![\"Inti](\"https:\/\/incredibleperutours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Inti-Punku-3-1024x576.jpg\")
Routes That Finish in Aguas Calientes and Visit the Citadel the Next Day<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Salkantay, Lares, Inca Jungle, and Choquequirao do not enter through the Sun Gate. You finish your trek in Aguas Calientes, approximately 2,040 meters above sea level, spend the night in a hotel, and take a bus or climb the stairs on foot to the entrance the following day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In return, these routes don’t depend on limited-entry trail permits, take you through very different landscapes, and generally cost less. On the Lares Trek, the final stretch to Aguas Calientes is also completed by train from Ollantaytambo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elevations are approximate and may vary depending on the route variation offered by each tour operator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Count your days starting from when you land in Cusco, not from when you begin hiking. Any route that crosses mountain passes above 4,000 meters requires some time in the city beforehand to acclimatize, and that adjustment period is often the first thing travelers cut when their itinerary is tight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your best option is the Short Inca Trail. It starts at Kilometer 104 of the railway, in Chachabamba, passes through the Wi\u00f1ay Wayna archaeological complex, and reaches Intipunku after approximately 12 km of stone-paved trails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 2-day version lets you spend the night in Aguas Calientes and explore Machu Picchu at a relaxed pace the following morning. The 1-day version covers the same section, but you arrive tired and have less time to explore the citadel. If your schedule allows it, the 2-day option is worth the extra night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is where you’ll find the most options. If you have a permit, the Classic Inca Trail takes exactly 4 days. Without a permit, the 5-day Salkantay Trek spreads out the physical effort better than the 4-day version, which combines the mountain pass crossing with a very long descent on the same day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Lares Trek fits into 4 days at a more relaxed pace. Inca Jungle can be completed in 3 or 4 days and is the only route in this group that replaces part of the hiking with cycling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Choquequirao to Machu Picchu route connects two Inca cities over 7 to 9 days, crossing the Apurimac Canyon and several high mountain passes. You’ll encounter very few people along the way and arrive at Machu Picchu with a perspective no other route offers: you’ll have already explored its sister city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a journey in itself. It’s not advisable to squeeze it into an itinerary that includes other destinations in Peru if you have less than three weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cusco sits at approximately 3,400 meters above sea level. For these routes, allow at least the following number of days before starting:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’d like more specific guidance on this, check how many days we recommend in our acclimatization guide before hiking the Inca Trail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On these routes, altitude has a greater impact on difficulty than distance. The hardest day on each trek is almost always the day you cross a mountain pass, so pay more attention to that particular day than to the total number of kilometers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Short Inca Trail is the most manageable route. It doesn’t go above 2,720 meters, and the main challenge is the stone steps rather than the thinner air. If you exercise regularly, you should be able to complete it without major problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inca Jungle also works for beginners, with one important consideration: the first day involves a long downhill bike ride on a road, while the second includes several hours of hiking in hot and humid conditions. If you’re not comfortable riding a bicycle, this isn’t the route for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Classic Inca Trail concentrates most of the effort on the second day, with the climb to Warmiwa\u00f1usca and a long descent down stone steps that puts considerable strain on your knees. Lares has mountain passes at similar elevations, but with fewer people and gentler dirt trails that are easier on your legs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Salkantay Trek also falls into this category, although at the upper end of the difficulty range. Its mountain pass is the highest among the commonly traveled routes, and the day you cross it can involve more than nine hours of hiking. If you’ve already completed a day hike above 4,000 meters, you’re better prepared for the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Choquequirao to Machu Picchu trek demands both physical and mental endurance. You’ll descend and climb elevation differences of more than 1,400 meters in a single day, cross several mountain passes, and spend nights at very remote campsites. It’s worthwhile only if you’ve already completed multi-day treks while carrying gear and know how your body responds to accumulated fatigue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hiking times are approximate and depend on the group’s pace. For details about each section, check our guides on Inca Trail difficulty and Salkantay Trek difficulty. If you’ve never been trekking before, start with our Inca Trail for beginners guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The price of a trek depends less on the number of days and more on what’s included: permits, return train tickets, accommodation type, and group size. For group tours, Inca Jungle and Salkantay are generally the most affordable options, while the Classic Inca Trail is the most expensive per day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Inca Trail has expenses that other routes don’t: the official permit, the requirement to travel with an authorized operator, and regulated working conditions for porters. That’s why, for the same number of days, it always costs more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other routes, the price increases based on four decisions you can control:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re on a tight budget, combine a group Salkantay or Inca Jungle trek with a return trip through Hidroelectrica. This is the approach most backpackers use, and it works well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What you shouldn’t cut back on is a licensed guide, a first-aid kit with oxygen, enough food, and insurance that covers high-altitude activities. A price far below the average almost always means something has been reduced in one of these areas. Before paying, read our guide on how to choose an Inca Trail tour operator; the same criteria apply to any trekking route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Domes on the Salkantay Trek are worth considering if you’re concerned about the cold. Temperatures near the snowcapped mountain drop below freezing at night, and sleeping in a proper bed beneath a transparent roof can make a big difference to your rest. Private tours are worthwhile if you’re traveling with children, older adults, or a group with very different hiking paces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the