Inca Trail vs Salkantay vs Lares: which trek is for you?
Three great routes lead on foot to Machu Picchu, and travellers often agonize over which to choose. The good news: there is no wrong answer, only the one that fits you best. Here is how the Inca Trail, Salkantay and Lares really compare, based on the treks we run every week.
The quick comparison
| Inca Trail | Salkantay | Lares | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highlight | Inca sites and the Sun Gate | Glaciers and Humantay Lake | Andean villages and weaving |
| Days | 4 | 4 (or 3) | 4 |
| Highest point | 4,215 m | 4,600 m | 4,646 m |
| Difficulty | Challenging | Challenging | Moderate |
| Permit | Yes — limited, sells out | No | No |
| Nights | Camping | Cabins and domes | Camping, then a hotel |
| Arrival | On foot through the Sun Gate | Aguas Calientes, then bus up | Train to Aguas Calientes |
| With us | US $820 | US $470 | US $490 |
Choose the Inca Trail if…
…you want history and the legendary arrival through the Sun Gate. The Classic Inca Trail follows the original Inca road past a chain of ruins, crosses Dead Woman’s Pass at 4,215 m and ends at Machu Picchu on foot. The catch is the permit: it is limited, sells out months ahead and the trail closes every February. Read our complete Inca Trail guide.
Tell us what you want from your trek
History, glaciers or living culture — we help you choose and organize everything, from permits to Machu Picchu.
Choose Salkantay if…
…you want the most dramatic mountain scenery. The Salkantay trek visits Humantay Lake, crosses a high pass beneath the Salkantay glacier and descends into cloud forest and coffee farms, with comfortable cabins and domes instead of tents. No permit is needed. See our Salkantay 4-day guide.
Choose Lares if…
…you want culture, quiet trails and a gentler pace. The Lares trek starts with hot springs, passes weaving villages and glacial lakes and crosses the Sacsallaully Pass at 4,646 m, before the train to Aguas Calientes. Read what makes the Lares trek special.
Whichever you choose
- Spend at least two days acclimatizing in Cusco or the Sacred Valley before you start — read our altitude guide.
- Train for long days on steps — see how to train for the Inca Trail.
- The dry season (May to September) brings clearer skies; nights are cold on all three routes.
- Can’t decide? Lares + Inca Trail combines Andean villages with the Sun Gate.
For more options, see the best alternative treks to Machu Picchu.
Frequently asked questions
Both are challenging. Salkantay reaches a higher pass (4,600 m); the Inca Trail has more stone steps and a permit to book in advance.
Salkantay for glaciers and big mountains, the Inca Trail for Inca sites and cloud forest, Lares for villages and glacial lakes.
No trekking permit is needed, only the Machu Picchu entrance ticket, which is included in our treks.
Lares, which passes traditional weaving and herding villages.
Only the Inca Trail (and the Lares + Inca Trail combination, which uses its final section).
