August is a high season month for the Inca Trail, so visiting it during this month does mean you have very good weather. Of course, that also brings large crowds, so that’s a thing you need to expect. The trail is at capacity for most of the month. You need to acquire permits beforehand and ensure that everything is fine. It’s a great idea to gain those permits, and in doing so you will have a much better experience.
After all, there are only 500 permits offered per day, so you can easily lose one if you’re late. Adequate planning and getting any of the permits in advance can be an excellent idea. Of course, you still need to prepare with the right tools and items, but in the end it’s going to be well worth it.
As a whole, we think that going on the Inca Trail in August is a great idea if you want to see animals, flora and also visit Machu Picchu. Granted, August is also a month when most people have free time, and that means they will book a vacation on the Inca Trail if they want. Plus, with a limited number of permits, it can be difficult to find one for yourself. So yes, there are large crowds during the month, and you should consider preparing yourself as much as possible.
It rains up to 4 days during the month of August. That means the chances of dealing with rain during your adventures are low, but it still is a possibility. Take a raincoat with you, just to be safe, and the same can be said about having thicker clothes. Temperatures always change when you are in the mountains. That’s their nature, it’s very unpredictable, then again it will also be very tricky to deal with most of the time.
It never hurts to pack a set of warm clothes, especially if you go camping. General temperatures are great, but it can get chilly frequently, when you go up the mountains in particular. Plus, these hikes on the Inca Trail can be long and very strenuous, so it never hurts to pack those extra clothes to keep you warm.
If you want to visit the Inca Trail in August, it’s important to note there are a few events to consider here. Generally, you have the Pachamama Raymi and the Willka Raymi. Granted, these are not massive events, but they do bring in some local gatherings and other small events. That’s why it certainly makes a lot of sense to check these out, see how you enjoy them and add them to the schedule when you go onto the Inca Trail in August.
You want to avoid rushing: take your time to explore this place the best way that you can. Some of the paths can be harder to access and more challenging, so it never hurts to check everything and ensure there are no issues. Granted, it can also rain sometimes, so you have to take that into consideration as well. If there are issues on the Inca Trail for some reason, you have the Salkantay Trek and the Inca Jungle Trek as an alternative, so give these all a try for yourself and see if you like them.
At night and in the morning, you will have freezing temperatures. The best time to visit the Inca Trail is either until 10 AM or after 1-2 PM. That’s when you have smaller crowds, you can take pictures and not worry about dealing with too many people.
It’s highly recommended to visit the Inca Trail in August, since this is the middle of the dry season and it certainly is an ideal time to explore the trail. Yes, there is a limited number of permits, and that can deter the experience a little bit. But for the most part, August is the best time to go onto the trail, explore it and visit all the neighboring regions!
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