Not every agency you find online has the right to operate the Inca Trail.
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is one of the most regulated trekking routes in the world. The Peruvian Ministry of Culture controls strictly who can operate it, how many trekkers enter each day, and under what conditions. Only a limited number of licensed operators are authorized — and we are one of them.
When you book with Inca Trail Explorers, you book with a company that holds every mandatory license, complies with every regulation, and goes beyond what the law requires. No shortcuts. No grey areas. Nothing to hide.
Every year, travelers lose their money — and their dream trek — because they booked with unlicensed agencies or intermediaries who could not actually deliver what they promised. Official permits sell out months in advance and cannot be transferred. If your operator is not licensed, your permit simply does not exist.
Choosing a fully licensed operator is not a formality. It is the difference between arriving at Km 82 ready to walk, and arriving to find out your trek was never real.
| Licence | Issuing Authority | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Tourism Operator Authorization | DIRCETUR Cusco | ✅ Valid |
| Inca Trail Operator Licence | Ministry of Culture of Peru | ✅ Valid |
| RUC — Unique Taxpayer Registry | SUNAT | ✅ Active |
| Operating Licence | Municipality of Cusco | ✅ Valid |
| Certification | Description |
|---|---|
| APOTUR | Member of the Peruvian Association of Tourism Operators |
| CARTUC | Member of the Regional Chamber of Tourism of Cusco |
| TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence | Multiple consecutive years |
| Porter Promise Certified | Verifiable own ethical standards |
Every trek we operate is covered by full insurance for passengers and team alike.
| Type of Insurance | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Civil Liability | Coverage for all passengers during the tour |
| Accident Insurance | Emergency medical coverage |
| Porter Insurance | Complete coverage for our entire porter team |
You don’t have to take our word for it. Our licences are issued by official Peruvian government bodies and can be verified independently:
DIRCETUR Cusco — Regional Directorate of Foreign Trade and Tourism. Verifies our authorization as a registered tourism operator in the Cusco region.
Ministry of Culture of Peru — The national authority that controls all Inca Trail permits. Only operators on their official registry can purchase permits for their clients. You can request our operator registry number at any time.
SUNAT — Peru’s national tax authority. Our RUC confirms we are a formally constituted, tax-compliant company.
If you ever have any doubt, write to us at info@inca-trail.pe and we will share any documentation you need before you book.
Inca Trail permits are issued by the Ministry of Culture in your name and passport number. They are non-transferable and non-refundable. This is why only licensed operators can purchase them — and why booking early matters.
We handle the entire permit process for you. Once your reservation is confirmed and your deposit received, we secure your permit immediately. You will receive a confirmation with your permit number before your trek date.
Permits for the high season (May–September) sell out 5–6 months in advance. If you have a specific date in mind, do not wait.
Can I verify that my permit is real before trekking? Yes. Once we process your permit, we provide you with your official permit number issued by the Ministry of Culture. You can verify it directly on the Ministry’s website before your departure date.
What happens if an agency sells me a permit and then cannot deliver? Unfortunately this happens. Permits are non-transferable, so if an unlicensed intermediary fails to deliver, there is no recourse. This is why booking directly with a licensed operator like us is essential.
Are you on the Ministry of Culture’s official operator list? Yes. Inca Trail Explorers appears on the official registry of authorized Inca Trail operators maintained by the Ministry of Culture of Peru. We can provide our registry details upon request.
Do your licences cover both the 4-Day and 2-Day Inca Trail? Yes. Our Inca Trail Operator Licence issued by the Ministry of Culture covers all official Inca Trail routes we operate, including the Classic 4-Day and the 2-Day trek to Machu Picchu.
You now know exactly who you are booking with — a licensed, insured, certified and fully regulated Inca Trail operator, backed by over 15 years of experience and thousands of satisfied travelers.
“We operate legally because we operate with pride.” — Inca Trail Explorers Team
