The Inca Trail’s Nearest Airport: Your Main Options For 2024
What is the nearest airport to the Inca Trail?
This fascinating hiking route is renowned for its variety of archaeological sites and Andean scenery, and is only increasing in popularity. The majority of travelers will fly into Peru to begin the trek, and as such want to know which airport is the closest to the trailhead in order to save time.
In this guide we’ll show you which airport is the closest to the Inca Trail, as well as some other alternatives. We’ll also look at how you can get from Cusco airport to the Inca Trail, given this is one of the most popular arrival points for travelers.
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Where Do You Fly Into For The Inca Trail?
Quick Answer: Located within the Southern Peruvian Andes, it generally makes sense to fly into the region of Cusco to begin the Inca Trail.
The closest major airport is within the city of Cusco, which is approximately 79 km south of Piscacucho (also known as Km 82 – which is the entrance gate of the Inca Trail).
Alternatively you can also fly into the regional airports of Arequipa or Juliaca, both of which are around a 7 hour bus away from Cusco. Whilst this doesn’t sound ideal, these are popular destinations to see within a trip to Peru so could make sense if you want to see other highlights on your trip.
What Is The Closest City To The Inca Trail?
Cusco is the closest major city, which is roughly 76 km south of the trailhead of the Inca Trail. It takes roughly 2 hours to drive to the Inca Trail entrance point from Cusco.
Given how popular and large it is, you’ll find numerous transportation options daily from here (which we’ll cover later in this article). Usually tours to the Inca Trail both depart and return to Cusco, and on our 4 Day Inca Trail Tour we include direct pick-up and drop-off from your hotel or accommodation.
Whilst not a city per se, Ollantaytambo is the closest town for travelers to base themselves within the Sacred Valley (which has many worthwhile things to see). It’s located roughly 15 km east of the trailhead, which can be driven in around 30 minutes.
How To Get From Cusco Airport To The Inca Trail
Given you have to head with an organized tour to enter the Inca Trail, this means you’ll also have all transport to and from Cusco sorted for you once you’ve booked your spot.
If arriving directly from the airport then you can also arrange pick-up to then head to the Inca Trail. However we don’t recommend it and instead suggest spending at least 2 days in Cusco prior in order to get adjusted to the higher altitudes.
Alternatively it is possible to catch a taxi or pay for a private shuttle to reach Piscacucho from Cusco airport. However again it doesn’t make much sense, since you won’t be able to enter the trail without required documentation and your approved Inca Trail permit.
Alternative Airports If You Are Already Traveling Around Peru
To be completely honest, the airport in Cusco is the only ideal option which is still located a couple of hours away from the start of the Inca Trail.
However if you are travelling to other nearby regions before coming here, then you could fly into an alternative airport and then take a bus to Cusco.
Below we’ll evaluate a few different airports in the south of Peru, and how many hours they are located from the Inca Trail trailhead. It’s important to note that whilst the travel times below include the bus to first get to Cusco and transport to the trailhead, they are only rough estimates and can vary.
- Cusco Airport: 2 Hours To The Inca Trail
- Juliaca Airport: 8 Hours To The Inca Trail
- Arequipa Airport: 13 Hours To The Inca Trail
- Ayacucho Airport: 15 Hours To The Inca Trail
Inca Trail Airport FAQ
Below we’ll now answer some of the frequent questions we get about the different airports you can fly into to reach the Inca Trail, as well as anything else important that you need to know.
How Far Is The Inca Trail From Lima?
The total distance from Lima’s international airport to the Inca Trail is approximately 1125 km, which takes between 21-23 hours to get to overland. Unless you plan on visiting places like Arequipa and Lake Titicaca before visiting Cusco, we highly recommend flying directly from Lima to Cusco to save on all of those travel hours!
How Many Days Do You Need In Peru For The Inca Trail?
If hiking the Inca Trail is a must for you, then it’s extremely important to plan out your itinerary around Peru well beforehand. At a minimum you’ll need 5 or 6 days in Cusco for the Classic Inca Trail Trek (4 days for the route, and 1-2 days to rest well and acclimate before hiking). So overall you’ll need a minimum of 6 or 7 days if you will only head to Peru to hike the Inca Trail and leave immediately after.
The Inca Trail Nearest Airport
And that’s all for our guide on the Inca Trail’s nearest airport.
This sacred route is one of the most sought-after hiking experiences in South America. Getting to the trailhead is relatively simple, and in the majority of cases you will be heading in a private shuttle that is included within your Inca Trail tour.
Be sure to read our Inca Trail Ultimate Guide to learn everything you need to know before hiking this formidable route.