For the Classic/Long Inca Trail (4–6 days), we strongly recommend booking about 5–6 months in advance—some dates sell out very fast, especially in April and May.

Why so early? The Inca Trail has a strict daily limit: 500 total spaces per day, and only about 180–200 of those are for travelers. The rest are used by staff (guides, porters, and cooks).

Permits for the following year are released once a year (usually around Oct/Nov), and the most popular dates can sell out as soon as sales open. That said, some dates can still be available last minute—contact us and we’ll check availability for you.

Short Inca Trail (2 days): In high season, we recommend booking at least 3–4 months in advance. There are 250 permits per day, and that number includes guides and staff. At TreXperience, we’re one of the few operators that also hires porters and a chef on the Short Inca Trail—creating extra local jobs and giving you a more comfortable experience with fresh meals so you can hike light and focus on enjoying the trail.

Your permit and Machu Picchu ticket must be issued with your real passport details, exactly as shown:

• First name(s) + last name(s)
• Passport number
• Date of birth
• Nationality
• Gender

If your passport is going to expire soon, book with your current passport first. After booking, send us a clear copy of your current passport. When you renew it, send us a copy of the new passport too—having both copies helps avoid issues.

Important: you can usually update ONLY the passport number. You cannot change names or last names. Please do not use nicknames, shortcuts, or different spelling—your booking details must match your passport 100%, and the rules are very strict.

The Inca Trail is open year-round except in February, when it closes due to the heavy rainy season and for annual maintenance.

During February, we use the break to renew equipment and train our team so you get a safer, smoother trek:

• Guides refresh training in first aid and mountain rescue, plus route knowledge and history.
• Chefs complete intensive training in food handling and dietary restrictions.
• Porters and trekking staff complete training for safety and trail operations.

The trail reopens on March 1st, with clean facilities, all campsites refreshed, and repaired trails.

Yes—solo travelers, couples, and families can absolutely join our group tours. We have group departures every day, and our small, premium groups are a great way to meet travelers from all over the world while still enjoying a well‑organized trek.

If you prefer more privacy, your own pace, and a plan built around your group, we also offer exclusive Private Inca Trail tours. Tell us your dates and comfort level, and we’ll send a personalized quote.

Yes—and we’ll help you keep it simple.

If you stay in Cusco:

• If you return to the same hotel after the trek, it’s best to store your luggage there (most hotels offer storage).
• If you’re changing hotels, we strongly recommend leaving your luggage with us. Add a luggage tag, and hand it to your tour guide when we pick you up on trek day.

If you stay in the Sacred Valley:

• We can pick you up with all your luggage, transfer your main luggage to Cusco while you hike, and deliver it to your Cusco hotel after the trek.
• If you plan to stay in the Sacred Valley after the trek, tell us in advance—otherwise your luggage will be sent to Cusco by default.

This applies to both Short and Long Inca Trail tours.

On the Long Inca Trail (4–6 days), there are public toilets roughly every 4–5 hours. Every campsite and lunch stop has a public bathroom. Before you start hiking each morning, always ask your guide where the next toilets are—this helps you plan comfortably.

For extra comfort and hygiene, TreXperience also carries private portable toilets on the Long Inca Trail.

A few helpful tips:

• Day 1 passes local villages—many bathrooms cost about 1 sol, so bring small coins.
• Day 1 is also the last day to buy small snacks/drinks from local sellers.
• Days 2 and 3 are remote—no towns, no shops, and very limited phone signal.

At Machu Picchu, there is one main bathroom outside the entrance (usually 2 soles). Use it before entering, because Machu Picchu has a single entrance and you can’t leave and re‑enter without a new ticket—and tickets are often sold out.

Short Inca Trail note (2 days): You’ll have toilets at the start of the hike, at lunch, and at Machu Picchu. On the Short Inca Trail, we do not carry portable toilets.

Cell signal is limited on the Long Inca Trail and it comes and goes:

• Day 1: usually some signal only in the first couple of hours
• Day 2: typically no signal
• Day 3: sometimes signal in the afternoon (depends on your mobile operator)
• Day 4: signal is often available while visiting Machu Picchu (the train ride can be offline for around 2 hours)

Please plan as if you won’t have service. Bring a power bank and download anything you need for offline use. For safety, we carry satellite phones for emergencies.

Short Inca Trail (2 days): you’ll usually have signal most of the day, except during parts of the train ride.

These train services are operated by PeruRail (and there’s also another company, Inca Rail, with similar options). PeruRail is the most common operator, but depending on availability we may use an equivalent service with Inca Rail.

Here’s the simple breakdown:

• Expedition Train (standard): The basic, affordable option. Good value and usually the easiest to find availability.
• Vistadome Train (panoramic): A more comfortable ride with larger windows for views—great for the scenery in the Urubamba River valley and the Machu Picchu canyon. This is the service we use on most of our trekking tours.
• Vistadome Observatory (upgraded panoramic): An enhanced version with panoramic windows plus an observatory/bar carriage experience (entertainment and snacks on board). We use this service on our Luxury tours when available.
• Hiram Bingham (top luxury): The most luxurious train option with limited availability. It can sometimes be added as an upgrade on request.

If you want to upgrade or downgrade your train service, just ask—we’ll confirm what’s possible for your date.

All Inca Trail tours include two things by default: the Inca Trail permit and a Machu Picchu entry ticket. This is the rule for all tour operators. Your Machu Picchu ticket is issued in your name using your passport details, so it can’t be removed, swapped, or changed like a normal add-on.

On the Long Inca Trail, you arrive at Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate (Inti Punku). This is a viewpoint on a mountain ridge about 5 km from the citadel, and it’s where you get your first unforgettable view of Machu Picchu from above. From there, you descend for about an hour to reach the main panoramic viewpoint (Circuit 1) for the best “postcard” photos.

After the panoramic viewpoint, you continue with your guided visit inside Machu Picchu on Circuit 3, where you see key areas such as the Temple of the Sun, important fountains, and other major buildings in the central part of the site. This combination—Circuit 1 first (views), then Circuit 3 (the heart of Machu Picchu)—is one of the most complete ways to experience Machu Picchu.

Optional hikes (extra tickets, limited spaces):

• After the Long Inca Trail, you can add Huayna Picchu as an extra hike after your guided tour.
• After the Short Inca Trail, you may be able to add Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, depending on availability and timing.

How the circuits work by trail type:

• Long Inca Trail (Day 4): Circuit 1 + Circuit 3 on the same day.
• Short Inca Trail: Day 1 Circuit 1 in the afternoon, and Day 2 Circuit 3.

Step 1: We first verify availability.

• Long Inca Trail: permits + campsites + group/private space
• Short Inca Trail: permits + group/private space
• For both: train availability is also important.

Step 2: Submit your booking online.

If permits are available, you can book directly through our website. We require an initial deposit of:

• USD 200 per person for standard tours
• USD 400 per person for luxury tours

This deposit is used to purchase permits/tickets and secure key reservations, so it’s non‑refundable and non‑transferable (because permits and tickets are issued to your name and passport number).

Step 3: Manual confirmation.

After you submit the booking and payment, our team processes it and purchases your permits/tickets if everything is available. If your requested date is not available, we will contact you with alternatives (different dates or alternative tours). If you don’t want any alternative, we’ll issue a full refund.

Once Inca Trail or Machu Picchu tickets are purchased, they cannot be refunded. Confirmation usually takes around 24 hours after booking.