Distinguished by three topographical regions – mountains, jungle and arid coast – Peru is an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts as all roads seem to lead to a superb hiking trail.

Ascending the Andes at a steady pace brings you to exhilarating, high-elevation lakes of an azure hue while venturing to the Amazon region is the chance to view an exquisite array of flora and fauna that are far from main roads. Finally, at a lower elevation and far less humid climate, the desert coast that surrounds the capital city of Lima has a few hidden gems to appease even the most amateur of adventurists. 

Strap on your boots as we discover the best hikes in Peru from Machu Picchu and beyond.

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu: The classic Peru hike; 26 miles (42km) one way, 3-5 days, difficult. Rugged and of high altitude, the ancient Inca Trail (Camino Inka) has become the most famous trek in Peru for its spectacle of diverse landscapes and termination point at the famed Machu Picchu. Starting off on relatively flat terrain from Kilometer 82 of the Inca Trail, the classic route steadily ascends as it cuts through valleys, Andean villages and mountains, crosses rivers and confronts smaller Inca ruins. The final climb is up a set of stairs that lead to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku), from where Machu Picchu can finally be seen. After exploring the site, most hikers spend the night in Aguas Calientes before returning by bus. As a means of preservation, a maximum of 500 persons are allowed on the 15th-century trail per day, 300 of which are required guides and porters. This hike needs to be planned months (if not a year) in advance for two main reasons: bookings for the Inca Trail tend to sell out quickly and, with an elevation that passes 13,800ft above sea level (4200m), proper training is vital.

Lost City of Choquequirao Trek: Best off-the-beaten-path hike; 28 miles (45km), 4-5 days round-trip, strenuous. Authentic and uncrowded, Choquequirao is the more challenging and isolated alternative to Machu Picchu for avid hikers seeking a route steeped in Inca history. Located in the Apurimac Valley, this archaeological site (whose name can be translated to "cradle of gold") is believed to be three times the size of its more famous sister city and can only be reached by foot (as opposed to the floods of tour buses that frequent Machu Picchu). The starting point is the Capuliyoq pass in Abancay, from where trekkers descend into the Apurimac Canyon. Terraced farmlands that trace the edge of the canyon’s namesake river eventually give way to an exhilarating shift from vertical desert to high-altitude jungle as hikers climb their way to the site. Finally, after reaching 10,000ft above sea level (3050m), hikers can revel in an eye-level view of the spectacular ruins. Not even half of what archaeologists believe to remain of Choquequirao has been uncovered, and yet the 12 visible sectors sprawled across three hilltops are incredible to take in – especially when accompanied by no more than a handful of other hikers, if any. 

Lomas de Lúcumo: Best family hike; 2.5 miles (4km), 2.5 hours round-trip, easy. As hard as it may be to believe, soft slopes of lush vegetation are just an hour's drive outside of Peru’s desert capital, Lima. Lomas de Lúcumo is the result of a peculiar climactic occurrence whereby ocean mist is trapped in the hills, springing verdant vegetation to life during the southern hemisphere’s winter months (June – September). Navigate the sea of green following the trail known as Los guardianes, the shorter of two marked loops (the other trail is the 4-mile Los Lúcumos). Spot caves with interesting markings, a rock climbing area and quite a bit of wildlife (if there is an absence of crowds). Try to visit during the middle of the week as the trails tend to fill up on weekends with students and families. Located in the district of Pachacamac, this outdoor excursion can be paired with a visit to the Pachacamac archaeological site and a typical chicharrón (fried pork) sandwich in the nearby town of Lurín. 

Marcahuasi: Best camping trip from Lima; 5 miles (8km), 6-8 hours, difficult. Surreal topography and rock formations make Marcahuasi a magical overnight camping destination if visiting from Lima. The trailhead is a 6-hour drive from the capital city. And while the distance of the hike is not so long and the trail itself well marked, the true challenge is overcoming the altitude. Standing at 13,123ft above sea level (4000m), Marcahuasi is a naturally-formed stone forest with curious carvings of human faces and animals. Though it is considered by many locals to have healing powers, the view of a clear night sky full of stars is undeniably awe-inspiring. With a quick elevation gain, it is important that hikers of all levels are acclimatized before ascending to Marcahuasi. Horses and donkeys can be rented when paying the entrance fee of 5 Peruvian soles at San Pedro de Casta.

