Inca Trail Permits 2027: Availability Month by Month
How the 500 daily permits work, when 2027 goes on sale, which months sell out first, February closure and what to do if there is nothing left.
The Peruvian government issues 500 Inca Trail permits per day. Around 300 go to guides, porters and cooks, which leaves roughly 200 for hikers. Permits for 2027 are expected to go on sale in early October 2026. High season dates sell out within days of release, and there is no waiting list.
If you want to walk the Classic Inca Trail in June, July or August 2027, you need to decide before the sale opens, not after.
How the permit system actually works
Wayllabamba control post. Your permit is checked against your passport here and at kilometre 82. Photo: Steve Pastor, CC BY 3.0
A permit is tied to one person, one date and one passport number. It cannot be resold, transferred to another person, or moved to another date. If you cancel, the permit is gone.
You cannot buy one yourself. The Ministry of Culture only lets travel agencies registered with it book permits, and there is no public platform where an individual can purchase one. Any site claiming to sell you a permit directly is either an agency or is not selling you a real permit.
To book, your agency needs your full name exactly as it appears on your passport, your passport number, your nationality and your date of birth. If you renew your passport between booking and walking, bring both documents.
When 2027 permits go on sale
The Ministry of Culture releases the following year's permits in October, and announces the exact date only a few weeks beforehand. For 2027, the release is expected in the first week of October 2026.
What this means in practice:
- Now through late September 2026. Decide your dates and give them to your agency with passport details ready. Nothing can be booked yet.
- First week of October 2026, expected. Permits open. Agencies book in the first hours. June to August dates can disappear the same day.
- October 2026 to January 2027. Shoulder season dates still available.
- From February 2027. What is left is mostly the rainy months.
Which months sell out first
How fast each month sells out, from the February closure to the June to August peak.
| Month | Weather | How fast it goes |
|---|---|---|
| January | Rain, trail open until the 31st | Available late |
| February | Trail closed | Not bookable |
| March | End of the rains | Available for months |
| April | Green, fewer people | Goes mid-season |
| May | Best month overall | Sells out early |
| June | Dry, cold nights, Inti Raymi | Sells out first |
| July | Peak season | Sells out first |
| August | Peak season | Sells out first |
| September | Dry, thinning crowds | Sells out mid-season |
| October | First rains, quiet | Available for months |
| November | Rain returns | Available late |
| December | Rain, holidays busy | Available late |
February is closed every year. The trail shuts for the whole month so the Ministry of Culture can repair paths, bridges, campsites and toilets. The trail is open from 1 March to 31 January.
How far ahead you really need to book
The stretch below Dead Woman's Pass, the highest point of the four-day route at 4,215 m. Photo: Mx. Granger, CC0
For June, July and August, book as soon as permits open. Six to eight months ahead is normal and it is not an exaggeration.
For April, May, September and October, three to five months is usually enough.
For March, November and December, one to three months is often fine, and sometimes less.
What to do if your dates are gone
This happens constantly, and it is not the end of the trip. Three alternatives reach Machu Picchu on foot and none of them needs an Inca Trail permit.
The Short Inca Trail, 2 days. The last stretch of the original trail, entering Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate the same as the four-day route. It needs its own permit, but far fewer people compete for it.
Inti Punku, the Sun Gate. Both the four-day and the two-day routes enter Machu Picchu through here. Photo: Mx. Granger, CC0
The Salkantay Trek, 5 days. No permit required at all. Higher and wilder than the Inca Trail, crossing a 4,630 m pass below the Salkantay glacier before dropping into cloud forest.
The Salkantay route needs no permit at all. Photo: Maeghan Smulders, CC0
The Inca Jungle Trail, 4 days. Downhill biking, rafting, ziplining and hiking. No permit. The most active route and usually the cheapest.
If you would rather not walk at all, the train reaches Machu Picchu from Ollantaytambo in under two hours.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy an Inca Trail permit myself? No. Only agencies registered with the Ministry of Culture can book permits. There is no direct public sales platform.
Are Inca Trail permits refundable? No. They are non-refundable and non-transferable. The permit is tied to your name, your passport and one specific date.
How many permits are there per day? 500 in total, of which around 300 go to guides, porters and cooks. Roughly 200 are left for hikers.
When do 2027 permits go on sale? In October 2026. The Ministry of Culture confirms the exact date only a few weeks in advance.
Is the Inca Trail closed at any time of year? Yes, the whole of February, every year, for maintenance. The trail runs from 1 March to 31 January.
What happens if I change my passport after booking? Tell your agency and bring both passports to the checkpoint at kilometre 82.
Do I need a permit for the 2-day Short Inca Trail? Yes, but it comes from a separate and less contested allocation, so it is usually available when the four-day route is not.
Can I walk the Inca Trail without a guide? No. A licensed guide is mandatory on every departure.