Inca Trail Permit Information and Availability (as of November 11, 2008)

To view Inca Trail Trips, click here

Who Needs a Permit?

In order to trek any portion of the Inca trail to Machu Picchu, you will need a permit issued by the Government of Peru. There are only 500 permits available for any trek departure date. Of these, about 300 are allocated to guides, porters, and cooks; this leaves 200 available for travelers. The permit is issued for the day you start your trek, and is valid for your entire trek. Due to the popularity of the trek, these permits sell out extremely quickly (4 or more months in advance), especially in the busiest months of June, July, August, and September.

How Are Inca Trail Permits Issued?

Inca Trail permits must be purchased in person in Cusco, and are issued on a first come-first served basis. When a permit is issued a passenger's passport number must be attached to the permit, so that only that person can use the permit, and a non-refundable permit fee must be paid. The permit is not transferable to another passenger, and the permit fee is non-refundable.

Trekkers cannot buy these permits independently because they must travel with an official trek operator (non-guided trips are no longer allowed). Thus, travelers need to book their Inca Trail trek with a provider several weeks, if not months, in advance!

It's worth noting that you only need a permit for your trek departure date. Dates with fewer than 100 permits remaining often sell out within a day.

Treks That Don't Require Permits

Inca Trail Permits sold out on your dates? Don't despair, there are a number of fantastic treks on non-permitted Inca Trails that offer solitude, Andean scenery, culture, and Inca and pre-Inca ruins that don't require Inca Trail permits, and are available all summer long. Some of these treks end at or near Machu Picchu, and all can be combined with a visit to Machu Picchu, so don't postpone your Peru trip just because Inca Trail permits are sold out. Local trekking guides and well-traveled trekkers often feel these other trails are actually more interesting than the famous "Inca Trail." Check out these treks here:
http://www.detourdestinations.com/categories/Inca_Trail_Non_Permitted_Treks_350/index.html

Permit Availability (As of November 11, 2008)

Inca Trail permits are now sold out until the end of November, and are also sold out December 26-29, and January 2.

November 2008

Date: Permits Remaining

29: 191 Permits
30: 238 Permits

December 2008

Date: Permits Remaining
1: 156
2: 134
3: 167
4: 275
5: 195
6: 355
7: 184
8: 140
9: 402
10: 268
11: 210
12: 405
13: 420
14: 400
15: 244
16: 279
17: 254
18: 406
19: 324
20: 440
21: 126
22: 138
23: 400
24: 291
25: 325
26: 0
27: 0
28: 0
29: 0
30: 140
31: 461

January 2009

1: 368
2: 37
3: 424
4: 419
5: 275
6: 413
7: 376
8: 448
9: 382
10: 418
11: 433
12: 371
13: 354
14: 366
15: 478
16: 406
17: 424
18: 433
19: 469
20: 466
21: 321
22: 449
23: 359
24: 488
25: 485
26: 361
27: 484
28: 455
29: 492
30: 480
31: 476

To learn more about the Inca Trail, view our Inca Trail Frequently Asked Questions here: Inca Trail FAQ's