Inca Trail Emergency: Landslides Caused by Heavy Rain and Trek Impact

The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a 43 kilometer hiking route that connects Piscacucho, in the Urubamba province, with the Inca citadel. The classic walk lasts 4 days and goes through different elevations, from Andean forests to highland areas over 4,000 meters.

The trip goes through the communities along the route. The Inca Trail's official checkpoint, Piscacucho, is at Kilometer 82. It is located 2,700 meters above sea level. A two-hour walk away is Miskay, at 2,690 meters above sea level, where groups usually stop for lunch. Later, the last town on the route is also the first camp of the day: Wayllabamba, located at 3,000 meters above sea level.

Each group of tourists has its own support team. This team includes a certified guide, a cook who prepares the food during the four days, and porters who carry the camping gear. This team knows the route, its sections, and the ground conditions. This knowledge was important when heavy rains caused landslides, rising streams, and damage in different parts of the trail. This forced the Ministry of Culture to stop visitors from entering. Below, you can find more information about what happened.

What happened during the emergency on the Inca Trail?

Many people know that the Inca Trail went from being an accessible trail to becoming one of the most regulated hikes in South America. This change was needed to protect the area's archaeological and natural heritage. Today, there are 500 daily permits available, and about 200 of them are for tourists. The rest are for guides, cooks, and porters. The rest of the year, except for the February closure for maintenance, the route is monitored constantly, which is exactly how the emergency in August 2026 was detected.

But what happened on the route?

Heavy rain began on the night of Monday, August 17, 2026, in different parts of the Inca Trail Network. The National Meteorology and Hydrology Service of Peru (Senamhi) says that the bad weather was caused by an Isolated High-Level Depression (DANA). Therefore, the Inca Trail tour companies guides and support teams helped the groups along the route during the event. Later, the Ministry of Culture ordered the stop of visitor entry starting on Wednesday, August 19.

The rains caused landslides, rising streams, flooded camp areas, broken restrooms, damage to small bridges, and soil erosion at different points on the route. The damage was recorded in the following areas: Llulluchapampa, Ayapata, Paqaymayu Alto, Soqtacocha, Yuncachimpa, Qonchamarka, Wayllabamba, Pawkarcancha, Cusichaka, Phuyupatamarka and Wiñaywayna.

This is the official measurement.

As mentioned before, the Decentralized Directorate of Culture (DDC) of Cusco, along with the Ministry of Culture, ordered the Inca Trail to close "until further notice". The visitors who were on the route on August 18 were brought back in an orderly way, and new entries were stopped from the next day.

What to do? Instructions for these situations

If you find yourself in this situation, the best thing to do is to follow the guide's instructions. They know the route and the ground conditions, and they decide the best way for the group to arrive safely.

Here are some other things to keep in mind:

• Check the weather report before you start your walk, because the weather can change from one day to the next.
• The Inca Trail Network's conservation staff is always watching for potential risks. This allows them to find problems before they affect visitors.
• If the classic route isn't available, they check other access points. These are at kilometer 104 (Chachabamba) and kilometer 106 (Choquesuysuy). They check these depending on the weather conditions at the time.
• If the conditions don't get better, they will use a process to change the dates of your visits or give you a refund for the entry costs, depending on the situation.

Here are some tips for your trip to the Inca Trail

• Check the route's condition before you travel. Ask your operator or the official channels of the DDC Cusco directly, as the situation can change in a matter of days.
• Get travel insurance that includes evacuation coverage. This is especially important on a route with sections far from health centers.
• Trust the guide and the support team. They check the ground conditions in real time and organize any changes to the plan.
• Have a plan in case something goes wrong. If the classic Inca Trail is not available on your dates, you could try Salkantay, Lares, or Inka Jungle, which are similar routes in the same area.
• Know the rules about rescheduling and refunds for your permit, in case there's a temporary closure.
• Don't make decisions at the last minute based on social media or unofficial sources. The most trusted information comes from the Ministry of Culture and the DDC Cusco.

What you need for the Inca Trail

If you bring the right gear, you'll be less likely to encounter dangerous weather or unstable ground:

• A backpack that can hold 30 to 40 liters of stuff and has a waterproof cover
• Waterproof trekking boots, which I've worn before to avoid getting blisters.
• The best clothes for cold weather are those that have layers. You need a top layer that keeps you warm, a middle layer that insulates you from the cold, and a bottom layer that blocks wind and rain.
• You should bring a rain poncho, in addition to your waterproof jacket.
• Trekking poles are useful when you're going uphill or downhill on wet ground.
• Headlamp with extra batteries
• Bring a water bottle or a hydration system that you can use more than once.
• Basic first aid kit for you
• Remember to apply sunscreen, wear sunglasses, and cover your head with a hat or cap.
• You'll need to bring your original passport (the same one you used to buy the permit) with you.