There is hardly a country in the world that is better suited for hiking. The landscape is breathtaking in many places: mountains that rise more than 6,000 m into the sky, glaciers, waterfalls, mountain lakes, canyons and enchanting valleys. The possibilities are almost endless. You can choose the level of difficulty and the length of the tours yourself! “Peru Hiking” delivers a personalized hiking trip for you.
Peru Hiking
If you love hiking and are looking for new challenges, come to Peru! If you want to admire a fascinating mountain world, come to Peru! There are numerous options for both the occasional hiker and the experienced mountaineer. Peru Hiking offers you a selection of the possibilities. The tours listed are by no means complete – ask about other options!
Inka Trail 4 Days
The most famous hike in Peru is the Inca Trail. After three days of hiking, you will reach the ruins of Machu Picchu on the morning of the fourth day.
Day 1: You will be picked up early in the morning from your hotel in Cuzco. After breakfast, the hike begins at kilometer 82 in the Urubamba Valley. After an initially moderately steep climb, it becomes steeper and a little more difficult after lunch until you reach the camp for the first night.
Day 2: This is the longest and most strenuous day. You start before sunrise. The first destination is the 4150 m high Warmiwañusca pass, the highest point on this hike. After a break in which we can enjoy the wonderful view, we descend about 500 meters until we reach a camp where we enjoy lunch. After that, there is a slightly smaller pass (3850 m above sea level) to overcome before reaching the campsite for the night.
Day 3: Today we only have to overcome a small difference in altitude to reach a pass at 3600 m. After that we gradually descend further and further. The vegetation becomes more and more lush. The campsite for the third night is at 2800 m. Just a few minutes away you can visit the beautiful ruins of Wiñaywayna.
Day 4: There are only 2 hours left until we can reach Machu Picchu. We have our first glimpse of the famous site from the Sun Gate (puerta del sol). In the morning you can visit Machu Picchu on a guided tour. After a short bus ride we are in Aguas Caliente, where we have lunch. In the afternoon train and bus take us back to Cuzco.
Colca Canyon 3 Days
The Colca Canyon is the second deepest canyon in the world. At its deepest point, the canyon digs more than 3,000 m into the rock. A hike through the canyon is therefore an unforgettable experience. Aside from the exciting landscape, there is also the opportunity to see condors in the wild!
Including the transfer from Arequipa, the hike takes 3 days. The itinerary:
Day 1: You will be picked up very early from your hotel in Arequipa and taken by bus to Chivay, where we will have breakfast and recharge our batteries. We will then take the bus to Cruz del Condor, a viewpoint where you can always see several condors in their fascinating flight. We will then drive to another viewpoint at 3280 m above sea level, where the hike begins. After around three and a half hours of descent, we will reach San Juan de Chuccho (2300 m), where lunch will be served. In the afternoon there will be the opportunity to explore the area around the village. Dinner and overnight stay with a local family.
Day 2: The day starts at around 7 a.m. After breakfast we hike to Cosñirhua (around two and a half hours) and after a break we continue to Sangalle (2 hours). After lunch we can relax in a pleasantly cool pool. We spend the night with a local family.
Day 3: We set off early in the morning and hike for 3 hours back to Cabanaconde. After breakfast, we are picked up and drive back to Chivay. On the way, we stop at a viewpoint. At further stopovers, you can visit hot springs and buy souvenirs. We are in Chivay for lunch. Then we drive back to Arequipa and stop at a viewpoint at 4910 m above sea level – the highest point on the route. As we then cross the Salinas y Aguada Blanca nature reserve, we can also observe the fauna and flora. We reach Arequipa in the late afternoon.
Ausangate Trek 5 Days
Ausangate (6398 m) is one of the highest and most impressive mountains in southern Peru. It is considered the patron saint of the locals. Life around this mountain offers wonderful landscapes with lagoons, hills, llamas, alpacas and other wonderful mountains such as Vinicunca, the rainbow mountain.
Day 1: We leave Cuzco early and drive towards Tinqui, which is located 4050 m above sea level. We stop on the way to stock up on essentials for the coming days. Later we start the hike towards the small village of Upis at 4400 m above sea level. There we enjoy lunch in the midst of a beautiful landscape. We continue up to the Arapa Pass (4800 m) and then down to Yana Ccocha, where we will spend the night at a campsite.
