South America · Peru
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Historic Sanctuary of Machupicchu, Cusco, Peru
Hikes / South America / Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Where these numbers come from
Public sources, official ones first, each numbered and listed under Sources, checked Nov 2026. Anything they don't give is left out.
Relief map
The route
The classic four-day trek on original Inca paths from the railway at km 82 (Piscacucho) over the Warmiwañusca pass and past ruins such as Runkurakay, Sayaqmarka, Phuyupatamarka and Wiñaywayna. It ends by walking through Intipunku, the Sun Gate, down to Machu Picchu.1,2,3
Route drawn from OpenStreetMap (Camino Inca a Machu Picchu, read Nov 2026). © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Terrain: Mapzen Terrain Tiles (SRTM, GMTED) on AWS. A sketch for planning, not for navigation.
Before you go
The basics
- Start
- Piscacucho (Piskakuchu), km 82 of the railway1
- Distance
- 43 km for the classic route per the national tourism board; SERNANP's route sheet gives 33.7 km for Route 1.2,1
- High point
- Warmiwañusca pass (Dead Woman's Pass), 4,200 m.3
- Usual difficulty
- The tourism board says you don't need to be an expert but must be fit, as the days are long and the route goes above 4,000 m; it advises arriving in Cusco a day or two early to adjust to the altitude.2,4
- Best time
- open all year except February, when it closes for maintenance; April to October is the dry, recommended season and November to March is the rainy season1,2,3
- Permits
- You can only enter the trail network with a travel agency authorized by the sanctuary (the use rules are SERNANP Presidential Resolution 336-2016). Entry is capped at 500 people a day including guides and porters, so book months ahead. You register at the park checkpoints; the trail network is open 05:30 to 14:00.1,2,3
- Getting there
- Fly from Lima to Cusco (about 1 hour). The bus from Cusco to km 82 takes about 2 h 30 min and is run only by tourism agencies. From Machu Picchu Pueblo, trains go back to Ollantaytambo (about 2 h 10 min) or Cusco (about 4 h 10 min).1
From the sources
Safety
Insurance
- The UK government advises making sure your insurance covers every activity you plan
Source 6
From the sources below, checked Nov 2026. For planning, not navigation: check before you go.
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Typical: 4 days (the hike's facts).
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Answered from the data
Questions people ask
How many days do you need for Inca Trail to Machu Picchu?
How long is Inca Trail to Machu Picchu?
When is the best time to hike Inca Trail to Machu Picchu?
all year except Feb. Open all year except February, when it closes for maintenance; April to October is the dry, recommended season and November to March is the rainy season.
From SERNANP, Historic Sanctuary of Machupicchu visitor page (official); Peru.travel, PromPerú national tourism board (official); MINCETUR tourism resource inventory, Camino Inka (official), checked Nov 2026. [1] [2] [3]
Do you need a permit for Inca Trail to Machu Picchu?
You can only enter the trail network with a travel agency authorized by the sanctuary (the use rules are SERNANP Presidential Resolution 336-2016). Entry is capped at 500 people a day including guides and porters, so book months ahead. You register at the park checkpoints; the trail network is open 05:30 to 14:00.
From SERNANP, Historic Sanctuary of Machupicchu visitor page (official); Peru.travel, PromPerú national tourism board (official); MINCETUR tourism resource inventory, Camino Inka (official), checked Nov 2026. [1] [2] [3]
How do you get to Inca Trail to Machu Picchu?
Fly from Lima to Cusco (about 1 hour). The bus from Cusco to km 82 takes about 2 h 30 min and is run only by tourism agencies. From Machu Picchu Pueblo, trains go back to Ollantaytambo (about 2 h 10 min) or Cusco (about 4 h 10 min).
From SERNANP, Historic Sanctuary of Machupicchu visitor page (official), checked Nov 2026. [1]
Where do you sleep on Inca Trail to Machu Picchu?
Tent. Camping at authorized campsites along the trail (such as Ayapata or Llulluchapampa, Chaquicocha, Phuyupatamarca and Wiñaywayna); hotels and restaurants in Machu Picchu Pueblo at the end.
From SERNANP, Historic Sanctuary of Machupicchu visitor page (official); MINCETUR tourism resource inventory, Camino Inka (official), checked Nov 2026. [1] [3]
How high does Inca Trail to Machu Picchu go?
13,780 ft (4,200 m). Warmiwañusca pass (Dead Woman's Pass), 4,200 m.
From MINCETUR tourism resource inventory, Camino Inka (official), checked Nov 2026. [3]
What's the emergency number on Inca Trail to Machu Picchu?
Ambulance: 106. Police: 105. Fire: 116.
From UK FCDO travel advice, Peru: getting help (official), checked Nov 2026. [5]
Sources
- SERNANP, Historic Sanctuary of Machupicchu visitor page (official) · official · checked Nov 2026
- Peru.travel, PromPerú national tourism board (official) · official · checked Nov 2026
- MINCETUR tourism resource inventory, Camino Inka (official) · official · checked Nov 2026
- Peru.travel, best time to visit Machu Picchu (official) · official · checked Nov 2026
- UK FCDO travel advice, Peru: getting help (official) · official · checked Nov 2026
- UK FCDO travel advice, Peru: safety and security (official) · official · checked Nov 2026
Facts are written in our own words from these pages; nothing is copied. Rules, fees and closures change: check the official page before you go.