Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

See for yourself why Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is the most popular hiking trail in the Andes! You’ll enjoy spellbinding mountain scenery, unforgettable Inca sites, and a cornucopia of flowers and hummingbirds. With Andean Treks, you spend 4 full days hiking to Machu Picchu, and a 5th day exploring in the famous ruins themselves. After more than 30 years operating this route, we know how important it is to give all participants adequate time to enjoy the sights at a comfortable pace. Stroll down the Royal Road into the famous Lost City of the Incas!

Many of our returning passengers tell us they found the trek more strenuous and challenging than they had anticipated. During four hiking days you cover 35 km/21.9 miles, starting at 8,700’ and finishing at 7,860’ above sea level. You must cross two high passes, with a maximum elevation of 13,887’. While trail conditions are generally good, and indeed the condition of centuries-old Inca paving stones is astonishing, some steep trail sections require careful footing and good hiking boots with lug soles. Nevertheless, thanks to our careful pacing, dedicated guides and professional support staff, the trip is suitable for novices as well as experienced hikers.

Porters carry the heavy gear; you walk carrying only a day-pack. Cooks prepare wholesome meals from fresh ingredients and handle all the kitchen chores. You sleep warm and protected in high quality tents. Join the most reliable outfitter in the Andes for a trek you'll never forget.

Note about permits: Plan Ahead! Please note that the Peruvian government limits the number of people allowed per day on the Inca Trail to 500 people per day. They issue permits which we recommend be purchased 3 to 5 months ahead of your trek date, as these permits sell out very fast. Don't be disappointed. Check with us at least 3 months prior to  your departure date to check on permit availability. For the last several years, we have had to turn away many disappointed people who waited too long, or who did not know about the permit situation.

Use these Activity Level Ratings as a general guide to help determine which of our adventures is best for you. Your perception of level of difficulty may vary from ours according to your own level of fitness and travel experience. Whether or not you stay in your comfort zone on the trip you select may also be influenced by the pacing we build into the itinerary, and your own preparation for the trip. While relatively high elevations are unavoidable when you're traveling in the Andes Mountains, we may judge a trip as "moderate" so long as passengers have sufficient time for acclimation. Our detailed trip itineraries give much more information about what you can expect. If you are unsure which trip is best for you, please call us. We'll help guide you toward the right fit.

Moderate

These adventures involve fairly easy travel. There is no camping: you sleep in hotels and country inns each evening. Trips may include short hikes and/or walks of two to three hours. Our itineraries include excursions in passenger mini-vans, over roads with many curves and potholes. Elevations rarely exceed 12,600'. At Machu Picchu and other Inca sites, we climb and descend relatively steep stone staircases. Trips to Amazon lodges involve travel by boat and canoe, plus hikes on forest trails at a moderate pace. In the rainforest, you may encounter rain, mud, and pooled water. Trips to the Galapagos include optional hikes on sometimes uneven rocky and/or slippery terrain. Passengers must get into and out of dinghies on beaches and at docks.

Active

These adventures include more hiking than in our moderate trips. You negotiate a variety of terrain, at elevations no more than 15,000'. Some trips include long days of overland travel. You sleep comfortably in hotels each evening.

Strenuous

While we rate all of our treks as strenuous, there is a substantial range of challenge between the easiest and the most demanding of our treks. Expect to hike 6-8 hours each day over steep and rugged terrain. You may hike to elevations of 17,000', with options to hike higher from several camps. Many include camping multiple nights at relatively high elevations. On most treks in the Andes, night-time temperatures can drop below freezing on one or more nights. On our Inn to Inn based treks, you'll spend each evening in a comfortable mountain lodge.

Extreme

Our toughest treks are suitable for those that enjoy a good physical challenge. You trek (and in some cases climb) over steep, rugged terrain at high elevations with substantial altitude gains. Some glacier travel requires knowledge of basic climbing techniques including use of crampons, ice axe, and ropes. These trips are in remote wilderness areas and include camping as high at 17,700'. Successful summit bids top out at 18,871' (Nevado Pisco), 19,347' (Volcan Cotopaxi) and 20,945' (Nevado Ausangate).

