To pick just five of the best hikes in the Andes is an impossible endeavour. Here, we give you an introduction to some of the greatest routes - from the W Trek through the legendary Torres del Paine to the volcanic rim of Cotopaxi in Ecuador and the back routes to Machu Picchu.
The Andes are the longest continental mountain range in the world, running along the western edge of South America with an average height of 4,000m (13,123ft).
The Spanish conquistador Pedro Cieza de León wrote that the Andes were one of the greatest in the world in 1553, “some of them covered with snow and others belching fire.” In 1932, the American journalist Carleton Beals wrote that the Andes were “too brutal, too vast, too remote” and that they “lifted me to frightful agony of body and soul, to grand awe.” Paul Theroux later wrote of the “astonishing” beauty of the Andes, while questioning how one word, “Andes” could be used to describe such an enormous range of mountains.
So, where to start exploring? We've jotted just a handful of ideas down below.
It’s important to note that these route descriptions are only short summaries, designed to inspire but not to serve any navigational purpose. They are not intended to guide you on the route and further mapping and planning (or a local guide!) will be required if you want to safely walk any of the trails featured.
Some of these routes are more mountaineering than hiking, and others are extremely remote, and dangerous for soloists. Many go above 4,500m (14,763ft) meaning a real risk of altitude sickness. Get a guide and move with caution.
1. Trek to Choquequirao, Peru (and visit Machu Picchu)
The Inca citadel of Choquequirao - whose Quechua name translates as “Cradle of Gold” - is known locally as Machu Picchu’s sacred sister. Both sites were built in the 15th century with strikingly similar architecture, but the crowds go to Machu Picchu - which is easier to reach.
That means that if you embark on the much more challenging journey to Choquequirao, which is up at 3,050m (10,007ft) above the Apurímac canyon, you can discover a remarkable, globally-significant historical site in peace. "You'll have it almost to yourself," says local guide Roxner Cardenas. Machu Picchu gets around 5,000 daily visitors; Choquequirao just 15-20. The site sheltered the Inca resistance after the Spanish seized Cusco in 1533 - and it wasn’t excavated until the 1970s. "Guests who visit feel like Indiana Jones," Cardenas says.
The hard part is actually getting there. An out-and-back hike from Cachora covers roughly 40 miles (64km) over four or five days - but we’re not talking about flat terrain. This is a steep, exhausting and challenging hike, with sublime mountain views to make up for it. You can combine it with a visit to Machu Picchu, for one of the ultimate Andes hikes.
Much Better Adventures
2. The W Trek, Chilean Patagonia
The W Trek is surely the most famous route in Torres del Paine National Park - and for a very good reason. Our Chilean expert here at Much Better Adventures, Adam Roberts, calls it “a greatest hits compilation of the national park's walks." The route runs for 46 miles (75km), following a W-shaped path through some of the finest sights in Patagonia, from the granite towers that give this legendary park its name to the glacial blue waters of Lake Nordenskjold.
On day one, you’ll climb to the base of Las Torres - the towers - and back. This is the photographic hotspot you probably think of when you think of this trek.
As you then head into the snow-flanked Francés Valley, you’ll find the trail quieter. You’ll finish the walk beneath Paine Grande, at the immense Grey Glacier. You’ll spend your nights in refuges or campsites, and this can be the highlight. Adam recalls "crawling out of a tent to be greeted by the Milky Way overhead."
Much Better Adventures
3. Climb Cotopaxi (5,897m), Ecuador
Full disclosure - this one is a feat of mountaineering, not a multi-day hike. Rising into a cone 31 miles (50km) outside of the capital of Quito, Cotopaxi is one of the highest active volcanoes on planet Earth. It’s erupted 87 times in recorded history, and its 5,897m (19,347ft) summit is capped by one of the world’s few remaining equatorial glaciers. This is a tough ascent - and one deemed appropriate for hikers who already have a few 4,000m (13,123ft) peaks under their belt.
An acclimatisation program is key if you’re going to attempt Cotopaxi. Most itineraries - including our Trek Ecuador’s Avenue of Volcanoes to Cotopaxi's Summit (5897m) - build up to this giant, first hiking to other summits or volcanoes. In our case, the trip ascends Pasochoa (4,200m/13,780ft) and a central summit of Rumiñahui (4,631m/15,193ft) before tackling Cotopaxi itself.
