Current Inca Trail Availability & Permits for 2025

***Note: If your date is sold out, it´s sold out for all travel agencies or operators, which means there are no more permits left!

*** YOU need the Inca Trail availability ONLY for the starting date of your trek!

***NOTE: During the month of February the Inca Trail is closed for maintenance.

What time of year is the best time to do the Inca trail?

The best season to hike the Inca trail is the dry season, which is from Late April to September every year. During Cusco’s dry season it’s less likely to rain, with daily sunshine the norm and beautiful weather the standard. The peak tourism season in Cusco is between the months of May and August, which is due to the weather.

What is the process for getting Inca Trail permits?

The Inca Trail permits are regulated by the local government and can only be purchased by a licensed Peru tour operator. The process to get a permit starts with you contacting a licensed tour operator, (we recommend: Sam Travel Peru) and checking the Inca Trail availability for your desired hiking date. The operator then checks if there is availability to hike the Inca Trail for those dates. Once the client and the operator agree on a day to hike the inca trail the trek will be booked immidiately.

**In order to book, the client sends a $200 USD non-refundable deposit and the operator purchases an Inca trail permit on your behalf. The permit is non-refundable.

WHAT TO DO IF THE CLASSIC INCA TRAIL IS SOLD OUT FOR YOUR DESIRED DATES?

If permits are sold out for the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 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.

• Inca Trail 2 days: Inca Trail 2 days is an awesome option for those who don’t have time or desire to trek the full length of the Inca Trail. You will cover a distance of 10km / 6.3 miles. You will enjoy all the best bits of the Inca Trail condensed into a 1-day hike. In addition, you are going to see Machu Picchu 2 times. SAM Travel Peru has the best deals for this unique trekking.
• Salkantay trek: The Salkantay hike is an excellent way to arrive at Machu Picchu. Less well-known than the Classical Inca Trail. The Salkantay hike is easy to book and cheap. And on top of that, many travelers say the Salkantay trek is just as pretty! That’s why many travelers looking for a multi-day hike to Machu Picchu choose the Salkantay trail.
• Lares Trek: Lares Trek is the best alternative trek of the Inca Trail if you are thinking to explore lightly trodden trails. This amazing hike will bring you to explore remote villages and schools, and hike along with Chinchillas, llamas, and alpacas while you enjoy unparalleled views of the glacier mountains and lakes. The best trekking route starts at Huran and ends at the natural hot spring of Lares and SAM Travel offers it.
• Inca Quarry Trail trek: If you are looking for an alternative hike to Inca Trail and you don’t like to hike with crowds, the Inca quarry trek 4 days is best for you, it is one of the newest treks that offer you beautiful sites such as unparalleled views of snowcapped peaks, waterfalls, and archeological sites, if you can combine it with the 2 days Inca Trail will be even better and ORANGE Nation is the best company for it.
• Huchuy Qosqo Trek: Huchuy Qosqo hike is one of Peru’s most pretty and rewarding treks. This hike will take you by some of the country’s most amazing landscapes, sweeping mountain views, lakes, Sacred valley, and Inca Ruins and it includes home stay. Check it our Spider Travel Peru.
• Ausangate trek: Ausangate trek offers superb alpine scenery, a challenging route, very few people, strong cultural components, and an amazing countryside that exceeds your expectations. For those who really love trekking and mountains, it is an epic hike.
• Rainbow Mountain Trek: known locally as Vinicunca, is a spectacular multi-colored mountain in the Andes near Cusco, it takes 1 whole day. Our recommended company is SAM Travel.

*** See the list of TOP alternative treks to Machu Picchu

Important Note: To buy the Inca Trail trek permit, its important to send the name exactly as written on your passport, Passport Number, Date of Birth, Nationality and Gender, without this information, there is no way to buy the permits.
***You must bring the same passport with you to Cusco and take it with you on the Inca Trail.

Very Important Note: If the name or number on your passport does not match the name and number on the trek permit, the government authorities will not allow you to start the trek and you will not be entitled to a refund.

Student Discount

Your student card offers you financial benefits when hiking on the Inca trail. With a valid university card, you are entitled to a discount. The discount only applies to students under 25 years old. This may vary from company to company, but should be around a $25 discount! In order to get this discount, you need to send the agency a copy of your card and travel with the card on the trail. If you do not bring your card with you on the trail you will be forced to pay the full Price at the trailhead. ISIC cards are not valid for the discount anymore.

The Official Inca Trail Availability information has been provided by Sam Travel!