The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Four days of original Inca paving through cloud forest and over the 4,215-metre Dead Woman's Pass, ending at the Sun Gate with Machu Picchu arranged below at dawn — the Inca Trail earns its fame honestly.
- Best forAdventure
- Approx. flying time~9h 10m from Los Angeles
- Nearest airportCusco (CUZ)
Happens around Machu Picchu, Peru — nearest airport Cusco (CUZ), about 78km away.
The experience
Permits are capped at 500 people a day including porters and vanish months out, so book early through a licensed operator, ideally one certified for porter welfare. Acclimatise in Cusco for two or three days first; the pass punishes the impatient.
Featured in Ten treks for your first big summit or base camp
When to go
Daytime highs run from about 17°C in June to 19°C in October. Driest in June and July; wettest in March, with rain on about 31 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
August18° · rain 16 daysMild and often wet.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to base yourself
Pick a budget to open live availability in Machu Picchu. Prices are per night for two people.
Flights
Los Angeles Machu Picchu, Peru
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Roughly 9h 10m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
Check dates and prices
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Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
