Planning to walk the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu? The main thing you need to know about Inca Trail Permits is that they are in very low supply and there is a very high demand for them each year. 

It's a good idea to book your Inca Trail trek now to ensure you don't miss out, with only 500 permits available per day – for trekkers and crew, they get snapped up quickly. 

The Inca Trail trekking season extends from March until January, but in previous seasons, permits for the most popular dates in May, June and August sold out within days (some, just hours!) and those who wanted to trek the classic Inca Trail with us left it too late and missed out. 

Here's a quick guide to everything else you need to know about getting your Inca Trail permits.

The Inca Trail is one of the world’s most popular adventure travel experiences. To help protect the trail from its over-popularity a permit system was introduced to limit the number of people on the trail to 500 a day. The ‘500 people a day’ doesn’t just include trekkers, it also includes cooks, porters and guides. Do the math and you’ll quickly understand why you need to book your Inca Trail trip very early.

Only approved tour operators, like World Expeditions, can obtain an Inca Trail permit. As part of our all-inclusive trip pricing, the cost of the permit is already included in the tour cost. 

The most popular time to hike the Inca Trail is between May and August, with permits for May and June selling out within days – sometimes hours – once released. So, if you have your heart set on doing the classic 4-day trek, or joining a section of the legendary trail to Machu Picchu, be sure to book well in advance to get a permit for your desired travel dates. 

For the following year's walking season, Inca Trail permits are generally released in early October. You can subscribe to our enewsletter to get notified on permit releases as well as other adventure travel news.

At least 6-8 months in advance. The earlier you book the better the chance of securing a permit.

World Expeditions has over 30 years experience offering high quality, fully-supported walking tours in Peru. Don't leave your Inca Trail walk to chance, join us on one of the greatest short treks in the world. Our treks include two visits to Machu Picchu sanctuary to fully appreciate this new world wonder.

If you want to avoid the popular trail and discover lesser-trekked routes, there are other options that trek through lush valleys, alpine lakes and snow-capped peaks before reaching stunning views of Machu Picchu. 

Our Salcantay Treks to Machu Picchu as well as the Inca Rivers Trek will introduce you to a wilder route that avoid the crowds and encompass other spectacular Inca Ruin sites.

There is the option to trek the final section of Inca Trail to the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu with a 1-day permit. You can find this alternative on a number of our Peru adventures. 

Taking the train to Km104, you'll join the last and perhaps most beautiful section of the fabulous Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, which takes you through the famous Inti Punku. Your first view of the ruins will really take your breath away!