Laguna 69 Trek: Best day hike in Huaraz; 8 miles (13km), 5-6 hours round-trip, moderate. Located in Huascaran National Park, Laguna 69 is one of the most picturesque places in Peru – if not all of South America – and yet only a handful of tourists that visit the Andean nation see it in person. With snow-capped mountains in the backdrop, the still turquoise water is absolutely stunning and well worth the climb. The scenic trek begins after a two-hour drive from the city of Huaraz in north-central Peru. Livestock and cattle, cascading waterfalls and quaint meadows will come and go, but the towering peaks of Cordillera Blanca are steady company. The trail gently eases into an ascent for most of the route, however, the last 30-40 minutes are quite a climb. The surface elevation of Laguna 69 is over 15,000ft above sea level (4600m), so be sure to spend a day or two acclimatizing in the city of Huaraz beforehand. 

Full Circuit to Gocta Waterfalls: Best day hike in the northern Amazon; 9.5 miles (15km), 6-8 hours round-trip, moderate. One of the tallest waterfalls in the world, Gocta was only rediscovered and brought to international interest as recently as 2002. Trickling down from the cloud forest of northern Peru’s Amazonas Region, the two-drop waterfall is 2530ft (771m) tall and is hugged by lush flora. To witness the lower and upper falls, begin the trek at the trailhead in San Pablo, a short bus ride away from the town of Chachapoyas (where most travelers stay). Well-marked, the trail leads past small villages and coffee plantations as well as plenty of viewpoints of canyons and deep valleys. The hike to the upper fall is more scenic, however, the complete view of Gocta seen from the base of the lower fall is unparalleled. The loop finishes in Cocachimba from where transportation back to Chachapoyas can be found. The best time to complete the full circuit to Gocta waterfalls is between April and June, just after the rainy season has ended and before tourism picks up.

Sangalle trek to Colca Canyon: Down the depths of one of the deepest canyons in the world; 5 miles (8km), 2 days round-trip, moderate. The world’s second deepest canyon, Colca (Cañon del Colca) is cradled by desert hillsides 6 hours outside of Arequipa city and swooped over by the impressive Andean condor. There are various trails that lead down the terraced hillside and back up the 11155ft-deep canyon (3400m), connecting small pueblos along the way. Even day hikes from the nearby Colca Valley town of Chivay down to hot springs can be enjoyed, but the thrill of camping in the bed of the canyon should not be missed if time permits. The Cabanaconde-Sangalle-Cabanaconde route is a well-trodden yet scenic path as the village tucked in the depths of Colca provides hikers with comfortable overnight accommodations and refreshing swimming pools. This is not an extensive hike and can be done without a guide. For those short on time, it can be done in one day however the 2-3 hour climb from Sangalle Oasis (7050ft above sea level or 2150m) back up to Cabanaconde (10,760ft or 3280m) is best done in the cool morning hours. Either way, bring lots of water and sunscreen.  

Cordillera Huayhuash: The ultimate mountain trekking experience in Peru; 75 miles (120km), 12 days, strenuous. Four decades have passed since the publication of Joe Simpson’s incredible mountaineering story Touching the Void and adventurists around the world continue to visit Peru to create their own (and hopefully less dangerous) narrative of this epic route. Glacial lakes of unreal azure hues, Andean peaks blanketed in the purest of snowfall and a surprising diversity of flora and fauna paint the scene of this near two-week hike that dabbles between 13,000-16,500ft above sea level (4000-5000m); such natural beauty has gained the Cordillera Huayhuash trek a reputation as one of the top hiking circuits in the world. Due to the extreme length and altitude of this trek, it's rare to pass people other than the settlers who have made a home in the mountain chain, often accompanied by alpaca or llamas. Thus, it is strongly recommended to go with a guide regardless of experience level. Acclimatize in Huaraz before heading off to Cuartelwain (a five-hour drive), from where each consecutive day will average six hours of hiking until finishing in Llámac. This circuit is best completed during the dry season (May – September).

Source: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/best-hikes-in-peru