Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4D/3N

For May–August book 5–6 months ahead; for other months 2–4 months is usually enough. Only about 500 permits per day are issued (including porters and guides, so roughly 200 hikers), and they cannot be bought last minute.

The Ministry of Culture issues around 500 daily permits for the Classic route, of which about 300 go to porters, cooks and guides. That leaves roughly 200 places for hikers each day.

No. Inca Trail permits can only be purchased by licensed tour operators like us, using your passport details. Independent hiking is not allowed.

Your full name, passport number, nationality, date of birth and gender exactly as in your passport. Permits are non-transferable and names cannot be changed after purchase.

Bring both passports on the trek. The permit is linked to the passport number you booked with.

Yes, every month except February, when the trail closes for maintenance. May to September is the dry season.

It is level 4 of 5 (Challenging) on our scale: about 42 km over 4 days, 5–8 hours of walking a day, and a climb to 4,215 m at Dead Woman's Pass. No technical skills are needed.

About 42 km (26 miles) from KM 82 to Machu Picchu, walked over four days.

Warmiwañusca, or Dead Woman's Pass, at 4,215 m (13,828 ft), on day 2.

Spend at least 2 days in Cusco (3,400 m) or the Sacred Valley before the trek, drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol the first days and walk slowly. Our guides carry emergency oxygen and a first aid kit.

Hikers must be in good health; we recommend a minimum age of 12. Fit older hikers complete the trail every week.

Yes. Porters carry all tents, food and kitchen gear, so you only walk with a day pack. With the upgrade, a porter also carries 5 kg of your personal items.

By law, a maximum of 20 kg each. Loads are weighed at the checkpoint and we pay our porters fairly.

Official campsites with basic toilets. Our crew sets up your tent, dining tent and kitchen before you arrive.

Three hot meals a day plus snacks and tea, cooked fresh by our trail chefs. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets are available on request.

We provide boiled, filtered water from day 1 lunch onwards. Bring a 1–2 litre bottle for the first morning.

There are no hot showers on the trail. We bring you a bowl of warm water every morning and evening to wash.

Broken-in hiking boots, rain jacket, warm layers (nights can drop to 0 °C), sun hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, headlamp, water bottle, personal medication, passport and cash for tips.

Yes. It must cover hiking at altitude, medical evacuation and trip cancellation.

Tips are optional but customary. Many hikers give around 50–80 USD per person in total, shared between porters, cooks and guide.

Yes, but it needs a separate ticket booked together with your trek. Ask us when booking.

Yes. We can move your return train to a later day so you can visit Machu Picchu again or rest.

We'll suggest the Short Inca Trail, Salkantay or Lares trek, which still end at Machu Picchu.

Yes. The route is controlled by the Ministry of Culture, and our guides are trained in first aid and carry oxygen and communication for emergencies.

Booking directly with a Cusco-based operator means no middlemen: your money goes to the guides, chefs and porters who run your trek, and you talk to the team on the ground.