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.
Unforgettable Short Inca Trail Experience
We had an amazing experience with Alpaca Expeditions on the Short Inca Trail 2D/1N. Everything was perfectly organized, including all the different transfers, which made the whole experience completely smooth and stress-free.
The food at the campsite along the trail was excellent and incredibly generous — we honestly did not expect such amazing meals during the trek!
A special mention goes to our guide, Nilton, who was absolutely fantastic. He was extremely knowledgeable about the history and the Inca civilization, his English was perfect, and he was always kind, friendly and available to answer all our questions. Without a doubt, he was the best guide we had during our entire trip to Peru.
A big thank you also to Marco, Nilton’s assistant, who was incredibly kind, friendly and always available to help us throughout the trek.
We would definitely book with Alpaca Expeditions again and highly recommend them to anyone looking for an unforgettable Inca Trail experience!
Once in a Lifetime
Spectacular adventure! Alpaca Expeditions ensured everything ran smoothly even though the Inca Trail remained closed. The alternative options were as close as you could get to the original. We started with a Sacred Valley tour (highly recommend ) and I opted for the Huchuy to Lamay, and KM104 to Machu Picchu trek. Still challenging, reaching 4,300m, beautiful landscapes, and the amazing Huchuy Qosqo ruins. Then, of course, the final day of the traditional Inca Trail with Wiñay Wayna, the Sun Gate, and the incredible hike down to Machu Picchu. The team supporting us was outstanding. We were incredibly grateful for our hardworking porters and chefs. The food was amazing and we had everything we needed. Our guides, Ivan and Raymondo were equally outstanding, keeping us informed, educated, organized, safe, and entertained. I highly recommend Alpaca Expeditions.
When El Niño gives you rain… you make the best of it.
Had a great time doing an alternate Inca Trail with Romario and JC! Due to the El Niño, we couldn’t have done the classical trail. Still the guides helped us keep a good attitude (no Lama faces) and we got to go through an alternative trek for the first two days, near Cusco.
As part of the alternative trek, we did the short Inca trail - which IMO was a blessing in disguise (I need more higher altitude training). This cumulated in a hotel stay (which had a small room assignment issue, which JC resolved), so we can visit Machu Picchu fresh.
Definitely would go with Alpaca again if I do another trek in Peru!
Machu pichu 2 day trek with camping.
We booked our 2 days short inca trail with camping with Alpaca tours. From.the very beginning they were great. Any questions we had were answered immediately. Their website itself is pretty detailed. But if we still had questions they had live support anytime. If they miss our call by any chance they always called back. The previous day of the trek we had a briefing where we met our guide Victor. He was simply amazing. He answered all out questions. Helped us through everything. From pick up to the hike to the camping all the way till our return from machu pichu. the guides Victor and Vanessa was there every throughout. Eveb whn we had some difficulties they were extremely understanding and supportive. And the food was really amazing. Freshly made hot food each time. I would recommend alpaca travels to anyone going to machu pichu. The hike was moderately difficult but they made it as comfortable as possible. And again thanks to Victor and Vanessa
Best experience with extraordinary guides ❤️
Me and my wife did 2 days inca trail on September 1st and 2nd. I would say it was the trip of a life time. I don't have words to express it. Alpaca did a great job from beginning to end. Especially our guides Victor and Vanessa, i would say we're blessed to have such a kind and knowledgeable guides thorough out our journey.
The trail is breathtaking but definitely has its demanding stretches, especially the steep stone steps up to Wiñay Wayna. Our guides paced us perfectly, always attentive to our breathing and comfort, and knew exactly when to take a water break or share an inspiring story about Inca history and Andean flora. Their deep passion for Quechua heritage brought every ruin and terrace to life.
Beyond their vast knowledge, it was their genuine kindness and constant support that truly stood out. If you are planning to hike the Short Inca Trail, having guides like ours transforms a tough hike into a seamless, unforgettable journey. I cannot recommend them highly enough!
Victor and Vanessa are the best !!!!!!!!!❤️❤️