3 Things To Know Before Hiking the Inca Trail

Machu Picchu, Peru
Photo by Tom Cleary on Unsplash

The Inca Trail is one of the world’s most iconic treks, winding through Peru’s lush cloud forests all the way to the ancient city of Machu Picchu. There are a few things to know about the Inca Trails before seeing them for yourselves.

There is a daily hiker limit

The Inca Trails are strictly limited to 500 people per day. Roughly half of these spots are occupied by porters and guides leaving only 250 permits a day for trekkers from all over the world.

The Best Time of Year to Hike the Inca Trail

Peru has two seasons, dry and wet. It’s possible to do the Inca Trails in either season, but each comes with its own pros and cons. During the dry season, which takes place from June to August, the chance of rain is significantly lower, obviously. However, it’s the high tourism season in Peru, so the Inca Trail will be at full capacity every day.

How Fit Do You Need To Be?

Although the Inca Trail isn’t exactly a walk in the park, you do not have to be the most experienced hiker to do it. Of course, the more fit you are the easier the challenge will be.