To preserve the historical route and to prevent overcrowding, the Inca Trail is highly regulated: Travelers need a permit and be accompanied by a licensed guide to access it and trek all the way to Machu Picchu.
The 2025 permits to hike the Inca Trail will be available for purchase on October 1, 2024, and are expected to sell out fast.
“Travelers wishing to hike the iconic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu should be aware that permits are limited to 500 people per day. Of these, approximately 300 are allocated for porters and guides, leaving only 200 permits available for travelers,” locally owned and operated tour operator Alpaca Expeditions says in an email.
The Inca Trail is closed in February due to extremely wet weather conditions and maintenance, but it is otherwise open every day throughout the remaining 11 months of the year. May, June, July, and August are considered the peak season, when the trail and the ruins tend to be busier. Naturally, getting a permit for those months can be difficult if your trip isn’t planned well in advance. While the rainy season in the Peruvian Andes starts in November and ends mid-March, Miguel Angel Gongora Meza, director and cofounder of tour operator Evolution Treks Peru, recommends travelers who are not afraid of wet weather to plan a trip from March to May, and from September to mid-December when the crowds are much thinner.
The classic Inca Trail is a challenging four-day, three-night hike that starts in the city of Cusco, covers 26 miles, and involves 1574 feet of elevation. However, tour operators tend to offer shorter and longer versions of the Inca trail, including two-day, five-day, and seven-day treks for those who either want a less strenuous or more arduous experience.
Before you select a tour operator for your Inca trail adventure, make sure to look into how they treat their workers. Some tour operators have been known to exploit their porters, forcing them to carry more than the maximum weight allowed, and not providing them with decent meals or sleeping conditions while on the trail. Take the time to watch the movie “KM 82” which highlights those issues.
To secure a Inca Trail permit before they sell out, reach out to the tour operator of your preference with your dates and with your passport information. 