The actual climb is a two-day feat. The first day, you’ll hike to José Rivas Refuge at 4,800m (15,748ft), then after spending the night, it’s a 1am start to cross crevasses and snow bridges by headtorch, before tackling a 40-degree slope to the crater rim.
No two ascents are the same. "When we climb Cotopaxi it is always done from the north side of the mountain," explains guide Javier Herrera, “[But] the normal route changes every month or even every week, as the glacier is always moving. Crevasses open and close, we as guides need to avoid them finding the safer way up.” A guide is a legal requirement for this climb.
Much Better Adventures
4. Trek the Huayhuash Circuit, Peru
The Cordillera Huayhuash is for those not quite content to just come to Peru, see Machu Picchu and then leave (as wonderful as that legendary Inca site may be). This 10 day+ hike circuit loops around one of the world’s greatest mountain ranges in the Andes, circling a chain of ice-clad mountain peaks including the mighty Yerupajá, up at 6,634m (21,765ft).
Our itinerary on the Huayhuash Circuit begins with some acclimatisation time around Huaraz - a hike to Wilcacocha Lake and a cultural visit to the 3,000-year-old temple complex of Chavín de Huántar. On the drive into the mountains, the group stops at the Inca administrative centre of Huánuco Pampa. Then comes the circuit itself - 10 or more nights of wild camping, crossing seven high passes, two of them above 5,000m (16,404ft). Along the way there are glacial lakes, thermal baths and a camp beneath Siula Grande, the peak made famous by Touching the Void. This is an extremely challenging undertaking - but one that rewards with scenery and serenity.
5. Walk the Quilotoa Loop, Ecuador
Despite its name, the Quilotoa Loop is a 21.7-mile (35km) point-to-point hike through the rugged highlands of Ecuador's Cotopaxi province. It links remote Kichwa villages divided by deep volcanic canyons. "You go through tiny towns where it's like time has stopped," says Ecuadorian adventure expert Henry Sisa.
The route grew out of the communities themselves. As Cotopaxi climbers began asking to explore further, locals opened their homes as homestays, and the trail still depends on them. "The only way to hike is to stay in these lodges," Sisa explains, so the money stays local.
Most hikers walk south over three days, starting in Sigchos. The first night is spent at Llullu Llama in Isinlivi, followed by Mama Hilda's in Chugchilán, where potato, cheese and avocado soup known as locro de papa is a favourite. The final and toughest stage climbs steeply to the 3,914m (12,841ft) rim of Laguna Quilotoa, a turquoise lake in a collapsed volcanic caldera.
FAQs
What are the best long-distance hikes in the Andes?
The best long-distance hikes in the Andes include Patagonia’s iconic W Trek, and routes to Machu Picchu such as the Salkantay Trek or classic Inca Trail. Other highlights include the remote Huayhuash Circuit in Peru and Ecuador’s Avenue of Volcanoes trek.
When is the best time to hike in the Andes?
The best time to hike in the majority of the Andes is during the dry season, which runs from May to September. These months offer clearer skies, less rainfall and more stable conditions for trekking across high mountain trails. However, in Chile and Argentina, the best time to hike in the Andes is in the southern hemisphere’s summer months of November to March.
How to prepare for altitude on Andean hikes?
Prepare for altitude on Andean hikes by spending a few days acclimatising before your trek, staying hydrated, avoiding alcohol and ascending gradually. Guided Andean treks will have carefully considered altitude gain, with days for acclimatisation. Trekking slowly and recognising symptoms of altitude sickness are key to a safe experience.
What are the best long-distance treks in Patagonia?
The best long-distance treks in Patagonia include the O Circuit and the W Trek in Chile. These trails traverse the glacial valleys and granite spires of the iconic Torres del Paine National Park. The Huemul Circuit, near the Argentine town of El Chaltén, is also popular.
Are there any good day hikes in the Andes?
There are plenty of excellent day hikes in the Andes Mountains. Some options include Palcoyo, the ‘alternative rainbow mountain’ in Peru, the Base of the Towers hike in Chilean Patagonia and an ascent of Rumiñahui.
Inspired? Check out our full range of adventure holidays in the Andes now!