The 15 Peru Hiking Tours That Earn Their Price

1.Rainbow Mountain Tour and Red Valley Hike (Optional)

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 149 reviews · from $29Our pick

You’ll leave Cusco around 4:00 am for Vinicunca, hiking to 5,020 meters with a bilingual guide such as David, Fredy, Joel, or Gorky. Breakfast, buffet lunch, transport, oxygen, and optional trekking poles are included. Red Valley access may be limited because of current route concerns.

“Everything was very good. I enjoyed the trip, I got the chance to do nice pictures and the food was good as well! Thank you 🙏”

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2.From Huaraz: Hike to the Lagoon 69

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 121 reviews · 12h 30m · from $31

Leave Huaraz before dawn for Huascaran National Park, stop at the Llanganuco Lakes, then hike three hours from Cebollapampa to Lagoon 69. A Spanish-speaking guide leads the trip, with some English possible. Bring lunch, snacks, cash, and passport details for the permit.

“Bellissima escursione! Se siete a Huaraz, consiglio di fare questa gita”

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3.Private Palccoyo Rainbow Hike Without the Crowds

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 86 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $199Top rated

Leave Cusco before dawn for Palccoyo, a quieter alternative to Vinicunca. You will hike among three rainbow mountains, the Red Valley, and a stone forest with a local guide such as Jesús Carrion. Breakfast, lunch, hotel transport, hiking poles, and oxygen are included.

“We had a fantastic time exploring Palcoyo, thanks to our experienced guide, Jesús Carrion. The tour started promptly, and Jesús took great care of us throughout the day. Although the walk to Palcoyo, also known as the alternative Rainbow Mountain, was relatively easy and moderate, the high altitude of 4900m caused my husband to feel short of breath. Jesús made a concerted effort to ensure his well-being while also keeping an eye on the rest of the group. Compared to Vinicunca, Palcoyo was noticeably less crowded, and it offered breathtaking views of three rainbow mountains, the red valley, and the stone forest. Unfortunately, we had to skip the stone forest…”

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4.Humantay Lake Full Day Hike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 75 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $89

Leave Cusco before dawn for Mollepata, breakfast, and a guided climb from Soraypampa to turquoise Humantay Lake. Luz is one guide praised for patient support. The $89 trip includes transport, entrance, breakfast, lunch, oxygen, and a small group of up to 15.

“Tour was awesome. Pick up perfectly on time. Our tour guide Luz was above and beyond , she was perfect. She answered all questions we were asking and most important she helped us to get all the way to the top because at the beginning of the climb I was struggling. Thank you Luz and I hope we meet again on some other tour.”

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5.2 Day Hiking Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 66 reviews · 2 days (approx.) · from $761

Walk the final Inca Trail route from Km 104 to Machu Picchu’s Sun Gate with a professional guide, visiting Wiñay Wayna and waterfalls before spending a night in Aguas Calientes. Return to Machu Picchu the next morning for a guided visit, free time, and the train back to Cusco.

“We did the 2 day trek to Machu Picchu and had a great time!”

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6.Humantay Lake Day Hike (Small Group or Private)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · from $175

Travel from Cusco or the Sacred Valley to Humantay Lake with a guide and a maximum of eight people. Expect a 3 a.m. pickup, breakfast in Mollepata, a steep high-altitude hike, Peruvian meals, snacks, transport, and a full day in the mountains.

“My mother and I did this trek with our guide and it was just the three of us! It was so nice to have a small group and our tour guide made sure we were very comfortable and took breaks whenever we needed (15,000 ft is hard when you live at sea level!). We would highly recommend this to anyone going to the Cusco area and especially recommend FlashPacker Connect.”

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7.From Puerto Maldonado | Jungle hike + Sandoval Lake |

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 22 reviews · 1 day · from $75

From Puerto Maldonado, you hike about 3 kilometers through Tambopata National Reserve before exploring Sandoval Lake by canoe. Look for monkeys, macaws, caimans, river otters, turtles, and huge paiche fish. Guides may speak Spanish or English, and lunch is included.

“La excursión y la actividad merece mucho la pena. Con el guía, Gabriel, ningún problema. Explica con ganas y pone interés. El problema viene con la organización de la actividad a través de agencia Machu Picchu Journey. Nos indican una hora y un lugar en concreto. La noche de antes y a través de una actividad que no tiene nada que ver, nos indica otro guía que no, que en teoría debería ser a otra hora y que nos deben de recoger en el hotel. Esto sin información alguna de la agencia Machu Picchu Journey. A la mañana siguiente y por insistencia nuestra, nos indica que el horario ha cambiado…”

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8.4-hour excursion: Sillar Route with Hiking in Culebrillas

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 21 reviews · 4 hours · from $20

Travel from Arequipa to the Sillar Route, stopping at a volcano viewpoint, the working Añashuayco Quarries, and the Megacavado carving. Then walk about 20 minutes into Culebrillas Canyon to see Wari petroglyphs and apachetas. English and Spanish guides are available.

