Most people who like to go trekking enjoy the great outdoors and are keen to see it without masses of other tourists all doing the same thing. In a country like Peru which is on the must-see list for many once in a lifetime holidaymakers, it can be difficult to escape the crowds.
The best way to do this is to head on a walking trip which takes in fantastic locations that are not as well-known as some of those that grab the headlines. So instead of the Inca Trail head to the Lares Valley and as opposed to Machu Picchu set the coordinates for Mounta Salkantay.
These destinations have just as much to offer as their more famous counterparts, but also show visitors a more authentic side of Peru due to their unspoilt nature and less frequented paths.
Lares Valley
You are more likely to come across a local farmer, practising the same traditions he has for years, than another tourist outside your group in the Lares Valley. The way of life in this remote part of the country has remained the same for around 500 years.
- Lares Valley, PeruSpeedboat / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND
Here you will see the picture postcard scenes of Peru with people walking around in brightly coloured ponchos, not for the tourists, but because this culture lives on. Occasionally it can also be possible to see the fabric for these outfits being woven on traditional looms.
Also expect to see the farmers’ herds of alpacas and llamas roaming around the valley, as well as small thatched houses here and there, where they live with their families.
Mount Salkantay
If you follow the ridge from Machu Picchu to the south you will eventually get to Mount Salkantay, the highest mountain in the Cordillera Vilcabamba. Its snow topped magnificence represents a challenge to all those trekkers looking for something to really test their might.
Most of those who attempt the peak do so by a route up the north-east ridge, but before you even get there you must travel for three days from Cusco. This means that there are fewer people undertaking the climb, making it all the more special for those who do.
Expect an expedition up Mount Salkantay to involve hiking over glaciers, snow, ice and rock, so it is not for the fainthearted, but well worth the effort. Many people decide to trek around the mountain instead, which is less demanding but similarly rewarding.
Due to the fact that there are three main routes that can be taken it can be a peaceful alternative as those undertaking them go their separate ways.
Leymebamba
Trekking in the warm, wet tropical area of Leymebamba is great because there are a wide range of things to see, including ruins which date back to before the time of the Incas. The area is located within the Utcubamba River valley, making it sheltered and secluded.
- LeymebambaRae Wilson / Foter.com / CC BY-NC
As well as enjoying the beautiful scenery, the region is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna with the moist conditions meaning several rare varieties can be found. It is also noted as a good spot for seeing the magnificent Andean condors as they swoop and glide down the valley.
Laymebamba is also relatively unknown to tourists and nearby there are around 60 villages and hamlets scattering the landscape, which can be great to walk between.
