Location: It starts at kilometers 82 (aka Piscacucho) of the rail road that runs from Cusco to Machu Picchu Town and it ends in Machu Picchu, District of Machu Picchu, Province of Urubamba and Region of Cusco

Distance from Cusco Downtown to Km. 82: 80 kilometers - 2 hours in private transportation

• This is the most popular trek in Peru, and a permit needs to be obtained to access it. (500 permits are available per day.) Only a registered tour operator is allowed to purchase permits, and this tour operator will provide a guided service along the trek and Machu Picchu. Permits should be booked well in advance (4 to 5 months in advance for the high season which goes from April to August and 2 to 3 months for the low season).
• Travelers should be aware that there are dozens of tour providers and the service offered widely varies among them. Some companies offer below average services with cheap equipment and basic meals while others offer the best equipment available in the market and well prepared meals with wine served in real wine glasses.
• It is important to research before booking the Inca Trail in order to choose the right tour provider. Hikers should keep in mind the following: price, equipment offered, size of the group, quality of the meals provided, knowledge of the guides, quality of the transportation (bus and train), and any other inclusions in the tour package such as porters to carry personal belongings, snacks, satellite phones or radios, portable bathrooms with showers, etc.
• Before starting the trek, travelers should allow themselves time to get used to the high altitude by spending a couple of full days in a high-altitude city such as Cusco.
• The last portion of this route includes the original path built by the Incas hundreds of years ago, accessing Machu Picchu via the Gate of the Sun (lntipunku). This portion of the trek is known as the Royal Trail since it was reserved for the royalty. lt is easy to note the high-quality work performed by the Incas in this last portion of the trek.
• If Huayna Picchu is included in your itinerary, a separate entrance ticket to Machu Picchu with access to Huayna Picchu MUST be purchased in advance. (Only 400 people are allowed access to Huayna Picchu per day.)

Restrictions:

• Free and/or solo hiking is not permitted. Only 500 people are allowed on the trek per day. (This number includes tourists, guides, cooks, and porters.)
• Campfires
• Travelers with health issues such  as cardiac conditions, asthma, or pulmonary infections should ask a doctor before hiking the Inca Trail.

Follow the link to watch a video with tips and suggestions to get the most of the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Tips to Book the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Video.