Departures:  Sundays, weekly from Cuzco, returning to Cuzco on Thursdays

2011 trek season: March 27 through Dec 25, 2011

2012 trek season: March 25 through December 30

2011 & 2012 Rates:

$735 per person (based on sharing a tent)

Additional Costs: 

optional single tent  $80

optional winter-weight sleeping bag rental $36

Internal Air Lima/Cuzco/Lima $250 - $450 (rate fluctuates greatly; depends on the rate at the time of booking)

The trek cost does not include the Machu Picchu Sanctuary trail fee of $95. This is a local payment payable at the trek orientation meeting.

Rates are subject to change. 2013 Rates On Request

See for yourself why the Inca Trial to Machu Picchu is the most popular hiking trail in the Andes! You’ll enjoy spellbinding mountain scenery, unforgettable Inca sites, and a cornucopia of flowers and hummingbirds. With Andean Treks, you've chosen our preferred version on this trek, taking 5 days, not 4. On our route, you spend four full days walking to Machu Picchu, and a fifth day exploring in the famous ruins themselves. After more than 30 years operating this route, we know how important it is to give all participants adequate time to enjoy the sights at a comfortable pace. Stroll down the Royal Road into Machu Picchu, the famous Lost City of the Incas!

 

Many of our returning passengers tell us they found the trek more strenuous and challenging than they had anticipated. During four hiking days you cover 35 km/21.9 miles, starting at 8,700’ and finishing at 7,860’ above sea level. You must cross two high passes, with a maximum elevation of 13,887’. While trail conditions are generally good, and indeed the condition of centuries-old Inca paving stones is astonishing, some steep trail sections require careful footing and good hiking boots with lug soles. Nevertheless, thanks to our careful pacing, dedicated guides and professional support staff, the trip is suitable for novices as well as experienced hikers.

 

Porters carry the heavy gear; you walk carrying only a day-pack. Cooks prepare wholesome meals from fresh ingredients and handle all the kitchen chores. You sleep warm and protected in high quality tents. Join the most reliable outfitter in the Andes for a trek you'll never forget.

 

IMPORTANT: Under current park regulations, trek permits are sold on a first come/first served basis, and are limited to 500 persons per day, including passengers, guides, cooks and porters. Book early! Permits sell out on popular dates. In order to include you in the trek roster, we must receive from you: your full name as it appears on your passport, your nationality, passport number, age, occupation and gender. Permits are sold on a non-refundable, non-transferable basis. If you are unable to secure a place on our Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, please ask about our excellent alternative trekking programs in the Andes. Important: please read our FAQ on permits at the end of this itinerary.

 

Day 1 Huayllabamba

We pick you up at your Cuzco hotel and transfer by van to our trailhead at Piscacucho, on the Vilcanota River (km. 82 on the train route to Machu Picchu), a 3-hour drive from Cuzco. After clearing the trailhead control point, we hike along the left bank of the powerful Vilcanota River, beneath the impressive snowcapped Nevado Veronica. The valley is dry, with Opuntia and Cholla cactus common; where irrigation is possible, we walk adjacent to fields of corn. In the rapids below the trail, you can spot Torrent ducks swimming in the eddies. We explore the enormous Inca ruins of Llactapata, then turn south and begin to gain altitude following the narrow side valley of the Cusichaca River. We camp near the hamlet of Huayllabamba (2,954 m/9,690 ft). Distance 11.4 km/7.2 miles, elevation gain 300 m/984 feet. (L,D)

 

Day 2 Pacaymayo

We climb steeply through fields and forest, then emerge above the treeline and reach Warmiwañusqa Pass (4,234 m/13,887’). Enjoy magnificent views to the Huaynay Range snowpeaks and distant Inca ruins. Descend to our camp at Pacaymayo in the valley bottom (3,613 m/11,850 ft. Distance 8 km/5 miles, elevation gain 1,280 m./4,200 feet (B,L,D)

 

Day 3 Phuyopatamarka

We cross a second pass (3,975 m/13,038’), and follow a fine Inca highway down to the exquisite ridge-top ruins of Sayaqmarka. Further on, we pass through a tunnel amid luxuriant cloud forest vegetation. Camp at the superb Phuyopatamarka ruins (3,679m/12,067 ft) overlooking the Vilcanota River far below. Phuyopatamarka is Quechua for "City above the Clouds". The views toward the sacred peak of Salcantay are sublime. Distance 7 km/4.5 miles, elevation gain 362 m/1,190 feet (B,L,D)

 

