Inca Trail Regulations

Between 2000 and 2002, the Peruvian government created and approved several laws to regulate the use of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Most of these rules were created to preserve and protect the park and the environment surrounding the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

Before these laws were created, the entrance to the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu was not regulated and only an entrance ticket was necessary to be able to hike the Inca Trail. As a consequence of this lack of regulation, many travelers used to choose any place to camp and prepare their meals without picking up their trash after themselves or would make open fires without caring the surrounding environment. This lack of consciousness was the end of unregulated hikes on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. We hope that trekkers using other trails such us the Salkantay Trek or the Choquequirao Trek, respect the environment and pick up their trash after themselves so these treks are still free of severe regulations.

After the Peruvian government approved the laws that regulate the use of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, anyone that wants to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu has to hire the service of an Inca Trail Tour Operator. This means that no person is able to hike the Inca Trail by himself/herself. The law established that only 500 people are allowed to enter to the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu per day. This amount includes tourists, tour guides, and porters so at the end, only about 200 to 220 tourists are able to hike the Inca Trail per day.

The amount of tourists per day hiking the Inca Trail will depend on the place where tourists will start the hike. The Classic 4 Day Inca Trail starting at the kilometer 82 requires permits for tourists, guides, and porters while the Short Inca Trail starting at Kilometer 104 only requires permits for guides and tourists.

Permits are sold by the National Institute of Culture located in Cusco and they are sold on a first come, first serve basis. At the time that a tour operator purchases a permit for a tourist, the tour operator needs to provide information such as first name, last name, date of birth, gender, nationality, passport number, and ISIC Student ID Card (if the traveler qualifies for a student discount).  The tour operator also needs to purchase the permits of porters.  This is why tickets on the Inca Trail are nonrefundable or transferable once purchased.

The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is open from March the 1^st to January the 31^st of the following year. During the month of February the Inca Trail is closed for maintenance and also because this is the most rainy month of the year. 

Every year during the months of November and December, all Inca Trail Tour Operators are required to apply for an authorization to operate hikes along the Inca Trail. In order to be authorized to operate, companies need to observe a few minimum requirements:

• Apply as a Peruvian registered Tour Operator.
• Show equipment with the logo of the company to operate at least a group of 16 trekkers or tourists. Per group of 16 travelers, the law requires that a company hires 22 porters, and 2 guides. The company needs to show camping equipment, adequate gear for porters and guides, a first aid kit, environmental cleaning equipment, among other requirements.

In addition, every year, tour guides and porters need to be authorized by the INRENA (National Institute of Natural Resources) in order to be able to work as an Inca Trail crew. Tour guides need to obtain their authorization to be able to enter the Inca Trail during the same period while porters need to obtain their authorization during the month of January.

In 2005, the Peruvian government detected that several tour operators were underpaying and abusing their porters. As a consequence, the Porter Law was approved that requires companies to provide a fair pay, life insurance, proper equipment, and social security benefits. This law also established that a porter carries a maximum of 20 kilograms (44 pounds). Unfortunately, there are still companies operating the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu that are not complying with these rules and are still abusing the hard work of the porters.