How Classic Inca Trail permits work
The Classic Inca Trail starts at Km 82 and follows about 40 km of original Inca paths to Machu Picchu. It is protected by Peru’s Ministry of Culture, and every hiker needs a personal permit. Permits can only be booked through a licensed Inca Trail operator such as Salas Travel. Access is limited to 500 people per day, including guides, porters and cooks, so the number of hikers is much lower. When the permits for a date are gone, nobody else can start the trek that day.
- Personal and final: the permit carries your name and passport number. Once it is issued, the date cannot be changed, transferred or refunded. Only the passport number can be updated if you renew your passport.
- Original passport required: it is checked at the Km 82 checkpoint, at the Machu Picchu entrance and when boarding the train.
- Closed in February: the whole Inca Trail closes every February for maintenance.
- Machu Picchu included: with our Classic Inca Trail 4 days, the Inca Trail permit and your Machu Picchu entrance are both included and secured when you book.
When to book
The driest months are April to October, and demand peaks from May to August. For those months, book several months in advance: the dates with the fewest spaces are shown in red in the list above. November to January usually has more availability, but it is the rainy season.
How to book your Inca Trail permit, step by step
- Choose a date in the calendar above. Pick a day that still shows permits and, if you can, one or two backup dates.
- Book the tour. Permits are not sold on their own: they come with a tour run by a licensed operator. Our Classic Inca Trail 4 days costs USD 780 on our website, with groups of up to 10 travelers.
- Send your passport details. For each traveler we need the full name, passport number, nationality and date of birth, copied exactly from the passport. Students aged 18–25 also send a copy of a valid physical student card.
- We buy your permit from the Ministry of Culture. Licensed operators reserve and pay for Inca Trail permits on the state ticketing platform (tuboleto.cultura.pe). We buy your Machu Picchu entrance at the same time.
- You receive your confirmation. Once the permits are issued, we send you the confirmation and your date is guaranteed.
Passports must match. The name and passport number on the permit must be the same as in the passport you carry on the trail. If you renew your passport, send us a copy as soon as you have it so we can update the number, and carry both passports on the trek.
Cancellations and date changes
Inca Trail permits are issued for one date and one passport. Once issued, they cannot be changed, transferred to another person or refunded. This is a Ministry of Culture rule, and no operator can make an exception. If you move your trip, we have to buy a new permit for the new date, and only if permits are still available. Confirm your flights before you book and consider travel insurance that covers trip cancellation.
What if the permits are sold out?
- Short Inca Trail (Km 104): it has its own quota of 250 people per day, so it can have permits when the Classic trail does not. See Short Inca Trail permits by date or the 2-day tour (USD 569).
- Treks that need no Inca Trail permit: the Salkantay Trek 5 days, the Lares Trek 4 days and the Inca Jungle Trek 4 days all end at Machu Picchu. Compare them in our guide Best Trek to Machu Picchu.
- Machu Picchu by train: the Machu Picchu Day Trip needs no Inca Trail permit, only a Machu Picchu ticket.
- Last-minute cancellations: occasionally permits come back 2–5 days before a date. It is not guaranteed, but we can keep you on a waiting list.
2027: book your space now
We are already taking bookings for 2027. Reserve your space by paying 40% of the tour price and sending us your passport details: you are first in line, and we buy your permit from the Ministry of Culture on the day sales open for your month. Your date is guaranteed once the permit is issued.
The Ministry has not yet announced when 2027 Inca Trail permits go on sale. In recent years, sales for the next season opened in November and were released month by month:
| Permits for | Sales opened | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 season | November 4, 2024 | January first, then the following months on the next days |
| 2026 season | November 17, 2025 | Released by month through late November 2025 |
| December 28–31, 2026 | July 15, 2026 | Early release announced as an exception by the Decentralized Directorate of Culture of Cusco |
| 2027 season | Not announced yet | Operators expect late October or November 2026. We are already taking reservations. |
High-season dates can sell out within hours of release. Book your 2027 Classic Inca Trail.
Inca Trail rules for 2026
- Daily quotas: 500 people per day on the Classic Inca Trail and 250 on the Km 104 route. Both numbers include guides, porters and staff.
- February closure: the whole Inca Trail network closes every February for maintenance. In 2026 it closed on January 31 and reopened on March 1.
- Single-use plastic: single-use plastic bottles are not allowed on the trail; bring reusable bottles or a hydration bladder.
- Conservation surcharge: the Machu Picchu conservation surcharge introduced in May 2026 does not apply to visitors who enter through the Inca Trail network.
- Peruvians and Andean Community citizens: they pay the same national rate for the Machu Picchu entrance, lower than the one for other visitors.
Frequently asked questions
How many Inca Trail permits are there per day?
The Classic Inca Trail allows 500 people per day, and that number includes guides, porters and cooks. The real number of hikers is much lower, which is why high-season dates sell out early.
Can I buy an Inca Trail permit myself?
No. Inca Trail permits are only sold to licensed operators, who book them on behalf of each hiker. When you book the tour with us, we secure your permit and your Machu Picchu entrance.
Can I change the date or the name on my permit?
No. Once the permit is issued, the date and the name cannot be changed, and the permit cannot be transferred or refunded. If you renew your passport, send us a copy and we will update the passport number.
Is the Inca Trail open in February?
No. The Inca Trail closes every February for maintenance and reopens on March 1.
How up to date is the availability on this page?
Permit availability is read automatically from the official source, and the page shows when it was last updated. Spaces can change quickly, so we always confirm your date before you pay.
Is the Classic Inca Trail the same permit as the Short Inca Trail?
No. The Classic trail from Km 82 and the Short Inca Trail from Km 104 have separate quotas (500 and 250 people per day). If one is sold out, the other may still have permits.
What is the minimum age for the Classic Inca Trail?
There is no official minimum age, but we recommend 8 years or older because of the long days, the steep steps and the 4,215 m pass.
Can I book the Inca Trail for 2027 now?
Yes. You reserve your space by paying 40% of the tour price. The Ministry of Culture had not announced the 2027 sale date as of October 2026; we buy your permit as soon as your month opens, and your date is guaranteed once the permit is issued.
If I cancel, do I get the permit money back?
No. Inca Trail permits are non-refundable. If you move your trip, we have to buy a new permit for the new date, and only if permits are still available.