Inca Trail, hiring an additional porter allows you to hike with just your daypack, something you’ll appreciate during the climb to Warmiwa\u00f1usca. To compare both options, check out our guide to group vs. private Inca Trail tours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Inca Trail is the only route on this list with a controlled daily visitor limit, and that determines when you can book. The permit is issued in your name and linked to your passport number, cannot be transferred, and must be arranged through an authorized tour operator. For travel dates between May and August, permits often sell out months in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your travel dates are already fixed and no permits are available, don’t try to force the itinerary. Choose another route instead. You’ll find details about the application process in our Inca Trail permits guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Salkantay, Lares, Inca Jungle, and Choquequirao don’t have daily entry quotas for their trails. You can book them just a few weeks in advance, even during the peak travel season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What does sell out is what comes afterward: admission to Machu Picchu for your preferred circuit and return train tickets at convenient departure times. Ask your tour operator to confirm both before paying for the trek. If the Inca Trail is already fully booked, check our guide on what to do when Inca Trail permits sell out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The entire Inca Trail network closes for maintenance throughout February, including the shorter versions. Salkantay, Lares, and Inca Jungle continue operating, although this is the height of the rainy season. If February is the only month you can travel, our guide to the Inca Trail in February explains how to reorganize your trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Between April and October, all the routes generally offer good hiking conditions. From November through March, rain affects some routes more than others, which can influence your decision if you’re traveling during those months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both the long and short versions of the Inca Trail handle wet weather better because much of the route is stone-paved and the campsites are established. You’ll get wet, and the stones can become slippery, but the trail doesn’t turn into a muddy path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lares is also a reasonable option. The mountain passes are cold and cloudy, but the paths between communities are relatively stable, and there’s less risk of trail closures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the Salkantay Trek, snow can fall at the mountain pass, while the descent toward the jungle becomes muddy. Inca Jungle depends on roads exposed to landslides, and rafting activities are often suspended when river levels rise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Choquequirao is the most affected route. Its dirt descents become extremely slippery, and several tour operators don’t operate the trek between January and March. To plan your trip by month, check our guides to the best time to hike the Inca Trail and the best time to do the Salkantay Trek<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRoute<\/th> Days<\/th> Highest Point (Meters Above Sea Level)<\/th> Limited-Entry Permit<\/th> How You Reach the Citadel<\/th><\/tr> Classic Inca Trail<\/td> 4<\/td> 4,215 (Warmiwa\u00f1usca)<\/td> Yes<\/td> On foot through Intipunku<\/td><\/tr> Short Inca Trail<\/td> 2<\/td> 2,720 (Intipunku)<\/td> Yes<\/td> On foot through Intipunku<\/td><\/tr> 1-Day Inca Trail<\/td> 1<\/td> 2,720 (Intipunku)<\/td> Yes<\/td> On foot through Intipunku<\/td><\/tr> Salkantay Trek<\/td> 4 or 5<\/td> 4,630 (Salkantay Pass)<\/td> No<\/td> From Aguas Calientes<\/td><\/tr> Lares Trek<\/td> 4<\/td> Over 4,400<\/td> No<\/td> By train, then from Aguas Calientes<\/td><\/tr> Inca Jungle<\/td> 3 or 4<\/td> Approx. 4,300 (Abra Malaga, by bicycle)<\/td> No<\/td> From Aguas Calientes<\/td><\/tr> Choquequirao to Machu Picchu<\/td> 7 to 9<\/td> Over 4,600<\/td> No<\/td> From Aguas Calientes<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Choose Based on How Many Days You Have Available<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If You Only Have 1 or 2 Days for Hiking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIf You Have 4 or 5 Days in Your Itinerary<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"4-Day](\"https:\/\/incredibleperutours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/camino-inca-trek-1024x821.jpg\")
If You’re Looking for a Long Trek of One Week or More<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How Many Acclimatization Days You Should Add<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Choquequirao](\"https:\/\/incredibleperutours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Choquequirao-descanso-1024x683.jpg\")
Choose Based on Your Fitness Level and Trekking Experience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Routes for First-Time High-Altitude Hikers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Moderately Challenging Routes with a Single Mountain Pass<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Routes for Experienced High-Altitude Trekkers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Route<\/th> Most Challenging Day<\/th> What Makes It Difficult<\/th> Hiking Hours That Day<\/th><\/tr> Short Inca Trail<\/td> Day 1<\/td> Stone steps between Chachabamba and Wi\u00f1ay Wayna<\/td> 6 to 7<\/td><\/tr> Inca Jungle<\/td> Day 2<\/td> Long stretch through the hot, humid cloud forest<\/td> 6 to 8<\/td><\/tr> Lares Trek<\/td> Day 2<\/td> Mountain pass above 4,400 meters<\/td> 6 to 7<\/td><\/tr> Classic Inca Trail<\/td> Day 2<\/td> Climb to 4,215 meters and descent down stone steps<\/td> 7 to 8<\/td><\/tr> Salkantay Trek<\/td> Day 2<\/td> Mountain pass at 4,630 meters and long descent toward the jungle<\/td> 9 to 10<\/td><\/tr> Choquequirao to Machu Picchu<\/td> Days 1 to 3<\/td> Elevation changes of more than 1,400 meters in the Apurimac Canyon<\/td> 8 to 10<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Choose Based on Your Budget<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why Some Treks Cost More Than Others<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Machu](\"https:\/\/incredibleperutours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/aguas-calientes-bus-1024x576.jpg\")
Budget-Friendly Options Without Compromising Safety<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When Is Glamping or a Private Tour Worth the Extra Cost?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Inca Trail Permit and How It Affects Your Decision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Routes That Don’t Require Inca Trail Permits and Can Be Booked on Short Notice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Which Treks Remain Open When the Inca Trail Closes in February?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How Each Trek Changes Between the Dry and Rainy Seasons<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Routes That Hold Up Well During the Rainy Season<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Routes Where Mud and Snow Make Hiking More Difficult<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Salkantay](\"https:\/\/incredibleperutours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/salkantay-madrugando-1024x683.jpg\")
![\"Cocalmayo](\"https:\/\/incredibleperutours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cocalmayo-1024x576.jpeg\")