Inca Trail Availability & Permits

The Inca Trail is a popular hiking route in Peru that leads to the ancient Inca ruins of Machu Picchu. Due to its popularity and the need for conservation efforts, permits are required for all visitors who wish to hike the trail.

SAM Travel Peru has Guaranteed and Flexible Departure Dates, we only need a minimum of 2 trekkers and a maximum of 8 for all of our listed tours.

• Availability: The Inca Trail is closed for maintenance each year during the month of February. During this time, no permits are issued, and no treks are allowed.
• Permits: All visitors who wish to hike the Inca Trail must have a permit. These permits are limited, and it is recommended to book in advance, especially during peak season (May to September).
• How to obtain a permit: Permits for the Inca Trail can only be obtained through a licensed tour operator. You cannot obtain a permit directly from the Peruvian government. Tour operators will purchase permits on your behalf, and you must provide your passport information when booking.
• Peak season: The peak season for the Inca Trail is from May to September. During this time, permits can sell out quickly. It is recommended to book at least 4-6 months in advance to secure a permit.
• Off-peak season: The off-peak season for the Inca Trail is from October to April. During this time, permits are generally easier to obtain, and it is possible to book a trek with shorter notice. However, the weather during the off-peak season can be less predictable, and it is important to come prepared for rain and colder temperatures.

Alternative treks:

If permits are sold out for the Classic Inca Trail on your preferred date, don’t get stressed out, you have so many options that will still allow you to trek and enjoy the Andes on the way to MACHU PICCHU. Alternative treks are just as beautiful as the Inca Trail. They are less crowded because we take you OFF the beaten track in the Andes and we make sure you don’t miss anything on your trek to MACHU PICCHU.

• LARES TREK 4 Days 3 nights
• SALKANTAY TREK 5D/4N
• HUCHUY QOSQO 3D/2N
• CHOQUEKIRAW TREK 7D/6N or 4D/3

 CLASSIC INCA TRAIL: If you are booking for the Classic Inca Trail, 4 or 5 days, you must book early to get your desired date. Depending on the month you prefer to hike, you may need to book 6 months or more in advance. The permits for 2023 will go on sale in October of 2022, and many dates are booked out in minutes.

 ALTERNATIVE DATES: We work hard to get permits for your preferred date – in fact we normally secure 98% of the preferred dates for our customers. However, we prefer that you also give us at least 2 alternative dates just in case we are unable to secure permits for your preferred date. This ensures we can still get permits for you and make sure you can experience the Inca Trail!

 SHORT INCA TRAIL: If you are booking the 1 or 2 day Inca Trail, it is preferred that you also book in advance, however 2 to 4 month in before is possible depending on the date you chose to trek.

Overall, if you are interested in hiking the Inca Trail, it is important to plan ahead and book in advance to secure your permit. This will help ensure that you have a memorable and enjoyable experience on this iconic trail.

RENEWAL OR CHANGE OF NAME ON PASSPORT

If you plan to renew or change your name on your passport between making your trek booking and starting your trek, you can book your trek or tour with your current passport number or name, but you must send us a copy of your old passport and a copy of your new passport when you have them.  We can then make the change with the government before you arrive.  The extra cost to do the change is US$25 per person. (This will cover the change in number or name for your Inca Trail Permit, Machu Picchu entrance, and train.)

If you do not advise us of the change or do not want to pay the fee, bring the original of both passports (the old and new one).  You can enter Peru with your new passport but you must show the government authorities your old passport in order to enter the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu or train.  If  you cannot do so, you will not be allowed to start your trek by the government officials. All names and numbers must match!

Please note that passports must be valid for a minimum of another 6 months after the date of entry into Peru.

STUDENT ID CARD 

If you make a trek booking at the student price must send us a copy of your valid up to date university card at the time you pay the trek deposit.  If you fail to bring your original university card on the trek, the government authorities will not allow you to start the trek. The government does not give you the opportunity to pay the difference in price!

Frequently Asked Questions About Inca Trail Permits?

Can I change the date of my Inca Trail trek?

Unfortunately the answer is no. Once the permits or entrance tickets have been bought the government does not allow any changes, so we can’t change any departure date after the permits or ticket has been bought. Tickets are also not transferable nor refundable. You must ensure you are reserving the correct dates! Double check the date on your booking form because we buy your permits as soon as we have your booking form and deposit. Often there are limited spaces and we must purchase them immediately. They are paid for completely as soon as your complete your booking and deposit, which means that you must buy completely new permits if you change your dates. All of the permits and tickets sold by the Peruvian government are non-refundable and non-transferrable.

Can I transfer my Inca Trail permit to someone else?

No, Inca Trail permits are non-transferable and non-refundable. Once a permit has been issued, it cannot be transferred to another person.

Why the high demand for the inca trail?

Travelers are not aware of the limit of 500 permits / day on the Inca Trail. In addition, most travelers do not know that this limit applies not only to hikers entering the trail each day, but also to all required support staff: guides, cooks and porters.

To preserve the integrity of this famous part of what the Inca called the Qhapaq Ñan,

Most of the Inca Trail. Therefore, we have to rely on people (support staff) to help us carry camping equipment, food, sleeping and cooking items. Better known as “¨chaskis¨ in ancient times and well known for their lightning speed along the trails to transmit messages across the vast expanse of the Inca Empire, support staff is vital to the operation of the Inca Trail.

Because of such regulation, the permits required for any group of hikers require double or even triple the permits (of the number of hikers) for the support staff alone.

Now that you know the reason behind the high demand for the Inca Trail, you may feel the need to book your permits sooner rather than later.