Inca Trail Conservation: Rules & Sustainable Tourism

Inca Trail: An Adventure That Also Invites Us to Conserve

Hiking to Machu Picchu is about discovering landscapes that change with every step, crossing mountain forests, and walking paths that hold centuries of history. Amidst stone stairways, orchids, and mist-covered mountains, we come to understand that this place deserves both our admiration and our care.

The Inca Trail is part of a natural and cultural heritage that requires protection. That is why there are entry limits, closure periods, and regulations that guide how we experience it.

At Salkantay Trekking, we understand that organizing this experience means taking on responsibilities before, during, and after the trip. Our team and every traveler play a role in a shared mission: enjoying the trail while contributing to its conservation.

An Extraordinary Trail Has Limits

The number of people entering the Inca Trail network is regulated.

A Necessary Pause

During February, the Inca Trail network closes to tourism to allow the natural recovery of ecosystems.

All Waste Must Leave the Trail

Keep your waste with you until you can dispose of it in the designated place.

Rules Before Hiking

Stay on authorized paths, avoid shortcuts, and respect roped-off areas.

An Extraordinary Trail Has Limits

The number of people entering the Inca Trail network is regulated. These limits help control the pressure that tourism exerts on the paths, services, and surrounding environment.

The established daily capacity includes:

Inca Trail Network Routes	Daily Capacity
Routes 01 to 04	500 users
Route 05 (via the km 104 checkpoint)	250 users
Route 06	100 users

These figures apply to all network users, including tourists, guides, and support staff; they do not represent exclusive slots for travelers alone. The amendment to Article 14, published in November 2025, expressly incorporated the capacity for Route 06. (Peruvian Government Platform)

For those wishing to visit, this means planning must begin with permit availability. Respecting quotas and authorized accesses is part of caring for the destination.

Your part: coordinate your booking in advance, provide your details accurately, and follow the authorized itinerary. Entry limits also protect the experience you have come to live.

February: A Necessary Pause for Conservation

During February, the Inca Trail network closes to tourism to allow the natural recovery of ecosystems and to carry out conservation and maintenance work.

This pause facilitates monitoring flora and fauna and allows specialists to work on trails, campsites, and infrastructure. Maintenance tasks include clearing drainage systems, reinforcing stairways, and preserving stone walls and pathways. (Peruvian Government Platform)

Respecting this period is also a way to travel responsibly. When planning, remember that the closure of the Inca Trail network is a specific measure and should not be interpreted as the automatic closure of the entire Machu Picchu destination.

As an operator, our role is to help you organize your trip while accounting for access periods and official regulations communicated by the authorities.

All Waste Must Leave the Trail

A small wrapper, a napkin, or a fruit peel is still waste. Leaving them among plants or behind a rock alters the environment and shifts a responsibility onto others that is ours to shoulder.

Regulations require agencies to handle the sorting, transport, and final disposal of waste outside the Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary. They also mandate training for guides, chefs, and porters in best environmental practices.

Article 28 of the referenced regulation establishes the following classification:

Bag Color	Waste Indicated in the Regulation
Red	Metals, paper, cardboard, and multi-layer packaging, among others
White	Bags, bottles, and other plastic containers
Black	Toilet paper and biodegradable collection bags
Green	Organic matter

Solid and Liquid Waste Management

This classification is specific to the document. During the trip, follow your guide's instructions and the labeling on the group's receptacles. The existence of a waste category does not authorize bringing in restricted materials.

Your part: keep your waste with you until you can dispose of it in the designated place. This includes food scraps, tissues, and small wrappers. If you have batteries, medical supplies, or other waste requiring special handling, consult your guide before discarding them.

Rules You Should Know Before Hiking

Protect the Trail and Structures

If you use trekking poles with metal tips, they must be fitted with rubber protectors. Regulations also prohibit poles made from native tree species.

Stay on authorized paths, avoid shortcuts, and respect roped-off areas. Do not climb walls, carve inscriptions, or take stones as souvenirs. A photograph can stay with you for a lifetime without altering the place you visited.

