BOOK YOUR INCA TRAIL PERMITS NOW!
That might sound a bit abrupt, but if you’re hoping to trek Peru’s legendary Machu Picchu in 2026 you really can’t afford to hang around before applying for your Inca Trail permit.
Traditionally, the permits for the iconic Inca Trail need to be booked early, but recent changes to how all Machu Picchu tickets are sold means it’s just as important to book any Machu Picchu trek as early as possible.
Let’s take some time to explain how these different permits for Inca Trail treks are sold…
How many Inca Trail permits are issued?
The number of visitors permitted to make the famous four-day trek along the ancient Inca Trail which culminates in arrival at Machu Picchu is limited to just 500 per day. If that sounds harsh, it’s because the Peruvian government wants to protect the trail from erosion so that it can still be enjoyed by future generations. And, if you think about it, you wouldn’t really want to be shuffling along the Inca Trail in the company of thousands of others, would you?!
Although there are 500 permits available per day, when you factor in that at least half of these will be allocated to porters and other crew, it means there are fewer permits for ardent trekkers like us.
Additionally permits are released on a first-come, first-served basis. So when they go on sale every tour operator offering Inca Trail treks will be vying for them. Permits are booked against the traveller’s passport details, so it’s not possible to book up a block of permits in advance.
What's more, the permits are non-refundable and non-transferable so once they’re gone, they really are gone.
When do Inca Trail permits go on sale?
Permits for trekking the Inca Trail for any given year will go on sale in the previous October. So if you're booking for any date in 2026, the permits for those dates go on sale in October 2025. Peak periods like May and June sell out so fast they can be gone within 24 hours of their release.
For the quieter months you may have more time to consider. Obviously, we don’t want you to miss out on your preferred date though, so our advice in all cases is to think ahead and make your reservation to hike the Inca Trail next year, now!
How to get your Machu Picchu Inca Trail permit for next year
First of all, don’t panic. As an authorised tour operator Kandoo Adventures specialise in Inca Trail treks (and other Peru treks too).
We’ll do everything in our power to get you one of these precious Inca Trail permits. Book as far in advance as possible for the best possible chance of success.
Here’s a bit of reassurance though. We’ve been booking people onto Machu Picchu treks for almost two decades now. We’ve yet to fail getting hold of the trekking permits we need by booking as soon as they go on sale. We’re not saying it couldn’t happen, but if you help us to maximise your chances, the odds of you making that once-in-a-lifetime trek are very good.
So… here’s what you have to do
1. Set a date
Check our open group availability on your chosen Machu Picchu trip to see if any of our pre-arranged dates line up with your calendar. You may need to book a private trek if you are dead set on a particular date. Contact us if you need to arrange a private trek.
2. Provide your details
In order to obtain an Inca Trail hike permit you’ll need to provide us with a scanned copy of your passport. Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date you’ll arrive in Peru. If you are expecting to replace your passport before your trip just let us know – it’s not a deal-breaker.
3. Book your trip!
Once you've chosen your date and made sure your passport is valid and available, all you need to do is click BOOK NOW to pay your deposit, and we’ll do the rest.
What do I do if I can’t get an Inca Trail permit?
Kandoo Adventures has a great track record for booking Inca Trail permits but it’s worth re-emphasising that the permit allocation system is first-come, first-served. There are no cast iron guarantees. Frankly, we’ll be gutted if we can’t get you a permit, but it doesn’t mean the end of the road for an outstanding Peruvian trekking adventure.
If your heart is truly set on trekking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, our best advice would be to apply again for the following year at the earliest opportunity. But if you want to get out there sooner and experience some of the magnificent trekking that Peru has to offer, there are alternatives.
The Choquequirao trek to the ancient city of Choquequirao (funnily enough!), is nothing short of fabulous and a lot quieter than the Inca Trail. There’s also the spectacular mountain scenery of the Salkantay trek, the Ausangate trek, and the more cultural Lares trek. Find out more about our awesome alternative Machu Picchu routes in our related blog.
Will Machu Picchu entry tickets for these treks sell out as well?
Aside from the Inca Trail, there are also standard entry tickets for Machu Picchu which are booked by visitors on day trips. These are in addition to the more intrepid travellers following one of the other hiking routes. During the high season there are 5,600 Machu Picchu entry tickets available daily. You’d think that there would be plenty to go around. Think again!!
The Peruvian government has made the entry system far more complicated by introducing three different circuits that cover different parts of the site. Within each circuit is a number of different routes – in total there are 10 options, each of which has an allocation of tickets across different time slots. Entry tickets no longer give you access to the whole site.
As an example, if you want to visit the Temple of the Sun, only around 1,000 people daily will be permitted. Naturally, the routes that take in the most popular parts of the site will sell out first. You can read more about the latest changes to Machu Picchu circuits and permits here
What happens if I book too late?
While we can still book entry on alternative circuits, you may find that you’re not able to visit the areas of Machu Picchu that you were expecting. And last minute bookings with just a few weeks to go are no longer an option. To avoid this, give us as much notice as possible to start booking your Peruvian adventure.
We’ll do everything in our power to make your Peru trek a memorable one. Get in touch with our friendly team of travel experts at Kandoo HQ and plan ahead for your visit to the iconic Machu Picchu.