Day 4 Machu Picchu

We descend steeply, following the Royal Highway through orchid-rich cloud forest to Winya Wayna ruins. The final part of the trail on the back of Machu Picchu Mountain is a stunningly beautiful traverse leading to the Gate of the Sun overlooking Machu Picchu. We reach this highlight in the golden sunshine of late afternoon. Descending into the city, we board a shuttle bus to descend a switchbacking road to Puente Ruinas and our camp by the river beneath the ruins (2,000 m/6,560 ft). See below for optional hotel accommodation in Aguas Calientes. Distance 8.9 km/5.6 miles, elevation drop 1,150 m/3,772 feet (to Machu Picchu. (B,L,D)

 

Day 5 Machu Picchu/Cuzco

We return to the site by shuttle bus. Those wishing to view sunrise over Machu Picchu can take the pre-dawn shuttle bus, which delivers you to the main gate at 6.00AM when the gates are opened. An early start gives you more options to hike some of the peripheral trails, such as Wayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain. We include an in-depth guided tour of the ridge-top city. We descend to the nearby village of Aguas Calientes for return in late afternoon by train, arriving into Cuzco around 9.30PM. Transfer to your hotel. (B)

 

Included: indicated meals, transport by train and bus, porterage of up to 10 kg personal gear, communal camp gear including tables and camp chairs, dining tent, spacious sleeping tents, Thermarest sleeping pad, water filter and other amenities.

Excluded: Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary fee. The current rate is S/. 254 (Nuevos Soles) for the 4-day trek, approximately US$95 (current exchange is approximately S/2.7 =US$1). This rate is subject to change. At the trek orientation meeting we will collect from all participants the actual amount paid for the trail fee. Other Exclusions: personal trekking gear and sleeping bag; tips to guide and trek staff; city services; air Lima/Cuzco/Lima (currently approximately $330 and subject to change).

Rental sleeping bag: $35. We provide mummy-style, winter-weight synthetic-fill sleeping bags, with sheet liners. We launder the liners between each trek. Rental sleeping bags should be requested well in advance of your departure, and preferably at the time you confirm your trek with us. If you are taller than 6 feet, please request an extra-long bag.

Single supplement: If you are traveling alone and are willing to share a tent, we will pair you with another trekker of the same gender and you pay no supplementary charge. If you prefer a tent on single occupancy basis, the surcharge is US$70

Hostal Presidente

Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel

Important: at the time we confirm your participation on this trek, we register your complete name and your passport number (as these appear on your trip application) with park authorities on the official trek permit. The trek permit is a legal document with specific restrictions limiting changes. You must bring this same passport with you on the trek. If for whatever reason you cannot bring the passport that is registered on the permit at the time of your original booking, or if you change your passport and cannot bring the original document, or if the information you originally supplied differs from what actually appears on your passport, park authorities may refuse access to the Inca Trail. For important further detail on trek permits, read the FAQ section below.

Included: indicated meals, transport by train and bus, porterage of up to 10 kg personal gear, communal camp gear including tables and camp chairs, dining tent, spacious sleeping tents, Thermarest sleeping pad, water filter and other amenities.

Excluded: Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary fee. The current rate is S/. 248 (Nuevos Soles) for the 4-day trek, approximately US$95 (current exchange is approximately S/. 3 =US$1). This rate is subject to change. At the trek orientation meeting we will collect from all participants the actual amount paid for the trail fee. Other Exclusions: personal trekking gear and sleeping bag; tips to guide and trek staff; city services; air Lima/Cuzco/Lima (currently $268).

Rental sleeping bag: $35. We provide mummy-style, winter-weight synthetic-fill sleeping bags, with sheet liners. We launder the liners between each trek. Rental sleeping bags should be requested well in advance of your departure, and preferably at the time you confirm your trek with us. If you are taller than 6 feet, please request an extra-long bag.

Single supplement: If you are traveling alone and are willing to share a tent, we will pair you with another trekker of the same gender and you pay no supplementary charge. If you prefer a tent on single occupancy basis, the surcharge is US$70.

 

Pre-Trek Acclimation

So that you have sufficient time to acclimate prior to starting the trek, we strongly recommend that you arrive in Cuzco or similar elevation a minimum of two days prior to the trek. This is a 45-km/28-mile trek with a maximum elevation close to 4,200m/14,000 feet.

Joining Your Group

Once we receive your final payment, we will send a Confirmation of Service voucher with your prepaid travel details. Services in Peru are provided by Inca Tours & Travel Adventures (ITTA).