“This was a good tour the only thing was our guide seemed very nervous and her accent was really heavy so most the time on the microphone we could not hear her or understand”

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9.2-Day Inca Trail Hike to Machu Picchu & Panoramic Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 7 reviews · 2 days · from $624

Start at Km 104, follow the Inca Trail through Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna, and reach Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. You’ll travel in a small group with an English or Spanish-speaking guide, sleep one night in Aguas Calientes, and return by Vistadome train.

“Très belle marche à partir du km 104, accompagnée des interessantes explications de notre guide Noemie. Le lendemain, lever à l'aube pour admirer le Machu Picchu encore enveloppé dans la brume matinale. Après la visite, pas grand chose d'intéressant à faire à Aguas Calientes”

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10.Seven Lagoons of Ausangate Hiking Day Trip with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 7 reviews · 10 hours · from $30

Leave Cusco at 4:00 AM for Pacchanta, hike a three-hour loop past Ausangate’s seven lagoons, then relax in thermo-medicinal waters. A guide, breakfast, lunch, walking sticks, oxygen balloon, and hotel pickup are included. Bring cash for the separate entry fee.

“The day started off bad the driver never picked me up, but Ya’ll sent a taxi to take me to meet up with the bus. Your bus conductor is a thief he took a few of us moneys to pay Ausangate entrance I gave him $100 Soles the guy sitting next to me also did give him $100 he never returned our change. We saw him at the hot springs he pretended he didn’t remember, our tour guide had to get our money back I’ve posted a photo of him. You can’t be promoting tourism when your staff members are dishonest. Your companies reputation is at stake”

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11.4-hour excursion: Ruta del Sillar with Hiking in Culebrillas

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 6 reviews · 4h 30m · from $18

Spend about four hours visiting Arequipa’s sillar quarries, the huge Añashuayco carving, Culebrillas Canyon, Wari petroglyphs, apachetas, and a volcano viewpoint. Transport and a Spanish or English guide are included, but confirm the guide language before booking.

“Gids spraak nauwelijks Engels ook nadat we in een andere groep werden geplaatst. Eerste deel was zeer matig. Leukste deel was de korte wandeling door een kloof. Zou het niet aanraden”

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12.From Arequipa: Sillar Route and Hike in Culebrillas

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6 reviews · 4 hours · from $12Best value

Travel from Arequipa to the Añashuayco sillar quarry, learn how the city’s famous white volcanic stone is cut, then walk 20 minutes through Culebrillas canyon to see petroglyphs. English and Spanish guides lead groups limited to 10 people. Alexandra and Toni have both received praise for their engaging guiding.

“el guia Toni hizo quebla excursion fuera divertida. Es curioso e interesante visitar la cantera de sillar.”

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13.Hike to Humantay Lake one day With Meals

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6 reviews · 1 day · from $30

Leave Cusco before dawn for Humantay Lake with an English or Spanish-speaking guide, breakfast in Mollepata, and a buffet lunch after the hike. The 3-kilometer climb from Soraypampa takes about two hours, with handmade trekking poles included. Hotel pickup is available near Plaza de Armas.

“My husband and I booked this the night before and they were very quick in response. We got picked up and our guide, Israel was very informative of what the trip would entail. We had a 2 hour drive to a place where we had a delicious buffet breakfast and then were taken to the place where we would commence our hike. I highly suggest buying the coca candy from the little shop where we had breakfast as they definitely helped with the altitude sickness. Also bring a big bottle of water with electrolytes. Trust me, you'll need it. Since there were multiple tour groups doing the same trek with…”

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14.Machu Picchu Tour with Hiking Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 14 hours · from $339

Start before dawn in Cusco, ride through the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo, then take the Expedition train to Aguas Calientes. A guide leads you to Machu Picchu, points you toward the timed mountain entrance, and later explains the Inca citadel. The 2-kilometer climb needs good fitness.

“Très belle activité ,nous avons eu le meilleur guide au monde et le plus passionné de l’ histoire du Pérou 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻”

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15.Horseback Riding at 7 lakes Ausangate Private |Optional Hike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 12 - 15 hours · from $139

Leave Cusco before dawn for Pacchanta at 4,100 meters. With a bilingual guide such as Alexander or Julio, you’ll visit Ausangate’s seven colored lakes by foot or horseback, eat Andean meals in a local home, and finish with hot springs.

“Alexander was great. The breakfast and lunch was amazing and the views were second to none. You must do this while in Cusco you will not regret it!”

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