4 Days
Inca Trail
Cusco to Machu Picchu
Classic Inca Trail 4 Days
Four days on the original Inca road, through cloud forest and mountain passes to the Sun Gate.
Price
On request
Inca Trail treks
Inca Trail Tours to Machu Picchu
Two ways to walk the original Inca road to Machu Picchu: the Classic four-day trek over the high passes, or the Short Inca Trail in a single hiking day. Here’s how they compare and how to choose.
The Inca Trail
Walking to Machu Picchu on the Original Inca Road
The Inca Trail is one short section of the road network the Incas built across the Andes, and it’s the only way to reach Machu Picchu on foot along the original stone path. It climbs out of the Urubamba Valley, passes Inca sites that can’t be reached by road and finishes at Inti Punku, the Sun Gate, with the citadel laid out below you.
We offer two versions. The Classic Inca Trail spends four days on the trail, crossing the high passes and camping along the way. The Short Inca Trail covers the final stretch in one long hiking day and ends with a night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes. Both arrive through the Sun Gate, both need permits, and both are planned by our team in Cusco.
This page is here to help you choose. If you already know which route you want, the tour pages have the full itinerary, inclusions and practical details.
- Routes
- Two options4 days or 2 days
- Highest point
- 4,215 m / 13,829 ftDead Woman’s Pass, Classic route
- Permits
- RequiredLimited each day, issued by name
- Trail closure
- Every FebruaryFor maintenance
Our Inca Trail tours
Choose Your Inca Trail Route
Both routes end at the Sun Gate. What changes is how long you spend on the trail, how high you climb and where you sleep.
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2 Days Inca TrailCusco to Machu Picchu
Short Inca Trail 2 Days
The final stretch of the Inca Trail in a single hiking day, past Wiñay Wayna to the Sun Gate.
Price On request
Side by side
How the Two Routes Compare
| Tour | Duration | Difficulty | Highest point | Trail distance | Where you sleep | Your Machu Picchu visit | May suit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Inca Trail 4 Days | 4 Days / 3 Nights | Challenging | 4,215 m / 13,829 ft | About 42 km (26 mi) over four days | Three nights camping on the trail | Sun Gate at dawn on day 4, then a guided visit | Hikers who want the whole route, its Inca sites and nights in the mountains |
| Short Inca Trail 2 Days | 2 Days / 1 Night | Moderate | 2,720 m / 8,924 ft | About 12 km (7.5 mi) in one day | One night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes | Sun Gate view on day 1, guided visit on day 2 | Travelers short on time, families with older kids, first-time trekkers |
4 days · 3 nights camping
The Classic route may suit you if…
- You enjoy hiking several hours a day, several days in a row
- You want to see the Inca sites along the whole route, not just the last stretch
- Three nights of camping sounds like part of the adventure
- You can spend two or three days in Cusco beforehand to acclimatize
2 days · 1 night in a hotel
The Short route may suit you if…
- You have a short trip but still want to walk in on the Inca Trail
- You’d rather end the hiking day in a hotel than a tent
- You’re traveling with older children or teens who walk regularly
- You’d like to stay below Cusco’s altitude while you hike
Not sure which route fits your group?
Tell us who’s traveling and how much hiking you enjoy. We’ll give you an honest recommendation and check permits for your dates.
How to choose
Four Questions That Usually Decide It
How many days do you have?
The Classic route needs four days on the trail, and we recommend at least two full days in Cusco before you start, three if you can. In practice it fits best when you have a week or more in the region. The Short route takes two days and slots into a shorter trip, though you’ll still want a day or two in Cusco first.
How do you feel about camping?
On the Classic trail you sleep three nights in tents, and the higher camps get cold after dark, especially from May to August. The Short route has no camping at all: after the hike you go down to Aguas Calientes for dinner, a shower and a bed. For some travelers the camping is the highlight; for others it settles the question on its own.
How do you handle altitude and long descents?
The Classic route climbs to Dead Woman’s Pass at 4,215 m (13,829 ft) on the second day and then drops steeply on stone steps. The Short route never goes higher than about 2,720 m (8,920 ft), which is lower than Cusco. If altitude worries you, or your knees don’t love long staircases, that difference matters more than the distance.
Is it the journey or the arrival that matters most?
Both routes end with the view from the Sun Gate. The Classic adds the whole approach: three days of passes, cloud forest and Inca sites such as Runkurakay, Sayacmarca and Phuyupatamarca before you reach Wiñay Wayna. If the journey is the point, the four days are worth it. If the arrival is what you’re after, the Short route gets you there with far less time and effort.
Difficulty and altitude
How Hard Is Each Route?
Difficulty
We rate the Classic Inca Trail as challenging. It covers about 42 km (26 mi) in four days, with six to eight hours of walking on most days, steep stone staircases and one long climb to the pass. You don’t need to be an athlete, but you should be comfortable hiking for hours on consecutive days.
The Short Inca Trail is moderate: about 12 km (7.5 mi) with a steady morning climb of around 600 m (about 2,000 ft), and six to seven hours on your feet including stops. Some sections are narrow, with drop-offs beside the path.
For either route, regular hikes with some elevation gain in the months before your trip make a real difference, and trekking poles help on the descents.
Altitude
Cusco sits at about 3,400 m (11,150 ft), so most travelers feel the altitude before they ever reach the trail. The Classic route spends most of its time above 2,500 m (8,200 ft) and tops out at 4,215 m (13,829 ft). The Short route runs from about 2,150 m (7,050 ft) at Km 104 to about 2,720 m (8,920 ft) at the Sun Gate, and Machu Picchu itself is at about 2,430 m (7,970 ft).