At noon on the day prior to the trek, there is an important orientation meeting with your guide and other participants in the ITTA office in Cuzco. We review trek arrangements, trail gear and packing strategies, health and dietary matters, tipping and other cash needs, and trail documentation requirements. We collect the park fee from you at this time, in travelers’ checks or cash. If you pay in cash, bills must be in good condition – no rips, missing corners, or writing on the bills, please. We also distribute your trail duffel and sleeping pad. If you’ve rented a sleeping bag from us, we give it to you now so you can pack your duffel, ready for the departure early next morning.

ITTA office is at Avenida Pardo 705, tel. (51-84) 600-500, 225-701, 235-583. Passengers who have not contacted the office by noon on the day prior to trek departure to reconfirm their arrangements will be considered no-shows and deleted from the roster. In these situations your tour prepayment is non-refundable.

If your travel plans change at the last minute, due to airline delays, misconnections or any other reason, you must advise our Cuzco office (use the above number or after-hours tel 51-84-98465-1404) to see if alternate arrangements can be made for you.

If you are a student 16 years and older with a valid International Student ID card you may be eligible for a reduced rate for your trail ticket. In order to qualify for a student trail ticket, we must receive documentation that you are a student when you register for the trek. Send us (as an email attachment, JPG is best) a digital version of your ISIC. The ID must show the school name, your student status, and an expiry date valid for the date of your trek. For passengers whose student ID is judged unacceptable to the INC, we will purchase the full adult rate ticket and collect this amount at the orientation meeting. While students 15 years and younger need no student ID, we must present digital images of the passport ID pages at the time we purchase the trekking permit. Again, a digital file sent as an email attachment is the best way to get this done. In the absence of correct documentation, the park authority will issue only the adult ticket at the full adult rate. Conditions for the student discount are subject to change by the INC with no advance notice. At our orientation meeting, we will collect the actual cost of the trail ticket, as charged by the INC. Additionally, passengers must bring their passport and student ID on the trek; failure to do so may result in the INC confiscating the student ticket and denying you the right to proceed with the trek.

Optional Extras

Hotels in Lima or Cuzco are available from $64 per night for a double and $48 in single including taxes and continental breakfast. Airport transfers in Lima and Cuzco may be arranged upon request. We are pleased to assist you with additional tour arrangements prior to and following your tour. If you seek an economic hostel, there are kiosks at the airports where you can arrange accommodation on arrival.

Many of our passengers request hotel accommodation in the service town of Aguas Calientes on the fourth and final night of their trek. The most popular hotels book up early, so the sooner you can let us know your preference, the better chance we’ll have of securing your preferred hotel. The trekking guides coordinate all shuttle bus trips and Machu Picchu touring so that on Day Five of our program, both those who sleep in camp and those who are in hotels receive all the normal guided services.

For Hotel rates, please consult our travel specialists.

Additional Expenses

* Currency other than US$ and € is difficult to exchange in Peru. Bring travelers' checks and/or cash. Major credit cards are also accepted in hotels and larger restaurants. You can find ATM machines in major cities but not in smaller towns. Food and beverages in mainstream restaurants and hotels are comparable in price range to what you'll pay at home. 19% government value-added tax plus service charges of up to 10% are added to your restaurant bills.

* You’ll pay airport departure taxes averaging US$6 for domestic flights in Peru, and US$30.25 for international departures.

* The Machu Picchu National Sanctuary trail fee. As of July 1, 2008, the rate is S/.244 for the 4-day trek (typical exchange S/.2.8= US$1). This rate is subject to change. We pre-purchase these trail tickets and will collect the fee from you at the trek orientation meeting. Under current regulations, the trail ticket allows you one day entry into the Machu Picchu ruins.

* Tipping your trek staff at the satisfactory conclusion to the trek is optional but customary. We suggest you take along between US$25-$50 in local currency for this purpose. On the final trek morning, trekkers distribute pooled funds among guide(s), kitchen crew and porters. Suggested distribution: to the Chief Guide $3.50 per day, Asst guide $1.50 per day, Cook $1.50 per day, Asst cook $1.00 per day. You will have two porters, allocate a total of $5 per each of 2 porters (for the trip, not per day). Using these numbers as a rough guide, a modest tip would be $40, and many passengers contribute double this sum. Porters appreciate receiving donations of used clothes that are in good condition, including children's clothes. Due to weight restrictions, if you bring extra clothes for donating to the porters, ask about this during the orientation meeting.