Infographic: 5 things you can't bring and things not to do on the Inca Trail

Prevent Any Fire Risk

Campfires are strictly prohibited. Bringing fuels such as gasoline, diesel, or kerosene is also not allowed. The regulation permits rechargeable gas canisters for cooking operations, which are handled exclusively by designated staff.

As a traveler, do not light fires or burn waste. Avoid smoking along the trail and follow the team's safety guidelines.

Infographic: less plastic, no straws and no styrofoam to protect the Inca Trail

Bring Reusable Items

Pack your backpack with a reusable water bottle or canteen and minimize unnecessary packaging before you set out.

Protected natural areas have regulations restricting single-use plastics, including bags, straws, and styrofoam containers. Choosing reusable alternatives helps reduce the amount of waste that must be hauled out of the area. (Peruvian Government Platform)

Enjoy the Sounds of the Environment

Avoid shouting and do not use speakers or devices that create disturbing noises. Silence allows you to better appreciate the forest and reduces disturbance to wildlife and fellow hikers.

Drones and aerial overflights are subject to authorization from the competent authorities. Do not bring a drone expecting to use it freely during the excursion.

Observe Wildlife with Respect

Do not collect plants, flowers, or other natural elements. Observe animals from a distance without chasing, touching, or feeding them.

Do not bring domestic animals or exotic species. Caring for the ecosystem means avoiding additional disturbances to the fauna and flora inhabiting the area.

Good wildlife observation allows animals to continue their natural behavior without our interference.

Salkantay Trekking: A Responsibility Involving the Whole Team

Conservation requires coordination. At Salkantay Trekking, these responsibilities extend to both those who accompany the group in the mountains and those who plan the trip from the office.

Reservations & Traveler Support: Responsible for informing travelers about permits, closures, restrictions, and gear preparation. Clear information helps every passenger arrive with appropriate expectations and habits.
Operations & Logistics: Must organize services in accordance with authorized conditions, allocate resources for waste management and removal, and ensure fair working conditions for staff.
Guides: Responsible for leading the group, explaining rules, promoting respectful behavior, and reporting incidents to the competent authorities.
Chefs & Porters: Their role is essential in managing supplies, sorting and transporting waste, and caring for campsites. This effort deserves everyone's cooperation: every traveler must take responsibility for their own waste.
Communication, Photography & Video: Also play a vital role. Showcasing the destination responsibly means respecting recording restrictions and avoiding imagery that promotes harmful behaviors, such as stepping off the trail, climbing archaeological structures, or getting too close to wildlife.
Our Travelers: Complete this effort through everyday decisions. Listening to the guide, respecting the team, and holding onto a wrapper until you find the right bin are simple actions that make for a more mindful operation.

Who Protects and Supervises the Inca Trail?

SERNANP participates in protecting natural heritage and monitoring impacts on the protected area. The Ministry of Culture, through its competent bodies, safeguards archaeological and cultural heritage.

Tour operators have obligations within this framework, and visitors must also comply with use regulations.

If you observe litter, damage to heritage, or a situation affecting wildlife, inform your guide. Their guidance will ensure the issue is reported to the appropriate authorities without exposing you or intervening inappropriately.

Experience the Inca Trail and Carry Its Care with You

The thrill of reaching Machu Picchu begins long before the first glimpse. It is found in every step, in shared stories, and in the way we learn to relate to the mountain.

We invite you to live this experience with Salkantay Trekking and become part of its conservation. Consult our team for availability and trip options, prepare your adventure, and join us with a mindset of learning, respecting, and conserving.

We also want to hear from you: What sustainable habits do you practice when you travel? What advice would you give to someone hiking the Inca Trail for the first time? Share your experience and help us keep this conversation going.

Being an ambassador for sustainability starts with what we do and continues through the example we share. Carry that commitment to every trail, beach, city, and community you visit.

May the trail leave its mark on you. Let's work together to preserve it for generations to come.