Documents required for the Inca Trail

The Inca Trail is one of the most famous routes in the world. For 4 days, travel through the Andean geography of Cusco for 39 kilometers until arriving at Machu Picchu. This walk crosses part of the famous ‘qhapac ñan’, the road network built by the Incas. Therefore, to guarantee the care of the route and of the tourist himself, it is necessary to register each of the visitors. Otherwise they will not be able to make this fascinating adventure.

Why do I need to register my entrance to the Inca Trail?

The Inca Trail is a route that is protected by the Peruvian State so there are rules to comply with. That means that only people authorized by the Ministry of Culture of Peru can travel its roads. How can I get those permissions? The only way is buying a tour with a tourism agency. The tourism agency is the one that processes the permits with the ‘Ministry’. But for this the agency will ask you for a few necessary documents.

These documents are used exclusively to carry out the purchase process of the Inca Trail tour. Likewise, these will be required during the walk. Upon entering each camp, the park rangers will ask for your identification to confirm that all tourists remain in their respective groups.

What documents do I need to show?

The basic document necessary to buy the tour to the Inca Trail is the valid passport. This must have all the information clear and legible. The photo as well as all the content of the document must be in good condition.

In case the tourist enters the Peruvian territory with an identity document (in the case of visitors from South America, for example) this will be the document with which they can buy their tour to the Inca Trail. Similarly, the identity document must be in good condition with all the information clear and legible.

The documents with which you acquire your permits for the Inca Trail must be valid at least until the date of the visit to the Inca city of Machu Picchu. Otherwise, you will not be able to get the tour or enter the route.

In summary, these are the documents required according to the type of person :

• Foreign tourists – Passport.
• South American tourists – National identity document.
• Peruvian tourists – National identity document of Peru (DNI).

What documents do I need to get discounts?

Please note that you can benefit from the following discounts:

For minors – Adolescents between 12 and 17 years old. All of them must travel accompanied by their father, mother or legal representative. It is recommended that children like these types of adventures. The valid document is the passport or identity document. The discount is approximately $ 25.

For college students – Undergraduate college students with current enrollment. They must be under 25 years old at the time of their visit to Machu Picchu. The valid document is the ‘ISIC’ university card or university card (in the case of Peruvian students). The discount is approximately $ 25.

For tourists from the Andean Community of Nations – Tourists from the countries of Peru, Ecuador, Colombia or Bolivia who have their valid national identity document. As in other cases, the document must be in good condition with the information and photograph visible. The discount is approximately $ 25 per tourist.

And what document do I need to go to Peru?

The Inca Trail is a route that belongs to the Cusco region in Peru. To enter Peruvian territory, in most cases, you only need a passport or identity document. However, in a few countries in the world, it is also necessary to obtain a VISA with the Peruvian consulate.

The countries that require a VISA to enter Peru are:

In Europe – Georgia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Azerbaijan, Albania.

In America – Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua.

In Asia – Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, East Timor, Tajikistan, Syria, Laos, North Korea, Qatar, Pakistan, Nepal, Mongolia, Maldives, Lebanon, Libya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, India, United Arab Emirates, China, Cambodia, Bhutan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Armenia.

In Africa – Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Ivory Coast, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bisau, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Mauritius, Mauritania, Mozambique, Burma, Namibia, Nigeria, Central African Republic, Rwanda, Western Sahara, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

By Inca Trail Machu Picchu - Last updated, 30-09-2021

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