Day 2: Today we wake up with a beautiful view of the mountains! After breakfast, we climb again and see some amazing lakes in different colors. After another climb we reach the Pucacocha pass at 4900 m above sea level. Here we have lunch. A descent takes us to Anantapata. Here we spend the second night.
Day 3: After breakfast we hike to another mountain pass, then we descend to Lake Kayrawiri, which is surrounded by mountains and white peaks. Then we continue to Cerro Laya Grande, where we see the most striking colors in the sediments of the Vinicunca or Rainbow Mountain. Lunch is served in the middle of this unique landscape. The route then takes us to Lake Ausangate Qocha, where we set up camp for the night.
Day 4: Starting from Lake Ausangate, we reach the highest point of the tour, a mountain pass at 5100 m above sea level. Here you have a spectacular view of the mountains of Ausangate. We descend along the glacier to the Finaya Pampa. Here we learn more about the camel species such as llamas, alpacas and vicuñas. After another leisurely hike, we arrive at the Pampa campsite, where we spend the fourth night.
Day 5: After breakfast, another highlight awaits us: the Campa Pass at 5050 m above sea level. We then pass several lakes and visit hot springs where we can relax. After lunch, we are picked up and drive back to Cuzco.
Santa Cruz Trek 4 Days
The Santa Cruz Trek is, alongside the Inca Trail, the most popular multi-day hike in Peru. The trek runs 45 km through the Cordillera Blanca between the villages of Vaqueria and Cashapampa. The trail is spectacular from start to finish. Highlights include magnificent emerald-green mountain lakes, sensational views of the six-thousand-meter peaks of the Cordillera Blanca and meadows with colorful wildflowers. With a walking time of 4 to 5 hours, the demands on fitness are moderate. However, due to the considerable altitude, acclimatization is highly recommended. The starting point is the city of Huaraz.
Day 1: From Vaqueria there is a short and relatively easy climb to the village of Huaripampa with its traditional houses with thatched roofs. After the village, the trail follows the Quebrada Huaripampa to the park checkpoint. From there it continues to the campsite at 3850 m above sea level, where the first night is spent.
Day 2: The second day is the longest and most strenuous. After passing Laguna Morococha, we climb to Punta Union at 4760 m. The view from the pass is breathtaking – provided the weather plays along. It can be foggy here and sometimes there is even snow. After a steep descent, we set up camp for the second night in Taullipampa (4250 m). The campsite is located on a beautiful meadow at the foot of the majestic Nevado Taulliraju (5830 m).
Day 3: On the third day we are rewarded with a longer, relatively easy hike through the fascinating mountains. Small waterfalls, lakes and swamps line the path. Finally, we pass the beautiful Laguna Jatuncocha and hike further to Laguna Icchicocha. This used to be a larger lake, but is now mostly a swamp. The Llamacorral campsite is on its western shore.
Day 4: The last day of the trek also offers dramatic landscapes. This is followed by a partially steep descent through the Santa Cruz Canyon to the town of Cashapampa. From there we are picked up and taken back to Huaraz.
Day tours from Huaraz
If you don’t want to go on multi-day hikes but still want to see beautiful mountains, Huaraz is the perfect place for you. Or you might want to start with one or two day tours to acclimatize and get in the mood for longer tours. Here is just a small selection:
Lagunas Llanganuco
One of the most popular excursions from Huaraz leads to these two beautiful, turquoise-blue mountain lakes. The access is via a narrow, winding road. The lakes are located at 3850 m above sea level and are part of the Huascarán National Park.
Laguna 69
Even more beautiful than the two Llanganuco lakes is Laguna 69. Starting from the car park at 3900 m above sea level, you hike in around two and a half hours to Laguna 69 at 4600 m. Along the way, the landscape is as fascinating as it is varied: a valley with flowering meadows, waterfalls, small lakes, rock faces and finally glaciers of the six-thousand-meter peaks.
Laguna Parón
Another mountain lake worth seeing is Laguna Parón. For many, the emerald green lake is the most beautiful in the Cordillera Blanca. It lies at an altitude of 4,185 m above sea level and is surrounded by spectacular mountain peaks. In about half an hour you reach a viewpoint from which you have a wonderful view of the lake and the mountains.