Guaranteeing Inca Trail Trek Permits
How to book and guarantee a permit for the Inca Trail Trek
In order to preserve the Inca Trail Trek and its surrounds, the Peruvian authorities currently cap the number of Inca Trail trekking permits to 500 per day, which includes trekkers, guides, porters and other support staff. Permits often sell out several months in advance and you must book well ahead to secure your place, particularly if you want to trek in the high season between June and August.
Tucan Travel has a team based in Cuzco who are able to book and collect your permit in person. This means that as soon as your permit is confirmed, you are guaranteed to trek the Inca Trail on the date that you want to travel.
We recommend booking your permit at least four months ahead to avoid disappointment. Also, don't forget that flights may be cheaper in May, September and October, in the off season. Please remember Inca Trail Trek bookings will be on request until confirmed by our Cuzco office. Once confirmed we cannot make any amendments to your Inca Trail permit.
Please note: For the best chance of securing a permit, you must do the following:
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Pay your deposit
When booking your tour you will pay your tour deposit plus a non-refundable Inca Trail Trek commitment deposit of US$300. This is not an extra payment and will be deducted from your final tour payment. -
Check your passport
You must provide Tucan Travel or your travel agent with a legible copy of your passport at the time you request your Inca Trail Trek. We can not book or confirm your trekking permit with out this. Your permit is linked to your name and passport number. If you change your passport after booking your Inca Trail Trek permit or you plan to travel with a different passport, you MUST also bring the passport you used to book your permit, or you will not be able to trek the Inca Trail Trek. It is extremely important to check that the passport you use to enter Peru has a minimum of 6 months validity after the end of your tour before you apply. -
Book at least four months in advance
To increase your chances further, we strongly advise that you book your tour four or more months in advance. This is particularly important during the peak season from June to September when places are at an absolute premium. If you choose to book the trail within 60 days of your tour departure (90 days during the high season) we will still attempt to secure you a permit but limited availability is likely to greatly reduce your chances of success. If we cannot get you a permit to trek with your tour group we may be able to secure you a trek permit in a pooled service (with other travellers), however this is still subject to availability. Once confirmed we cannot make any amendments to your permit. Please note that the Inca Trail Trek regulations are changed by the authorities in Peru on a frequent basis and we recommend that you check our Latest News online just before you travel.
Inca Trail closure in February
The trail is usually closed once a year for the month of February for maintenance. Please note that the Lares Trek is available all year and is not affected by the annual closure of the Inca Trail.
Price changes for the Inca Trail Trek, Lares Trek and overnight train
Please note that all routes to Machu Picchu are subject to local regulations and prices for permits and transportation may change without notice. Although we will endeavour to absorb any changes, it may become necessary to increase our prices accordingly (any increase will be paid locally in Cuzco in US dollars cash) even after you have booked or during your tour. Any changes will be posted on our Latest News online and all affected passengers will be notified by their travel consultant if there is sufficient time before your tour departs.
How to change your booking
If you need to change your booking from the Inca Trail or Lares Trek or Machu Picchu day or overnight excursion to another option, you may do so for an additional cost. This amount is to be paid in US dollars cash to the tour leader or Tucan Travel representative prior to us booking the service.
If you want to change to the Lares Trek, we are only able to make this change for you if:
- There are already people booked on this trek, and
- You give us 7 days notice of the change.
The price for the change will be provided on application. Please note that these prices are set and include the additional costs of accommodation, trains, transfers as well as a small administration fee to cover the time of our staff who are making the changes. We will make the new booking with our usual operators who work to a high standard of service which has been risk assessed.
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