Inca Trail Availability and Permits for 2026
Inca Trail Availability and Permits is one of the most searched topics among travelers planning their dream hike to Machu Picchu. And no wonder—getting a permit isn’t just a step in the process, it’s the key that unlocks one of the most iconic treks in the world. If you’re thinking about hiking the Inca Trail next year, knowing how availability works, when permits are released, and what to expect in 2026 will make all the difference.
Official Inca Trail Availability – Check the Permits Online for 2026
See the chart below for official information about availability of entrances to the Inca Trail for the year 2026. Simply click or choose the month that you want to travel in and you will see the availability of spaces for each day.
If there are open spaces for the day that you would like to begin the trail, we recommend that you make reservations as soon as possible, since entrance tickets are sold on a first come serve basis.
As an alternative option to trek to Machu Picchu, or for those who are not able to attend all 4 days and 3 nights Inca Trail, Tour in Peru offers great option of the Short Inca Trail 2D/1N. The Short Inca Trail gives you posibility to trek the part of famous Inca Trail and reach Machu Picchu, find out more about Short Inca Trail and check the latest availability we have updated weekly.
How to Book the Inca Trail 2026
Planning to hike the Inca Trail in 2026? Getting your permit is the most important step, since availability is limited and managed directly by the Ministry of Culture. Only 500 permits are issued per day (including travelers, guides, cooks, and porters), which means that roughly 200 are for tourists. Once they sell out, no agency can open more spaces.
Step 1: Pre-Book Early
Permits for the 2026 season will officially be released in October 2025, but you don’t need to wait until then. You can pre-book your trek now, and as soon as permits are open, we will secure your spot right away.
Step 2: Select your date and group
Use our availability calendar to see the official spaces for the Classic Inca Trail (4D/3N) and the Short Inca Trail (2D/1N).
- Pick your desired start date.
- Confirm the number of participants joining.
- Choose between a group tour or a private tour.
Step 3: Provide personal information
Each permit is personal and non-transferable, so double-check all details:
- Passport information for every traveler.
- Contact details of one participant (phone number).
Step 4: Secure your booking
- Choose whether you want to pay for the entire tour total or the $200 initial deposit per person.
- Following, enter your Debit/Credit Card data and make the payment.
- Wait for the final manual confirmation of your Inca Trail booking from our team.
What to know about Inca Trail Availability
- We provide guaranteed Inca Trail departures every single day in 2026 as long as there are available spaces; so you can START THE TREK any date marked in GREEN (except during February when the Inca Trail is closed).
- The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu will be closed the month of February by disposition of the Ministry of Culture, because maintenance, upkeep and cleaning will be performed. The entrance to the Inca Trail will be re-enabled from March
- Whether INCA TRAIL permits for your desired date are SOLD OUT, you can always pre-reserve for another date, for next year or simply consider other tours which get to MachuPicchu as well; these are: the tours of MachuPicchu by Train in 1 or 2 days or any of the alternative trails such as the Bike and Hike Inca Jungle Tour , the Tour of Salkantay MachuPicchu or most popular alternative trek the Short Inca Trail.
- Keep in mind that no matter which tour you choose, the grand tour of MachuPicchu in the end will be almost the same; what will vary is the previous part or how you will get there (this is through the Trails, by Train or through any of the alternative treks)
- The maximum number of available Inca Trail permits is 500. Support staff is included within the five hundred, meaning that only about 200 permits are allocated for tourists and about 300 for cooks, porters and guides each day.
- No travel agency or tour operator will be able to offer you a space for the Inca Trail, unless there are available spaces shown for the date you want to start the trek. Keep also in mind that if you find 90 spaces or less, it means that you have to book your Inca Trail as fast as you can since the remaining spaces can sell out within the following hours or even minutes.
- Also, it is important to know that NO matter how many clients cancel their Inca Trail reservations, NOBODY else can use these spaces as the system is designed to prevent some companies to book the spaces with made-up information in advance and then change it with that of their last-minute real clients.
We hope you find this information on the Inca Trail Availability useful and if so, start dreaming about your next adventure in 2026!
In this section you can check the availability of the trail provided by the Ministry of Culture. Here some information should take into account:
- The month of February is rainy season so the Ministry closes the Inca Trail.
- The availability we use is the same to any other agency, because this information is directly provided by the Ministry of Culture.
- The number of spaces is very variable. Agencies usually book up to 30 spaces, do not be surprised if in a moment the available spaces are sold out.
- The spaces shown are for either route be it Short Inca Trail 2 days or Classic Inca Trail 4 days.
- Availability is exclusively administered by the Ministry of Culture. Only they can manage and authorize access to the Inca Trail.