The Inca Trail is an icon due to its history of being a traditional royal road that connected the Inca Empire. This story is shown through various remains of Inca paving along the parts of the trail. Due to that and combined with the natural environment and the impressive end in Machu Picchu, it is considered the number one trek in South America. For those who do not count with 4 days free to complete the Classic Inca Trail, there is also a reduced version of 2 days which skips the strenuous step of Warmi Wañusca (dead woman) but includes the highlights such as Wiñaywayna and Door of the Sun (Inti Punku).
From all the alternative treks to Machu Picchu, the Salkantay Trek is the most popular. Although it is more exhausting than the Classic Inca Trail, it shows the best scenery of all the excursions to Machu Picchu. It takes 5 days to border the Salkantay Mountain and then head to Machu Picchu but it can be done in 4 days for those who have a very tight schedule and are in good physical condition. Unlike the Inca Trail, pack mules are used to carry the camping equipment and cooking utensils rather than porters and it can be performed independently or with a group.
In this article, we are going to compare both so you can decide which to choose but you need to know that whichever route you choose, you will spend a day in Machu Picchu, exploring and admiring the lost city of the Incas – the perfect culmination of a rewarding trek.