The Definitive Comparison of the Two Most Popular Treks to Machu Picchu

Two legendary routes. One same destination. The right decision depends on what you’re looking for.

The Traveler’s Dilemma

You’re planning your trip to Machu Picchu and want to arrive walking. You’ve researched and two names appear again and again: Inca Trail and Salkantay Trek.

Both end at Machu Picchu. Both are incredible experiences. But they’re very different from each other.

This article won’t tell you which is “better” because there’s no universal answer. What we’ll do is give you all the information so you can decide which adapts best to what you’re looking for.

Spoiler: We specialize in the Inca Trail, but we’ll be honest about when Salkantay may be a better option for you.

Quick Comparison: Inca Trail vs Salkantay

Which One is For You? (Quick Answer)

Choose the INCA TRAIL if:

• Inca history and archaeology are important to you
• You want to enter Machu Picchu walking through the Sun Gate
• You seek the “classic” and original experience
• You can plan months in advance
• Budget is not your main limitation

Choose SALKANTAY if:

• Inca Trail permits are sold out for your date
• You decided your trip with little advance notice
• You have limited budget
• You prefer option to sleep in lodges instead of camping
• You like the idea of a longer and more challenging trek
• Inca Trail permits are sold out for your date
• You prefer more flexibility in dates and services
• Arriving at Machu Picchu by bus doesn’t matter to you

History and Cultural Significance

Inca Trail: The Original Sacred Route

The Inca Trail is not simply a trekking route. It’s a royal road built more than 500 years ago by the Inca Empire, part of the road network (Qhapaq Ñan) that connected all of Tahuantinsuyo.

Historical facts:

What makes the Inca Trail special:

• You walk the same trail the Incas walked 500 years ago
• You pass through authentic archaeological sites only accessed by this route
• Arrival at Machu Picchu through Intipunku (Sun Gate) replicates the experience of Inca pilgrims
• The route was designed as a spiritual journey, with each site preparing you for the final destination
• The stones of the path, the steps, the tunnels—everything is original

Archaeological sites on the Inca Trail:

Salkantay: The Sacred Mountain Route

The Salkantay Trek is a modern route created as an alternative to the Inca Trail. Although it passes near a mountain sacred to the Incas, the trail itself is not a historical Inca route.

Facts about Salkantay:

What makes Salkantay special:

• Spectacular views of Salkantay snow mountain (6,271 m)
• Ecosystem diversity: from glaciers to tropical jungle in 5 days
• Less regulated, more flexible, more accessible
• Impressive high-altitude lagoons (Humantay)
• Wilder and more adventurous feeling
• Without Inca Trail crowds

What Salkantay DOES NOT have:

• It’s not a historical Inca route
• Doesn’t have significant archaeological sites on route
• You don’t arrive walking at Machu Picchu (arrive by bus)
• Doesn’t have the cultural significance of Inca Trail

Verdict: History and Culture

If Inca history and culture are important to you, the Inca Trail has no competition.

Landscapes and Nature

Both treks offer spectacular landscapes, but of very different types.

Inca Trail Landscapes

Ecosystems you cross:

Landscape highlights:

• Warmiwañusca (Dead Woman’s Pass): 360° view from 4,215 m
• Phuyupatamarca: Literally “above the clouds”
• Cloud forest: Incredible biodiversity, wild orchids
• Intipunku at sunrise: Machu Picchu emerging from mist

Distinctive characteristic: The combination of Inca ruins integrated into natural landscape. It’s not just nature, it’s nature with visible history at every step.

Salkantay Landscapes

Ecosystems you cross:

Landscape highlights:

• Salkantay Snow Peak: 6,271 m snow mountain dominating horizon
• Humantay Lagoon: Spectacular turquoise glacial lagoon
• Salkantay Pass: At 4,630 m, between glaciers
• Collpapampa Waterfalls: Multiple waterfalls in jungle zone
• Ecosystem transition: From snow to jungle in 2 days

Distinctive characteristic: Salkantay snow mountain always present and the dramatic ecosystem change from glacier to tropical jungle.

