Inca Trail vs. Salkantay Trek: Which Hike to Machu Picchu is Better
Are you planning a hike to Machu Picchu and deciding which trek is better, Inca Trail or Salkantay Trek? We've done both hikes from Cusco, and here's our comparison of the Salkantay Trek vs. the Inca Trail. We'll help you sort out what trek around Peruvian Andes is the best fit for you. Includes description of trails, altitude, facilities, how many days, difficulty, packing, and hiking tips.
Every year, many people from all around the world are coming to Peru to fulfill their dreams. To see the famous Inca's lost city, Machu Picchu, an amazingly picturesque citadel with lush green hills in the background and white clouds rolling over, a sight that pleases every photographer's heart.
If you are not a hiker by heart, you don't need to worry, as hiking is not the only option for reaching Machu Picchu. You can take a train from Poroy or Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and from there take a bus to the entrance gate.
Although getting to Machu Picchu requires a bit of planning, it's basically as simple as that.
But for us, trekking pilgrimage through Peruvian Andes sounded more adventurous, and it felt like the only right way to visit the ancient Inca city.
Because Machu Picchu is so exceptional, many travelers often set off every year to reach the Lost City on foot without a single previous hiking experience.
If hiking to this World's New Wonder is calling you, that's awesome, we're here to help, but rule number one is never to underestimate your physical abilities. Only then you'll enjoy hiking and the beauty around to the fullest.
There are many treks in the Cusco area that will help you reach your dream destination, but two of them stand out in particular: the classic Inca Trail and the beautiful alternative, the Salkantay Trek.
In this travel guide, we'll focus more closely on the comparison of the Inca Trail and Salkantay Trek.
Both of them are unique in their own way, and your only job before arriving in Peru is to figure out which one will suit the best your budget, level of fitness, and the overall expected experience.
INCA TRAIL OR SALKANTAY TREK: WHICH TREK IS BETTER
We noticed that many travelers, before their journey to Peru, try frantically to find information on what trek to choose, but the problem is that they always find only replies from people who did either the Salkantay Trek or the Inca Trail.
Fortunately, we've had an opportunity to experience both, and now we can bring you a genuine comparison of Inca Trail and Salkantay Trek so you can make an informed decision on which hike will suit you the best.
Unfortunately, we can't give you the simple answer to which trek is more beautiful as both of them are unique in a different way and offer an unforgettable experience.
Still, we can help you answer the most common questions. In case you still cannot find what were you looking for, do not hesitate to write us your questions in the comments under this article.
One more thing. The bottom line is that both Salkantay and Inca Trail belong among the most exceptional treks in the world, and you won't make a mistake by choosing either of them.
But you can enhance your experience by defining your travel style and priorities. So here we go.
TREK LENGTH
If you want to hike to Machu Picchu but looking for the shortest way to get there, then the Inca trail is a winner here.
With 42 kilometers from the starting point (Kilometer 82) to the Machu Picchu, the Inca Trail is almost two times shorter than the Salkantay Trek with 74 kilometers to cover.
Although the distance might be a critical factor for some of you, the Salkantay Trek actually didn't feel that long, and of course, the length was spread into more days.
ALTITUDE
Many points of interest in Peru lie at the high altitude, and both the Inca Trail and the Salkantay Trek are no exceptions.
Here we would point out that in terms of the altitude, the Salkantay Trek is more complicated.
We know, from our experience, that some people can tolerate hiking in the altitude better than others, but even in the case you don't have any previous experience, do not despair as dealing with the thinner air has nothing to do with physical ability or how your body reacted to height previously.
There are a few simple rules you can follow to prevent the altitude sickness and to make your experience better.
Drink plenty of water, do not eat heavy meals and do not drink alcohol. Hike slowly and steadily. Also, chewing coca leaves or drinking coca tea might help a bit.
The highest point you will reach on the Salkantay Trek is 4650 meters above sea level, while the highest point on the Inca Trail lies at 4215 meters.
What we found the hardest was the sleeping at the altitude than hiking during the day.
Especially on the Salkantay Trek as we spent the first night and the second night pretty high (about 3800 meters both nights) and the combination of the elevation and tiredness prepared pretty rough times for some people in our group.
As the only way how to adjust your body to the elevation is to spend some time at altitude, the best advice we can give you is to arrive in Cusco a few days before you start the trek and take things slowly.
For starters, explore Cusco. The historical part of the city is quite fascinating.
Then you can make a few day trips from Cusco and see how it goes from there.
Visiting Sacred Valley, hiking to Rainbow Mountain, or a trip to Humantay Lake are both rewarding and will help you with acclimatization.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
When trekking in the Peruvian Andes, make sure your travel insurance covers hiking at a high altitude (above 4000 meters above sea level).
