The regulations for this popular hiking trail started in 2004, the 4 day Classic Inca Trail is the traditional way to arrive to Machu Picchu. It allows only 500 people a day, starting the hike from the check point. This is including the guides, porters and the trekkers. But between those 500 people hiking the train everyday, only 200 people are the actual trekkers (travelers), the rest are porters. But other group of 250 travelers can start the hike every day from Km 104. This is called the short Inca Trail hike and it covers the last portion of the 4 day trek. Both trails are open from March to January. But February is closed for maintenance and cleaning.
It was a very good idea to put regulations on the Inca Trail. Because the Trail goes on parts of a National park called “Historical Sanctuary of Machu Picchu” and that is why trek permits are required to hike any of the Inca Trail treks. The Peruvian government office is the institution in charged annually selling all the trek permits. For the 4 day classic Inca Trail and the 2 day short Inca Trail hike. Due to limited number of spaces offered for both trails, hikers are suggested to book many months in advance. Porter service on the Inca Trail is very essential “no porters, no Inca Trail”. That is why for the 4 day Classic Inca Trail using porters is mandatory and without them will be impossible to make the trek to the lost city of the Incas.
Only authorized tour guides and travel companies are allowed to book the Inca trail hiking permits. This applies for the Classic 4 day Inca Trail trek and the short Inca Trail tour. On the 4 day Inca Trail hike porters set up camping to sleep, before the groups arrive to the campground. But in the short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu camping is not possible. So hikers need to walk the distance of 13 km in about 6 hours until to arrive to Machu Picchu. through the popolar Sun gate and take the bus to Aguas Calientes town to stay in a hotel. All these Inca trail regulations are applicable to the classic 4 day and 2 day Inca Trail hike.
The Inca Trail regulations will be even more strict in the future. Due the importance of the Historical Sanctuary of Machu Picchu for the humanity as it is a world heritage.