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.
Incredible experience!!!!
Our tour is not listed but wed did 6 day /5 night Choquequirao hike and Macchu Picchu
Unbelievable experience.. Santiago our tour guide incredible. Marcos & Clestina the cooks were amazing Frank our horseman was wonderful
Santiago made sure we were safe during this arduous trek. Our meals were incredible!
The logistics of this trek were handled flawlessly
Thank you to all who coordinated our trip of a lifetime!
Rainbow Mountain, Beautiful Geologic Expedition
We had a wonderful day with our guide, Richard, and driver to Rainbow Mountain. We were very well taken care of with amazing food and great knowledgeable company. They were able to accommodate my gluten free and dairy free restrictions without any difficulty. The mountain was beautiful, of course, even with the crowds of people. Don't cheat, hike it. It is so much more amazing when you work for it!
Amazing Experience
We are from Canada and picked Alpaca Expedition for our tour and did not disappoint!! Great service and very organized. Special mention to our tour guide JAIME VASQUEZ very knowledgeable about history and well spoken English. He always make sure we are safe and doing great. If we are out of breath during all the walking and climbing he slows down. My partner got sick during our stay but they are very helpful he only went to one of our trips. Would highly recommend!!! By the way Jaime is also a great photographer!!! He always check if we got great pictures and volunteer to take pics for us!!!👍🙏
Inca trail closure: disorganized response but incredible guides and porters
We couldn't do the classic 4-day inca trail because it was closed for repairs. Alpaca gave us the choice to do an alternative 4-day itinerary or to do the shorter 2-day inca trail. The 4-day version was essentially a day and a half of hiking to the ruins of Uchuy Qosqo plus the 2-day inca trail. My family group of 4 (including my 74yo father) opted for the former. Although these were extraordinary circumstances and the company was having to cope with fast-changing circumstances, the response felt very disorganized and we would have appreciated better communication about the different options.
Despite the administrative difficulties, our trip was an overall success. The key to this success was our team of guides and porters, led by Juan Carlos H. and Romario. Our guides were very experienced, extremely kind and patient, spoke perfect English, and were also very funny. There were a few times when our group would make a stop, everyone looking a bit drained out, and JC would know exactly the right thing to say to put a smile on everyone's face and get people going again. JC and Romario were also extremely patient with my father and ensured his safety and enjoyment of the trip. The team of porters and cooks was also incredible. Everything was always ready on time, our stuff arrived in perfect shape, and the food was abundant and tasty. These people do a very difficult job and this type of trip would not be possible without them.
On to the hike itself, our first half leading to Uchuy Qosqo was beautiful. We started near Sacsayhuaman outside Cusco and hiked for a whole day until our camp site near a creek. We got to experience what it's like to camp in a beautiful setting in the middle of nowhere. Next morning we left through a small canyon that was also incredibly beautiful and walked a bit to get to the ruins, which were very interesting. The rest of that second day wasn't particularly remarkable. We had to hike down a very steep mountain to get to the village of Lamay, where we had our lunch and then got on a bus to Ollantaytambo, where we camped at a horrible location. However, being in Ollantaytambo facilitated the logistics for day 3, when we took the train to km104 and did the one day hike to Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate. That day's hike was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. Our eyes teared when we first saw Machu Picchu from up high. 100% worth it. We then spent the night in Ollantaytambo. Day 4 involved a second visit to Machu Picchu, this one more detailed. One positive aspect of the revised itinerary was that we got to visit Machu Picchu twice, one from above getting the panoramic view, and one from below touring the citadel.
Overall, I can't say enough positive things about our guides and porters. Cusco, the sacred valley, and Machu Picchu are full of culture, nature, and beauty. Totally worth the trip. Alpaca as a company was somewhat disappointing.
Thank you Sergio and Kenyo!!
Incredible tour and company.
The trek itself is incredible but what really made the experience was the guides.
Sergio and Kenyo are the best guides I’ve ever seen on any tour. Before, during and after, they went above and beyond.
Also the accommodation and food during the trek is top tier and well worth the price.