Cusco Region
Inca Trail
The 4-Day Classic
Days needed
4days
Late March
Workable in late March
Cost / person
$700–1100
Inca Trail is the kind of stop that earns 4 day on a Peru itinerary — and late March is workable, with some compromises.
What to do
The list,
in no fixed order.
Classic 4-day.
26-mile trek through cloud forest.
Inca ruins (Wiñay Wayna).
Dead Woman's Pass (4.
215m).
Arrive at Sun Gate at sunrise on day 4.
Logistics
Getting in, getting out.
How to get there
Permits limited (500/day inc. porters), book 4–6 months out. Reopens March 1 after February maintenance closure. Realistic alternative for this group (no multi-day trek planned): train to Aguas Calientes — see Machu Picchu.
What the budget covers
All-inclusive trek: porters, meals, tents, permits, guide, train back to Cusco. NEW for 2026: Machu Picchu entry (~$45) is booked separately — most operators still bundle it, but confirm before paying.
Late March, here
“Muddy and slippery, frequent rain. Less crowded than dry season. Pack waterproof gear.”
