Inca Trail

The Inca Trail, known in Spanish as the Camino Inca, is the stone path the Incas built to Machu Picchu. The classic route covers about 40 km in four days from km 82 of the railroad, crosses a 4,215 m pass, goes by a dozen archaeological sites and enters the citadel on foot through the Sun Gate. There’s also a short 2-day version from km 104. Both require a permit issued in your name, with a daily quota, and can only be done with a licensed tour agency.

In this guide you’ll find where the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is, how permits work, the day-by-day route with its elevations, the difficulty, the best time to go and what to bring. If you’re still deciding between this and another trek, our Machu Picchu treks compared guide puts every route side by side.

The Inca Trail at a glance

Fact	Classic Inca Trail	Short Inca Trail
Duration	4 days and 3 nights camping	2 days: 1 of hiking and 1 for the visit, with a night in a hotel
Start	Km 82 (Piscacucho), about 2 h from Cusco	Km 104 (Chachabamba), by train
Hiking distance	About 40 km	About 12 km, in 6 to 7 hours
Maximum elevation	4,215 m (Warmiwañusqa Pass)	2,720 m (Intipunku)
Difficulty	Challenging, mainly because of the stairs	Moderate
Daily quota	500 users, counting guides and porters	250 users
Arrival at Machu Picchu	On foot through the Sun Gate, before dawn on day four	On foot through the Sun Gate, in the afternoon
Closure	All of February, for maintenance	All of February

Where is the Inca Trail?

The Inca Trail lies within the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, in Urubamba Province, Cusco Region. It follows the bank of the Urubamba River (also called the Vilcanota in this area) and climbs through the mountains that separate the valley from the citadel. It starts at points along the railroad that are named for their distance in kilometers from Cusco: km 82 for the classic route and km 104 for the short one.

You reach km 82, at Piscacucho, by road from Cusco in about two hours, passing through the Sacred Valley and Ollantaytambo. You reach km 104 by train, with a special stop. In both cases the agency arranges the transfer.

The Inca Trail and the Qhapaq Ñan

Many people search for the “Inca Trail” with Argentina, Chile or Bolivia in mind, and they’re partly right. The Incas built a road network that connected the entire Tawantinsuyu, their empire: the Qhapaq Ñan, or Andean Road System. In 2014 UNESCO inscribed it as a World Heritage Site, with sections in six countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a branch of that network, the most famous one and the only one that ends at a citadel like this.

Permits: how to book the Inca Trail

The Inca Trail is the only route to Machu Picchu with a daily quota. It’s managed by Peru’s Ministry of Culture, through its Cusco regional office (DDC Cusco), and by SERNANP, the national protected areas service, and you can’t hike it independently.

• Only with a licensed agency: travel agencies registered with the DDC Cusco buy the tickets for their clients. Since September 2026, they do so exclusively through the official Tu Boleto platform, with full, immediate payment.
• It’s issued in your name: the ticket carries your name and ID number. You need a valid ID to buy it and to get in, and the agency also registers the guides and porters.
• It includes the citadel: the Inca Trail ticket includes the visit to Machu Picchu within the route’s time frame. If you want to go in on a different day, you’ll need a separate Machu Picchu ticket.
• Quota: 500 users a day on the long routes and 250 on the km 104 route. That figure includes guides, cooks and porters, so there are far fewer spots for hikers.
• No refunds: an unused ticket loses its validity. It can only be rescheduled for duly documented force majeure or unforeseeable events.

Important: check that your name and passport number are spelled correctly before the agency pays. The ticket is issued in your name and the regulations make no provision for transferring it to someone else; the only thing that can be changed, up to 24 hours before entry, is the guide.

How far in advance to book

To travel from May to August, it’s best to book four to six months ahead, because dry-season permits sell out fast. For April, September and October, two or three months are usually enough, and in the rainy season there’s more leeway. February isn’t an option: the Inca Trail Network closes for the entire month for maintenance, although Machu Picchu stays open.

How to choose an agency

This guide doesn’t recommend companies. When comparing, ask for a written list of what’s included: transfers, the return train, the bus down from the citadel, the number of porters, meals, tent, sleeping bag and whether there’s a personal porter. Check that the agency is registered with the DDC Cusco, and ask for your e-ticket in your name once it’s issued.

The 4-day Inca Trail: the route day by day

This is the full route, the one most people picture when they search for “Inca Trail.” The names and elevations of the sites come from information published by Andina, Peru’s state news agency; the exact campsites depend on the ones assigned to each group.

Day 1: km 82 to Wayllabamba

You go through the checkpoint at Piscacucho, cross the river and walk an easy stretch alongside the Urubamba. The first major site is Llactapata, at about 2,840 m, where the Cusichaca and Urubamba rivers meet. The day ends in the Wayllabamba area, a valley with farming families and the first rest stop on the route. It’s a day to find your pace.

Day 2: Warmiwañusqa Pass

This is the hardest day. You climb about 9 km, over four or five hours, to Warmiwañusqa Pass, “Dead Woman’s Pass,” at 4,215 m: the highest point on the Inca Trail. At the top the wind blows and the temperature hovers around 5 to 7 °C. Then you descend on stone steps to the Pacaymayo campsite.

Day 3: the day of Inca sites

This is the most beautiful day and, for many, the longest. You pass Runkurakay, a semicircular structure at about 3,760 m; Sayacmarca, at about 3,625 m, with a staircase of almost a hundred steps; and Phuyupatamarca, at about 3,670 m, overlooking the Urubamba River. Then you descend through cloud forest and the terraces of Intipata to Wiñay Wayna, at about 2,650 m, one of the most beautiful complexes on the route. Its name is linked to an orchid that grows abundantly in the area.