Visual Landscape Comparison

Verdict: Landscapes

If you seek pure nature and spectacular snow mountains, Salkantay has advantage. If you prefer nature combined with history, Inca Trail wins.

Physical Difficulty

Both treks are challenging, but in different ways.

Inca Trail Difficulty

General level: 6-7/10

Inca Trail profile:

Day 2: Warmiwañusca 4,215m ← HARDEST POINT

           /\

          /  \

         /    \

Day 1   /      \   Day 3

       /        \    /\

      /          \  /  \

Km82 /            \/    \ Day 4

2,720m                   \ Machu Picchu 2,430m

Hardest parts of Inca Trail:

• Climb to Warmiwañusca Pass on day 2 (1,200 m ascent)
• Thousands of stone steps (up and down)
• Altitude combined with effort
• 4 consecutive days of hiking

Salkantay Difficulty

General level: 7-8/10

Salkantay profile:

Day 2: Salkantay Pass 4,630m ← HARDEST POINT

              /\

             /  \

            /    \

Day 1      /      \    Day 3

          /        \     \

         /          \     \  Day 4

Soraypampa           \     \   Day 5

3,900m                \     \   Aguas Calientes

                       \     \  2,040m

                        ——

Hardest parts of Salkantay:

• Higher maximum altitude (4,630 m vs 4,215 m)
• Greater total distance (74 km vs 43 km)
• More hiking days (5 vs 4)
• Very long and sustained descent (day 2-3)
• More varied and sometimes less maintained terrain

Direct Difficulty Comparison

Verdict: Difficulty

Salkantay is objectively more difficult:

• Longer
• Higher
• More days
• More total elevation gain

However, the Inca Trail has its own challenges:

• Thousands of stone steps (hard on knees)
• Warmiwañusca climb is very steep
• Fewer days means more daily intensity in some sections

Availability and Permits

This is one of the most important differences and often determines the final decision.

Inca Trail: Strict Permit System

When permits sell out:

Salkantay: No Permit Limit

Availability Comparison

Verdict: Availability

Salkantay clearly wins in availability and flexibility.

Price

Why is Inca Trail more expensive?

1. Mandatory permit ($100 included)
2. Strict regulation = compliance costs
3. High demand + limited supply = higher prices
4. Only with agency = no cheap independent option
5. Better infrastructure = established campsites

Arrival at Machu Picchu

This is perhaps the most emotionally significant difference between both treks.

Inca Trail: Arrival through Intipunku

The experience:

On the last day of the Inca Trail, you wake up at 3:30 AM. In darkness, you walk the last 2 hours to Intipunku (Sun Gate).

You arrive just as the sun begins to rise. Below, wrapped in morning mist, Machu Picchu slowly emerges like a revelation. It’s the same moment Inca pilgrims experienced 500 years ago.

What makes this arrival special:

• You see Machu Picchu for the first time from above, emerging from mist
• You arrive walking, through the original access designed by Incas
• You arrive early, before tourists coming by bus
• You enter through Sun Gate (Intipunku), the ceremonial access
• It’s an emotionally intense moment after 4 days of effort
• The classic Machu Picchu photo is from this angle

Salkantay: Arrival by Bus

The experience:

On the last day of Salkantay, you take the train or walk to Aguas Calientes (the town at Machu Picchu’s base). The next day, you take a 25-minute bus that zigzags up to Machu Picchu entrance.

You enter through the main entrance, the same one used by all tourists coming by train from Cusco.

What this arrival implies:

• You arrive by bus, not walking
• You enter through main entrance (not through Intipunku)
• You share entrance with all train tourists
• Entry time according to your ticket
• First view is from inside, not from Sun Gate

It’s not bad, but…

• You don’t have the “revelation” moment from above
• There’s no difference from someone who came by train
• Trek and Machu Picchu feel like separate experiences

Comparison: The Arrival Moment

Verdict: Arrival

Inca Trail wins overwhelmingly in arrival experience.

