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.
Salkantay Trek to Machu picchu Only Women 7 Days / 6 Nights Marvelous Hiking and Botanical Experience
This trip was fantastic. From exploring the ruins of Pisac and Ollantaytambo, to hiking to Lake Humantay, over the Salkantay Pass and then on to Machu Picchu. Soledad our guide, knows so much about the flora and fauna- pointing out lots of unique local things, as well as very knowledgeable about the local history. The food provided by Noemi (and Paulina) was an excellent- particularly the soups with lunch and dinner and the early birthday cake! I enjoyed hiking with all women as it was about marveling at the world rather than trying to get there fast- often my experience with hiking with men. Highly recommend to others and if you love plants you should ask for Soledad!
Better then expected
I did the 7 day all women’s guided tour with Soledad as our tour guide! There were only 3 women total on the tour so the whole hike felt like a private tour! Soledad provided a flawless experience from the start to finish of each day. She was helpful every step of the way and provided so much history and local knowledge.
Chef Noemi and lady porter Paulina prepared the most beautiful meals and the variety and portions were incredible!! They made popcorn for us every night and even made us a cake! The food preparation was more than I expected! I would do this tour again just to keep eating the delicious meals!
Everything was so easy on this trip! All of the decisions, logistics, meals and planning were taken care of! I was able to just show up and enjoy the week in the Andes and at Matchu Picchu!
Life experience
Thankyou miguel from the bottom of my heart for all your help doing the trek.im 61 in a few days ashmatic and never treked at altitude before but i did it so proud of myself.ps say helo to walter for me.steven
An Amazing Experience
My Salkantay Trek was one of the most memorable travel experiences I've ever had, and a huge part of that was thanks to our guide, Hans, and our chef, Wilfredo.
Hans was exceptional from start to finish. His knowledge of the mountains, local history, plants, and wildlife added so much depth to the trek. What made his insights especially meaningful was that he is Quechua, sharing a cultural heritage that traces back to the people of the Inca Empire. Throughout the journey, he brought the landscape to life by explaining the significance of what we were seeing, from native plants and animals to the traditions and history of the region. His passion for his culture and the Andes was evident every step of the way.
Hans also went above and beyond in caring for the group. When I experienced some mild altitude sickness, he checked on me frequently and made sure I was comfortable and recovering. One gesture that I will never forget was when he personally brought me hot soup while I was resting in bed. It was a simple act of kindness that showed how genuinely invested he was in the well-being of his guests.
Wilfredo somehow managed to create incredible meals in the middle of the mountains. Every meal exceeded expectations, both in quality and presentation. After a long day of hiking, we were consistently amazed by what he prepared. The food was not only delicious but also gave us the energy we needed to tackle each day's adventure. It's still hard to believe the variety and quality of meals he was able to produce in such remote locations.
The scenery of the Salkantay Trek is breathtaking, but what made the experience truly special were the people. Hans and Wilfredo went above and beyond to make sure everyone was comfortable, cared for, and able to fully enjoy the journey. I couldn't recommend this trek more highly and would gladly do it again.
Fabulous time on the Inca Trail
We loved our experience on the Inca trail. Sabi and Renaldo were our guides. They made our experience so special!! Everything was perfect and organized so well. Thank you thank you!!