Fix the Machu Picchu date first, and book the items tied to it as soon as your dates are certain. The entrance ticket, the Inca Trail permit if you want it, and the trains to the base town are the items that sell out, and everything else (hotels, internal flights, tours) is arranged around them.
Lead times are not fixed and change by year, so check the official sellers for your own dates rather than relying on a number of months. Hotels in Cusco and the Sacred Valley, Amazon lodges and long-distance buses come next, while many day tours and restaurant meals can wait until you arrive.
Rule one: fix the Machu Picchu date first
Machu Picchu has a daily limit on visitors, with entry in time slots and by circuit, so it is the one item that cannot be improvised. Because the train, the nights around the site and often the rest of the route depend on that day, the sensible order is to choose the date, buy the ticket, and only then fix the surrounding bookings.
If your dates are not certain yet, decide which parts of the trip are flexible. A trip with a free week before or after the Machu Picchu day can absorb a change of weather or flight, while a tight itinerary cannot. Check the ticket seller's current rules on changes before paying. The details of how tickets work are in Machu Picchu tickets, and the timing logic in the rest of this page follows from that one date.
Machu Picchu tickets and circuits
Tickets are sold for a specific date, time slot and circuit, and some circuits, as well as some extra hikes or climbs, have fewer places than the standard routes. If you want one of those, treat it as the most urgent booking of the trip. The main official channels are listed on the ticketing pages, and it is worth buying only from them or from a seller you can verify.
The rule for lead time is simple: book as early as your dates are fixed, and earlier for the dry season and for the less common circuits. Tickets are normally tied to a name and an identity document, so enter the passport details exactly as they appear. Compare the options in circuits, and confirm in writing that the ticket you buy matches the entrance time you plan. Rules change, so check the official page again close to the date.
Inca Trail permits and other treks
The classic Inca Trail is controlled by a limited number of permits per day, which are issued through licensed operators and are non-transferable in most cases. Permits can run out for popular dates well ahead of time, so the trek is the booking that most often decides the whole trip. Decide whether you want it before you buy anything else tied to dates; see the Inca Trail for how it works.
Other treks, such as Salkantay or Lares, have no equivalent daily limit, so the pressure is lower, but good guides and small groups still fill up in peak months. Before paying a deposit, ask the operator in writing what happens if the weather or your health forces a change. A guide to choosing a tour lists what to compare.
Trains and internal flights
Trains to the Machu Picchu base town run several times a day but have limited seats, and the most convenient departures tend to go first. Book them once the ticket date is known, and match the train time with the entrance slot, leaving margin on the way back. For the options and operators, see Machu Picchu trains.
Domestic flights are usually cheaper when bought early, but the real concern is the route: some are served by few flights a day, and a change to the timetable can affect a tight connection. Avoid scheduling an internal flight on the same day as your international arrival or departure unless the connection is a single ticket. Compare fares and baggage rules on domestic flights, and check whether the ticket is changeable before choosing the cheapest fare.
Hotels in Cusco, the Sacred Valley and elsewhere
Hotels in Cusco and the Sacred Valley fill quickly around the Machu Picchu date, around festivals and in the dry season, so book them as soon as the ticket and the train are fixed. Smaller hotels and boutique lodges, which have few rooms, go first. The first nights after landing are especially worth securing, because arriving at altitude without a bed is a bad start.
In Lima, Arequipa and the larger cities there is usually more availability, and a flexible-rate booking costs little extra in peace of mind. Prefer rates with free cancellation for the nights you are less sure of, and read what the cancellation window actually is. Where to stay is covered in where to stay in Cusco. Pay attention to altitude when planning nights, as a first night in the Sacred Valley is lower than Cusco.
Amazon lodges, tours and long-distance buses
Amazon lodges are small and sell packages with set arrival days, so book them once your internal flights are set, and early in the dry season. Because the package includes transfers and meals, check what happens if your flight is delayed and you arrive late.
Day tours in cities and around Cusco can usually wait until you arrive, which lets you adjust to weather, altitude and energy. Booking at least the first few days in advance is a reasonable middle course. Long-distance buses are rarely a problem outside major holidays, when tickets for popular routes can sell out. For routes and operators, see long-distance buses. A paper reservation printed before a major holiday is worth the small effort, and so is a buffer day after any bus or flight that leads to an international departure.
High season, low season and festival dates
Demand follows the weather and the calendar. The dry season, roughly May to September in the Andes, is the busiest for Machu Picchu, trains and hotels, so lead times for everything tied to the site matter more then. The rainy season, roughly November to March, is quieter, and some trails and roads can be affected by weather. See the dry season for what to expect.
Festivals shift demand sharply in the cities that host them. Inti Raymi in Cusco, around June, and Holy Week (Semana Santa) are examples that fill hotels and transport, and national holidays raise bus demand. Check the dates for your year in festivals and holidays and book earlier if they overlap with your trip. Holidays in Peru around late July also bring local travellers, so buses and hotels in popular places fill earlier than the season alone would suggest.
Flexibility, cancellation and what can wait
Read the cancellation terms before paying, not afterwards. Look for what is refundable, what can be changed for a fee, and what is lost completely, especially for tickets, permits and trains. A fully flexible rate is worth paying for on the first and last nights, which are the most exposed to flight changes.
Insurance covers some of the risk, so compare policies that include trip cancellation; see travel insurance. What can wait until you arrive: day tours, most restaurant meals, local transport, and activities in Lima that do not sell out. Book first the things with a limit, and last the things with a choice. When in doubt, ask yourself whether you could replace the item at short notice. If not, book it now.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I book Machu Picchu?
There is no safe fixed number: book as soon as your dates are certain, and earlier for the dry season and for limited circuits. Availability changes by year, so check the official seller for your date before arranging hotels. Tickets in the low season are often easier to find.
How far ahead do Inca Trail permits sell out?
Permits are limited per day and can run out for popular dates well in advance, often months. Check with licensed operators as soon as you know your dates. If permits are gone, other routes to Machu Picchu are described in Salkantay versus the Inca Trail.
Can I buy Machu Picchu tickets after arriving in Cusco?
It is risky. Tickets are limited by day and time slot, and in busy periods they can be unavailable on the day. If you do arrive without one, check the official channels first and keep the rest of your plans flexible.
Should I book hotels in Cusco before I leave?
Yes, at least for the first nights and for the days around Machu Picchu. Later nights can be left more flexible if the cancellation terms are good. Booking the first nights avoids searching for a room when you are adjusting to altitude.
Is it cheaper to book flights early?
Often, but not always, and the effect varies by route and season. Watch fares for your dates, buy when the price suits you and the dates are fixed, and check the change and baggage rules. See flights to Peru for international routes.
What happens if Machu Picchu is closed or my plans change?
Closures or access problems occur from time to time, often because of weather, strikes or maintenance. Check refund and change rules for tickets, trains and hotels at purchase, and consider a policy that covers cancellation. Keep a spare day in the itinerary if you can.
Do I need to book Amazon lodges early?
Lodges are small and tied to set arrival days, so booking early is wise in the dry season. Wait until your flights are fixed, since the package depends on the arrival date. Ask what is included and what happens after a delay.