The Inca Trail has to be the most iconic trek in the world encompassing dense sub-tropical vegetation, stunning mountain scenery and finally building towards the first glimpse of Machu Picchu through Intipunku, the Gateway of the Sun. Our guide to trekking the Inca Trail covers everything you need to know to begin planning your trip.

The Classic Inca Trail and the alternatives to the Inca Trail

If there are no Inca Trail permits available, or you would prefer to avoid the crowds, then there are a number of alternatives to the Inca Trail. None (except for the short Inca Trail) offer quite the same experience of Inca ruins and the spectacular approach to Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate, but are fantastic treks in their own right which include a day in Machu Picchu.

Classic Inca Trail: The Classic four day Inca Trail is top of most people's agendas. And whilst, yes it is busy, yes getting permits isn't all that easy, it is still the ultimate way to see Machu Picchu and the stunning surrounding scenery.

Short Inca Trail: A 2 day one night Inca Trail for those with less time or less inclination to trek for four days. This trek misses some of the best mountain scenery but does take in the spectacular approach to Machi Picchu. This trail is still subject to permits.

The Salkantay Trail from: The 5 day / 4n night Salkantay Trail was named one of the 25 best Treks in the Worlds by National Geographic Adventure Magazine. Salkantay (Salcantay) is an incredibly beautiful if sometimes demanding trek. After 3 days of trekking you are transported to Machu Picchu for a guided tour.

Lares Valley: The Lares trek takes you off the beaten path through beautiful valleys and traditional communities. The emphasis here is on exploring villages, visiting markets and seeing the locals produce wonderful hand-made textiles. After 3 days trekking you're transported to Machu Picchu for a guided tour.

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Online calendar for Inca Trail Permits

Permits were introduced on the Inca Trail in between 2003 and 2005 to protect the trail against overcrowding and abuse. Permits are sold on a first come first served basis.

The Inca Trail is restricted to 500 people a day, this allows for around 300 staff (guides, porters etc.) and 200 trekkers. There are around 150 registered tour operators that have licenses to operate on the Inca Trail, and it is through these that all trekkers must make their arrangements. It is not possible to the trail independently, although it is theoretically possible (but difficult) to arrange your own qualified guide.  

The Inca Trail regulations require all licensed tour operators to meet certain minimum standards that govern porter welfare and group sizes. There is a set minimum wage for porters and a maximum weight which they are allowed to carry (this is vetted at a checkpoint on the trail). The tour operators are required to use professional qualified guides, and provide emergency first aid, oxygen and radio equipment. Group sizes are limited to a maximum of 16 trekkers, with a maximum guide to trekker ratio of 1:8.

Availability of the Inca Trail permits is controlled by the Peruvian National Institute of Culture http://www.machupicchu.gob.pe/. Availability moves incredibly quickly so it is only really useful as an aid to planning. We will book the permits for you (you can not do it yourself through this website). 

1. Go to http://www.machupicchu.gob.pe/ (note: the website is temperamental, if it doesn't work, try again later)
2. Select "Consultas" and and then the Camino Inka and month drop downs to view the permit availability for the month you are interested in
3. The number of remaining spaces will display. The maximum number is 500 and this includes the trekking guides and porters, so roughly half are available for travellers. Once availability drops below 300 the remaining spaces tend to go pretty quickly, so don't assume that just because there are 250 spaces left on your date that you have loads of time to book.

To find out whether there is avaiability on the Inca Trail, click on the month you would like to trek below. These pages are regularly updated so should reveal the exact number of permits available: The general rule of thumb is that permits sell out three months in advance. But in reality it depends on the time of year. During the high season from May to August you will need to be looking to book 5 months in advance to be sure of permits. During the shoulder months (April, October, November) you will need to book 2-3 months in advance, whilst in the off season it can be possible to secure permits even at the last minute if you are lucky (December, January, March)

Inca Trail Statistics

To give an idea of the typical profile of trekkers on the Inca Trail, the following snapshot shows the demographic breakdown of trekkers booked on the Inca Trail.

- 50.2% are male, 49.8% are female
- 19% are Argentineans, 12% US, 11% UK, 9% Australian, 8% Canadian and 8% French
- 78% are between the ages of 21-40, with the youngest under 10 and the oldest over 70