Inca Trail planning & trekking tips
Inca Trail permits
Inca Trail permits for each season's trekking are released the previous October. So For the 2020 trekking season, which begins in March, it is expected that permits will go on sale in October 2019. As with all permits, these can only be obtained via a licenced tour operator. There are a maximum of 500 permits per day for the Inca Trail, but as 300 of these are used by porters and guides, they sell out very quickly - especially for the peak trekking months of June, July and August, when it's recommended to book at least six months in advance. December, January and March tend to sell out slowest, as these are the wettest months (the trail closes for maintenance each February).
If you miss out on a permit, you can always trek one of the alternative routes to Machu Picchu, such as Lares or Salkantay. No permits are required for these.
If you miss out on a permit, you can always trek one of the alternative routes to Machu Picchu, such as Lares or Salkantay. No permits are required for these.
Our Inca Trail trek Holidays
Hiking the Inca Trail holiday
An unrivalled combination of history and spectacular scenery
From
£2495 to £3545
10 days
inc UK flights
Peruvian Andes trekking holiday to Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu with an International Guide and Doctor.
From
£2752
14 days
ex flights
Peru walking and cultural holiday
Trek the cultural sites and mountain scenery of Peru
From
£2873
10 days
ex flights
Peru highlights tour, Inca trail, Titicaca and Nazca
Taste Peru's diverse landscapes and fascinating culture
From
£3499 to £3949
17 days
inc UK flights
High Inca Trail trek in Peru
Machu Picchu, Inca fortresses and cloud forest
From
£3099 to £3449
16 days
inc UK flights
Inca Trail trekking holiday, alternative route
Discover the beauty of the Inca Trail in a different way
From
£645
5 days
ex flights
Booking tips
Adam Walker, from our supplier Saddle Skedaddle, shares his Inca Trail tips for making a booking: "The thing I would stress most about the Inca Trail is how important it is that people get their act together. They only sell 500 permits a day, and around 300 of those are for guides and porters, so people just don't realise how far in advance they have to book it. Five to six months is on the safe side. If people call us three months before the high season, it might be too late."Inca trail planning tips
Simon Forster is the co-founder of our supplier, The Beyond Tourism Co. Here is his tip for planning your trek to Machu Picchu: "Make sure you know if you're getting a private guide or if you're part of a bigger group. People sometimes don't realise they could be added to a bigger group, even if they've booked a tailor made tour. The nature of the trail means you will always end up walking with other people anyway, but it does mean you won't have a guide to yourself."
Inca trail trekking tips
Kathy Jarvis is the director of our supplier, Andean Trails, and has recently updated Bradt's Peru Trekking guide. Here are her Inca Trail tips on preparing for the trek: "Make sure you acclimatise as much as possible. The more acclimatised you are, the more you'll enjoy it. You can suffer a lot if you try and force your body too high, too soon - as well as it being dangerous. So allow as much time as possible as you can before trekking. And then it's a case of having the right clothes - good kit, jackets, waterproofs, warm gloves, hats... It's also better to bring your own sleeping bag. There are some for hire, but it's quite a personal thing!"Health & safety
HEALTH
SAFETY
Our top Inca Trail trek Holiday
Peru highlights tour, Inca trail, Titicaca and Nazca
Taste Peru's diverse landscapes and fascinating culture
From
£3499 to £3949
17 days
inc UK flights
Small group travel:
2023: 14 Apr, 5 May, 19 May, 2 Jun, 23 Jun, 21 Jul, 11 Aug, 25 Aug, 8 Sep, 13 Oct
2023: 14 Apr, 5 May, 19 May, 2 Jun, 23 Jun, 21 Jul, 11 Aug, 25 Aug, 8 Sep, 13 Oct
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Inca Trail trek or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.

01273 823 700
Call us until 6pm
Calling from outside the UK
Inca Trail tips from our travellers
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travellers are often... other travellers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful Inca Trail tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday - and the space inside your suitcase.
We have selected some of the most useful Inca Trail tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday - and the space inside your suitcase.

Plan for a few extra days in Cuzco and around the Sacred Valley, there is a lot to see apart from the trail.![]()

- Panagiotis Christakos
“You need your passport for the Inca trail!“ - Keren Jones
“I would definitely recommend exercising before taking this holiday. It isn't overly tough, but training will allow you more enjoyment from it.“ - Anthony Spencer
“On the third day there's an optional detour to a set of ruins called Intipata. It only adds about 20 or 30 minutes walking but hardly anyone goes there so you have the place to yourself - definitely worth it.“ - Graeme Cade
“Bring lots of extra toilet paper and Pepto Bismol. Make sure you have extra batteries for cameras, since there won't be anywhere to charge them. Take a day in Aguas Calientes to recover from the hike - we did and others we spoke to who left the same day they arrived were simply exhausted.“ - Christy Smith
“I would definitely recommend exercising before taking this holiday. It isn't overly tough, but training will allow you more enjoyment from it.“ - Anthony Spencer
“On the third day there's an optional detour to a set of ruins called Intipata. It only adds about 20 or 30 minutes walking but hardly anyone goes there so you have the place to yourself - definitely worth it.“ - Graeme Cade
“Bring lots of extra toilet paper and Pepto Bismol. Make sure you have extra batteries for cameras, since there won't be anywhere to charge them. Take a day in Aguas Calientes to recover from the hike - we did and others we spoke to who left the same day they arrived were simply exhausted.“ - Christy Smith

Take some gifts for the kids. We chose crayons and paper and were amazed at how appreciative they were.![]()

- Matthew Smith
“Listen to the advice of your guides who really know their stuff. As they say, it's not a race and 'the last is first'.“ - Linda James
“The trail was tough mainly because of the altitude - at sea level this would have been a relatively easy 'walk-up' for a fit person.“ - Norman Meehan
“It is nice to stay in modern hotels and travel on trains, but let your guides take you to the markets and try and fit in a stay with a local family to get an idea of life in Peru.“ - Chris Simmons
“Have some Soles in small denominations as change is very hard to find.“ - Keith Charters
“The trail was tough mainly because of the altitude - at sea level this would have been a relatively easy 'walk-up' for a fit person.“ - Norman Meehan
“It is nice to stay in modern hotels and travel on trains, but let your guides take you to the markets and try and fit in a stay with a local family to get an idea of life in Peru.“ - Chris Simmons
“Have some Soles in small denominations as change is very hard to find.“ - Keith Charters