In short
Inca Trail permits are sold only through a licensed operator, with your passport. Opening estimated on November 1, 2026 for 2027, but sources disagree on the month: choose your operator beforehand.
The key facts
| What you book | The trail permit (through an agency) |
|---|---|
| Sales open for the trail permit | November 1, 2026 |
| Opening time | Time not announced. Check the official website before the day. |
| Price | Agency required, about $700 to $1,000 for the 4 daysRough estimate, check the official website. |
| How reliable these dates are | Estimated from previous years |
Requirements
- Book through a licensed agency
- Passport: the permit carries your name and cannot be changed
Step by step
- Choose a licensed agency Only agencies licensed by the Ministry of Culture can buy permits.
- Give your date and your passport details Your name and passport number are printed on the permit.
- Pay the deposit before opening The agency buys the permit as soon as sales open; May to August go first.
- Check the permit you receive A mistake in the name or number cannot be corrected.
The trail is closed all of February for maintenance. A permit once bought is neither refunded nor transferred.
And Machu Picchu?
- Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu: Tickets by circuit; the summits sell out months ahead.
To check
- The daily quota: 500 people a day, porters and guides included, about 200 of them hikers (Wikipedia figure dated 2016, repeated by operators). Confirm it, like the exact opening month, with your operator.
Don't miss an opening
Add every opening on this page to your calendar: your phone reminds you 1 week before and the day before each one.
Frequently asked questions
Can you hike the Inca Trail without an operator?
No. Permits are sold only through licensed operators.
Can you change the name on the permit?
No: the permit is in your name and cannot be changed.
See also
Inca TrailOpens November 1, 2026Machu Picchu and Huayna PicchuAll yearFixed-date bookingsEvery dateQuota permits and tour operatorsEvery dateHikesBy activityLottery, quota, fixed date: the 4 ways to get inThe basics
Sources and checks. Dates, prices and requirements come from the calendar's guides, which give the official source and how reliable each one is. Anything not in them yet is flagged “To check”. Page updated on October 27, 2026.