AVAILABILITY AND FLEXIBILITY

Inca Trail.- Only 500 people are allowed to enter the Inca Trail per day, including tourists, guides, porters, and cooks. If you really want to do this hike, plan well in advance to secure your Inca trail permit. Otherwise, you will arrive at taking alternative treks. See our 2-day hike Inca trail. 

Salkantay trek.- There is no need to pre-book the tour months before, as it receives unlimited tour groups year-round. Just look for a reliable tour operator and ask for the tour, then they will begin to organize the hike. Even for last-minute bookings, there is always availability. 

WEATHER

Inca Trail.- Winter months on the Inca trail are just the right time to go. Although the temperature is cold at night, the day hike is more enjoyable, having sunny days. However, if you are planning on hiking in summer, the weather remains nice (warm). However, rain and fog can obscure scenic views. See more about the best time to hike the Inca Trail.

Salkantay trek.- Expect cold temperatures at night and early hours in winter running from May-August, but it turns out to be advisable months for doing the hike. (Temperature can dip below zero degrees). Whereas, in the summer months from December – March, the temperature gets warmer but is followed by downpours. The rest of the year is mild.

MOUNTAIN SCENERY

Inca Trail. The surrounding mountain slopes of the Inca trail are more overgrown with bushes, and trees, so it is greener in coloration. Given a little luck, you may spot some Andean deer or a spectacled bear wandering nearby.  And on a good winter day, you even have a glimpse to see the snow-covered peaks far away. 

Salkantay trek.- Hiking the Salkantay trek, on the first day, you can expect to see the towering snow-covered peaks, such as Humantay and Salkantay mountains, both featuring over 5 000 m. Also, the turquoise gem of the route, the Humantay lake. Nearing Machu Picchu, the landscape turns into a jungle landscape, giving enthralling views, where flocks of birds fly and Orchids and other flowers come into blossom.

MOUNTAIN VILLAGES AND LOCAL PEOPLE

Inca Trail.- Since the Inca trail surroundings are overgrown with bushes and vegetation, no family lives in those secluded mountains. Additionally, the vast area is under preservation to protect the wildlife of Machu Picchu´s sanctuary. Only on the first day you see some local stores and family houses, but nothing of that captures your attention that much. 

Salkantay trek.- The first highland town you get to is called Mollepata, and along the way to Soraypampa, the starting point of the trek, local people farm and live raising some cows as a source of food. But also, they raise mules and horses for working on the route as muleteers. Beyond the Salkantay pass, down in the valleys, there are country houses where locals started to implement a coffee tour to offer tourists an experience of those coffee preparations.

PORTERS

Inca Trail.- No pack animal is allowed to enter the Inca trail. Besides protecting the damage that these animals can cause on the trail, the fact is that they just can’t climb up and down on some of the steep sections of the trail. Only manpower carries the hiking gear and food. All the tour operators hire the famous Inca trail Porters. 

Salkantay Trek.- At the start of your hike, you will be presented with your Salkantay trek muleteers, and they will carry the supplies and the camping gear for the hike. Most of them come from the Soraypampa community, and after 3 or more days of work, they have to climb the high Salkantay pass again back home with their mules running trot. When work is low, they work on farming native potatoes and some other work at home. 

TRAIL CLOSURES IN FEBRUARY

Inca Trail.- Yes, it closes for upkeep procedures. 

Salkantay trek.- No, it doesn’t close in February. But since it gets somewhat risky, some tour operators stop until March comes along.

CAMPING ESTABLISHMENTS

Inca Trail.- The Inca trail porters set up the camping tents, one kitchen tent, dining tent, and passenger tents for overnight. There are some shower stalls for those who would like to take shower after the hike (nighttime shower). As for the restrooms, there are only squat toilets, unless you find some proper toilets on the first-day hike but bear in mind these are private, so you will be charged by someone else.

Salkantay trek.- From the first base camp on, there are various kinds of camping accommodations. From Domo tents, and Andean huts to the simple shelters thatched with straw to set up tents inside if you are going on your own. There are some stores to buy water and some other boosters you may need for the hike. The showers and toilets will depend on where you stay, but there are some mid-level showers. 

THERMAL HOT SPRINGS

Inca Trail.- It is important to clarify that you won’t find any hot springs in the mid-hike. The way you can get it is if you have an extra night at Aguas Calientes, so you can visit the hot springs just a few minutes away from the main square. 

Salkantay trek.- Beyond the coffee farm communities on the route, Santa Teresa town sits on the shores of the Vilcanota River, which at present become a must-stay place for many tourists, due to its outdoor Cocalmayo hot springs where to relax, for just a few soles. (Bear in mind that while visiting Llactapata ruins, you will skip the hot springs).

COST

Inca Trail.-  On average, the Inca Trail tour costs between $650 and $ 850. The Inca Trail cost more because the porters carry your belonging. The porter’s salary is more than the horse’s. For example, our Company AB Expeditions provide 6 porters for 2 customers. Another reason is that the Inca Trail permits cost more than the Salkantay trek.

Salkantay.- The Salkantay hike costs between $350 and $750 USD on average. The reason the price varies is that each Company organizes different ways, some have shelter, some have cabins, some have domes and some have hotels. Before booking your trip ask them what will be the accommodation.  Another reason is that all the companies use horses to carry all the camping equipment. So the payment for horses is cheaper than for porters.  

WHICH IS BEST FOR YOU AND WHY?

Who should choose the Inca trail? 

If you care more about History and like a jungle landscape than a high-altitude trek, then book this Inca trail before the permits run out. Because the Inca trail boasts the incredible Inca trail ruins spread along the route and the original Inca path, that is worth the hype to see them. If you are sticking more to the Salkantay trek rather than the Inca trail, fine, so find out more about it and do it. And enjoy your Humantay lake and coffee tours. 

Who should choose the Salkantay trek?

The Salkantay trek is like a backup route to the Inca trail. Unlike the Inca trail, it offers more gorgeous alpine lakes such as Humantay lake, snowy mountains closer but few ancient Incan ruins. Indeed there is only one major Inca ruin named Llactapata which gives a glimpse at the western face of Machu Picchu the day before the official visit. If you are ok with a high-altitude trek and are used to walking for several hours, considering what you will see, this is the one you should do.

Author: Aldair Choque