Ancient Inca Trail:
Visitors that walk the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu will be hiking on the actual ancient Inca Trail footpath, carved out of the mountains centuries ago by the Inca people. These treks are multi-day hikes with camping or a mix of other lodging for the overnight stays.
The most popular way to walk the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is the 4 Day Classic Inca Trail group or private tour. The second most popular way is the Short Inca Trail 2 day Tour. There are also longer options for hikers who want to take more time on the Inca Trail, with the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 5 day tour, and those who want to combine the 2 most popular treks in Peru – the Salkantay and the Inca Trail Tour to Machu Picchu in 7 days. Another incredibly popular option is to add the famous one day hike to Rainbow Mountain and the Red Valley, to any Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
Want to know more? See this handy Guide to Hiking to Machu Picchu.
The Inca Trail: A Journey Through History
The Inca Trail is one of the most important hiking routes in Peru, South America, and the world. Built by the Incas hundreds of years ago, this legendary trail connected the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco, with the citadel of Machu Picchu. Much of the route still preserves its original stone pavement and impressive stairways, crossing mountains, valleys, cloud forests, and spectacular Andean landscapes.
Throughout the hike, you will visit numerous archaeological sites accompanied by a professional guide. These places were inhabited during the Inca period and served different religious, agricultural, administrative, and astronomical purposes. Along the route, you will find agricultural terraces, ceremonial temples, astronomical observatories, ritual water fountains, and other important remains of this fascinating civilization.
In addition to enjoying unique landscapes, the Inca Trail will allow you to discover the flora and fauna of the Andes and learn more about the history, culture, and traditions of the Incas. Arriving at Machu Picchu will be the perfect reward after several days of hiking and nights camping under the stars.
Inca Trail Regulations and Permits
The Inca Trail is strictly regulated and protected by the Peruvian Government in order to preserve this historical and natural heritage for future generations. Along the route, there are permanent checkpoints managed by park rangers, who verify passports and entry permits.
Visitors may enjoy the trail and take photographs, but they must respect conservation rules. It is forbidden to damage the flora and fauna, disturb archaeological sites, or climb on Inca structures.
There are also specific regulations for authorized staff operating on the route, including guides, porters, and cooks.
Due to these conservation measures, the number of daily permits is limited. For the Classic Inca Trail 4 days and 3 nights, approximately 500 people are allowed per day, including tourists, guides, porters, and support staff. For the Short Inca Trail 2 days and 1 night, the limit is approximately 250 people per day.
How Far in Advance Should I Book?
Booking well in advance is essential, as permits usually sell out quickly. Depending on the season, spaces may sell out between 3 and 6 months before the departure date. If you have the opportunity to book one year in advance, even better, as this will help you secure your spot without complications.
Early booking is important for all travelers who wish to complete this hike, whether they are traveling solo, as a couple, with family, or in large groups. Each person needs an individual permit, including tourists, guides, and porters.
Of the 500 daily permits available for the Classic Inca Trail, approximately 200 are allocated to tourists and around 300 to porters and support staff. This is because porters are responsible for carrying food, camping equipment, and other supplies needed for the expedition.
The Short Inca Trail 2 days and 1 night also requires advance booking. Most travelers secure their spaces between 3 and 6 months before their travel date. However, the earlier you book, the better your chances of finding availability for your preferred date, especially during the high season.
At Alpaca Expeditions, as a leading adventure travel company, we work to ensure that you enjoy a safe, organized, and memorable experience, creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Which Machu Picchu Circuit Is Included with the Inca Trail?
The Peruvian Government assigns the visitor circuits for all travelers who hike the Inca Trail, whether on the 2-day, 4-day, 5-day, or longer versions.
Hikers who arrive at Machu Picchu through the Inca Trail have access to Circuits 1 and 3, allowing them to enjoy a very complete experience inside the citadel.
Circuit 1: Machu Picchu Viewpoint
This circuit includes the famous Machu Picchu viewpoint, also known as the Guardhouse or Watch Tower. From this point, travelers can take the most iconic panoramic photos of the citadel, the same images that appear on most postcards and publications about Machu Picchu.
Travelers who complete the Inca Trail arrive precisely in this area, as the trail ends in the upper part of the citadel, offering one of the most spectacular and emotional entrances to Machu Picchu.
Circuit 3: Guided Tour of the Citadel
After enjoying the viewpoint, you will continue with a guided tour along Circuit 3 with your professional guide. This visit lasts approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes and allows you to explore many of the most important sectors of the Inca citadel.
The combination of Circuits 1 and 3 provides a very complete experience and allows you to discover most of Machu Picchu’s main highlights.
