TREKKING ROUTES
Inca Trail vs Salkantay, Lares & the Train
How the classic Inca Trail, Salkantay, Lares and the train really compare on effort, permits, scenery and booking — so you pick the right way in for you.
Check dates and availability ↗Why the way you arrive matters
Half the decision about Machu Picchu is made long before the entrance gate: how you get there shapes the whole trip. Some travellers want to earn the citadel on foot over several days, crossing high passes and sleeping under the stars. Others want the scenery without the sweat, or simply don't have a week to spare. Neither is wrong. The classic Inca Trail is the famous walking route, but it isn't the only trek, and it isn't the only good option — the train is a genuinely lovely way to arrive, not a consolation prize. What follows is an honest comparison of the main choices, with the trade-offs laid out plainly, so you can match the approach to your fitness, your calendar and how much you want the journey itself to be the memory.
The classic Inca Trail
The Inca Trail is the route most people picture: a multi-day hike, usually around four days and three nights, that follows original Inca paving through cloud forest and past ruins before arriving at Machu Picchu through Inti Punku, the Sun Gate, ideally at dawn. It is spectacular and, for many, the trip of a lifetime. It is also the most tightly controlled. Permits are strictly limited each day — and that daily cap includes guides and porters, not just hikers — so places routinely sell out months ahead, and you can only walk it with a licensed operator. The trail closes each February for maintenance. It crosses high passes, the best known believed to sit above 4,000 metres, so it demands real fitness and acclimatisation. If the classic trail is your dream, treat booking as the very first thing you do.
Salkantay — the big-mountain alternative
When Inca Trail permits are gone, or when you want raw mountain grandeur over archaeology, the Salkantay trek is the standard answer. It skirts the flank of the snow-capped Salkantay peak, crossing a high pass generally reckoned to be even higher than the Inca Trail's, before descending through dramatic changes of scenery — from glacial heights to warm cloud forest — over roughly four to five days. Crucially, it doesn't use the permit system that governs the Inca Trail itself, so it's far easier to book closer to your dates. The catch is that Salkantay approaches the area rather than walking straight into the ruins along Inca paving; most itineraries reach Aguas Calientes and enter the citadel the normal way, by bus and timed ticket. It's a superb choice for strong walkers who prize landscape and flexibility.
Lares and the gentler options
The Lares route is less a single trail than a family of paths through the highlands north of the Sacred Valley, and its appeal is cultural as much as scenic: you pass working Andean villages, weavers and herders living much as generations have before them. It's often pitched as slightly gentler than Salkantay, though it still crosses high ground and rewards acclimatisation. Like Salkantay, Lares treks don't walk into Machu Picchu itself; they finish with the train-and-bus approach. There's also a short one-day Inca Trail, entering near the site along a final stretch of the original path to the Sun Gate — a taste of the classic experience for those without days to spare. Each of these needs a licensed operator, and the shorter Inca Trail option still draws on the permit system, so book ahead.
The train — not a lesser choice
If you'd rather not trek at all, the train is an excellent way to reach Machu Picchu, and there's no shame in it — the scenery along the Urubamba gorge is genuinely beautiful, and you arrive rested rather than footsore. From Cusco or the Sacred Valley you ride to Aguas Calientes, then take the shuttle bus up to the entrance to meet your timed slot. It suits families, anyone short on time or unsure about high-altitude camping, and travellers who'd rather spend their energy exploring the citadel than getting to it. Many people combine approaches across a trip: a day or two acclimatising and sightseeing in the Sacred Valley, then the train in. Whichever you choose, the citadel itself is reached the same way in the end, so the question is really how you want the days beforehand to feel.
Choosing what fits you
There's no single best route — only the one that fits your body, your calendar and what you want to remember. Choose the classic Inca Trail if walking original Inca paving to the Sun Gate is the point, and you can book far ahead. Choose Salkantay for high-mountain drama with more booking flexibility, Lares for a cultural, village-to-village feel, and the train when time or altitude concerns argue for arriving fresh. Note that entry to the citadel is capacity-controlled whatever your route, so the timed ticket and circuit still need securing. Whatever you pick, the earlier you lock in permits, trains and your dated entry, the more likely your first choice is still available.
The main ways to reach Machu Picchu compared (typical, non-binding — confirm current details when booking)
| Route | Typical length | Effort | Permit pressure | Arrives via |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Inca Trail | About 4 days | Demanding | Very high — books months ahead | Sun Gate on foot |
| Short Inca Trail | 1 day walk | Moderate | High — permit system applies | Sun Gate on foot |
| Salkantay | About 4–5 days | Demanding | Low — no Inca Trail permit | Train & bus |
| Lares | About 3–4 days | Moderate–hard | Low | Train & bus |
| Train only | Half to full day | Easy | None for the ride | Bus from Aguas Calientes |