Best Time to Hike the Inca Trail: Month by Month Guide

The best time to hike the Inca Trail is the dry season, from May to September, when the weather is most stable. It is also the busiest time of year, and permits for June to August usually sell out first. April and October are a good compromise, with favorable weather and fewer people on the trail. From November to March it rains more often, and the trail closes every February for maintenance.

This guide compares the seasons month by month and explains how far ahead to book your permit for each one.

The Inca Trail month by month#

Month	Season	What to expect	When to book
January	Rainy season	Muddy, slippery sections and fog on some days; greener landscapes and fewer hikers	2 to 4 months ahead
February	Closed	The trail closes for maintenance and no permits are issued	Trail closed
March	Rainy season	The trail reopens after the February closure; rain is still frequent	2 to 4 months ahead
April	Shoulder month	Favorable weather and fewer crowds than in the dry season	Check the live availability calendar
May	Dry season	Stable weather at the start of the busy season	6 to 8 months ahead, or as soon as sales open
June to August	Dry season	The most popular months; permits usually sell out first	6 to 8 months ahead, or as soon as sales open
September	Dry season	Stable weather at the end of the busy season	4 to 6 months ahead
October	Shoulder month	Favorable weather and fewer crowds	4 to 6 months ahead
November and December	Rainy season	Wetter trail and changeable weather; greener landscapes and fewer hikers	2 to 4 months ahead

Whatever the month, the trail crosses very different ecosystems, from high passes such as Dead Woman’s Pass (4,215 m / 13,829 ft) to cloud forest, so you can have strong sun, rain, wind and cold on the same day. Pack layers and rain protection all year round.

Dry season: May to September#

The dry season is usually regarded as the ideal time to hike the Inca Trail because the weather is more stable. That is also why it is the busiest season. The number of permits is fixed at 500 people per day, including guides, cooks and porters, and once a date is sold out there is no waiting list.

If you want to hike in June, July or August, book as early as you can: 6 to 8 months ahead, or as soon as permits go on sale. For May and September the pressure is a little lower, but the most popular dates still go first. If your date is sold out, try a few days earlier or later, because availability changes from one start date to the next.

Shoulder months: April and October#

April and October can offer favorable weather with fewer crowds than the peak months. They are a good choice if your dates are flexible and you want a quieter trail without the heavier rain of the wet season. For October, book 4 to 6 months ahead.

Rainy season: November to March#

From November to March the landscapes are greener, the waterfalls are fuller and the trail is usually less crowded than in the dry season. The trade-off is the weather: paths become muddy and slippery, fog can reduce visibility, rivers may swell and the cloud forest sections feel noticeably more humid.

If you hike in these months, bring waterproof boots, layered clothing, a rain jacket, a rain cover for your backpack, quick-drying clothes and trekking poles. Booking 2 to 4 months ahead is usually enough. Read our Inca Trail rainy season guide for more detail.

February: the Inca Trail is closed#

February is the wettest month, so the Inca Trail closes every year for maintenance and conservation work, and no permits are issued for that month. If you are traveling in February, you can still visit Machu Picchu by train or choose a route that does not need an Inca Trail permit, such as the Inca Jungle Trek or the Salkantay Trek.

When to book your Inca Trail permit#

Permits are issued for a specific start date, in your name and with your passport number, and only a licensed tour operator can book them. As of late October 2026, Peru’s Ministry of Culture has not announced the sale date for the 2027 season; in recent years permits have gone on sale in November of the previous year, and the 2026 season went on sale on 17 November 2025.

Our Inca Trail permits guide explains how the system works and what we need from you to book. You can also see how many spaces are left for each start date in our live availability calendar.

Choose your Inca Trail#

All our Inca Trail tours reach Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. The Classic Inca Trail 4 Days follows the full route from Km 82, and the Short Inca Trail 2 Days starts at Km 104 for one day of hiking. Tell us your dates and we will check availability for you before you pay anything.