangate trek. This takes you well off the beaten track and can still be combined with a visit to Machu Picchu before or after the trek.
We suggest you acclimatise for a minimum of 3 days and 3 nights in Cusco. If you have longer then spend longer acclimatising. The better acclimatised you are the more you will enjoy the trek.
Permits for the “2 day Inca Trail” or “Short Inca Trail” are easier to come by and are different from the permits for the full Inca Trail. You could consider the option of doing just a 2 day trek or combining it with our Lares Trek. This would make it a 6 day trip with day 5 being a hike to the site of Winay Wayna where you join the Inca Trail. Later follow it along to the Sun Gate, entering Machu Picchu as you would on the Inca Trail. Day 6 is then a guided tour of the site.
For a fuller experience I’d recommend the 6 day trip. Combining the two day Inca Trail with the lovely Lares Trek.
The Lares trek goes through a traditional weaving and farming areas close to the Sacred Valley. You will see people dressed in authentic highland Peruvian clothing, farmers at work, herds of llamas etc. You also have the opportunity to bathe in some hot springs.
Departures: Orange Nation starts on any date with a minimum of 2 people
More information here!
The Salkantay option is a bit more rugged and tougher, with higher passes. Starting off at 3,600ms this trek goes up to 4,600ms and then drops down into the high jungle before coming in the back door to Machu Picchu. A stunning high-mountain walk with great views of the big snow-capped peaks in the area and ending at Machu Picchu.
Departures: Orange Nation has departures everyday.
More information here!
The Ausangate trek takes you to a wonderful remote area at the foot of the sacred peak of Ausangate. Fewer hikers and dramatic scenery make this trek a great choice. This trek is for those who’d like to veer a little off the beaten track. It is challenging mostly due to the altitude, so requires a longer acclimatisation pre-trek. This is one of our highest treks so we recommend at least 5 or 6 days of acclimatising before setting off.
Departures: Confirmed group departures every Friday from April to October (other departure days and private tours available, please ask).
This trekking adventure features a spectacular 5-day walk around Mount Ausangate in the remote and stunning Vilcanota Range. Fully supported, this trek features hot-springs, stunning mountain scenery and turquoise lakes – making it one of Peru’s finest hiking circuits.
You should be very well acclimatised before starting to walk as we will be camping in Altiplano well over 4,000m and crossing several passes at around 5,000m.
Departures: Regular group departures from April to October (please ask for dates to suit you).
This Moon Temple trek is a great alternative to the Inca Trail, taking in some remote Inca ruins and many stunning mountain views on the way to Machu Picchu. This trek is truly off the beaten track. For anyone wishing to get away from other trekkers and to experience the beauty and rich Culture of the Andes this is a perfect option.
Departures: Regular group departures from April to October (please ask).
Huchuy Qosqo is a fantastically varied and short trek with Inca Trails and archaeological sites en route to Peru’s jewel, Machu Picchu. It is perfect for those seeking an alternative and interesting trek to Machu Picchu, but who don’t want to hike the longer trekking routes.
Departures: Regular group departures from April to October (please ask).
A visit to Rainbow Mountain, known locally as Vinicunca (its Quechua name) or the montaña de siete colores (seven-colored mountain). This is an absolute must for all those who love stunning landscapes and gorgeous scenery. Nestled in a remote region of the Andes Mountains, Rainbow Mountain was once a spectacle only to be admired by trekkers along the Ausangate Trek. Now you can witness this display of natural beauty in all its glory on a shorter 1- or 2-day hike as part of your Peru vacation. We also currently offer a Rainbow Mountain & 2-day Inca trail package that takes you up to Machu Picchu before visiting Rainbow Mountain.
If you’d like some more information about other alternative treks, itineraries, accommodation or tailor made options, as well as prices, kit lists and the best time to go, please get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.
Half day
We're a family-owned Travel Company and Tour Operator located in the heart of the Inca Empire, Cusco, Peru. We create individually customized tours and treks to Peru's most iconic attractions, as well as untouched, off the beaten track locations high in the Andes Mountains.
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Discover why thousands of people around the world trust us to explore the best of Peru.