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
DIFFICULTY
Overall, as per our experience, hiking the Salkantay Trek felt a little bit more challenging than the Inca Trail.
It is not only the combination of distance and altitude but also the fact that until you reach Machu Picchu, you will hike from the harsh, cold and windy mountainous environment to lush, green, warm, and humid cloud forest (with many mosquitos) and those changes were pretty hard to deal with.
Both hikes require a moderate level of fitness to finish it, and if this activity is on your Peru itinerary, we would recommend starting preparing at least one month before the trip, especially if you do not do sport at home on a daily basis.
We would rate the Inca Trail as a moderate hike, while the Salkantay Trek is a more strenuous trek going through rougher mountainous terrain.
Again, both hikes are perfectly doable, and although we do not want to brag here, we consider ourselves above-averagely fit hikers - this is just to give you an idea on what level we base our comparison.
HOW MANY DAYS YOU NEED
The classic Inca Trail takes four days and three nights. In comparison, the standard Salkantay Trek with a visit of a nowadays common stop at Humantay Lagoon takes five full days and five nights.
Or five days and four nights in case you decide to choose the itinerary without visiting the lake.
On both treks, the last day is dedicated to Machu Picchu's visit and return from Aguas Calientes to Cusco by train. So even though you decide on hiking, you won't miss the spectacular train ride.
Both treks' itineraries can be amended according to your requirements.
For example, your Inca Trail can be made only in two days if you wish (in that case, you will, quite understandably, see only a fraction, though), or on the other hand, you can hike it at a more relaxed pace in five days.
You might consider this 2-Day Inca Trail Tour that combines highlights from the original Inca Trail plus a sunset and sunrise visit to Machu Picchu.
When it comes to the Salkantay Trek, you can finish it in three days or four days, but some sections will have to be covered by a car.
On the fifth day, you will visit Machu Picchu.
If you don't want to carry a tent and everything you need for hiking, then consider this guided 5-Day Salkantay Trek.
AVAILABILITY
When it comes to choosing Inca Trail and Salkantay trek, the availability of those two hikes makes an enormous difference between them and is one of the crucial factors that, in the end, plays a significant role in the decision-making process.
While the Salkantay Trek can be reserved anytime, sometimes even a couple of days before the hike, the Inca Trail belongs among one of the world's most famous treks and must be booked several months in advance.
In high season, it is best to secure your spot at least six months in advance as permits run out quickly.
Because the Inca Trail has the aura of a trek that is hard to get on, the Salkantay Trek is sometimes seen as an alternative for those who could not make the Inca Trail reservation.
But as we hiked both treks, we cannot agree with this statement as the Salkantay Trek doesn't have a shortage of natural beauty compared to the Inca Trail, rather, on the contrary.
HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN HIKE THE INCA TRAIL & SALKANTAY TREK
The advantage of the Salkantay Trek is that there is no maximum capacity, and anyone who decides out of the blue to hike the trail, can do it.
On the other hand, there are only 500 permits daily for the Inca Trail, including guides and porters.
Although it can be tempting to conclude that this hike will be crowded because of no strict rules on the Salkantay Trek, the opposite is the truth.
Every day, about 200 people (tourists) walk the Inca Trail (you really can't think of the Inca Trail as off the beaten path hike), and only about 50 people daily walk the Salkantay Trek.
Of course, there might be days when more people decide to hike the Salkantay Trek, but campsites and itineraries can differ more than on the Inca Trail, where almost every group must sleep in the same areas.
Plus, do not forget that the Inca Trail is fully booked out nearly every day in a year. In general, Inca Trail seemed more touristy and crowded, while Salkantay, despite its popularity, was more laidback.
The main reason is that the campgrounds along the trail are not centralized like on the Inca Trail, and most of the companies even have their campsite, which guarantees the hikers more privacy.
FACILITIES
There are slightly better facilities on the Salkantay Trek but do not expect anything luxurious. You will still sleep in the tent, there will be no shower (we hiked with Alpaca Expeditions, and in one private campsite we had a hot shower though), and you will share the toilet with other hikers.
On this trek, travel agencies very often offer their own private campsites, so at least you will have more privacy and bathroom facilities for only a small number of people.
Also, the Salkantay Trek highlight is that you can sleep the first night in glass tents to watch stars, and you will spend the last night before visiting Machu Picchu in Aguas Calientes in a hotel.
On the Inca Trail, campsites are designed by the government, so it means that more groups sleep at one place and bathroom facilities are way insufficient for the number of hikers.
That's why we were happy that our group had our own private toilet tent: we must say that other hikers seemed a bit jealous.
You can take a cold shower in the last campground Winay Wayna; otherwise, there is none.
On both treks, we had all meals in dining tents. To sum it up, we felt that the Inca Trail facilities were a bit more basic and often insufficient for the large number of hikers.
