Inca Trail Peru 2023 - Machu Picchu!

The Inca Trail in Peru? In normal times the permits go away like hot cakes, but in 2020 there was silence on the Inca trails and in Machu Picchu. But like everywhere else in the world, there is light at the end of the tunnel and expectations for autumn 2021 are high. If you want to hike the Inca Trail 2022, it is best to start planning your trip to Peru as early as possible so that you can secure your permit for this "bucket list" experience in good time.

Did you know, How can you book the Inca? This travel blogger page can help hundreds of adventurers book their Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 2023. You can confidently leave the procurement of permits, the selection of the right trekking operator, the route and much more to us. In this blog post we share the best tips and experiences from us, our partners and customers that went before you. Are you ready for the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu? Come it read our published

Inca Trail and COVID-19

During the global outbreak in March 2020, the high season for the Inca trails was just beginning in Peru. Several trekkers were still on one of the Inca trails in Peru when everyone was called home. After the last tourists left Peru, there was mostly silence on the paths and in Machu Picchu. 90% of the income in Cusco and the surrounding area is generated by tourism.

The consequences for the local population and the tour operators that offer the Inca Trail were great.

We never originally thought that the coronavirus would have such an impact on the whole world. It's difficult everywhere, and millions of jobs have been lost in Peru gone, especially in Cusco.

Since the Inca Trail is very popular, there are still many open bookings since 2022 and all tour operators have started to operate in 2023 and all trekkers canceled or rebook for this year.

Do you want to secure your place on the Inca Trail or stay up to date on all travel restrictions for Peru?

Book your tour of the Inca Trail tours with the Tierras Vivas online platform. You can easily pay by credit card and get a confirmation directly.

Machu Picchu Inca Trail availability 2023

Inca Trail permits 2023 are available in October 2022. However, the tour operators are already accepting bookings before October. If you want to do the Inca Trail tour in 2022, recommend booking in advance on your desired date, since there are only a limited number of approvals. There are therefore 250 permits per day available for the 4 day Inca Trail, 5 day Inca Trail and 7 day Inca Trail. These permits are shared between tourists and staff (guides, porters, and cooks).

There is a lack of permits in the months of May to September. As summer hits the northern hemisphere, thousands of people prepare for the trek to reach Machu Picchu via the Inca Trail. Are you one of them or is the short Inca Trail more for you? There are 150 permits per day for the short Inca Trail. In general, these sell out less quickly than the original Inca Trail, but we recommend booking as early as possible. But what if both are no longer available? Don't worry, there are great alternatives like the Salkantay Trek, Inca Quarry Trail, Lares trek to Machu Picchu, and the Inca Jungle Trek, for example. As you can read in this blog post, the alternatives are often even better than the classic Inca Trail.

Classic Inca Trail length

The classic Inca Trail is the path that connects Machu Picchu to the rest of the Inca Empire. The route is 45 kilometers long and takes three to five days. The path meanders through the dense forest, over high mountain ranges, to the ruins of Machu Picchu. While Machu Picchu is at an altitude of 2,340 meters, the highest point of the classic Inca Trail will be at 4,200 meters, the “Dead Woman’s Pass”. On the Inca Trail you will pass the ruins of the villages Phuyupatamarca and Huinay Huayna. The Inca Trail is in good condition. It is closed for maintenance every February

Inca Trail Itinerary

The following itinerary is as classic as the Inca Trail itself. In 4 days and 3 nights, you can make it to Machu Picchu. You hike the most beautiful path out there, cross the Dead Woman's Pass and hike through Inti Punku, widely known as the Sun Gate.

Day 1: CUSCO - KM 82 - LLACTAPATA - AYAPATA

Your trekking team will pick you up from your hotel between 4:30 and 6:30 a.m. (depending on your location) and drive you to KM 82 - arrival around 8:00 a.m. After a delicious breakfast we drive directly to the checkpoint and start trekking to Machu Picchu. It's a relatively easy two-hour walk to Patallacta, the first Inca site along the way. From a unique, secluded location we enjoy the breathtaking view of this ancient city. It is then a two-hour walk to Hatunchaca - located in the heart of the Inca Trail - where lunch is waiting for us. Then we hike two more hours to the first campsite in Ayapata. Arrival around 5:00 p.m. Your tent, a snack and a hot drink are waiting for you. Before dinner you will have some time to rest and enjoy the view of the mountains.

