During the journey to the Inca Trail, you will pass through different altitudinal floors, from 2,400 m. up to 4,200 m., at the highest point and of course this influences the climate, which varies according to the height of the place you are visiting.
Next, we present a detailed map of the climate, by months on the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu and Cusco:
The Inca Trail has two tour options:
The Classic Inca Trail 4 Days / 3 Nights that start at Piscakucho (2800 m) and the highest point is Warmiwañusca – Dead Woman’s Pass (4200 m) during this walk will pass through different valleys with climatic variations from cold to warm.
The other is a Short Inca Trail 2 Days / 1 Night begins at Chachabamba (2250 m) and the highest point is the Intipunku (2720 m), during the walk the weather is warm in the dry season and in the rainy season cloudy and warm.
The climate varies by month, some presence of rain, sunny days, cloudy days, cold nights; then we detail the climate of the Inca Trail per month.
- The month of February is impossible to book the Inca Trail because the Peruvian government closes this month for maintenance and improvement to the route.
- In the months of January and March are persistent rains mostly at night, the days are overcast however there are nice days and sunny, if we have good luck.
- The months of April, November and December; in April the rainy season ends and presents mild rainfall and the days are very nice; while in the months of November and December the rainy season begins and it will appear not very persistent rains but the days will be pleasant.
- During the months of May and October the weather is warm and dry with little presence of rain especially at night.
- The months of June, July, August and September are undoubtedly the best months to do the Inca Trail during the day is clear and you can clearly see the landscapes, the days are freshest however the nights are cold in the highlands.
Now it’s just your decision on which month do the Inca Trail and enjoy your adventure among the ancient mountains that witnessed the greatness of the Inca Empire.
How far in advance should I book the Inca Trail?
Only 500 people are allowed to enter the Inca Trail on any given day; around 200 of these go to tourists, the rest go to guides, porters and other trekking personnel. If you think it sounds limited, then it is true.
While alternative treks will provide opportunities for last minute hikes to Machu Picchu; hiking along the Classic Inca Trail route; Whether it is two days, four days or more, it requires a reservation in advance to be able to get a space on this trek.
If you arrive in Cusco with the idea of finding a space on the Inca Trail, there is a high probability that you will be deeply disappointed by not finding any space.
About the Inca Trail reserves
- If you plan to come in high season (June, July, August), take into account that for these months, visitors normally book four or five months in advance, so the ideal would be to reserve the Inca Trail, about six months of anticipation.
- The months surrounding the peak season are also often sold out ahead of time. If you want to travel the Inca Trail in the months of April, May, September, October or November, try to book at least three or four months in advance.
- In some of the quieter months, typically December, January, and early March, it might be okay to book four to five weeks in advance (although this also depends on the availability of income for sale at the beginning of the year).
- If you wonder what happened to February, it is the month in which the Inca Trail is closed for maintenance. However, the Inca City of Machu Picchu remains open.
Do you want to choose the date of your visit to the Inca Trail? According to our experience operating the Inca Trail, reserving your Inca Trail permits at the beginning of the year will give you the freedom to choose in which month you want to visit Machu Picchu.
By Inca Trail Machu Picchu - Last updated, 22-08-2024
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- Inca civilization: Rise and Fall of the Empire
- Ollantaytambo, the perfect destination before starting the Inca Trail
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We are part of MACHUPICCHU TERRA, Travel agency and tour operator authorized to operate the Inca Trail and other hiking routes in Cusco. Our authorization code is "CI1578".
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