WHERE TO STAY IN CUSCO
No matter if you'll at the end decide for the Inca Trail, or Salkantay Trek, the traditional base before or after the trek is the city of Cusco, one of the top tourist destinations in Peru.
The city has a lot to offer in terms of top things to see and do, but the tourist infrastructure is why it is for many the starting point for exploring the area.
Cusco offers an extensive network of hotels and hostels.
It is better to stay close to Centro Historico, so you'll be close to top sights, travel agencies, and drop-off and pick-up points.
We've handpicked the best hotels in Cusco for every type of traveler.
Always keep in mind that you'll likely need to store your stuff in a hotel's locker room during your trip, so this time, choose quality over price.
Budget | Cusco Bed and Breakfast - Spacious and clean rooms, comfortable beds, very quiet at night, excellent location.
Mid-range | Tierra Viva Cusco Centro - Providing a tranquil environment, beautiful rooms and also has one of the top-rated locations in Cusco.
Luxury | JW Marriott El Convento Cusco - The hotel features impressive interiors, has a charming colonial courtyard, luxury rooms, and Cusco’s cathedral or main square are only three blocks away.
CAN I HIKE INCA TRAIL OR SALKANTAY TREK WITHOUT A GUIDE?
Here's a big difference between the Salkantay Trek and the Inca Trail. You can hike the Salkantay Trek independently (although it is not that common), and you will have to pay only reasonable fees for the accommodation and carry all your camping gear and food with you.
On the other hand, the Inca Trail has strict rules, and you cannot hike it on your own.
Instead, you must book a tour and, of course, your permit for the Inca Trail well in advance. The advantage is that you don't need to worry about much but hiking as you will have porters and food arranged by the company.
Although we most of the time prefer hiking independently, we saw hiking in the Andes mountains with a guide as an advantage, both on the Inca Trail and Salkantay Trek.
We did not have much choice on the Inca Trail, but as we traveled long-term, we appreciated the service on Salkantay Trek. Everything was arranged on our behalf as we did not have the required camping gear with us.
All guides in the area need to have a license, and we must say, all we met were knowledgeable.
TRAILS
We've never walked anything like the Inca Trail before. The trail on the first day is quite ordinary, but it changes on the second day when you start descending from the Death Woman's Pass.
From this point, the path is very similar to the original man-made trail from the Inca times, and it means one thing: many stone stairs ahead.
The way leads up and down but what doesn't change is that you must overcome an uncountable number of stairs to get to your destination.
In case you have knee problems, bring trekking poles; otherwise, you will suffer. Sticks will also help you with stability as the stony path can be slippery, especially after rain.
On the other hand, the Salkantay Trek is a natural, mountainous trek leading on a path you had probably experienced on many hikes before.
SCENERY
The Inca Trail leads through a mystical cloud forest with views of snow-capped mountains in the background and crosses one high altitude pass - Death Woman's Pass from where you can enjoy spectacular vistas, but Salkantay Trek does not stay behind.
In terms of scenery, we found the landscape along the Salkantay Trek a bit more impressive.
The first night, you can admire the night sky from glass huts, wake up early in the morning the next day with views of nearby mountains, hike to the Humantay Lagoon, conquer the Salkantay Pass with its glacier and then descend to the cloud forest, rain forest and finally to the jungle.
The absolute highlight on the Salkantay Trek is the view from Llactapata ruins when you can see Machu Picchu across the valley for the first time (when you book the hike with Alpaca Expeditions, you will be able to enjoy this fantastic view even from the campsite).
Please do not take us wrong; both paths lead through the magnificent landscape, but the Inca Trail was probably a bit less awe-inspiring.
On the other hand, the question is, what you expect from the hike - scenery, that can be found, also, for example, near Huaraz (we're talking about hundreds of glacial lakes and some of the highest peaks in the country), or you prefer the unique trail dotted with ruins.
COST OF INCA TRAIL VS SALKANTAY TREK
If you want to enjoy the beautiful nature of Peruvian Andes and arrive in Machu Picchu after several days of trekking, but you're limited by budget, choose the Salkantay Trek, which is more budget-friendly in comparison with the Inca Trail.
Generally, the Inca Trail is about 50% more expensive than the Salkantay Trek.
The higher cost of the Inca Trail is caused not only by its popularity but also because of the fact that it is necessary to have more staff and porters than on the Salkantay Trek, where it is possible to replace men with horses.
Yes, the Inca Trail is for many very expensive; on the other hand, you pay here for the exclusivity, which is quite understandable.
We could notice a difference between hikers on the Inca Trail and Salkantay Trek because of the price.
To be honest, we found the Salkantay Trek atmosphere a bit more pleasant because our fellow hikers were mostly backpackers traveling on a budget.
