For all those who come to Peru, a stay in Cusco and a visit to Machu Picchu are essential steps. Machu Picchu is indeed one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and attracts 3,000 visitors each year. Machu Picchu has a limit and this is making it an expensive destination in itself. Because the train and hotel increasing according the season.
We have chosen to write this guide so that you can get there on your own and at the best price.
It is possible to visit Machu Picchu without trekking, in particular by taking the train from Cusco, you will inevitably make a stop in the small town of Aguas Calientes (recently renamed Machu Picchu Pueblo). Indeed, it is the closest city to the site and it therefore serves as a stopover city for visiting Machu Picchu.
But when you arrive on foot, you arrive before the first train of the day and before the hordes of tourists!
ADULT: S/. 152.00
STUDENT: S/. 77.00
One of the tourist attractions that could not see the light in times of pandemic was the Inca Trail, specifically the Classic Inca Trail.
The season of health crisis made us all reflect on the role that travel plays in our lives, and the few opportunities we have left to enjoy visiting unknown places.
Of all the tourist attractions that were opened to the public, the Classic Inca Trail route remained closed until July 2021.
But not all is bad news, the impact that the lack of tourism had on the nature of the Inca Trail has allowed the flourishing of new landscapes and better photographs.
The Inca Trail had never been closed before, which has caused it to gain a lot in beauty, its reopening is unique because it happens after a long time and only a few lucky ones will be able to enjoy it before it returns to the way it was before.
And if it was spectacular before, you can imagine how it will look for 2022.
The Inca Trail has an exemplary sample of the best that the nature of Cusco has to give us this 2022.
A nature that will be the best ally for a unique trekking adventure that runs through an impressive ecosystem that can only exist prior to Machu Picchu.
The scenarios will be unique each kilometer of the route, while animals and vegetation guide us through the route, the mountains will be our protectors.
Salkantay will be the protagonist of many moments, but the most important depend on us on the Inca Trail.
The best of the entire route and the sacrifice that traveling the Inca Trail means in 2022, is the impressive outcome that we find in Machu Picchu.
The reason for the reasons, the argument that beats all the trekking in the world is the opportunity to reach Machu Picchu.
The Inca Trail is just a prelude, an incredible prelude, to be able to reach the modern wonder that awaits us with its best entrance: Puerta del Sol.
Because the entrance to the wonder through the Inca Trail is not the same as the regular entrance where tourists who took the train enter.
In ancient times, the entry of the most important characters of the Inca empire was made by the Inca Trail, which gives us a unique experience that breaks lines of time and space.
Now that you know the five main reasons why you have to reserve your place on the Inca Trail 2022 are the limitations that exist.
The Inca Trail is a highly requested tourist attraction throughout the world, thousands of adventurers are dreaming of having the opportunity to do the route, and without having to read any reason.
That is why it is necessary that you reserve your space months in advance, at least 3 months in advance for low seasons, and five months for high seasons.
The entrance to the Inca Trail is exclusively with specialized personnel, tour guides and porters who will accompany us throughout the route to take care of living the best possible experience, and take care that the route is not mistreated.
The Inca Trail is the most popular of the world. Once you have a permit in your pocket (which sometimes has to be reserved several months in advance), you can embark on this legendary hike that ends at the famous Machu Picchu. It’s impossible to do this adventure as a freelancer, it’s forbidden! You must therefore go through an approved tour operator. For Inca Trail 2021 - 2022, there is only a limit of 350 spaces available per day involving trekkers, guides, cooks and porters that are intended to preserve the fragile site of Machu Picchu. However, with 350 hikers per day on these small trails, the "highway" atmosphere can sometimes be felt. The course takes 2 to 4 days and covers around forty two kilometers. Along the way, Inca sites, the high pass at an altitude of 4,200 meters and depending on the period: lots of flora such as orchids!
There are regulations imposed by the Peruvian state that limit the traffic of the Inca Trail to 500 people per day, including guides, cooks and porters who must carry all the camping equipment. The regulations do not allow pack animals on the Inca Trail due to the conservation of the old stone path.
