What happened
Cusco’s culture directorate (DDC Cusco) and Peru’s protected-areas service, SERNANP, reopened Routes 1, 2 and 3 of the Inca Trail network on Saturday, September 5, 2026. The routes had been closed since mid-August, after unusual rainfall on August 17 and 18 set off flash floods (huaicos), landslides and erosion along the trail.
Before reopening, specialists carried out a technical inspection of the three routes together with Cusco’s regional risk-management office and Peru’s civil defense institute.
What was repaired
The storms flooded campsites and damaged footbridges and toilet blocks. Crews rebuilt retaining walls and sections of the stone trail platform, built channeling walls and riverbank defenses, restored drainage and rehabilitated the water intakes at several campsites. DDC Cusco says maintenance will continue after the reopening to protect the trail against further landslides.
First groups back on the trail
On the first day, 25 organized groups set out from Piscacucho, the Km 82 trailhead in the Ollantaytambo district: 139 foreign tourists, three of them children, with 25 official tour guides and 240 support staff.
What it means for trekkers
The classic four-day Inca Trail is running again from its usual Km 82 start. Permits are still limited to 500 people a day, guides, porters and cooks included, and the trail still closes every February for maintenance. If your trek falls in the coming weeks, confirm your itinerary with your operator. Our Inca Trail guide covers permits, the route and the best months to go, and our 4-day Inca Trail tour starts at Km 82.