Campsite altitude: 3,300m - 10,826ft Highest altitude: 3,300m - 10,826ft Distance: 13.5 km / 8 miles Duration: 8 hours Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Camping Difficulty: Moderate

Day 2: AYAPATA - WARMIWAÑUSKA- RUNCURACCAY - CHAQUICOCHA

We wake you up early in the morning with a hot cup of coffee or cocoa. Today is the most demanding day of the Machu Picchu trek. After breakfast, it's 4 hours uphill to Dead Woman’s Pass. At 4,215 m, this is the highest point along the Inca Trail. At the summit we will take the time to soak up the tranquility of this place while your guide performs a traditional sacrificial ceremony for the Apus (local gods). After a two-hour descent into Pacaymayu Valley, we enjoy a well-deserved lunch. An easier 2 hour climb leads us to the second pass. On the way there we will take the time to explore two Inca sites: RuncuRaccay and Sayacmarca. From there it is only a 20 minute walk to the second campsite in Chaquicocha (dry lake, 3,600 m / 11,811 ft.), Where you can enjoy a beautiful sunset over the Vilcabamba mountain range before dinner. With an unobstructed view of the sky, this is the perfect place for star gazing!

Campsite Altitude: 3,600m - 11,811ft Highest Altitude: 4,217m - 13,835ft Distance: 16 km / 9 miles Duration: 10 hours Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Camping Difficulty: Moderate to difficult

Day 3: CHAQUICCOCHA - PHUYUPATAMARCA - WIÑAYWAYNA

After the hard part of the Inca Trail is over, today you can relax and enjoy the easiest and arguably most interesting day of the hike. Today's route is very varied and it is only a 5-hour walk to the last campsite. On the way there we pass various ecosystems, experience the atmospheric cloud forest and admire the wonderful view of the Salkantay mountain (the second highest in Cusco). We visit two Inca sites: Phuyupatamarka (City in the Clouds) with spectacular views of the Urubamba River and Machu Picchu Mountain, and Intipata (Terraces of the Sun). At Intipata you have time to rest and enjoy the magical surroundings. We arrive at the campsite around 1:00 p.m. for lunch and you have some free time to relax. Later in the afternoon we will visit another impressive Inca site - Wiñay Wayna - where your guide will tell the story of this remarkable place. We'll then return to the campsite for tea and dinner, plus a special surprise!

Campsite Altitude: 2,600m - 8,530ft Highest Altitude: 3,600m - 11,811ft Distance: 10 km / 6 miles Duration: 6 hours Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Camping Difficulty Level: Easy

Day 4: WIÑAYWAYNA - MACHU PICCHU

On our last day on the Inca Trail we have to get up very early to prepare for the highlight of your trek experience: the visit to Machu Picchu - the lost city of the Incas. We go straight to the checkpoint and wait for it to open at 5:30 am. As the sky brightens, we walk to the sun gate for an hour and enjoy the breathtaking view along the way. On a clear day you can watch the spectacular sunrise over Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate, which is truly an unforgettable sight. Then we descend to Machu Picchu for an hour and reach the checkpoint around 7:30 am. Your guide will take you on a two-hour comprehensive tour of the city. After that, you can explore Machu Picchu on your own and climb either Mount Huayna Picchu or Mount Machu Picchu (tickets must be booked as far in advance as possible). Your guide will explain how to take the bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes for lunch and how to get back to Cusco by train and bus to Cusco

Highest altitude: 2,700 m - 8,858 ft Distance: 6 km / 3 miles Duration: 2 hours Meals: Breakfast Difficulty level: Easy

Inca Trail 2 days

You can do the Inca Trail in two days. The Royal Inca Trail is the two-day version of the Inca Trail and gives you the option to only hike the last part of the Inca Trail. The Short Inca Trail start is at KM 104 instead of KM 82 and ends in Machu Picchu. In the late afternoon of the first day you go through the Sun Gate (Intipunku) and for the night you usually go to a hotel in Aguas Calientes. The next day you have all day to enjoy Machu Picchu. This option is suitable for people who do not have time to do a 4 day Inca Trail or for people who are physically unable to hike for several days. The different options for the Inca Trail in 2 days can be seen here.

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