Inca Trail Permits & Availability 2027

Check real-time Inca Trail permit availability for 2026 and 2027, compare the Classic 4-day and Short 2-day routes, and secure your permit with Terra Quechua Peru — a local operator based in Cusco and authorized by Peru’s Ministry of Culture to run Inca Trail treks. Daily permits are limited and dry-season dates sell out months in advance.

Updated September 23, 2026By Terra Quechua Team

• 500people per day can start the Classic Inca Trail — a limit that includes guides, cooks and porters, so spaces for hikers are far fewer.
• Licensedoperators are the only way to get a permit. Permits are not sold to individual travelers.
• Februarythe trail closes every year for maintenance. No treks depart that month.
• 4–6 monthsahead is when dry-season dates (May–September) usually need to be booked.
• 30%deposit online secures your date; the balance is paid before the trek.
• Passportdetails are printed on your permit, which cannot be transferred to another person.

How Inca Trail permits work

Access to the Inca Trail is controlled by Peru’s Ministry of Culture through a daily quota of permits for each route: the Classic route, which starts at Km 82 and is used by the 4-, 5- and 7-day programs, and the short route, which starts at Km 104 and is used by the 1- and 2-day treks. When a day’s quota is used up, that start date is sold out — there is no waiting list and no way to add spaces.

Only authorized tour operators can request permits. When you book with us, we request your permit with the details from your passport: your full name, passport number and nationality must match exactly. Bring that same passport on the trek, because it is checked at the trail’s control point.

Every Terra Quechua Inca Trail tour includes the trail permit and the Machu Picchu entrance for your route, so you don’t need to buy either of them separately.

2027 dates: when to book

2027 start dates are open for booking now in the calendar above, from January to December except February. The calendar shows the spaces we have for each day; dates marked Few left are close to selling out. Use this guide to plan how far ahead to book:

Booking times are guidance based on how dates usually sell; the calendar always shows the current situation.

Choose your route: 1, 2, 4, 5 or 7 days

All our Inca Trail routes end at Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate (Inti Punku). The main differences are the starting point, the distance you hike and whether you camp on the trail:

Per person, group service. Every route requires an official permit and is secured with a 30% deposit.

Classic Inca Trail 4 Days

The full classic route from Km 82: you cross Dead Woman’s Pass (4,215 m / 13,828 ft), explore lesser-known Inca sites such as Runkurakay and Sayacmarca, pass the terraces of Wiñay Wayna and reach Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate on day 4. Three nights camping with our cooks and porters. See the Classic Inca Trail 4 Days.

Short Inca Trail 2 Days

The essence of the Inca Trail in one hiking day: you start at Km 104, walk through cloud forest and original Inca stairways, visit Wiñay Wayna and get your first view of Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate. You sleep in a hotel in Aguas Calientes and visit the citadel again the next morning. Ideal if you are short on time. See the Short Inca Trail 2 Days.

Inca Trail prices for 2027

The prices in the table above are per person for our group service and come directly from each tour, so they are always current. Currently the Classic Inca Trail 4 Days starts at US$795 and the Short Inca Trail 2 Days at US$520 per person.

• Deposit: pay 30% online to secure your permit (currently US$238.50 per person for the Classic 4-day and US$156 for the Short 2-day). The balance is paid before the trek.
• Private departures: available on request — ask us for a quote.
• Discounts: students with a valid international student card (ISIC), teenagers and children receive discounts. See the prices tab of each tour.
• Payment: credit or debit card, or PayPal, through our secure checkout.

How to book in 4 steps

1. Choose your route and start dateUse the calendar above. Green dates can be booked online right away.
2. Add your travelersEnter each hiker’s details exactly as they appear in their passport.
3. Pay the 30% depositBy card or PayPal. You receive your booking confirmation by email.
4. We request your permitsWe send you the trip details. You meet your guide at the pre-trek briefing in Cusco the evening before the trek.

Which Machu Picchu circuit is included?

Machu Picchu is visited on fixed circuits set by the Ministry of Culture. With the Classic Inca Trail 4 Days your entrance includes Circuit 1 (panoramic view) and a second entrance on Circuit 3. With the Short Inca Trail 2 Days you see Circuit 1 on day 1 and enter again on day 2 through Circuit 3 (route 3-B) at 6:00 am. Learn more about the Machu Picchu circuits.

Before you go: altitude and preparation

Cusco sits at over 3,300 m (10,800 ft) and the Classic trail peaks at Dead Woman’s Pass, 4,215 m (13,828 ft). We recommend arriving in Cusco at least one day before your trek: a full day taking it easy and drinking plenty of water is usually enough for most people to acclimatize. The pre-trek briefing with your guide is mandatory and takes place in Cusco the evening before departure.

Have more questions about gear, food, fitness or weather? Read our Inca Trail FAQ and the Inca Trail Travel Guide.

Sold out on your date? Your alternatives

• Another date or the other route: the Classic and Short routes have separate quotas, so the 2-day trail may still be open when the 4-day is sold out. Switch tabs in the calendar to compare.
• Salkantay trek: a high-mountain route to Machu Picchu that does not require an Inca Trail permit.
• Lares trek: Andean villages and hot springs, combined with Machu Picchu.
• Inca Jungle: an active option with biking, rafting and zipline.

Why book with Terra Quechua Peru?

• Official permits requested in your name with the Ministry of Culture.
• Local team in Cusco: our own bilingual guides (English and Spanish), cooks and porters.
• Real-time availability and online booking with a 30% deposit.
• Small groups and personalized service, with private departures on request.
• Sustainable and ethical treatment of porters and local communities.

Inca Trail permits: frequently asked questions