In 2021, the Inca Trail remained closed for several months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but since 15 July 2021 it has re-opened the Classic 4-Day Ica Trail hike at a 50% limited capacity. There was little notice before the re-opening, but now we have a better idea of how to book the Inca Trail right now:

Inca Trail availability 2021

Permits for the short Inca Trail (1 day) and the Classic Inca Trail (4 day or 5 day options) hikes are available for the remainder of the year, so up until 31 December 2021. The permits for 2022 are not yet available, however, that is not abnormal as they are usually released in October for the following year. We are not sure if this will still be the case for this year, but please don’t hesitate to get in touch so we know about your interest and can keep a close eye on this. No one can hold, book or reserve permits for any hikes in 2022 but we can book as soon as they do become available if we know your preferred dates so we can take reservations on that basis. It’s best not to book any (non-refundable) flights or hotels until the permits are secured since the situation is still unpredictable.

How last minute can you book

Permits are as always first come, first serve and as mentioned above available at 50% capacity. There hasn’t been a huge demand for Inca Trail permits this year (which is both good and bad - good for travelers, maybe not so good for tourism in Peru), and we should be able to get permits with ideally 3-4 weeks advance notice, but even up to 1 week notice. We are not aware of any sold out dates at this moment. Before the pandemic, this kind of timeline was unheard of - you would have to book up to 6 months in advance. So this gives you more flexible options right now, and an opportunity to see the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu with much fewer visitors than normal! Tour guides, porters, and other crew and ready and available to work so we are waiting for you.

What do you need to book

• Exact dates (beginning and end) that you would like to hike the Inca Trail - we should be able to check and confirm the availability for you on the same day that you contact us

• Which option you would like to go for (Short, Classic,..) view all options

• A valid passport for each hiker, and this must not expire within 6 months of your arrival in Peru

• A full non-refundable payment (get in touch for a best and latest quote, groups may qualify for a discount) - this is because once we buy the permits they are linked to the passport provided, non-refundable and also not amendable or transferable to someone else (we recommend making sure you have full coverage travel insurance)

• Acceptance of Peru Arrivals Protocols which means you can present evidence of a negative COVID test

• We need at least a week notice to be able to organize permits and crew

We will take care of the rest! Papi’s Treks is a fully licensed Inca Trail tour operator and we keep up to date with the latest requirements so you can travel with peace of mind.

Most of our hikes are private, where possible to reduce the cost we can try to combine groups, and the minimum number is 2 people.

This is really an amazing opportunity for you to experience the best of Peru without the crowds, and we would be more than happy to help you! Contact us