Inca Trail vs Salkantay vs Lares: which trek to Machu Picchu?
Three classic routes lead to Machu Picchu, and travelers agonise 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.
Part of our complete guideThe complete Inca Trail guide →The quick comparison
| Inca Trail | Salkantay | Lares | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headline | Inca ruins + Sun Gate | High mountains + glacier | Living Andean culture |
| Difficulty | Challenging | Challenging | Moderate |
| Highest point | 4,215 m | 4,630 m | 4,650 m |
| Permit cap | Yes — sells out | No | No |
| Ends at | Walk in via Sun Gate | Train from Aguas Calientes | Train from Aguas Calientes |
Choose the Inca Trail if…
You want the history and the legendary walk through the Sun Gate into Machu Picchu. The catch is the permit — it is capped and sells out months ahead. See the Classic Inca Trail and check the live calendar.
Choose Salkantay if…
You want the most spectacular mountain scenery — a glacier pass and Humantay Lake — and an easier booking with no permit. See the Salkantay Trek 4 days.
Choose Lares if…
You want culture and quiet — weaving villages, hot springs and far fewer trekkers — at a gentler pace. See the Lares trek.
Still undecided?
Tell us your fitness and dates and we’ll recommend the right trek.
Three great treks, compared
The Inca Trail, Salkantay and Lares are the three classic multi-day routes to (or toward) Machu Picchu, and they suit very different travellers. The quick way to choose: Inca Trail for ruins and the Sun Gate, Salkantay for big mountains, Lares for living culture.
| Trek | Defining feature | Permit? | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inca Trail | Original Inca path, ruins, Sun Gate arrival | Yes — sells out | Moderate–hard |
| Salkantay | High glaciated peak, cloud forest | No | Hard |
| Lares | Andean weaving villages, hot springs | No | Moderate |
How to choose the right one
Pick the Inca Trail if walking original Inca stonework and arriving through the Sun Gate is the dream — just book the permit months ahead. Choose Salkantay for the most dramatic mountain scenery and the flexibility of no permit (a lifesaver when the Inca Trail is sold out). Choose Lares for the most human, cultural experience among Quechua communities, with gentler walking. All three end at Machu Picchu.
The practical factors that often decide it
Three things frequently settle the choice: permits (only the Inca Trail needs one, and February closes it), fitness (Salkantay is the toughest; Lares the gentlest), and timing (the permit-free routes can be booked late). Read the deep-dives — Classic Inca Trail, Salkantay, Lares — and check permits and booking before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
There is no single best — the Inca Trail wins on history and the Sun Gate, Salkantay on mountain scenery, and Lares on culture and quiet. Choose by what you value and your fitness.
Lares is generally the most moderate. The Inca Trail and Salkantay are both challenging, with high passes.
No. Only the Classic and Short Inca Trail are permit-capped. Salkantay and Lares can be booked closer to your dates.
Salkantay is the most popular alternative for scenery; Lares is best for culture. Both reach Machu Picchu and need no Inca Trail permit.
