Cusco & Inca Trail

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Budget Calculator — Cusco & Inca Trail

USD pricing for four routes to Machu Picchu — from the Inca Trail permit lottery to the Salkantay alternative to a no-trek day visit. PEN/USD at ~3.46. Permit scarcity and the train duopoly are the dominant cost drivers.

2026 rates. Government fees from SERNANP and Ministerio de Cultura. Operator pricing aggregated from Alpaca Expeditions, Salkantay Trekking, and local operators.

Trek profile

6 days total · 4 days trekking + 2 days acclimatization

Operator tier

Machu Picchu entry ticket

Separate purchase since 2026. Inca Trail permit no longer includes citadel entry. Book via tuboleto.cultura.pe.

Inca Trail government fees
KM 82-88 trail entry: S/292 (~$84) · Government permit: ~$25
Included in operator package price above.

Train (Ollantaytambo ↔ Aguas Calientes)

Train duopoly: PeruRail (Belmond/LVMH) and Inca Rail are the only two operators. No road to Aguas Calientes. Economy RT $80-100 represents 10-15 days of Peru minimum wage.

Consettur bus (Aguas Calientes → citadel)

Consettur holds the sole bus concession. Walking up takes ~2 hours via steep stairs.

Accommodation (2 town nights)

Sacred Valley + Cusco nights for acclimatization. Sacred Valley first (2,800m), then Cusco (3,400m).

Tips (guide + porters + cook)

Travel insurance

Flying from

Flight tier

Inca Trail Classic (6 days)

6 days · 4d trek · 2d acclimatization

Trek operator$1,000
Machu Picchu entry (S/152)$44
Train$90
Bus (citadel)$36
Accommodation (2 nights)$120
Meals (2 days)$50
Tips$60
Travel insurance$120
Buffer$200
Peru total$1,720
International flights$100
Total$1,820

Permit scarcity

500/day cap including guides and porters. Peak season (Jun-Aug): book 6-8 months ahead. Shoulder (Sep-Oct): 4-6 weeks. Permits are non-transferable and passport-linked. 2026 change: trail permit and citadel entry are now separate purchases.

Reality check

Porter Protection Law (Law 31624 / 32137): 20 kg max load, S/138/day minimum wage, mandatory insurance. Any Inca Trail package under $600 should be questioned about labor practices. Higher prices reflect fair wages.

Currency

1 USD = ~3.46 PEN (May 2026). ATMs in Cusco: BCP/Scotiabank for lower fees. Carry USD $20s/$50s as backup. Avoid $100 bills. Best cambio rates on Ayacucho Street near Av. El Sol.

All prices USD. 2026 data. PEN at 3.46. Cusco research

Sources

Every number in this calculator is traceable to a primary source. No affiliate links. No commissions from operators or train companies.

Inca Trail permits
SERNANP — Inca Trail permits & regulationsPeru Explorer — Inca Trail permits 2026
Trek pricing
Peru Explorer — Inca Trail budget 2026Local Trekkers Peru — Salkantay price 2026Salkantay Trek — Choquequirao to MP 8 days
Machu Picchu tickets
Inca Trail Machu — Machu Picchu ticket prices
Train pricing
PeruRail — schedules & pricingInca Rail — schedules & pricingMachu Picchu.org — train cost guide 2026
Bus (Consettur)
Consettur — Machu Picchu bus tickets
Porter law
Salkantay Trekking — Porter Protection Law
Currency
Trading Economics — PEN/USD exchange rate

Methodology: Government fees from SERNANP and machupicchu.gob.pe (2026). Operator prices aggregated from published rates across Alpaca Expeditions, Salkantay Trekking, Llama Path, and local budget operators. Train pricing from PeruRail and Inca Rail published fares. Exchange rate from Trading Economics (May 2026). Accommodation benchmarks from booking.com and hostelworld for Cusco and Sacred Valley. The calculator does not include: gear you already own, Sacred Valley day tour entrance fees (S/70-130 Boleto Turistico), or Cusco city activities.

Cusco price updates

Permit rules, train prices, and entry fees shift every season.

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