If arriving walking at Machu Picchu and having that revelation moment from Intipunku is important to you, the Inca Trail is the only option.

Salkantay takes you to Machu Picchu, but the arrival is the same as any tourist who took the train.

Accommodation During Trek

Inca Trail: Camping Only

On the Inca Trail there’s no option other than camping. There are no lodges or shelters on route.

According to segment with us:

Salkantay: Camping or Lodges

Salkantay offers accommodation flexibility:

Option 1: Camping (more economical)

Option 2: Lodges (more comfortable)

Salkantay lodges include:

• Mountain Lodges of Peru (premium)
• Salkantay Lodge (mid-high)
• Community lodges (economical)

Accommodation Comparison

If you absolutely don’t want camping, Inca Trail is NOT for you. Salkantay with lodges is your alternative.

When to Choose Each One?

After all the information, here are the clear scenarios:

Choose INCA TRAIL If:

✅ Inca history and culture are fundamental to your trip

✅ You want to arrive walking at Machu Picchu through Sun Gate

✅ You seek the “original” and classic experience

✅ You can plan 4-6 months in advance

✅ Budget is not your main limitation

✅ You prefer shorter trek (4 days vs 5)

✅ Archaeological sites on route matter to you

✅ You want to feel you walk where Incas walked

Choose SALKANTAY If:

✅ Inca Trail permits are sold out for your date

✅ You decided your trip with little advance notice

✅ You prefer high mountain landscapes (glaciers, lagoons)

✅ You have limited budget

✅ You want option to sleep in lodges (no camping)

✅ You seek greater physical challenge

✅ You travel in February (Inca Trail closed)

✅ You prefer more flexibility in dates and services

✅ Arriving at Machu Picchu by bus doesn’t matter to you

Don’t Choose Based On:

❌ “They say one is better than the other” — They’re different, not better/worse

❌ Price only — Cheapest isn’t always best decision

❌ What your friend did — Your priorities may be different

❌ Difficulty as medal — More difficult doesn’t mean better experience

What If I Do Both?

If you have time and budget, doing both treks on different trips is the complete experience.

Option 1: Two different trips

• Trip 1: Inca Trail (historical experience)
• Trip 2: Salkantay (nature experience)

Option 2: Same trip, if you have 10+ days

• Not really recommended (too exhausting)
• Better do one well than two halfway

Our recommendation: If you can only do one, and can get permits, the Inca Trail is the experience you can’t replicate any other way. Salkantay is incredible, but you can do similar treks in other parts of the world. The Inca Trail is unique.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is safer?

Both are safe with responsible agencies. Inca Trail is more regulated and has better campsite infrastructure. Salkantay is safe but slightly more “wild”.

Can I see Salkantay mountain from the Inca Trail?

Yes, on clear days you can see Salkantay snow peak in the distance from some Inca Trail points. But not up close like on Salkantay trek.

Is Salkantay “alternative Inca Trail”?

Many people call it that, but technically it’s not. Salkantay is not a historical Inca road. It’s a modern route that also ends at Machu Picchu.

Which has better photos?

Different but both spectacular:

• Inca Trail: Ruins + landscape, Intipunku at sunrise
• Salkantay: Snow mountain, Humantay Lagoon

If Inca Trail permits are sold out, is Salkantay worth doing?

Absolutely! Salkantay is an incredible experience in its own right. It’s not “consolation prize”, it’s a different but equally valid adventure.

Can I do 2-day Inca Trail + Salkantay on same trip?

Technically yes, if you have time. You could do:

• Days 1-5: Salkantay (finish in Aguas Calientes)
• Day 6: Rest in Cusco
• Days 7-8: 2-day Inca Trail

But it’s a lot of consecutive trekking. Only for the very motivated.

Have You Decided?

Both treks are life experiences. There’s no “wrong” decision.

What’s important is choosing the one that aligns with your priorities: