Plan your trek on the Budget Inca trail

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About the route

The classic Inca Trail is believed to follow the original pilgrimage route from Cuzco. Cuzco was the capital of the Incan empire and the route took pilgrims to Machu Picchu, their most sacred temple. The Inca's main god was the sun and the temple at Machu Picchu is dedicated to Sun worship.

The current day version of this pilgrimage starts at the somewhat banally named Kilometre 82 gate. Unsurprisingly it is 82 kilometres from Cuzco. The trail from here is not particularly challenging  and most days only involve 5-6 hours of hiking.

It does though, take you up and over a series of high passes, most notably Dead Woman's Pass at 4,215m, and the effect of altitude at this height are very significant so you must ensure you train properly before you arrive.

From Km 82, the path takes you up and down through diverse environments including cloud forest, jungle and alpine tundra. You reach the highest point at Dead Woman's Pass on day 2 of your trek. Of greatest interest though are the  Inca ruins, including Runcuracay, Phuyupatamarca and Wiñaywayna which line the trail becoming grander and more impressive as you approach the big one - Machu Picchu.

The final approach to Machu Picchu on the Inca trail brings you out at the famous Sun Gate where you can stop for a well earned breather and admire the sheer brilliance and scale of the ruins. Even if you have seen this picture a thousand times before, it never fails to impress.

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About the permit system

A permit system restricts number of trekker starting the Classic Inca trail to 500 per day but this number includes all the guides and crew who also need a permit. As a result, the number of permits available for trekkers is only about 200 each day.

For reasons nobody quite understands, the Park Authority makes all the permits for each year available on one fixed date. For 2020 all the permits went on sale in October. You could not book a permit for a 2020 trek until that date and within days of permit going on sale they have sold out for the high season.

The critical things to understand is that prior to that date no operator can guarantee that you will have a permit. If an operator  informs you that they are able to block-book or pre-order permits they are lying. The permit system is policed very strictly and permits are only issued against specific names and passport numbers and you are required to check in for the trail at the 82km start point with your passport. If you have married recently you must take a passport in your maiden name as the park authorities are totally inflexible enforcing these rules.

To cope with the permit allocation procedure all operators have developed the same process- bookings are taken prior to the "On sale date" and then there is a scramble to get permits for those bookings as soon as permits are released. Since we started operating treks to Machu Picchu we have always got all the permits we wanted but feel it is better to be upfront about how the process actually works. If, for any reason we are unable to secure a permit, we will offer you either a full-refund or the alternative of switching to one of the alternative routes. You must not though book any flights until your permit has been confirmed.

Unless you book as soon as permits for the Classic Inca trail are released in October for the following year, all the high season dates will have sold out. If you cannot plan your trip well in advance and still want to trek the classic trail you will need to look at dates well into the shoulder periods. Alternatively have a look at some of the alternatives to the classic trail we operate that all follow Inca trails to trek to Machu Picchu.

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How difficult is the Inca trail

If you are used to multi-day hiking with ascent and descents each day then the Inca trail is well within your ability.  You need to bear in mind though that even though the paths are generally good there are a huge number of steps to tackle. And  you will be trekking at altitude which in itself is a challenge.

Most Inca Trail treks begin at Cusco, which, at 3,400 metres, is already considerably higher than Machu Picchu. By staying there prior to your trek, you will give your body time to acclimatize to the Inca Trail altitude.  The Inca Trail altitude varies greatly throughout the trek and your body will notice the differences, especially at the higher points.

The second day is the toughest on the Inca Trail as it is spent hiking up and over Dead Woman's Pass at 4,200 metres. Your body will almost certainly feel the effects of the altitude here as the air is providing less oxygen than your body is used to. You do not spend long at this altitude and the rest of the day is spent descending down to 3,600 metres where you camp at Chaquiccocha

The Classic Inca trail is a four day trek including a day visiting Machu PIcchu. Each day involves about 6-7 hours of walking but although this doesn't sound like a lot remember the highest pass goes over 4000m and at this altitude every step can be hard work.

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