Inca Trail Permits

The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is strictly regulated by the Ministry of Culture in Peru. This is done in order to better preserve the trail and slow down the negative impacts of tourism on the centuries-old path and archaeological sites.

Since 2002, access to the Inca Trail has been limited to 500 people per day. This maximum includes both travelers and porter crews. Due to the popularity of the trail, permits for the Inca Trail sell out rapidly each year; with permits for high season months selling out as far out as 06 months in advance. In addition, permits can only be purchased by authorized operators who book these permits on a first-come-first-serve basis until they are capped out. It is for these reasons that the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu cannot be hiked independently and should be booked well in advance.

The Inca Trail permits are also very strict in nature. Permits grant access not only to the trail itself but also to the various archaeological sites along the trail and the assigned campsites where travelers spend the various nights. Permits are therefore purchased for each visitor using their full names and passport details, and cannot be modified in any way after being purchased. In other words, Inca Trail permits have been designed.

Inca Trail Map