Huayna Picchu Mountain Optional
If you wish to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain, located behind Machu Picchu, you will need to purchase an additional ticket. This activity is optional and requires a separate reservation due to limited availability.
The hike takes approximately 2 hours and is usually done after the guided tour of Machu Picchu. Due to high demand and the limited number of visitors allowed per day, we recommend booking this ticket several months in advance.
Amazing guides Saul and Raymundo
We completed the 5-day Salkantay Trek with Alpaca Expeditions, and it was an absolutely unforgettable experience. A huge part of what made this trek so special were our guides, Saul and Raymundo.
Saul was incredibly professional and exceptionally well organized. His knowledge about the trek, the region, history, and nature was impressive, and we always felt that we could completely rely on him. Everything was handled smoothly and professionally, which allowed us to simply enjoy the experience and focus on the trek. At the same time, Saul was very flexible and adapted wonderfully to the needs and dynamics of our group. He always found the right balance between keeping everything well organized and responding to individual situations. His great sense of humor also contributed so much to the atmosphere — he created a relaxed, motivated, and genuinely fun spirit throughout the entire journey.
Raymundo was equally wonderful in his own unique way. He was incredibly attentive, supportive, motivating, friendly, and reliable. He had a remarkable ability to give the group space while still providing guidance and orientation whenever it was needed. His warm-hearted personality really stood out and made everyone feel comfortable and cared for. We were especially impressed by his endurance, positivity, and constant encouragement throughout the trek.
Together, Saul and Raymundo made an excellent team. They complemented each other perfectly and created an experience that felt not only professionally organized and safe but also personal, warm, motivating, and full of laughter.
Mads and Julia
You must do this trip!
This was a fantastic experience. I would recommend the tour and our tour guide Jose Santoz was brilliant - passionate and informative.
Salkantay with Hans and Wilfredo
I can’t say enough good things about the Salkantay Trek experience I had with Alpaca!
Our guide Hans was knowledgeable, kind, encouraging, and wise - he made sure that every member of the team had a great experience, that we all knew what to expect, and that we were set up for success. He had a sharp eye for flowers, plants, and birds alongside the trail which really added to the experience - I felt like he was showing me his home rather than leading me along a trail. Hans also went out of his way to help others on the trail that were not part of our group. He is a great representative for Alpaca and for Peru.
Our chef Wilfredo took equally good care of us! He exceeded our expectations in food quality, variety, taste, and presentation - we found ourselves pulling out our phones to take pictures at every meal! I did not need to bring any snacks or supplements of my own for the trail - we were very well-fed at breakfast, lunch, tea time, and dinner. He even made us a cake and a tabletop s’mores experience — very impressive. Wilfredo’s meals were all restaurant-quality and he would do just fine as a chef at a restaurant in Cusco.
Highly recommended!
Amazing adjusted trek during Inca Trail Closure
My wife and father-in-law and I were initially booked to do the 4-day, 3-night Inca Trail in early September. However, due to severe weather, the majority of the trail was closed during our scheduled trip. I felt the communication around alternative options was very clear from Alpaca, and they were able to put together a plan that was still the same length of time, included the part of the trail that was open, and included an additional amazing ruin.
The trek itself was beautiful and very well organized. The porters were truly amazing and the food was delicious especially for being cooked on the trail. Camping is camping, and if I had one suggestion it would be to update some of that equipment as our tent both nights had zipper issues.
However what truly made this experience unforgettable were our guides Ivan and Carlos, particularly Ivan. He was extremely knowledgeable and able to answer any and all questions our group had. Both guides were very attentive with the varying needs of our group. The tour we had in Machu Picchu on the final day was spectacular, we learned so much and really felt we got to enjoy the ruin we’d worked so hard to hike to. Shoutout to our group which was also amazing, we definitely lucked out.
Overall everything was 5/5 stars but especially the guides, would really give them 10 stars if possible! We would highly recommend booking with Alapaca.
Great Group Trip - Salkantay
We loved our 5D4N Salkantay trek! Our guides Samanez & Reynaldo were so earnest to ensure our group was excited, confident, and felt safe every step of the way. You can tell the Alpaca crew really wants the group to have a great experience - it makes the journey feel so personal. We learned so much about the local culture & the natural world while trekking, and had many novel experiences. While the alpaca crew can’t control the weather, we were super lucky to have great weather for most of the trip and when we didn’t, we were prepared properly. The guides were accommodating to the group’s various speeds/ interests as well. We did not want to leave the beautiful Andes - the journey is the destination! We are grateful for the experience, the whole team (guides, chefs, porters, office crew, etc.) and hope to return someday for another trek.