Inca Trail Regulations – Everything you need to know

The Inca Trails are a network of roads spanning more than 60’000 km in length, that once connected the most important parts of the Inca empire together. This system of trails is known as the ‘Qhapac Ñan’, which means ‘way of the king or of the powerful’ in the Quechua language. Many sections of these roads still remain in good condition and are well preserved by several territories in South America including Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia. The Qhapac Ñan is considered a Cultural Heritage of Humanity by Unesco, with the most famous section being the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru.

Due to their historical value and cultural significance, the network of Inca Trails surrounding Machu Picchu are protected and preserved by the Peruvian Government. This is achieved by ensuring that entrance into the Inca Trails is restricted by only accessing them through the official government checkpoints that are stationed along the trail. It is also a provision of the Ministry of Culture of Peru that in order to enter, visitors must be accompanied by a licenced tour guide who is registered with an authorised travel agency. Reservations for the Inca Trail must also be secured 3-4 months in advance, due to high demand and a government limit of 500 entrances per day, with groups not comprising more than 16 people.

Rules for the Inca Trail

The Inca Trail is an intangible and universal asset recognized by the United Nations Organization UNESCO. Subsequently, there are a number of regulations for its use including the following:

• Protect and preserve the cultural and natural heritage of the Inca Trail network.
• Promote the sustainable use of the natural and cultural landscape.
• Prevent and/or control the possible impacts of the cultural and natural heritage.
• Promote the commitment of users to the conservation of the cultural and natural heritage of the Inca Trail network.

Documents needed to enter the Inca Trail

Identity Documents – Peruvian citizens must present their ID card at the first checkpoint of the trail.

Passport – Foreign tourists must present a valid passport at the first checkpoint of the trail.

Entrance Tickets – All visitors must show their entrance permits when passing through the checkpoints.

Student Card – Visitors who have registered their booking as a student must present a valid International Student Identification Card at the first checkpoint of the trail.

Prohibitions for visitors of the Inca Trail

When visiting the Inca Trail, it is forbidden to carry any of the following items:

• Firearms
• Knives
• Wildlife hunting implements such as nets, cages or traps
• Fuel or elements that can cause fires
• Drug or alcoholic beverages
• Domestic animals
• Picks or shovels
• Sound equipment (or any electronic item that disturbs the tranquillity of the route)
• Metal-tipped poles (only rubber-tipped poles are allowed)
• Any type of transport such as bicycles
• Drones or professional filming implements

Tourism agencies and their duties

Tourism agencies must comply with the following agreements with their tourists:

• The reservation and purchase of entrance tickets and permits into the Inca Trail
• The reservation and purchase of entrance tickets to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu

Duration of time spent on Inca Trail

The most famous route is the classic 4-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. It is considered to be 1 of the 10 best hikes in the world and covers a 43 km (26 mile) route starting from the check point at Kilometre 82.

The Short Inca Trail is a 2-day excursion, starting at the checkpoint of Kilometre 102. The 13km trail takes you on a journey through Inca history and culminates at the famous panoramic viewpoint atop the Inti Punku Sun Gate.

It is also possible to hike the Inca Trail in 5 days / 4 nights. Affording visitors more time to explore the archaeological sites along the trail and appreciate the diverse variety of flora and fauna.

Obtaining permission to enter

It is a provision of the Ministry of Culture of Peru that in order to enter the Inca Trail, visitors must be accompanied by a licenced tour guide who is registered with an authorised travel agency. Upon entering the checkpoints, the rangers are tasked with checking the identification of the tour guides and the groups travelling with them

Rules on visitor numbers

• A maximum of 500 people per day (including all support staff) are permitted to access.
• Groups are limited to a maximum of 16 members.
• Tourist guides must be accredited and have the correct permits and training to accompany tourists.
• Support staff including assistants, porters and cooks and more must also be accredited and have the correct permits.

Responsibilities of travel agencies

Due to the prestige of the Inca Trail, the Peruvian government only accredits tourism agencies that comply with all the permits and requirements for its operation.

Tourism agencies are responsible for arranging and acquiring the permits and entrance tickets needed for their clients to enter the Inca Trail. This is achieved through the official ticketing platform of the Ministry of Culture of Peru.

It is also the responsibility of tourism agencies to hire accredited support staff including tour guides, assistants, porters and cooks, and registering the staff in the official records of the Ministry of Culture of Peru.

Tourism agencies must also provide their staff and clients with the following equipment:

• Tents and Mattresses
• First aid kit and oxygen bottle
• Propane gas stoves
• Portable radio communication equipment
• Plastic netting for camping
• Deposits for solid waste
• Tents for group use
• Rain ponchos for porters during the rainy season