Inca Trail Alternatives

When tourists head out for trips to Peru, Machu Picchu tends to be top of their list in terms of a must see

. Added to this, many people are interested in combining the world wonder with hiking on their Peru adventure trips . The Inca Trail is the classic, and often considered a must do. But, there are other options in the region, and if you can't get on one trek don't give up.

Huchuy Qosqo

As with the Lares trek, this one takes place in the Cusco/Sacred Valley area. It is just two days, however, so it's a great choice if you are short on time and just want to get a feel for the place. You can take the train to Machu Picchu either on the afternoon of the 2nd day or on the 3rd if you prefer to overnight in the Sacred Valley first.

Huchuy Qosqo is a small, predominantly pre-Inca archaeological site. The highlight of this particular trek, though, is less the site itself and more the beautiful landscapes that you will be walking through to get there. This is a particularly attractive option for people who either don't want to over-do it or are concerned for fitness because it is an easier countryside walk as well as being shorter. Like the Lares Trek, this one also gives you the opportunity to visit small villages where you can get a feel for how the people live, something that is difficult to really understand if your time here is spent primarily in larger cities and towns. It is a great experience because without visiting the small Cusco highland communities you miss out of seeing how they live.

Hydroelectric Plant to Aguas Calientes

Another possibility for people short on time, not as fit as they'd like to be or just not interested in spending their vacation exerting themselves to the extreme is to hike from the hydroelectric plant near Santa Teresa into Aguas Calientes.

To get to the plant, you will take a bus or a car from Cusco to Santa Maria. Note that, if you are taking the bus, you want the one that goes to Quillabamba. Probably the best company is Turismo Ampay which leaves from the Santiago bus terminal. Pay attention to get off at your stop. Be sure to take into consideration whether you will be getting the evening bus and getting the first transport there or you want to overnight in Santa Teresa after a morning bus.

From Santa Maria, you can get a shared taxi to Santa Teresa and then the same from Santa Teresa to the hydroelectric plant. You may also be able to get share transport directly to the hydroelectric plant, depending on when you arrive. Once at the plant, you can hike along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes. It's a short and level hike of about two to three hours and a pretty one. Beautiful jungle as standard, you have the chance to see huge numbers of plants like orchids and fruits mixed with butterflies and hummingbirds too.

by: Terry Philips

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