At the same time, the Inca Trail sometimes felt more 'exclusive' and not that relaxed.
RUINS ON INCA TRAIL VS SALKANTAY
When it comes to ruins, nothing can beat the Inca Trail. Honestly, we hadn't looked up the ruins before walking the trek and were surprised how spectacular they were.
Ruins along the Inca Trail are attractions on their own, and we believe that normally they would have received more attention if the Machu Picchu wouldn't have been waiting at the end of the hike.
Imagine having Sacsayhuaman Ruins, Ollantaytambo Ruins or Pisac Ruins plus a few more archaeological Inca sites scattered along the trail.
When hiking the Inca Trail, consider yourself lucky as you will see several architectonical gems along the way without crowds - only people hiking the Inca Trail have the privilege to see it.
Not without reason, the Salkantay Trek is known as a hike similarly beautiful as the Inca Trail, only without the ruins along the way.
If ruins are what you came for (you can also see many of them in the Sacred Valley, though), focus on the Inca Trail.
The Salkantay Trek has only one small ruin, Llactapata, which you will visit the day before descending to Aguas Calientes. The ruins are relatively unimpressive in comparison with those on the Inca Trail.
POPULARITY & CROWDS
The Inca Trail has its rightful place among the most famous treks in the world.
Limited capacity and the fact that travelers have the opportunity to walk on the same path the Incas used centuries ago on their way from Cusco to Machu Picchu make the Inca Trail a must-do activity in Peru.
Until recently, many people thought that the Salkantay Trek is only an alternative for those who were unsuccessful in making a reservation (or don't have enough money) for the Inca Trail.
But this long time omitted trek is gaining its popularity lately among travelers for many reasons.
You have a chance to meet younger people, the overall atmosphere is more relaxing, and the trail doesn't feel that crowded.
In a nutshell, the Inca Trail has an aura of something special, but it does not mean it is the best option for you - it is fine to go with the flow, but sometimes, it is even better to arrange things according to your values.
ARRIVAL TO MACHU PICCHU
There is no denying that the Inca Trail has unique access to Machu Picchu that no other trek can match.
On the last day, from 4 AM, hikers impatiently line up in front of the last checkpoint to hike the final section of the Inca Trail, which ends at the Sun Gate, one of the most important structures of the Machu Picchu grounds.
At Incas times it was the place of the last control before entering Machu Picchu but for all hikers, standing at the Sun Gate means one thing: they successfully finished the Inca Trail.
From this place, if it's not cloudy (as it very often is in the morning), they can see the mythical citadel for the first time.
On the other hand, the Salkantay Trek ends in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo), where you will spend a night before going to Machu Picchu the next day in the morning via the official entrance gate altogether with other tourists.
Although both options have some advantages and disadvantages, seeing Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate on the Inca Trail was probably a bit more spectacular and unique than arriving the traditional way.
By the way, Machu Picchu tickets were covered by the tour operator on both our treks.
Visiting Machu Picchu is quite specific, so make sure to read our blog post on Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting Machu Picchu.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO GO
Both the Salkantay Trek and the Inca Trail are located in the same area, very close to each other, so the weather is similar throughout the year.
Generally, the best season to hike both is from May to September, when you can expect clear skies, almost no rain, reasonable temperatures during the day, but cold temperatures during nights as it is Peruvian winter.
From October to April is the rainy season, but you can still have a pretty good chance to have nice weather in October, November, December, and March.
The heaviest rains are in February, when the Inca Trail is officially closed.
Although there are no such restrictions on the Salkantay Trek, no reliable tour operator runs the trek during that time because of the increased risk of landslides.
In our opinion, the best time to hike both treks is in the shoulder season - prices are a bit lower and crowds thinner.
May and June, and September and October, maybe even the beginning of November, are often considered the best months for hiking.
The closer you get to the high season, the more in advance you need to make your booking.
If you want to learn more about what to pack, check out our Inca Trail Packing List.
INCA TRAIL OR SALKANTAY TREK
As you can see, it is hard to tell which trek is better than the other. Both are amazing and what you only have to do is consider the pros and cons to make sure you will choose the one that suits you and your needs the best.
What you need to do is sit and write down your priorities and answer a few basic questions.
Can you plan your holidays for a long time ahead? What is your budget? Do you want to see more ruins on the trail or do you want to enjoy mountainous scenery firsthand?
How fit are you, or are you able to walk almost two days on steps?
And last but not least, do you want to get the first glimpse of Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate or you rather spend a night before the long-awaited day in the hotel and arrive fresh to the entrance gate by bus?
The Inca Trail and the Salkantay Trek are both among our all-time favorites hikes, so do not hesitate, and when in the Peruvian Andes, try to manage to trek one of those.
Regardless of your choice, you will have an incredible time.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
