Permits for Inca Trail 2019 – How and what if?

Imagine a few thousand people queueing up on the Inca Trail. Every little natural obstacle becomes a traffic jam, the whole trail is littered and there is zero space for personal hygiene. Got it? That sums up the situation on the Inca Trail before the Peruvian government jumped in.

In the year 2002, the Peruvian government introduced a permit system for the famous Inca Trail. It was a turning point for the popular route to Machu Picchu, the famed Lost City of the Incas. The situation on the UNESCO World Heritage site was asking for hard measures. From then on the maximum number of people on the Inca Trail is 500 per day. Besides that, there is also a cap on the number of visitors for Machu Picchu: 2500.

How do I get my permit for the Inca Trail?

You don’t need to worry about obtaining a permit. If you book through Bookatrekking.com, your trekking company will take of the permit application. All you need to be aware of is that you book at least two months in advance. Every year, the months of April, May, June, and July need reconfirmation.

I was too late for my Inca Trail permit. What now?

Try again next year! Fortunately, there are more options in the Peruvian Andes. Both the Salkantay Trek as the Lares Trek offer you the perfect Incan experience. Both treks also include access to Machu Picchu.

These treks are sometimes dubbed a second choice after the Inca Trail. However, because the numbers are lower on these routes, the experience is more genuine. Both the Salkantay and the Lares Trek are definitely more than just a second choice.

If you are planning on visiting Machu Picchu with children, we invite you to read María Jesús and her children’s experience. Don’t let anything stop you from visiting this wonderful citadel!