The Short Inca Trail with José was a once-in-a-lifetime, unforgettable experience. In the days leading up to our trek, he was highly communicative and provided all the details we needed (packing lists, expectations, timing) so everything…
Hace 3 meses
After researching extensively, I chose a Peruvian travel company to guide our Sacred Valley adventure for my husband and I. We booked a full day beginning with Maras and Moray, Ollantaytambo, lunch and Pisac.…
Hace 2 meses
We did the Lares Trek with Orange Nation/ Sam's travel and would highly recommend it. Lares has far less tourists than the inca trail (we saw about 4 groups over the two days initial hike up to the 4800m high point). The views are…
Hace 3 semanas
I had extremely high expectations and they were blown away! Our guide Rolando was an absolute legend. You can tell he is looked up to by all the other guides in the industry. He speaks multiple languages, connects deeply with each hiker,…
Hace 5 meses
Two of us did the 2 days Lares trek + 1 day Inca Trail, with a tour of Machu Picchu. We were blown away by the friendliness, knowledge, and kindness showed by both of our guides - Jorge and Carlos. We booked a group tour, but this ended up…
Hace 3 meses
Me and my friend did the 4 day Inca trail with Sam travel Peru, our tour guide was Juan Carlos, he has been doing tours to matchu pichu for over 20 years and his knowledge and expertise was amazing. I would recommend to anyone to as for him…
Hace 5 meses
We did the 2 day Inca trail to Machu Picchu. Our guide was Ray and Michael. It was really great - Ray was amazing and was really passionate about the place and told us loads of amazing stories. We had the perfect weather and even the packed…
Hace 3 meses
Amazing trip across 3 days with Jose! A massive thanks and shout out to our guide, he enriched the entire experience with his massive background of history of the culture and the land…
Hace 5 meses
Me and my Wife did the 5 day Inca trail with Sam Travel in April 2026. Our guide Henry and the incredible team of Porters and our Chef made the trip one of a lifetime. I cannot say enough good things about this group as they went over and…
Hace 3 meses
We were short on time during our trip to Peru, so we decided to do the 1-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Everything was very well organised. We were collected from our hotel and taken to the train, where our journey to the trail began. The first part of the hike was a bit challenging, but it was absolutely worth it. The views of the mountains and the surrounding nature were breathtaking. Reaching the Sun Gate and seeing Machu Picchu for the first time was incredible. After the tour, we were taken back by train and dropped off at our hotel. I would highly recommend this hike to anyone visiting Peru, especially if you're short on time but still want to experience the Inca Trail. I also highly recommend our guide, Antonio. He was brilliant, incredibly knowledgeable, and shared so much interesting information about Machu Picchu, its history, and the local flora throughout the trek. He also allowed us to take breaks whenever we needed them.
Written August 6, 2026
I did the Rainbow Mountain tour, and I was the only one in the group who walked up the mountain. My guide Henry stayed with me the whole way, encouraging me and taking lots of photos along the trail. A truly great experience.
Written July 31, 2026
We had an amazing time with Henry our guide on our trek to Rainbow Mountian. With an early pick we left Cusco for the long car ride to Rainbow mountain with a quick stop for breakfast. When we got there Henry helped us reserve horses (highly recommend) and we started towards the mountain. The terrain, snow capped mountains and sediment settlement are a treat to see but it is worth the 10 extra minutes to the top. Because we had the horses we were able to take a long time at the top to take in all of the beautiful wonders. Henry allowed us time to explore and gave us wonderful information about how this beautiful wonder was formed. We definitely got more than our money's worth out of this gem!
Written July 29, 2026
Carlos Estrada was an excellent guide, very knowledgeable and organized! Made our trip easy.
Written July 19, 2026
I had an amazing experience touring Sacred Valley and Machu Pichu with our tour guide, Carlos Estrada. He was quite helpful and knew a lot about everything. I recommend him and this tour!
Written July 19, 2026
Had an awesome day out to Rainbow Mountain with our guide Cesar Siccos! He was full of encouragement and positive energy and we made it to the top! Thank you, Cesar!
Written July 16, 2026
Following a great 2-day Inca Trail experience with SAM Travel, I signed up for the one-day Rainbow Mountain + Red Valley trek. Once again our group was small, just 4 people. Junior was our guide - he was friendly and knowledgeable. He seamlessly adjusted to our request for an earlier start time to beat the crowds, and also managed varying group member speeds / fitness levels well. Another positive experience with SAM Travel - highly recommend booking with them, especially if you are a solo traveler.
Written July 16, 2026
Rainbow mountain hike provided for gorgeous views, bunch of alpaca. At up to 5000 meters it provided for a healthy challenge even if the profile does not look that impressive…. Our guide - Cesar Siccos - was with us the whole way and provided the necessary support to get over the challenge. Great day out.
Written July 15, 2026
My trip to the rainbow mountain with my tour guide Siccos was incredible. Siccos was very energetic and kept our spirits high. I would highly recommend this hike to anyone.
Written July 15, 2026
