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 experience with female cook and porters. Bravo Madalena, Basilia, Celia and L'Oréal!
I just finished an expedition of 7 days for women only on the Salkanty Trail with Alpaca Expeditions. Our guide Soledad was fabulous and had a passion to share her love of Peru. We were supported by a courageous female team porters and cooks. Food was incredibly tasty and well presentated with lots of attention to details. All of them woke up very early in the morning to bring to our rooms as we woke up, coffee and hot water so we could refresh. I just have tons of appreciation for them, they treated us like family members. Thank you so much: Soledad, Madalena, Basilia, Celia and Lorena. Thanks to the boys who carried our luggage with their horses. XXX
Just do it!
The trip was tough in places, but well worth it. The whole experience was made better by our two wonderful guides, Rolando and Deivid. They are both very knowledgeable, friendly, organised and forever positive. I never knew there was so much behind the scenes to deal with - porters, chefs and dealing with other things along the way. The whole group bonded as a family on the holiday, and we’d all include Rolando and Deivid in the family - a really wonderful couple of guys. Thanks for making our trek so magical.
Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu
My dad and I have just completed the 4 day Inca trail trek to Machu Picchu and what an unforgettable experience it was!
We were in a group of 11 trekkers with the two BEST guides in Peru, Rolando and Deivid, both of whom take the utmost pride in their culture and heritage (understandably!). Their knowledge, attitudes, and humour are simply unmatched.
The second day was definitely the toughest but the sense of achievement, and breathtaking scenery, made it all worthwhile! Our porters and chefs were incredible, supportive, and so friendly. We were very well looked after with coca tea served each morning and delicious meals - we never had the same meal twice! On our last evening our chef even made a delicious cake for us to enjoy.. in the mountains with no oven!
I would implore booking with Alpaca Expeditions as it is a Peruvian run company who look after their staff very well and also out back into the local community.
I’ve come away with new friends, an experience of a life time, and an even greater appreciation for the earth we all share. Thank you Alpaca Expeditions!! <3
5 star experience w/ 5 star guides!
We had an incredible four-day, three-night Inca Trail trek with Alpaca Expeditions and would recommend it 100%.
Javier and Yadara were excellent guides. They were incredibly knowledgeable but also fun and personable, and we really enjoyed talking with them about Peru, their families, travels, and their experiences on the trail.
Yadara especially went above and beyond. We stayed in Ollantaytambo the night before the trek, and since the bus couldn’t reach the town center, she met us there and took us by tuk-tuk to the pickup location. It made a potentially stressful morning incredibly easy ( and exciting!).
After reaching Machu Picchu, four of us also hiked Huayna Picchu. Yadara waited for us at the bottom for the entire two hours while we completed the hike, allowing us to leave our day bags with her rather than carrying them up the mountain. That was incredibly thoughtful and made the hike much easier.
The chef and porters also deserve a lot of credit. The meals were incredibly robust and well-balanced, especially considering we were in the middle of the mountains. There was so much variety, and the popcorn and tea time each afternoon were a great touch. The porters were also incredibly friendly and encouraging throughout the trek. They would zoom past us on the trail carrying everything, but somehow still had the energy to cheer us on as they passed!
Everything was extremely well organized, and even the rain couldn’t dampen the experience. We were rewarded with a picture-perfect day at Machu Picchu.
An amazing experience from start to finish. Highly recommend Alpaca Expeditions, Javier, and Yadara!
Tupananchiskama!!
Awesome 4D/3N Inca Trail Trek!
We had an amazing 4-day , 3-night Inca Trail trek with Alpaca Expeditions, and it really was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. A huge part of what made it so great was our guides, Javier and Yadara.
Both of them were fantastic from start to finish. They did a great job taking care of our group of 12, making sure everyone was doing okay, helping whenever needed, and keeping things moving along. They were also just really enjoyable people to spend four days with. It was great getting to know them and talking about their past treks, their families, their travels, and life in Peru. Those conversations made the experience feel much more personal.
They also knew an incredible amount about the history, culture, and different sites along the trail. At each stop, they took the time to explain what we were seeing and why it was significant. They were always happy to answer questions, and their knowledge really added to the experience and gave us a much better appreciation for the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu.
We did have quite a bit of rain during the trek, but honestly, it never really soured the experience. And we were rewarded at the end with a picture-perfect day at Machu Picchu, which made everything worth it. Seeing Machu Picchu in beautiful weather after hiking the Inca Trail was something we will never forget.
The porters and chef also deserve a huge shout-out. The food was insanely good for what we were expecting on a multi-day trek. Every meal was impressive, and somehow the chef even made us a cake! We honestly couldn’t believe the meals we were getting out there. The porters were also incredibly nice and worked so hard behind the scenes to make everything happen. We really appreciated all of them.
The logistics from Alpaca Expeditions were also excellent. Pickups from our Airbnb and hotels, transportation to the trailhead, buses, trains, and getting us back to Cusco were all handled smoothly. There are a lot of moving parts involved in a trip like this, but we never had to worry about where we needed to be or how we were getting there.
Overall, this was an incredible experience from beginning to end. We would absolutely recommend Alpaca Expeditions, and Javier and Yadara were a huge part of making the trip so memorable.
Vamos a la playa!