As the Peruvian authorities, engineers and travel companies work flat-out to restore access to the rain-soaked Machu Picchu area, now is the perfect time to remind travelers of all the other magnificent sites that the Cusco region of Peru has to offer.
Based on feedback from returning clients, Peru For Less has compiled the following list of Machu Picchu Travel Alternatives.
Machu Picchu travel alternatives, from Peru For Less
Tipon-Piquillajta-Andahuaylillas Day Tour
This series of lesser-known and under visited ruins just west of Cusco offer a fascinating insight into the size and strength of the Inca Empire, as well as features and a history that aren’t to be found at the more famous citadel of Machu Picchu.
The ruins of Tipon are thought to be an ancient Inca palace and are home to elaborately engineered waterways, baths and fountains, plus a functioning irrigation system that reveals the ingenuity of the Inca’s engineers.
From here it’s a short journey to Piquillajta, which was originally a pre-Inca ruin from the Wari civilization and was probably conquered and re-settled by the Inca as their empire expanded. A tour of Piquillajta gives an interesting history of the growth of the empire, and how the Inca were able to incorporate previously independent civilizations into their own.
Eventually your tour brings you to a Colonial-era archeological gem, known as the
“Andean Sistine Chapel,” the 17th century church at Andahuaylillas is famous for its beautiful decorations and unique interior design. The church’s intriguing décor, complete with graphical depictions of the routes to heaven and hell, glittering golden gilding and a blend of Christian and indigenous iconography all reflect early attempts by the Spanish to convert the locals to Christianity.
Peru Adventure Trek to Choquequirao
The Inca Trail is closed for routine maintenance every February and may remain closed into March this year, but that doesn’t mean that lovers of the great outdoors cannot enjoy the Cusco region’s unrivaled trekking opportunities.
Machu Picchu travel alternatives: the ruins of Choquequirao
One of the most dramatic (and least visited) alternative Inca Trail treks is the four day hike to Choquequirao, a challenging route that is rewarded with a visit to the magnificent ruins of Choquequirao; a huge and deeply impressive site that receives a fraction of Machu Picchu’s annual visitor numbers.
The trek crosses a range of environments, beginning in the rolling fields and small farming settlements of the sierra before entering the savage Apurimac valley with the river thundering several thousand feet below. The trail drops almost 5,000 feet to river level and the following day climbs immediately back up an equivalent distance back up the steep valley walls.
Eventually entering Choquequirao itself is well worth the challenge, especially since yours may well be the only group in the entire site. It takes at least a full day to explore the ruins in their entirety, and of particular note are the enormous complexes of agricultural terraces, some of which were decorated with unique patterns and designs that are not found in any other Andean site.
The route back from Choquequirao follows a different trail, entering the more humid semi-tropical environment of the high-jungle, where parakeets and tarantulas are a common sight and the trees drip with tropical fruits such as mangoes and avocados. After spending the third night on the grounds of an old Colonial hacienda, the trail re-enters the rolling landscapes of the first day before rejoining road transport for the journey back to Cusco.
The beautiful Sacred Valley that runs away from the city of Cusco along the line of the Urubamba river (and past Machu Picchu, eventually) is home to a huge number of ancient settlements and towns, ruins and glorious landscapes.
Ruins of Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley
It is possible to take a day tour of the Sacred Valley’s highlights, starting from and returning to Cusco. Tours start early and descend through unchanged landscapes into the Valley itself before reaching the town of Ollantaytambo.
Olltantaytambo is one of the oldest continually inhabited towns in the Andes and people have been living here since at least the 13th century. The town is characterized by ancient stone houses built in the trademark style of the Inca, winding cobbled streets bisected by atmospheric flowing rivers and of course the hillside fortress ruins that look over the entire settlement.
The ruins are not particularly large but they have a fascinating history, as the location of a great Inca victory over the Spanish conquistadores, which almost caused the invasion to fail.
After touring the town and the ruins, it’s a short journey to the next destination, the buzzing town of Pisac. It is well worth timing your tour to coincide with market day on Sunday when the entire town comes alive with campesinos descending from the surrounding hills to sell their wares and stock up on provisions. You’ll see everything on sale, from live chickens to coca leaves, as well as a large selection of handicrafts which make ideal souvenirs.
You also have the option to visit Pisac ruins, much larger than at Ollantaytambo and dominating a breathtaking location on the hilltops above the town. The trail around the site runs above steep hillsides and deep ravines, allowing stunning views of the entire valley. A visit to the ruins is available on request.
From Pisac, it’s just a short drive through yet more stunning scenery back to the city of Cusco.
Other sites and excursions in the Sacred Valley
There are a huge number of other tours and excursions available in the Cusco and Sacred Valley region:
A tour of the ruins at Moras & Moray: known as the research laboratories of the Inca, the circular agricultural terraces at Moray were used to examine the full range of growing conditions and environments across the Inca Empire, ensuring that food was never scarce and the entire empire was well fed.
A rafting trip down the Urubamba River is guaranteed to excite and is ideal for beginner rafters with no previous experience. Trips last around 2 hours and range from class 2 and 3 rapids.
The countryside surrounding Cusco is perfect for horseback riding tours, exploring a beautiful landscape which is dotted with villages and settlements where life has changed little over the centuries.
For further information on any of these tours and more, contact a Peru For Less travel advisor at any time, on travel@peruforless.com or 1-817-230-4971.
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