PLEASE NOTE: We reserve the right to make minor changes where necessary for the safety and comfort of tour participants. Please reconfirm the current tour rate and park fee when you make your reservation. Additional expenses caused by circumstances beyond the control of the operator will be the responsibility of the tour participant.

PLANNING YOUR TRIP

Climate

Cuzco has well-defined seasons. From June to August, while Andean winter days are typically sunny and warm, the temperature can drop to below freezing (27°F/-3°C) at night in our high camps. Rain seldom falls during winter. From January to March, the Andean summer months offer daytime temperatures to 85°F/30°C, milder nights (typically to 45°F/8°C) and plenty of rain. Despite some rain, December and April are among our favorite months for trekking, since the mountains are lush with summer flowers and you enjoy plenty of sunshine, rainbows and everything in between. Departures during Andean spring and autumn offer weather patterns intermediate between these seasonal extremes.

Clothing

Expect a wide range of temperature and precipitation on your program. In high mountain environments, you must be prepared for inclement weather at any time. Even at mid-day, if clouds obscure the sun, the apparent temperature cools dramatically. By packing a system of thin, independent layers of clothing, you can easily add or remove layers to remain comfortable as conditions change throughout the day.

Most trekkers leave camp in the morning wearing cold-weather layers over T-shirt and shorts. At the first rest stop, after you and the day have warmed up, remove a layer and continue in warm-weather clothing until the temperature cools off later in the day. At all times, carry rain-gear in your day-pack.

A time-tested strategy is to plan your day-time trekking layers (which will get dirty, and which remain with you, either on you or in your daypack during the warmer parts of the day); and a set of clean camp clothes, starting with full-length thermal underwear. On arrival in camp, change from your trail clothes to your clean, dry camp clothes. In the morning, change into your trekking gear, and pack your camp clothes to stay dry.

Basic clothing list: underwear, thermal underwear (tops and bottoms), socks, lightweight hiking boots, sneakers for around camp, loose-fitting long pants or wind-pants (convertible trek pants are best), shorts, T-shirts, long-sleeved shirt, Polarfleece jacket, full rain gear, sun hat, bathing suit, gloves and ski-type hat.

Other Gear

Essential: Day pack, sleeping bag, water bottle, flashlight, sunglasses, sunscreen, toilet kit, insect repellent.

Optional: pocket knife, sewing kit, camera and film, binoculars, paperback book, snacks and/or energy bars.

Your outfitter provides: a heavy-duty, 4,100-cubic-inch trail duffel, Thermarest sleeping pad, tents and communal camping gear. The guide carries a hand-pump water filter.

Weight Restriction

Our porters carry up to 10 kg (22 lb.) of your personal gear. If your packed duffel exceeds 10 kg. In weight (including sleeping bag and pad) at the trailhead, you will have to transfer excess weight from your duffel to your daypack. Note: maximum porter loads (and therefore duffel capacity) are enforced by government authorities, and are subject to change without prior notice. We will review current regulations during the trek orientation meeting when the guide discusses packing strategies.

Vaccinations

While no vaccinations are mandatory for entering Peru, and no official is likely to demand to see proof of your vaccination against any disease, some protection is prudent. Consult your physician or local travelers' clinic for the latest recommendations. For general travel, the most common recommended vaccinations or boosters are against tetanus, typhoid/diphtheria, Hepatitis A, and polio. The World Health Organization does not recommend vaccination against cholera. If you're visiting the Amazon before or after your trek, ask about yellow fever and chloroquine-resistant malaria. Some countries (notably Brazil) require travelers to show proof of a valid Yellow fever vaccination when arriving from Peru.

Important Notice for Vegetarians, Passengers with Allergies and Other Restricted Diets

In the cities, you will find sufficient vegetarian choices in most restaurants. We serve a variety of freshly-prepared foods in our camps. While our trek meals are designed for omnivores, we are able to satisfy most restricted-diet passengers. Strict vegetarians will have to bring many food supplements from home, as specialty items are unavailable in South America.

If you have food allergies you must detail these on your trip application when you register for your trek. Review these with our guide and operations staff during the trek orientation meeting. Note: we treat our camp water (both for drinking and for cleaning) with iodine.

Our approach in meeting the needs of restricted-diet passengers is the same: while our cooks concentrate on providing the main meal, they can heat and serve food supplied by the passengers that the passengers deem safe.

