When is the best time to do the Inca Trail?│Best time to hike the Inca Trail

What is the best time to hike the Inca Trail? This is one of the most frequent questions that every traveler asks before making plans for this wonderful trekking experience. In addition, it is important to know the availability for the Inca Trail to Machupicchu. Therefore, it is necessary to make the reservation months in advance according to the desired tour either for the Inca Trail to Machupicchu or Traditional or Classic Inca Trail. And, through this blog we will share necessary and important information that you should know for when to do the Inca Trail Machupicchu.

To know the best time to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, the first thing to do is to know how the weather is in Cusco.

How is the weather in Cusco?

The weather in Cusco has two distinct seasons during the year, the dry and rainy season:

• The dry season is between April and October, with sunny days, cold nights with frost and average temperature of 16 °C.
• The rainy season, between the months of November to March, the average temperature in this season is 12 °C. On sunny days the temperature reaches 20 °C, although the light mountain wind is usually cold.

What is the Inca Trail?

The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a beautifully preserved segment of what was once a great Inca trail called “Qhapac Ñan”, which translates to “Main Trail”. Qhapac Ñan was an impressive Inca trail network of more than 30,000 kilometers that traversed Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Ecuador and Bolivia.

Many segments of the Inca Trail to Machupicchu are beautifully worked and cobblestoned, ascending and descending steep and rugged terrain in the middle of the Andes Mountains. The trails that traverse the various countries through the Andes Mountains also traversed coastal terrain and entered the rainforest. The Incas had the need to implement bridges, walls, tunnels, stairways, colcas (deposits), shelters and other constructions that fulfilled a specific function along these roads.

The most popular version of this Inca Trail is the one that includes a 4-day and 3-night trek. There is a long version of 5 days and a much shorter version of 2 days. There are also trekking routes that connect with the Inca Trail, for example, the one that crosses Salkantay, the one from Cacchicata (Inca Quarry) or the one that comes from Lares. The Inca Trail is one of the most famous treks in the world, it is widely mentioned in prestigious virtual magazines such as National Geographic, lovely planet and others, it is also one of the most popular and searched treks in travel platforms such as TripAdvisor, Tour Radar, GetYourguide, etc

Pasajeros inkayni disfrutando del Camino Inca a Machupicchu

So the main question here is…

When is the best time to hike the Inca Trail?

The route of the Inca Trail to Machupicchu is located within the Cusco region, so it also has two seasons during the year, the dry season that covers the months of April to early November and the rainy season from November to March. In that understanding the best season to do the Inca Trail to Machupicchu is during the dry season.

However, you should take into consideration the climatic variation during the dry season, for example, between the months of April, September and October in Cusco there are still rains and at night the temperature is low, and you feel the cold Cusco so it is recommended to wear warm clothes, in this way to avoid a cold or get altitude sickness, product of climate change.

When is the best time to hike the Inca Trail according to testimonies?

According to the testimony of travelers and recommendation of our guides who know the trail perfectly, the best season to do the Inca Trail is indeed in the dry season, but between the months of May, June and July, because the climate of Cusco is relatively permanent and perfect for sightseeing without any inconvenience.

In these months you will enjoy sunny days with the presence of blue Cusco skies and incredible sunsets, which you can enjoy whether you are in the city of Cusco or on your way to your new experience. However, the nights will still be cold and the recommendation to wear warm clothing remains.

Do the Inca Trail, because it has a privileged view of the Wonder of the modern world.

Reserve time for when to do the Inca Trail:

To be able to do the Inca Trail without inconveniences, it is recommended to make the reservation to the desired tour at least six months in advance.  For example, if you decide to do the short Inca Trail to Machupicchu tour, it is recommended to book at least 4 months in advance; and if you decide to do the Classic Inca Trail tour with 4 days, it is recommended to book at least 6 months before the desired date.

What is the season with the least number of visitors to the Inca Trail?

The season with the lowest number of visitors to the Inca Trail is between the months of October and April.

When to do the Inca Trail?

If you choose to travel in the month of June, we recommend you to add in your itinerary the visit to Sacsayhuaman on June 24 and the Inti Raymi Festival and give you the opportunity to enjoy the Festival of the Sun or the Inti Raymi.

Why book the Inca Trail tour in advance?

The Inca Trail to Machupicchu Tour is a more popular tour in certain months of the year, so it is recommended to check the availability of admission to the route. In addition, this way you can better plan your dream trip without any inconvenience. And, the most important thing is that by booking in advance you will have a better chance of getting train tickets to Machupicchu Citadel, in addition to the entrance tickets.

Recommendations for hiking the Inca Trail:

• For all travelers, it is recommended to have life insurance, in case of incidents happen during the trip.
• If you have any type of illness, for your own good, it is recommended to carry a medical certificate among your documents as your support to enjoy this wonderful experience.
• Always have your personal documents at hand
• When you arrive in Peru, it is recommended to use money in Peruvian soles, in case you need to make any last-minute purchases.
• Take only what is necessary, if you carry a backpack, make sure it is a comfortable one.
• The trekking shoes you use should preferably be molded to your feet.
• Always stay hydrated
• If you have symptoms of altitude sickness, do not worry because you will be accompanied by people who will help you. You only have to inform the group leader.
• Take coca leaves with you for the trek.
• Do not forget to bring a camera.

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