The Inca Trail, Peru
Today’s travelers to South America will know the Inca Trail as the famous route that leads to Machu Picchu, the magnificent mountaintop citadel that is a must-see for anyone who visits Peru. But the trail is in fact just one short stage of a vast network of paths, built in the 15th century, that crisscrossed the whole Inca Empire, and these paths didn’t lead to Machu Picchu, but to the ancient city of Cuzco, capital of the Inca world. Of these 40,000km of stone trails, what we now know as the Inca Trail covers just 43km, but it traverses some of the most stunning scenery in the Vilcabamba range, offering breathtaking views and passing impressive archaeological sites along the way.
The Inca Trail begins in Piscacucho, at the point known as Kilometre 82 – marking its distance from Cuzco. The US explorer Hiram Bingham walked along this same path when he ‘rediscovered’ Machu Picchu in 1911, led there by Quechua villagers who had always known of the site’s existence. The trail as we now know it was first opened to tourists in 1970 by the Peruvian government, though just a handful of tourists completed this route each year. Permits weren’t introduced until three decades later, as the route began to grow in popularity. The Inca Trail now provides a significant source of income for many rural communities along its route, as some 300 cooks, porters and guides are required to lead tourists each day.
Our Peru Vacations
Hiking the Inca trail vacation
An unrivalled combination of history and spectacular scenery
From
US $1879 to US $2149
9 days
ex flights
Peru walking and cultural vacation
Trek the cultural sites and mountain scenery of Peru
From
US $2300
10 days
ex flights
Peru adventure vacation, small group
Experience coastal deserts, mountains and the Amazon Jungle
From
US $2230 to US $4639
19 days
ex flights
Peru highlights tour, Inca trail, Titicaca and Nazca
Taste Peru's diverse landscapes and fascinating culture
From
US $3279 to US $3449
15 days
ex flights
Inca Trail adventure vacation
Discover Cuzco and the Sacred Valley on this Incan adventure
From
US $1033 to US $1425
7 days
ex flights
Hiking the Inca Trail, Peru
An authentic trek through the land of the Incas
From
US $1240 to US $2479
7 days
ex flights
Adventure vacation Peru
Inca culture to sea lions on Peru adventure
From
US $3395 to US $4050
15 days
ex flights
Inca trail & Amazon Rainforest vacation
Inca Trail, Machu Picchu & rainforest
From
US $3579 to US $4349
15 days
ex flights
Classic Inca Trail vacation, 10 days
10-days: Lima, Cusco, 4-day Inca Trail & Machu Picchu
From
£1695
10 days
ex flights
Lake Titicaca & Peru highlights vacation
Explore the attractions of south Peru with Inca Trail trek.
From
US $2350 to US $3540
15 days
ex flights
Alternative Inca trail trek in Peru, Salkantay Trek
Salkantay trek - an alternative Inca Trail adventure
From
US $840
5 days
ex flights
Peru small group vacation, Inca Trail & Amazon
Exciting journey into enchanting Peru from Amazon to Andes
From
US $2880 to US $4560
21 days
ex flights
Peru 14 day itinerary, tailor made
Communities, Culture and Highlights of Peru
From
£1650
14 days
ex flights
Choquequirao to Machu Picchu hiking vacation, Peru
Choquequirao - trek to a lost Inca City, Peru
From
£1188
7 days
ex flights
Trekking and mountain biking in Peru
Stunning Mountain biking, trekking and rainforest, Peru
From
US $4390
21 days
ex flights
Learn Spanish in Peru & trek the Inca trail
Inca trek & relaxed, professional Spanish lessons
From
US $1480
13 days
ex flights
Tailormade vacation in Peru, Inca Trail & Amazon
Walk the Inca Trail with private guide, without the crowds
From
£5330
13 days
ex flights
Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Peru
An adventure of a life time hiking to Machu Picchu, Peru.
From
£4195
9 days
ex flights
Family Machu Picchu and Inca Trail vacation
Trek along the famous mountain trail to Machu-Picchu
From
US $2380 to US $2470
15 days
ex flights
Peru 8 day trekking vacation, ultimate Machu Picchu
Trek into the Andes to reach Machu Picchu
From
US $1950
8 days
ex flights
Inca Trail hiking vacation, Peru
The Sacred Valley, one of the world’s best known hikes
From
US $896 to US $1149
7 days
ex flights
Peru small group tour
Its all in the name, Peru and Machu Picchu are Calling.
From
£1729
15 days
ex flights
18-29's Inca Trail hiking trip, Peru
Get straight down to business and up the Inca Trail.
