It's an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts as all roads lead to a great hiking trail.

You can see an array of flora and fauna far from the main roads if you ascend the Andes at a steady pace. Even the most amateur of adventurists can find a few hidden gems at the desert coast surrounding the capital city.

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We're going to show you the best hikes in the world.

Peru, Machu Picchu region, Female traveler looking at Machu Picchu citadel and Huayna mountain with three llamas
The great payoff of the arduous Inca Trail: Machu Picchu © Westend61 / Getty Images

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

The hike is one way and can take up to 3 days.

Rugged and of high altitude, the ancient Inca Trail has become the most famous trek in the country for its spectacle of diverse landscapes.

The classic route starts on relatively flat terrain from Kilometer 82 and goes through valleys, villages and mountains before reaching the small Inka ruins. The final climb is up a set of stairs that lead to the Sun Gate. Most hikers return by bus after spending the night in the town.

A maximum of 500 people are allowed on the 15th-century trail per day, which is 300 more than are needed. With an elevation that passes 4200m above sea level (13,780ft), proper training is important for this hike, which needs to be planned months in advance.

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Aerial view of Choquequirao, the ruins of an ancient Inca mountain city
A trek to Choquequirao is a challenging and isolated alternative to Machu Picchu © Yuri Zvezdny / Shutterstock

Lost City of Choquequirao Trek

It's the best off-the-beaten-path hike of all time.

Choquequirao is the more challenging and isolated of the two alternatives to Machu Picchu. The site is believed to be three times the size of its sister city and can only be reached by foot.

trekkers descend into the Apurimac Canyon from the Capuliyoq pass Terraced farmlands that trace the edge of the canyon's river eventually give way to an exhilarating shift from vertical desert to high altitude jungle as hikers climb their way to the site. Hikers can see the spectacular ruins after they reach 3050m above sea level.

When accompanied by no more than a few other hikers, the 12 visible sectors sprawled across three hilltops are incredible to take in.

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Lomas de Lúcumo

The best family hike is 2.5 hours round trip.

Soft slopes of lush vegetation are an hour's drive away from the desert capital of the country. During the winter months of the southern hemisphere, the ocean mist is trapped in the hills, causing the vegetation to grow in profusion.

The Los Lcumos trail is the shorter of the two marked loops. There are caves with interesting markings, a rock climbing area and a lot of wildlife. During the middle of the week is when the trails tend to fill up with students and families.

The district of Pachacamac has an archaeological site and a typical chicharrn sandwich in Lurn.

A hiker at dusk in Marcahuasi, a plateau in the Andes Mountains
The view of a clear night sky full of stars is undeniably awe-inspiring at Marcahuasi, a plateau in the Andes Mountains © maphke / Shutterstock

Marcahuasi

It's the best camping trip from the city.

If you visit from L.A., you'll find rock formations and real topography. The trail is well marked and the distance from the capital city is not so long, but the real challenge is overcoming the altitude.

There are carvings of human faces and animals in the stone forest at a elevation of over 13500 feet. The view of a clear night sky full of stars is awe-inspiring even though it is thought to have healing powers.

It is important for hikers of all levels to be acclimatized to the elevation gain before climbing to the top of the mountain. You can rent horses and donkeys at San Pedro de Casta.

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Hiker in front of Laguna 69, Huarascan National Park
Laguna 69 is a glacier-fed lagoon, well worth the hike through Huarascan National Park © Orlando Neto / Shutterstock

Laguna 69 Trek

It is the best day hike in the area.

One of the most picturesque places in the world, if not all of South America, is located in the Huascaran National Park and is only seen by a small group of tourists. The turquoise water in the backdrop of the snow-capped mountains is absolutely stunning.

After a two hour drive from the city of Huaraz, the trek begins. The towering peaks of Cordillera Blanca are just one of the things that will come and go. The trail eases into an ascent for most of the route, however, the last 30-40 minutes are quite a challenge.

It's a good idea to spend a day or two in the city of Huaraz to acclimatize to the high altitude.

Full Circuit to Gocta Waterfalls

The best hike in the northern Amazon is 15 km.

Gocta was rediscovered and brought to international attention in 2002. The waterfall is located in the cloud forest of the Amazonas Region and is 2530 feet tall.

A short bus ride away from the town of Chachapoyas is where you can start the trek to see the falls. The trail leads past small villages and coffee plantations as well as many viewpoints of canyons and deep valleys. The view of Gocta from the base of the lower fall is unparalleled. The loop ends in Cocachimba, where you can get back to Chachapoyas.

Between April and June is when the best time to complete the full circuit to Gocta waterfalls.

Sangalle trek to Colca Canyon 

One of the deepest canyons in the world is the best place to explore.

Caon del Colca is the second deepest canyon in the world and is located 6 hours outside of Arequipa city. There are various trails that lead down the terraced hillside and back up the 3400m deep canyon. Even day hikes from the nearby Colca Valley town of Chivay can be enjoyed, but the thrill of camping in the bed of the canyon should not be missed.

The village tucked in the depths of Colca provides hikers with comfortable overnight accommodations as well as refreshing swimming pools.

The hike can be done without a guide. It's possible to do it in one day, but it's best to do it in the morning when the temperature is cooler. Bring a lot of water and sunscreen.

Two hikers explore on the Cordillera Huayhuash hike
The Cordillera Huayhuash trek is renowned as one of the top hiking circuits in the world © Mikadun / Shutterstock

Cordillera Huayhuash

It takes 120 km (75 miles) to trek a mountain inPeru.

Four decades have passed since the publication of Joe Simpson's incredible mountaineering story Touching the Void and adventurists around the world continue to visitPeru to create their own narrative of this epic route.

Glacial lakes of azure, Andean peaks blanketed in the purest of snow, and a surprising diversity of flora and fauna make up the scene of this near two week hike.

It's rare to pass people other than the settlers who have made a home in the mountain chain because of the extreme length and altitude. It is a good idea to go with a guide regardless of experience level.

From where each day will average six hours of hiking, you can head off to Cuartelwain. The best time to complete this circuit is in the summer.

 

The article was published in September 2021.