If you have a restricted diet, please ask for our memo detailing our approach to food service on the trek.

Know What You Are Buying

There are many trek outfitters in Cuzco, offering Inca Trail packages in a considerable range in quality, reliability, and price. As one of the pioneers of commercial adventure travel in Peru, we are very proud of our record of environmental and social leadership. We set the standard of quality among full-service outfitters. Peruvian Andean Treks/ITTA has been awarded Best Adventure Travel Agency by the Peruvian Ministry of Tourism six years in a row. The award recognizes the high standards that our guides, cooks, porters and other employees consistently attain. Accept no substitutes!

We receive frequent inquiries from travelers desperately seeking Inca Trail trips at the last minute after the companies with which they originally booked "cancelled" their treks. This appears to be yet another example of lowball trek operators attempting to capture market share without backing it up with reliable trail permit management. Unfortunately, in these last-minute circumstances we can do little since the supply of trail permits is strictly limited, and permits are non-refundable and non-transferable. We invest substantial manpower toward ensuring that our rosters and permits are in good standing.

Conditions of Employment for Porters

 

Minimum Age: No porters under the age of 18 should be employed.

Trek Leader Behavior: The local trek leaders, chief porters, and other staff, should not exploit their positions and in particular must not ask for or accept any form of bribes from porters. Any person found to be doing this should be dismissed. Porters are able to report problems in absolute confidence to the Inca Tours & Travel Adventures (ITTA) management. A field supervisor, who reports only to the office, will randomly check on activities in the field.

Wages: All staff will receive a fair wage and payment should not be left solely to the local leader but should be supervised by PAT. Tips will be distributed openly and fairly. Stoves, fuel, pots and pans for food preparation as well as food will be supplied. Transport to where the trek begins, and from the point it ends to their homes is paid for or provided.

Loads: No one shall ever be asked to carry more than 20 kg of trek load, and no more than 27 kg including their own personal items. Clients will be told the maximum luggage they can take with them which is to be carried by porters is 10 kg.

Sleeping: Sleeping tents will be provided. Porters will not sleep outside.

Medical Care: Staff will have access to first aid equipment sent out on the trek. If a porter becomes ill during the trek he will be paid full wages for the trip and he will be given assistance reaching the health care center. Life insurance with medical care coverage will be provided.

Responsibility on the trek: The local leader will be responsible for the welfare of his staff.

Tipping: Clients should be given advice on how much to tip and the procedure for tipping.

Availability: These guidelines will be made available to local trek leaders, porters and to clients.

 

 

Environmental Policy

Andean Treks supports the efforts of the Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary Authority (UGM) to protect the environment within the park by measures which include limiting the daily capacity of the route, and enforcing a policy of 100% carry in/carry out. We were the first to introduce a system whereby all the camp waste is hauled out of the park. Our system includes portable chemical (biodegradable) toilets, with no holes in the ground and no solid waste left within the park boundaries.

 

 

FAQ: Trail Permits in Machu Picchu Sanctuary

Q: Do I need to buy a trail permit to hike on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu?

A: Yes. All who use the hiking trails in the Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary are required to purchase a trail permit. Companies which claim to offer you a trek that does not require a permit are offering a trek which does not enter the Machu Picchu Sanctuary.

Q: How do I buy the permit?

A: As part of confirming you on one of our treks, we purchase permits not only for you but for the porters and other trek crew who haul your gear and look after trek operations. In the following discussion, we use "permit" in both the singular sense ("you need a permit to trek in the park") and in the collective sense ("we purchase a permit for 8 passengers plus trek crew"). Before we can purchase your permit, we need: your full name as it appears on your valid passport (IMPORTANT: check the passport expiry date!), your passport number, your date of birth, and gender. This information appears in the official trail documents and is checked carefully against your passport at control gates on the trail. If the information does not match, you may be refused access to the park and lose your trek.

Q: I need to renew my passport. How can I get a permit without a valid passport?

A: We can purchase the permit using your expired passport number. You then must bring both the expired passport and your new passport with you on the trail, and present both documents at the checkpoints. If your passport agency does not return your original passport, then it is essential that you keep a photocopy of the ID page of the original passport, and bring that with you to Peru. If you have no passport at all, then you cannot join a trek until you obtain a passport. If your name or passport number varies from what you supplied to us for the permit application, then the park authority may deny you access to the trail. Therefore, it is essential that you supply accurate passport data, and bring this passport with you to the trek.