From
US $878 to US $1330
6 days
ex flights
Inca trail vacation, Peru
Retrace the steps of a fascinating civilisation
From
US $1300 to US $1700
8 days
ex flights
Luxury Inca Trail trek, Peru
Spectacular trek on the Inca Trail through the high Andes
From
US $1555
5 days
ex flights
Sacred Valley and Inca Trail vacation
Short introduction to Cuzco and Peru's Sacred Valley
From
US $1549 to US $1649
7 days
ex flights
Inca Trail extension vacation
Conquer ancient pathways on the historic Inca trail hike.
From
US $1075
6 days
ex flights
Machu Picchu by train
Soak up colonial and Inca history by train
From
US $539 to US $699
3 days
ex flights
Family adventure vacation in Peru, Inca & Amazon
Pretty Sherpa villages and spectacular mountains
From
US $3449 to US $3579
14 days
ex flights
Inca Trail practicalities
Our Inca Trail vacations include five day trips, which you can incorporate into longer South America tours, as well as complete vacations which will take you around Peru and beyond. There are trips to suit all budgets – from the most basic backpacker options, to higher end trips with larger tents, private toilet tents, larger personal weight allowance (as they will employ more porters) and more varied meals. Some may even provide Thermarest mattresses and showers, although more commonly you’ll be given a foam sleeping mat and a bowl of hot water. You can bring a sleeping bag or hire one from your hiking company; if you do this, it’s a good idea to bring a sleeping bag liner. Tents will generally be provided, and the porters and cook will usually forge ahead so that everything is set up at the campsite for your arrival each afternoon.
Either way, you’ll be traveling with a guide, cook and porters. Mules are not permitted for carrying luggage as their hooves would damage the stone paths; the same goes for metal tipped walking poles – bring rubber tipped poles instead.
You can choose a private, tailor made tour or join a small group – although with 500 trekkers, porters and guides per day on the trail in peak season, the likelihood is that you will end up meeting plenty of people along the way, whichever option you choose.
You’ll need to bring your passport for the checkpoints. Pack lots of warm layers; it can get cold on the trail, especially at night, given the high altitude. The winter months of June to August are the chilliest. January to March are the wettest – and the trail usually closes for the whole of February for maintenance.
Inca Trail permits go on sale in the October of the previous year, so permits for the 2020 trekking season, which begins in March, will go on sale in October 2019. Tickets for the busiest months (May to September) have been known to sell out in just a few days, but even the quieter months will sell out a couple of months in advance, so do plan well ahead to ensure you obtain a permit. Tour operators will book permits on the day they are released to ensure they have permits for all of the tours they run. This does buy you a little extra time, but as there are still only 200 trekking permits (for tourists) on any given day, even the operators will have very limited numbers, and when they’re gone, they’re gone!
If you don’t manage to secure a permit, there are a number of other options. There are several alternative treks that take you to Machu Picchu in four or five days, the best known being the Lares and Salkantay treks. Otherwise, you can take a train to Machu Picchu; there are 2,500 tickets per day for the site itself, which remains open throughout February, so there is not quite the same scramble for passes.
Our top Peru Vacation
Hiking the Inca trail vacation
An unrivalled combination of history and spectacular scenery
From
US $1879 to US $2149
9 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2020: 8 Apr, 29 Apr, 7 May, 13 May, 4 Jun, 13 Jun, 2 Jul, 16 Jul, 30 Jul, 5 Aug, 8 Aug, 20 Aug, 2 Sep, 5 Sep, 10 Sep, 19 Sep, 24 Sep, 8 Oct, 14 Oct, 21 Oct, 28 Oct, 4 Nov, 2 Dec, 18 Dec
2021: 26 Mar, 9 Apr, 30 Apr, 6 May, 20 May, 27 May, 3 Jun, 12 Jun, 17 Jun, 1 Jul, 10 Jul, 22 Jul, 29 Jul, 7 Aug, 12 Aug, 19 Aug, 26 Aug, 4 Sep, 18 Sep, 23 Sep, 8 Oct, 12 Nov, 3 Dec, 18 Dec
2020: 8 Apr, 29 Apr, 7 May, 13 May, 4 Jun, 13 Jun, 2 Jul, 16 Jul, 30 Jul, 5 Aug, 8 Aug, 20 Aug, 2 Sep, 5 Sep, 10 Sep, 19 Sep, 24 Sep, 8 Oct, 14 Oct, 21 Oct, 28 Oct, 4 Nov, 2 Dec, 18 Dec
2021: 26 Mar, 9 Apr, 30 Apr, 6 May, 20 May, 27 May, 3 Jun, 12 Jun, 17 Jun, 1 Jul, 10 Jul, 22 Jul, 29 Jul, 7 Aug, 12 Aug, 19 Aug, 26 Aug, 4 Sep, 18 Sep, 23 Sep, 8 Oct, 12 Nov, 3 Dec, 18 Dec
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Peru or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
Inca Trail itinerary
Organised Inca Trail vacations will always incorporate a day or two to acclimatise to the altitude in Cuzco, which sits at 3,400m, and this may include an excursion to the nearby Sacred Valley, or the Sacsayhuaman fortress. After this, your trek begins.
