4 daysClassic Inca Trail 4 Days
The original stone road of the Incas, ending at the Sun Gate at first light.
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Inca Trail tours to Machu Picchu
Three ways to walk the Inca Trail from Cusco and enter Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. Permits, guide, meals and the train back are arranged for you.
4 days
2 daysShort Inca Trail 2 Days
The last 12 km of the Inca road, the Sun Gate on foot and a hotel bed at night.
4 daysLuxury Inca Trail
The classic route to the Sun Gate with a private crew, walk in tents, real beds and hot showers.
Side by side
Compare the inca trail
| Trip | Length | Level | Highest point | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Inca Trail 4 Days | 4 days, 3 nights | Challenging | 4,215 m (13,828 ft) | $750 |
| Short Inca Trail 2 Days | 2 days, 1 night | Moderate | 2,720 m (8,923 ft) | $490 |
| Luxury Inca Trail | 4 days, 3 nights | Demanding | 4,215 m (13,829 ft) | $1980 |
Classic, short or luxury
The Classic Inca Trail covers about 45 km in four days. You camp three nights, cross Dead Woman's Pass at 4,215 m and visit ruins that can only be reached on foot before arriving at the Sun Gate at dawn.
The Short Inca Trail walks the last 12 km in one day, from Km 104 past Winay Wayna to the Sun Gate. You sleep in a hotel in Aguas Calientes and tour Machu Picchu the next morning. It never goes above 2,720 m.
The Luxury Inca Trail is the classic four day route as a private trek, with tents you can stand up in, camp beds, hot showers and a chef for your party only.
Permits decide everything
The government issues a fixed number of Inca Trail permits per day, in the name of each hiker and for one date only. In the dry season they often sell out months ahead, and they cannot be changed afterwards.
Nobody may walk the trail independently, so every group goes with a licensed operator. The whole network closes each February for maintenance. If your dates are already full, the Salkantay treks need no trail permit.
Common questions
How far ahead should I book the Inca Trail?
For the dry season, from May to September, four to six months ahead is safe for the 4 day trek. The 2 day route usually has space a little longer, but it also sells out.
Which Inca Trail is right for me?
Choose the 4 day trek if you want the full route, the high passes and the camps. Choose the 2 day trek if you have less time, prefer a hotel bed or want to avoid high altitude.
Is the Inca Trail open all year?
It is open from March to January. It closes every February. May to September has the clearest weather and the highest demand.
More ways to explore
Looking for something else?
Salkantay Treks
A 4,630 m glacier pass, cloud forest and nights in domes on the way to Machu Picchu.
Choquequirao
Four days across the Apurimac canyon to an Inca city with no road, no train and almost no visitors.
Machu Picchu
The citadel by train, in one to three days, with tickets and guide arranged.
Day Hikes
High lakes and painted mountains you can reach and return from in one day.
Luxury Tours
Private luxury treks and Machu Picchu journeys, with glamping camps, selected hotels and panoramic trains.