Most Inca Trail guides are written for backpackers with months to spare. This one is for travelers flying from the United States with a fixed number of vacation days. It covers what you need to enter Peru, how you get to Cusco, the time difference with your city, which 2027 US holidays line up with the Inca Trail, and a 9-day plan that fits a Thanksgiving, Memorial Day or Labor Day week. Everything here is based on official sources and on how our own treks run from Cusco.
- No visafor US citizens visiting as tourists, but your passport must be valid for 6 months after arrival.
- Lima → Cuscono nonstop flights from the US to Cusco: you connect in Lima.
- 9 daysis enough for the Classic 4-day trek, with two days to acclimatize.
Passport, entry and health
- Passport: US citizens don’t need a visa for tourism. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the date you arrive in Peru. The immigration record, the Andean Migration Card (TAM), is now virtual, so there is no paper form to fill in.
- Use the same passport for everything. Your Inca Trail permit and Machu Picchu entrance are issued with your passport number, and names cannot be changed. If you plan to renew your passport before the trip, do it before you book, or tell us straight away.
- Vaccines: the CDC does not recommend the yellow fever vaccine for trips limited to Cusco, the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu, and there is no malaria transmission there. Check the CDC’s Peru page and your doctor if you are adding the Amazon.
- Altitude: Cusco sits at 3,400 m (11,150 ft) and the trail’s high point is 4,215 m (13,828 ft). Ask your doctor about altitude medication before you travel.
- Insurance: check whether your US health plan covers you abroad. Many travelers buy a travel policy that covers trekking at altitude and medical evacuation.
Getting to Cusco from the US
There are no nonstop flights from the United States to Cusco. You fly to Lima’s Jorge Chávez International Airport, then take a domestic flight to Cusco; Cusco is the airport’s busiest domestic route. Nonstop flights to Lima leave from several US hubs, such as Miami, Houston, Atlanta, New York and Los Angeles. They take roughly 5½ hours from Miami to about 8½ from Los Angeles. Routes and seasons change, so check the airlines when you book. The Lima–Cusco flight takes a little over an hour.
- Leave room for delays. Book your Lima–Cusco flight with a generous connection, or on a separate day if you land late at night. Missing the connection shouldn’t cost you an acclimatization day.
- Don’t fly home on the last day of the trek. On the Classic route you are back in Cusco after dark on day 4, so book your flight out for the next day.
- Cusco’s new airport won’t be ready for 2027. The Chinchero International Airport is under construction, and its opening is now estimated for late 2027 or 2028. Plan your trip through the current Cusco airport.
Time difference: Peru vs your city
Peru is on UTC−5 all year and does not change its clocks, so the difference with the US depends on the season. There is little or no jet lag from the East Coast.
| If you live in | Nov–Mar (US standard time) | Mar–Nov (US daylight time) |
|---|---|---|
| New York, Miami, Atlanta (Eastern) | Same time as Peru | Peru is 1 hour behind |
| Chicago, Houston, Dallas (Central) | Peru is 1 hour ahead | Same time as Peru |
| Denver (Mountain) | Peru is 2 hours ahead | Peru is 1 hour ahead |
| Los Angeles, Seattle (Pacific) | Peru is 3 hours ahead | Peru is 2 hours ahead |
2027 US holidays and the Inca Trail
| US holiday 2027 | Inca Trail at that time |
|---|---|
| MLK Day, Mon 18 January | Rainy season; the trail is open and permits are easier to get. |
| Presidents’ Day, Mon 15 February | The trail is closed all February. Visit Machu Picchu by train or choose an alternative trek. |
| Spring break and Easter (Holy Week 21–28 March) | End of the rainy season. Holy Week is one of the first weeks to sell out. |
| Memorial Day, Mon 31 May | Dry season; Corpus Christi in Cusco on 27 May. May needs booking before the permits go on sale. |
| Juneteenth (observed Fri 18 June) and Independence Day (observed Mon 5 July) | Peak season and Inti Raymi (24 June). See June and July. |
| Labor Day, Mon 6 September | Dry, clear and a little less busy than July: one of our favorite times. |
| Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Mon 11 October | Shoulder season, with fewer people than September. |
| Thanksgiving, Thu 25 November | Start of the rainy season; permits are usually easier. Book 2–3 months ahead. |
| Christmas and New Year | High demand for the last days of December. See Christmas and New Year on the Inca Trail. |
How many vacation days do you need?
For the Classic 4-day trek, plan 9 days door to door: one day to fly, two days to acclimatize, the evening briefing, four days on the trail and one day to fly home. Around a holiday, that is fewer vacation days than it looks:
- Thanksgiving 2027: Saturday 20 to Sunday 28 November uses 3 or 4 vacation days, and you spend Thanksgiving on the trail.
- Memorial Day 2027: Saturday 22 to Monday 31 May uses 5 vacation days.
- Labor Day 2027: Saturday 28 August to Monday 6 September uses 5 vacation days.
Short on days? The 2-day Inca Trail fits into a week, and reaches the same Sun Gate. Compare both in 2-day vs 4-day.
A 9-day plan from the US
| Day | Plan | Where you sleep |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fly from the US to Lima; connect to Cusco if you land early, or stay near the airport | Lima or Cusco |
| 2 | Fly to Cusco; take it easy, drink water and eat light | Cusco or the Sacred Valley |
| 3 | Sacred Valley or an easy walk around Cusco to acclimatize | Cusco |
| 4 | Free morning; pre-trek briefing at our Cusco office at 6 p.m. | Cusco |
| 5–8 | Classic Inca Trail, 4 days: Machu Picchu on day 8, train back and arrival in Cusco after dark | Camps, then Cusco |
| 9 | Fly Cusco–Lima and on to the US | Overnight flight or home |
The Sacred Valley (about 2,800–2,900 m) is lower than Cusco, so sleeping there on the first night or two makes acclimatization easier. Read the full route in the day-by-day guide.
Money, phones and plugs
- Currency: Peru uses the sol (S/). US dollars are widely accepted in tourism, but only bills in perfect condition, so bring clean, untorn notes. There are ATMs in Lima and Cusco. On the trail you only need cash in soles, with some coins for toilets and tips.
- Paying for the trek: our tours are priced in US dollars and can be paid online by card or PayPal on our secure checkout.
- Phones: check your US carrier’s international plan or use an eSIM. Expect little or no signal on most of the trail, so download maps and your documents before you start.
- Plugs: Peru uses 220 V, with type A (US-style) and type C sockets. Phone and laptop chargers marked “100–240V” work with just a plug adapter; hair dryers and other 110 V appliances need a converter.
When to book from the US
Book the Inca Trail first, then your flights. Permits are the scarce part; flights to Lima can usually be booked once your dates are confirmed. For May to September 2027, reserve before the 2027 permits go on sale, expected October–November 2026. Other months need 2–6 months’ notice. See how far in advance to book, what the whole trip costs in 2027, and live dates on our permits and availability page.
Frequently asked questions
Do US citizens need a visa to hike the Inca Trail?
Can I fly directly from the US to Cusco?
How many days do I need for the Inca Trail from the US?
What is the time difference between Peru and the US?
Do I need vaccines for the Inca Trail?
Can I hike the Inca Trail over Presidents’ Day?
About the author
Raquel Sánchez co-founded Terra Quechua Peru in Cusco in 2012 together with Edwin Medina, both with extensive trekking experience. She writes our Inca Trail guides from the day-to-day work of securing permits and organizing every departure with our guides, cooks and porters.