Inca Trail Vs. Salkantay Trek: both in the National park of Machu Picchu

You don’t know which trail to Machu Picchu to hike? find here the answer and the essential information for Inca Trail Vs. Salkantay Trek

The Inca Trail and Salkantay Trek are two best treks in the region of Cusco in Peru; they run through the National park of Machu Picchu located in the southern of Peru. The 4-day Inca Trail runs through the meddle of the national park, while Salkantay Trek runs by the skirt of the National park, separated by almost 50 km, basically they are separated by the Salkantay Mountain which lies at 6,271m.

Machu Picchu was established in 1983 as Peru’s first national park; since then, the Inca Trail becomes more popular as a tourist TREKKING destination in Peru and south America; and has been declared a World Heritage Site. So, the entrance started to be controlled from 2010 because the quantity of visitors and the destruction of the environment; Nowadays Peruvian government allows 500 visitors per day (Approx. 200 tourist and 300 support team). So, alternative to these measures was open the Salkantay Trek and offers many more options to tourists in terms of Adventure, tourist facilities and at least access. Tourists can easily find a range of hotels of their choice, from budget to luxury, which is certainly not the case with the Inca Trail.

Comparison – Inca Trail Vs. Salkantay Trek.

Trekking to Machu Picchu is a dream for many travelers, but there is more than one way to get there. The 4-day or Classic Inca trail allows hikers to walk on the Inca steps, while the more distant route from Salkantay offers solitude and wildlife. Compare your options for walking to Peru’s most famous location, distance and cost to the night options.

WALKING DISTANCES:

If you want to walk Machu Picchu but are looking for the shortest path to get there, then the Inca Trail is a winner here. You also have the short Inca Trail option.

With 42 kilometers from the starting point (kilometer 82) to Machu Picchu, the Classic Inca Trail is almost twice as short as the Salkantay Trek with 74 kilometers to cover.

THE SCENERIES AND WILDLIFE

On the Inca Trail you will cross spectacular mountain passes through misty cloud forests, passing many ancient Inca sites along the route, such as Llactapata, Sayaqmarka, Phuyupatamarca, Inti Pata, Wiñayhuayna and Inti Punku; the trail ends at Machu Picchu when you walk through the door of the sun.

While on Salkantay Trek, there are relatively few ruins, but otherwise you are rewarded with incredible mountain landscapes. You will hike higher and longer than the Inca Trail, circling the Salkantay Glacier Mountain (6,271m/22,083 feet). Unlike the Inca Trail, with its constant pedestrian traffic, this less congested route offers a good opportunity to see wild animals such as deer, chinchillas, and spectacled bears. Note that you do not arrive directly to Machu Picchu on the Salkantay Trek, but rather visit the site on the last day; you spend one night in the town of Aguas Calientes and the next day you visit Machu Picchu.

COST OF THE INCA TRAIL VS SALKANTAY

If you want to enjoy the beautiful nature of the Peruvian Andes and arrive to Machu Picchu after several days of trekking, but you are limited by money, choose the Salkantay Trek which is more economical than the Inca Trail.

In general, the Inca Trail costs around 50% more than the Salkantay Trek.
The higher cost of the Inca Trail is due not only to its popularity but also to 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 .