Day 1
Day 1:
Day 2
Day 2:
Day 3
Day 3:
Day 4
Day 4:
You won’t enter the site today, but will enjoy the views over it from the Sun Gate at this much quieter time of day. If not camping at Wiñay Wayna, you may spend the night in a hotel or hostel in Aguas Calientes. With your first proper shower and bed since you started trekking, you’ll no doubt enjoy an early night in preparation for a full exploration of the site in the morning. 9km, 6-7hrs, depending on where you sleep.
Day 5
Day 5:
Those arriving from Aguas Calientes will also have an early start to take a government registered bus up the mountain to Machu Picchu. It’s only a 30 minute drive, but with hundreds of people hoping to do the same thing, you’ll need to beat the crowds, and queues, especially in the busy May to October season.
In either case, you’ll begin your visit with a guided tour of the site followed by free time to explore, permits usually allow for around four hours on site. Some tours will end with a night in Aguas Calientes, others will head straight back to Cuzco using public buses and trains.
When to hike the Inca Trail
You can hike the Inca Trail all year round with the exception of February, when the trail is closed for maintenance. The wettest months are December to March, which means these are also the quietest months on the trail – permits will sell out less rapidly. For the peak months of May to September, permits can sell out on the day they are released (they usually go on sale the previous September or October, but check with your tour operator for details). In recent years, March and April permits have sold out almost immediately as well.
As Peru is in the southern hemisphere, the coldest months on the trail are from June to August. Combined with the high altitude, this can make for freezing temperatures, especially at night – bring plenty of warm layers. Daytimes should be clear and bright though, and remember that the sun is brutal at this altitude even when it is chilly – a wide brimmed hat and high factor sun screen are essential.
More about Peru
From Cuzco and the Andes, to the Amazon and the coast, Peru has one of the most varied climates on earth. We help you choose the best time to go to Peru...
Our Peru travel guide is here to help you travel like a local, including a handy section on food, shopping and culture, plus what we rate and what we don't...
Our Peru map and highlights will help you make the most of your vacation, whether you’re seeking classic highlights, an Inca trek or combining Andes and Amazon...
If you're hoping to rediscover Machu Picchu, explore the Amazon or get off the beaten track then read on for our top things to do in Peru...
Our guide to Machu Picchu reveals the history of this sacred site, with tips on what to see, how to travel there and the best time to visit...
There are several alternative Inca trails that lead to Machu Picchu, taking in cloud and rainforest, high passes and indigenous villages...
We explain why, when you cross the border at Lake Titicaca and see Bolivia and Peru together, you gain more than just an extra stamp in your passport...
Community homestays, brightly woven handicrafts and spectacular island hikes are Lake Titicaca’s calling cards.
The Nazca Lines in Peru remain one of the country’s great mysteries. Find out about the lines’ history, and how to view them from land and from the air...
Traveling in Peru with kids is a fabulous idea. Machu Picchu will delight children as much as parents, while long-lashed llamas are sure to enchant...
Our Peru travel tips page is packed to the rafters with sound, practical advice from our South America experts as well as our independent traveler reviews...
Porters' rights are one of the most important Peru responsible tourism issues. We also share information on volunteering, homestays and the environment...
Find all of our Peru guides in one place, for particular places in Peru such as Machu Picchu. Or perhaps you would like to know more about the different types of Peru vacations we offer such as culture or trekking the Inca Trail.
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: Martin Lang] [Top box: Martin Lang]
[Piscacucho: Robert Luna]
[Practicalities: Martin Lang]
[Porter packing bags: Martin Lang]
[Cold evenings: Martin Lang]
[Lares trek: McKay Savage]
[Sacsayhuaman fortress: Pablo G.]
[Day 1 (Nevado Veronsica): Edubucher]
[Day 2 (Dead womans pass): Colegota ]
[Day 3 (Runquracay): Tyler Bell]
[Day 4 (Winay Wayna): My Favorite Pet Sitter]
[Day 4 (Sun Gate view): Tyler Bell]
[Day 5 (Machu Picchu): Eduardo Flores]
[When to hike (Quietest): Ian Gampon]
[When to hike (Sun): Göran Höglund (Kartläsarn)]
Back to the top
- Recently viewed
#/media/File:Nevado_Ver%C3%B3nica.jpg){kind=link}