Give yourself time to adjust: at least two full days in Cusco or the Sacred Valley before the Classic route, and a day or two before the Short one. Take the first day slowly, drink plenty of water and talk to your doctor before you travel, especially if you have a heart or lung condition.
Permits and planning
How Inca Trail Permits Work
The Inca Trail runs through the Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary, and Peru’s Ministry of Culture decides who walks it and when. These rules apply to both routes:
- Daily permits are limited. The cap includes guides, cooks and porters as well as hikers, so there are fewer traveler spaces than the number suggests.
- Permits are personal. They’re booked through licensed operators with each hiker’s full name and passport number, can’t be transferred and are checked against your passport on the trail.
- Every group hikes with a guide. Independent hiking isn’t allowed.
- Your Machu Picchu entry is set. Trail hikers visit the citadel on the circuit and schedule defined for them by the Ministry of Culture.
Because permits are limited and tied to your passport, the order of planning matters. We check availability for your dates first and build the rest of your trip, from flights to your days in Cusco, around the permit. Dates from May to August usually go first, so if your travel dates are flexible, tell us: a week earlier or later can make the difference.
Good to know: the permit calendar, the daily limit and the Machu Picchu circuit for trail hikers are set by the Ministry of Culture and change from time to time. We don’t publish release dates or availability here because they shift every year; we confirm the current rules with you before you book.
No permits left for your dates? The Salkantay Trek and the Lares Trek also end with a visit to Machu Picchu and don’t use Inca Trail permits. You can compare them with our other treks from Cusco.
Seasons
When to Hike the Inca Trail
The trail closes every February for maintenance. The rest of the year, the weather follows the Andean seasons:
- May to September is the dry season: clear mornings, cold nights at the high camps and the busiest months for permits.
- April and October sit between the seasons and often balance decent weather with a little less demand.
- November to March brings the rains: greener hillsides, more cloud, mud on the stone steps and afternoon showers.
The Short route stays lower and warmer than the Classic’s high section and ends in a hotel, so cold nights aren’t a factor. In any month, pack a rain layer: this is cloud forest, and the weather around Machu Picchu changes quickly.
Families
Hiking the Inca Trail With Kids
Families do hike the Inca Trail, and the right route depends on your children more than on their age. The Short route is usually the better fit: one long but manageable hiking day, lower than Cusco, and a hotel at the end of it. It suits kids and teens who already walk several hours at a time and aren’t uneasy near drop-offs.
The Classic route can be a great trip for active teenagers who enjoy multi-day hiking and don’t mind three nights in a tent. Long days, early starts, altitude and cold nights make it much harder for younger children.
If the trail doesn’t sound right for your family, the train still gets everyone to Machu Picchu: see our Machu Picchu tours. Either way, talk with our local team about your children’s ages and hiking experience and we’ll help you choose. Every hiker, children included, needs a permit issued with their passport details.
Why travel with us
Planning the Inca Trail With a Cusco Team
Permits first
We check permit availability for your dates before anything else and plan the rest of your trip around it.
Honest advice
We’ll tell you plainly which route suits your group, including when the train is the better choice.
Time to acclimatize
We build days in Cusco or the Sacred Valley into your plan, so you start the trail ready.
One direct conversation
You talk with the people organizing your trip, by email or WhatsApp, from the first question to your last day.
Questions
Inca Trail Questions We Hear Often
Which Inca Trail should I choose?
If you have the time, enjoy multi-day hiking and like the idea of camping, the Classic four-day route gives you the full experience. If you’re short on days, would rather sleep in a hotel or are hiking with children, the Short route is usually the better fit. Tell us about your group and we’ll give you a straight answer.
Can I hike the Inca Trail on my own?
No. Independent hiking isn’t allowed. Every hiker needs a permit booked through a licensed operator and walks with an authorized guide.
How far ahead should I plan?
As soon as your dates are fixed, especially for May to August, when permits can sell out months ahead. We check availability first and then plan the rest of your trip around your permit.
What if permits are sold out for my dates?
You still have good options. The Salkantay Trek and the Lares Trek end at Machu Picchu without Inca Trail permits, and our Machu Picchu tours go by train.
Is the Inca Trail open in February?
No. The trail network closes every February for maintenance and reopens in March. Machu Picchu itself stays open, so you can still visit by train or on a trek that doesn’t use the Inca Trail.
Do both routes enter Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate?
Yes. On the Classic route you reach the Sun Gate early on the last morning and walk down to the citadel. On the Short route you reach it in the afternoon of the hiking day, spend the night in Aguas Calientes and return for your guided visit the next morning.
Keep exploring
Other Ways to Reach Machu Picchu
Inca Trail
Inca Trail Permits: How They Work and When to Book
Permits for the Inca Trail are limited, personal and sold only through licensed operators. Here’s how the system works, how far ahead to plan and what to do if your dates are gone.
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How Hard Is the Inca Trail? Difficulty, Altitude and Training
An honest look at the effort: the day-by-day climbs, Dead Woman’s Pass, how the altitude feels, an eight-week training plan and easier ways to reach Machu Picchu.
8 min read
Inca Trail
Short Inca Trail vs Classic Inca Trail: 2 Days or 4?
Two days or four? How the Short and Classic Inca Trail compare on sights, effort, altitude, sleeping, cost and permits, and who each route suits best.
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Inca Trail Packing List: What to Bring (and What to Leave)
A practical packing list for the Inca Trail: layers for cold nights and hot days, boots, rain gear, what to rent in Cusco, documents, and what isn’t allowed on the trail.
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Plan your trip
Ready to Plan Your Inca Trail?
Send us your dates and group size. We’ll check permit availability and help you choose between the 4-day and 2-day routes.