Salkantay vs. Lares: A comparison to decide which trek is for you

Both routes lead to Machu Picchu. Both offer extraordinary scenery, do not require limited permits like the Inca Trail, and can be booked with much less advance notice. But the experience each one offers is completely different. Choosing between Salkantay and Lares is not a question of which one is better, but which one fits better with what you are looking for on this trip.

The numbers: distance, altitude, and duration

The standard 5-day Salkantay Trek covers approximately 60 kilometers, with its highest point at Salkantay Pass at 4,650 meters above sea level. The 4-day version reduces the distance to about 44 kilometers while keeping the same maximum altitude. It is a demanding route, especially on the second day, when the pass is climbed and descended in the same stage.

The Lares Trek lasts between 3 and 4 days depending on the version chosen and covers between 33 and 42 kilometers. The maximum altitude depends on which pass the itinerary crosses: Huacawasi Pass reaches 4,300 meters, Ipsaycocha Pass reaches 4,450 meters, and Condor Pass reaches 4,700 meters on the most demanding versions. In general terms, Lares is shorter in both distance and duration, but it can reach similar or even higher altitudes than Salkantay depending on the route.

The landscape: two completely different worlds

This is the most important difference between the two treks and the one that should influence your decision the most.

Salkantay offers a spectacular transition between ecosystems. The route begins in the high-altitude puna beside the glacier of Nevado Salkantay, which rises to 6,271 meters and is considered one of the most powerful Apus in Inca cosmology. From that point, the trail descends over three days through cloud forest, subtropical valleys, and coffee plantations until it reaches Aguas Calientes. On a single trek, you see glaciers, waterfalls, wild orchids, the Andean cock-of-the-rock, and the high jungle. The diversity of scenery is its main draw.

Lares is completely different. The route crosses the heart of the Andes through remote valleys where Quechua communities still maintain centuries-old traditions. The landscape is made up of open puna, glacial lakes, herds of llamas and alpacas with their young, and stone villages where residents still wear traditional handwoven clothing. There is no jungle and no coffee: it is pure Andean mountain scenery from start to finish. What sets Lares apart is not the natural scenery, but the human encounter.

The cultural experience: here, Lares has no rival

If traveling to connect with local communities is part of what you are looking for, Lares is the answer without hesitation. During the three or four days of the route, the trail passes through villages where residents live much the same way their grandparents did: they herd livestock on the puna, weave textiles using ancestral techniques, and grow the same crops the Incas once cultivated. It is common for children and adults in traditional clothing to approach hikers along the trail.

Salkantay also passes through local communities, especially on the third and fourth days when the trail descends toward Santa Teresa and Lucmabamba, but the emphasis of the route is the natural scenery and the variety of ecosystems, not cultural immersion. If you want dramatic landscapes, choose Salkantay. If you want living Andean culture, choose Lares.

The hot springs: a unique plus of Lares

The Lares Trek begins at the Lares hot springs, located at 3,250 meters above sea level. These natural pools, with temperatures between 28 and 35 degrees Celsius, have mineral properties and have been used since pre-Hispanic times. Many itineraries allow time to enjoy them before starting the hike as a way to prepare the body for the days ahead. It is a unique feature that Salkantay does not have.

Physical difficulty: similar on paper, different in practice

Both treks are classified as moderate to challenging. Salkantay is longer in total distance, and the second day, with the climb and descent of the 4,650-meter pass, is probably the tougher of the two routes in terms of cumulative physical effort in a single day.

Lares has shorter days in terms of distance, but with steep ascents and altitudes that in some versions exceed 4,700 meters. The difference is that the effort on Lares is spread out more evenly over the days, which makes it somewhat more manageable for those without much experience in high-altitude trekking.

In both cases, prior acclimatization in Cusco for at least two nights is essential. Altitude affects everyone regardless of physical condition, and arriving well acclimatized makes the biggest difference in how each of these two treks feels.

Permits and availability

Neither trek requires limited permits like the Inca Trail. Both can usually be booked weeks or even days in advance during most months of the year. The only thing that does require advance booking is the Machu Picchu entry ticket at the end of the route, which is subject to the Ministry of Culture’s quota system.

Price: Lares is usually more affordable

Salkantay in a standard group package generally ranges from $350 to $700 per person depending on the operator and level of service. Lares in a 4-day camping version falls within a similar or slightly lower range, since the logistics are less complex and it does not include the train from Hidroeléctrica that typically characterizes the end of the Salkantay route. The most budget-friendly Lares packages can start at around $300 per person in large groups.

Best time for each one

Both treks are best during the dry season between May and September. On Salkantay during the rainy season, the second-day trail can become difficult because of mud on the descent from the pass. Lares during the rainy season also has slippery trails, and some higher-altitude versions may have snow in June and July. Both can be done year-round, but the experience is noticeably more comfortable between May and September.

Which one to choose based on your traveler profile

Choose Salkantay if what you want is an extreme variety of scenery on a single route, to see the transition from glacier to jungle, visit Humantay Lake, and enjoy one of the most photogenic itineraries in the entire region. It is also the better choice if you have 5 days available and are looking for a physical adventure with miles of varied terrain.

Choose Lares if you are looking for real contact with Andean communities, a less-traveled trail, open puna landscapes, and the chance to see traditional Quechua life without tourist filters. It is also a better fit if you have less time available, since the standard 3-day Lares trek is more compact than the 5-day Salkantay trek.

If you cannot decide, there is a version that combines the beginning of the Lares route with the end of the Short Inca Trail, bringing together the cultural experience of the first route with the historic arrival at Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate of the second.

Plan your trek with Peru Sites

At Peru Sites, we operate both the Salkantay Trek and the Lares Trek with bilingual guides experienced on both routes, full camping equipment, and Machu Picchu entry tickets arranged in advance.