The short answer
- Most famous
- Classic Inca Trail (permit needed)
- Best scenery without a permit
- Salkantay
- Best for culture and quiet
- Lares
- Short on time
- Short Inca Trail, 2 days
There are half a dozen ways to walk to Machu Picchu, and they are very different trips. The Classic Inca Trail follows the original Inca road past ruins most visitors never see. Salkantay crosses a glaciated pass. Lares visits Quechua villages that rarely see tourists. And Choquequirao trades Machu Picchu for ruins almost nobody visits.
The cards below use the same scale for every elevation profile, so a taller line really does mean a higher trek.
The treks side by side
Classic Inca Trail
Permit needed- Days
- 4 (3 nights camping)
- Highest point
- 4,215 m
- Permit
- Yes, sells out
- Typical price
- US$750 to 1,400
The only trek that walks on original Inca paving past a string of ruins and arrives through the Sun Gate. Busy, regulated and worth it if you can get a permit.
How to get a permit →Short Inca Trail
Permit needed- Days
- 2 (1 night in a hotel)
- Highest point
- 2,720 m
- Permit
- Yes, easier to get
- Typical price
- US$450 to 750
A 6 to 7 hour walk on the last section of the Inca Trail, via Wiñay Wayna to the Sun Gate. You sleep in Aguas Calientes and tour Machu Picchu the next morning.
Salkantay trek
No permit- Days
- 4 to 5
- Highest point
- About 4,600 m
- Permit
- No
- Typical price
- US$450 to 900
The big mountain alternative: glaciers, the turquoise Humantay lake and a high pass under Salkantay peak, then down into cloud forest and coffee farms. Cold nights; fewer ruins.
Lares trek
No permit- Days
- 3 to 4, then train
- Highest point
- About 4,450 m
- Permit
- No
- Typical price
- US$450 to 800
Quechua weaving villages, llamas, hot springs and very few other hikers. You finish by train, so you see Machu Picchu as a day visit rather than walking in.
Inca Jungle trek
No permit- Days
- 3 to 4
- Highest point
- 4,300 m (by bike)
- Permit
- No
- Typical price
- US$300 to 550
A downhill bike ride, rafting and zip lines on the way to Machu Picchu. Fun, social and cheap, but more adventure trip than trek.
Choquequirao trek
No permit- Days
- 4 return
- Highest point
- About 3,050 m
- Permit
- No
- Typical price
- US$500 to 900
Huge Inca ruins that see a few dozen visitors a day, reached by a brutal 1,500 m descent and climb out of the Apurímac canyon. For fit hikers who want ruins to themselves.
Profiles are approximate and drawn to the same scale (0 to 5,000 m, a dotted line every 1,000 m), so a taller line means higher ground. The red dot is the highest point.
Which trek suits you?
What do you want most from your trek?
Choose an answer to see what we recommend.
See all 6 recommendationsHide the list
- The real Inca Trail: Classic Inca Trail
- Book as early as you can, especially for June to August, because permits are limited. Read our permit guide.
- Only 1 or 2 days: Short Inca Trail
- A 6 to 7 hour hike on the final part of the Inca Trail, with a hotel night in Aguas Calientes and a guided Machu Picchu visit the next day.
- Big mountains: Salkantay
- Glaciers, Humantay lake and a 4,600 m pass. It is the highest of the main treks, so acclimatise in Cusco for 2 to 3 days first.
- Villages and few people: Lares
- Weaving villages, llama herds and hot springs, with the fewest other hikers. You finish by train and visit Machu Picchu as a day trip.
- Adventure on a budget: Inca Jungle
- Biking, rafting and zip lines on the way to Machu Picchu. Cheap and fun, though less of a trek.
- Ruins with no crowds: Choquequirao
- A hard 4 day return hike to huge Inca ruins with very few visitors. Add a separate Machu Picchu trip afterwards.
Side by side
| Classic Inca Trail | Salkantay | Lares | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days | 4 | 4 to 5 | 3 to 4 |
| Distance | About 42 km | About 70 km | About 33 km |
| Highest point | 4,215 m | About 4,600 m | About 4,450 m |
| Permit | Yes, limited | No | No |
| Arrive at Machu Picchu | On foot through the Sun Gate | By train or a walk from Hidroeléctrica | By train |
| Ruins on the way | Many | Few (Llactapata) | Few |
| Crowds | Busy but capped | Moderate | Quiet |
| Nights | Camping | Camping or mountain lodges | Camping or homestays |
| Price | US$750 to 1,400 | US$450 to 900 | US$450 to 800 |
Approximate figures. Distances vary by route variant and operator.
How hard are they?
None of these treks need technical skills, but all are hard work at altitude. The Classic Inca Trail's second day climbs about 1,200 m to Dead Woman's Pass, and the many stone steps are tough on knees going down. Salkantay is longer and higher, with a long climb to the pass on day two. Lares has high passes but shorter days.
The most important thing is acclimatisation. Spend at least two nights in Cusco or the Sacred Valley before any of these treks, and read our altitude guide.
Tip: Porters carry the tents and food on the Inca Trail, with a strict weight limit. Most operators let you hire a porter for your own gear too, which makes a huge difference.
Salkantay and Lares treks
Neither trek needs a permit, so you can often book a few weeks ahead, even in the dry season. Most include the train back from Aguas Calientes and a guided Machu Picchu visit; check whether the Machu Picchu ticket is for the route you want.
Lares treks
Lares treks are offered by fewer operators, often as a private trek or combined with a day in the Sacred Valley.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Salkantay harder than the Inca Trail?
Yes, a little. It is longer and its pass is about 400 m higher. But the Inca Trail has more steep steps, which many people find harder on the legs.
Which trek is best without a permit?
Salkantay for mountain scenery, Lares for culture and quiet. Both run all year, though they are wet and muddy from December to March.
Do I see Machu Picchu at the end of every trek?
Yes, except Choquequirao. Most Salkantay, Lares and Inca Jungle treks include a guided Machu Picchu visit on the last day.
How fit do I need to be?
You should be comfortable walking 6 to 8 hours a day with climbs, ideally having trained on hills or stairs for a few weeks before. Pace matters more than speed at altitude.
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