Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
HIKING & TREKKING
Pack the hiking boots because the variety of trails in Peru is downright staggering. The
main trekking centers are Cuzco and Arequipa in the southern Andes, and Huaraz in the
north. Hikers will find many easily accessible trails around Peru's archaeological ruins,
which are also the final destinations for more challenging trekking routes.
Peru's most famous trek is the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Limited permits means this
guided-only trek sells out months in advance. For those who haven't planned so far in ad-
vance, there are worthwhile alternative routes. In addition, other possibilities around Cuzco
include the spectacular six-day trek around the venerated Ausangate (6372m), which will
take you over 5000m passes, through huge herds of alpacas, and past tiny hamlets un-
changed in centuries. Likewise, the isolated Inca site of Choquequirau is another intriguing
destination for a trek.
In nearby Arequipa, you can get down in some of the world's deepest canyons - the
world-famous Cañón del Colca and the Cañón del Cotahuasi. The scenery is guaranteed to
knock you off your feet, and it's easier going than some higher-altitude destinations. Dur-
ing the wet season, when some Andean trekking routes are impassable, Colca is invitingly
lush and green. It's also the best place in Peru for DIY trekking between rural villages. The
more remote and rugged Cañón del Cotahuasi is best visited with an experienced local
guide and only during the dry season.
Outside Huaraz, the Cordillera Blanca can't be beat for vistas of rocky, snowcapped
mountaintops, while the remote and rugged Cordillera Huayhuash is similarly stunning.
The classic and favorite trekking route is the four-day journey from Llanganuco to Santa
Cruz, where hardy mountaineers climb the 4760m Punta Union pass, surrounded by ice-
clad peaks. Longer treks include the northern route around the dazzling Alpamayo, which
requires at least a week. Shorter overnight trips in the area go to mountain base camps,
alpine lakes and even along an old Inca road.
Cuzco and Huaraz (and, to a lesser degree, Arequipa) have outfitters that can provide
equipment, guides and even
arrieros
(mule drivers). If you prefer to trek ultralight, you
might want to purchase your own gear, especially a sleeping bag, as old- generation rental
items tend to be heavy. Whether you'll need a guide depends on where you trek. Certain
areas of Peru, such as along the Inca Trail, require guides; in other places, such as in the
Cordillera Huayhuash, there have been muggings, so it's best to be with a local. Thank-
fully, scores of other trekking routes are wonderfully DIY. Equip yourself with topographic
maps for major routes in the nearest major gateway towns or, better yet, at the Instituto
Geográfico Nacional (IGN) or at the South American Explorers Club in Lima.