Day 4: the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu

You set out before sunrise and hike to Intipunku, the Sun Gate, at 2,720 m and almost a kilometer from the citadel. From there you see Machu Picchu for the first time. You head down to the citadel, take the guided tour of the site and then catch the bus to Aguas Calientes and the train back.

Inca Trail map: the route profile

This table sums up the classic route from start to finish, with the approximate elevation of each point. Use it as a pocket map to understand where the trail climbs and where it drops.

4-day Inca Trail: the altitude, stage by stage

Day 1

Llactapata (Patallaqta)2,840 m

Day 2

Warmiwañusqa Passthe highest point of the trail4,215 m

Day 3

Runkurakay3,760 m

Sayacmarca3,625 m

Phuyupatamarca3,670 m

Intipata2,840 m

Wiñay Wayna2,650 m

Day 4

Intipunku (Sun Gate)2,720 m

Machu Picchu2,430 m

Point	Approximate elevation	What it is
Km 82 (Piscacucho)	Valley floor	Entry checkpoint and start
Llactapata (Patallaqta)	2,840 m	First major Inca site
Wayllabamba	Inhabited valley	First rest stop
Warmiwañusqa	4,215 m	Highest point on the Inca Trail
Pacaymayo	Valley below the pass	Second night’s campsite
Runkurakay	3,760 m	Semicircular structure, possibly a tambo (way station)
Sayacmarca	3,625 m	Complex on steep terrain
Phuyupatamarca	3,670 m	Plazas, a sacred rock and fountains
Intipata	2,840 m	Terraces
Wiñay Wayna	2,650 m	Terraces and fountains; last night nearby
Intipunku	2,720 m	Sun Gate, first view of Machu Picchu

The 2-day Inca Trail

The Short Inca Trail starts at km 104 (Chachabamba), which you reach by train. You hike about 12 km in 6 to 7 hours: you climb to Wiñay Wayna, continue along the Inca path to the Sun Gate and arrive in the afternoon. You sleep in a hotel in Aguas Calientes and take the guided tour of Machu Picchu the next day.

• It suits you if: you’re short on days, don’t want to camp or would rather not go above 2,720 m.
• Keep in mind: it’s also issued in your name, it also closes in February and its quota is half that of the long routes.

How many days do you need for the Inca Trail?

The trek itself takes four days on the classic route and two on the short one. Add at least two days beforehand in Cusco or the Sacred Valley to acclimatize, and one buffer day afterward in case the train or the weather causes problems. In practice, the Classic Inca Trail takes up a week of your trip. Our Cusco itinerary shows how to fit it in.

Inca Trail difficulty

The difficulty lies less in the distance than in the stairs. There are thousands of uneven stone steps, going both up and down, and the second day packs in the biggest elevation gain. The altitude does the rest: you’ll sleep and hike above 3,000 m for much of the trek.

• Fitness: you don’t need to be an athlete, but you do need to be able to walk for several hours straight. Train on hills and stairs in the weeks beforehand.
• Knees: the long descents are more tiring than the climbs. Trekking poles help on the trail, although they’re not allowed into the citadel.
• Altitude: acclimatize before you start and tell your guide if you have symptoms. The essentials are in our guide to altitude sickness in Cusco.

This is general information, not medical advice. See your doctor before your trip if you have heart or respiratory problems, or if you’re pregnant.

Camping on the Inca Trail

On the classic route you sleep three nights at official campsites along the trail; there are no hotels. The agency pitches the tents, cooks and carries the gear. Porters carry the tents, the kitchen and the food, and with many agencies you can hire a personal porter for up to 7 kg of your belongings. You hike with a daypack.

The nights are cold, especially the second one, after the pass. A good sleeping bag makes all the difference; if you don’t have one, agencies usually rent them.

Best time to hike the Inca Trail

The dry season, from May to September, has the clearest days and the coldest nights. It’s also when permits sell out the most. April and October are good shoulder months. From November to March there’s more rain, the trail gets slippery and clouds can block the view from Intipunku. In February it’s closed. Check Cusco weather by month before setting your dates.

Tip: if your dates are fixed and there are no permits left, don’t force the Inca Trail. The Salkantay, Lares and the Inca Jungle have no permit limits, and you can walk the last stretch of the Inca Trail at the citadel on route 1-C to Intipunku. The options are in Machu Picchu circuits.

What to bring on the Inca Trail

• ID: the passport or ID your ticket was issued with. You’ll be asked for it at the entry checkpoint.
• Footwear: broken-in mid-height hiking boots.
• Layers: thermal clothing, a fleece and a waterproof jacket. In a single day you go from intense cold to humid heat.
• Water and sun protection: a reusable bottle, sunscreen, a cap and sunglasses.
• Insect repellent: essential on the lower section, near Wiñay Wayna.
• Headlamp: for the campsite and the predawn start on the last day.
• Cash: for snacks, tips and expenses in Aguas Calientes.

The full list is in our Cusco packing list. Remember that your large backpack won’t get through the citadel’s entrance check: leave it with your porter or at the luggage storage.

Summary: is the Inca Trail right for you?

• Yes, the 4-day classic: if you want the full historical experience, are booking months ahead and are in good shape.
• Yes, the 2-day short trail: if you’re short on time or don’t want to camp.
• Better to choose another route: if you’re traveling in February, deciding at the last minute or struggle with stairs. Look at the Salkantay trek or the Lares trek.

If you’re weighing the Inca Trail against the train, every way to get there is in how to get to Machu Picchu from Cusco.