The percentage of support personnel for hikers is almost 75% of those who enter per day and due to high tourist demand on the Inca Trail, the spaces assigned for hikers are quickly exhausted. For this reason, if you want to walk this incredible trail, you must book at least 6 or 7 months in advance and through a travel and tourism agency authorized to operate on the Inca Trail, such as Machupicchu Andes Tours.
Booking the Inca Trail with Machupicchu Andes Tours is very easy. Because it is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and you must provide us with the following information:
1.- First choose three different dates: the first date must be the main one and two optional backup dates in case we cannot reserve your first option because it may be sold out. This does not happen often, because the Machupicchu Andes Tours team works to obtain the first alternative.
2.- Send us all the information required for each hiker in your group:
3.- Deposit 50% of the cost of the tour for each hiker, so we will be ready to reserve your Inca Trail permit for the date you chose. We have several payment methods: VISA, MASTER, AMERICAN EXPRESS and PAYPAL. After receiving your deposit, we will send you a confirmation email.
4.- Once we have all your required data and the deposit, we will place your order on our reservation waiting list for the requested dates.
We can change errors of a typographical nature or if there is a new passport number. The regulations imposed by the Peruvian government do not allow name changes and transfer of entry permits. It is totally personal, that is why it is very important that you bring your personal document with which you made your reservation for the Inca Trail to be able to show at the control points.
Also the Peruvian government does not allow changes of dates, cancellations and refunds. Once we obtain the permit in your name and on the requested dates, it is totally personal, it is 100% non-refundable and non-transferable. If you wish to change the date, you must purchase a new entry permit if it is available.
The official opening sale of the permits to the Inca Trail 2022 takes place in the month of October. Therefore, we must be ready to obtain your permission and once we have your permission we will send you an email with the confirmation. Then, you can start making reservations for flights, hotels, etc.
Both the 4-day Inca Trail and the short 2-day version are open every day of the year except for February. That month, the rainiest of the year, cleaning work is carried out on the route.
Because the route is protected by the Peruvian State, only 500 people are allowed each day. Of this number, 200 are tourists and the rest are visitor support personnel such as cooks, porters, cooks, guides and more.
The 2-day Inca Trail offers 120 free spaces each day. Because this route is not as requested as the 4-day Inca Trail, it is possible to get availability with only a few days in advance.
The two hundred free spaces per day are reserved well in advance. Due to this, it is recommended to reserve a free space for the Inca Trail 6 months in advance or even more.
The 2-day Inca Trail, on the other hand, can be booked two or three days in advance. I can even get a reservation the same day.
In case you do not find availability of the 4-day Inca Trail, definitely the best option is to do other similar hiking routes, such as the 5-day Salkantay trek.
This hiking route is recognized as the second best hiking route in Cusco, after the 4-day Inca Trail. The Salkantay trek can be booked 2 or 3 weeks in advance, without problems. The route is a bit more challenging than the Inca Trail.
Other good options are: the Lares trek of 4 days, the Huchuy Qosqo trek of 3 days or the Inca Jungle tour of 4 days.
The availability of the Inca Trail of 4 days 2021 is valid from 2020. The same happens with the Inca Trail of 2 days.
No, anyone can do the Inca Trail, both in its 4-day and 2-day version. However, both adventures are not recommended for children under the age of 8 and adults over the age of 65.
Yes. The availability shown here is the same as on other websites. This is the official availability calendar.
No. The 4-day Inca Trail cannot be purchased in Cusco. On the other hand, the 2-day Inca Trail can be purchased once in Cusco, with only a few days in advance.
Yes. The 4-day Inca Trail, due to the high demand for spaces, can only be booked online. The 2-day Inca Trail, on the other hand, can be purchased in person.
Yes. The purchase of the 4-day Inca Trail will be available by 2022. You can make your reservation from the end of 2021.
This route is considered the best in Cusco. Tourists from all over the world make reservations well in advance. Only then can you find availability.
The high season of tourism is the time of year when most visitors arrive in Cusco. It starts in May and ends in September. Therefore, in those months there are more tourists who do the Inca Trail. To get availability for that day, the reservation must be made 6 or 7 months in advance.
The low season of tourism is the time of year when fewer visitors arrive in Cusco. It starts in October and ends in April. Therefore, in those months there are more opportunities to get availability. The reservation must be made 4 or 5 months in advance.