Q: I noticed that I gave you an incorrect passport number when I applied to join the trek. Can you fix that?

A: So long as permits are available for your trek date, we can purchase a new permit with the new passport number to allow you to participate in the trek. The cost of the original permit is non-refundable. At the trek orientation you will have to pay for both the old permit and the new permit. If no more permits are available, then park authorities may refuse to grant you access to the Inca Trail if your passport number does not match that listed on the permit.

Q: I lost my passport which I gave you to purchase the permit. I’m applying for a new one. What happens now?

A: So long as permits are available for your trek date, we can purchase a new permit with the new passport number to allow you to participate in the trek. The cost of the original permit is non-refundable. At the trek orientation you will have to pay for both the old permit and the new permit. If no more permits are available, then park authorities may refuse to grant you access to the Inca Trail if your passport number does not match that listed on the permit.

Q: What does the individual trail permit cost?

A: A four-day trek permit costs 244 New Soles, approximately US$90 at current rate of exchange. While most low-budget treks are offered in this four-day format, we operate a five day/four night trek. This allows our passengers an additional day on the trail and a full tour at Machu Picchu. We have been operating at this pace for over 25 years, and it remains the best way to see all that the trail offers. Park permit costs are subject to change without prior notice.

Q: Is it possible to join a trekking group close to the trek departure date?

A: For all dates but those very early and very late in the trekking season, the answer is a resounding NO. Trekking permits sell out typically three months ahead of the trek date. The park authorities allow only 500 people to enter the park for any given day. Each person who enters that day needs to be listed on a permit, including guides, cooks, porters, and trekkers. From the end of March through the end of October, if you’re not on a roster three months prior to your trek, you’ll likely find that no permits are left. When that happens, you have two options – change your holiday dates, or trek outside the Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary. For an excellent alternate route, we suggest our Moonstone to Sun Temple Trek.

Q: Do other companies have allocations of permits that I can purchase after your supply is sold out?

A: No. The park authority sells the permits on a first-come, first-served basis. The permit must specify for each trekker the full name, nationality, passport number, date of birth, and gender. Permits are not transferable, and the only change allowed on the permit is a full cancellation of one or more passengers. The result is that outfitters can buy permits only for passengers actually on their rosters. Once the 500 permits are issued, no more are available from any source.

Q: What about late cancellations?

A: Current regulations do not allow us to replace cancelled passengers with new passengers. Trek permits are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Q: If I give you my deposit now, do you buy my permit immediately?

A: Not necessarily immediately, but we customarily purchase the permits within a few days of receiving your deposit.

Q: Can I enter Machu Picchu ruins at night on my trek permit?

A: No. Night-time entry to the Machu Picchu ruins is currently prohibited by the INC.

Q: Are there student discounts for the trail permit?

A: For students 16 years and older, we must receive a digital version of your International Student Card (ISIC), showing the institution, student status, and date of validity. A .JPG file sent to us as an email attachment is the best format to achieve this. For those who will be younger than 16 years at the time of trekking, send a .JPG of the passport ID page. We submit the documentation when we purchase the permit. If the park authority accepts the documentation, then they will issue the permit at the student rate of 50% of the adult rate. If the park authority rejects the documentation, their decision stands and we purchase the adult-rate ticket. Either way, we charge you the actual amount we pay for the permit. The June 18, 2005 regulation specifies that ONLY an ISIC will be accepted; and that the original ISIC must be brought on the trek. Trekkers on student rate tickets who cannot produce ISIC at the trailhead will be charged the difference between student rate and adult rate tickets.

Q: When do I pay for the trail permit?

A: You pay the 4-day trek fee at the trek orientation meeting in Cuzco. We bill you in advance for our trek outfitting services, from Cuzco to Cuzco, except for the local payment of the trail fee.

Q: If I change trek dates can I transfer my permit?

A: Both your trail permit and your trek deposit are non-refundable and non-transferable. To join a new trek date, we have to start the permit process all over again.

• 5 days / 4 nights camping - a full 4 days on the trail
• In/Out Cuzco
• Hike, camp and enjoy the company of Cuzco's best guides
• View spellbinding mountain scenery and unforgettable Inca sites
• Explore the magnificent ridge-top city of Machu Picchu
• Permits are required -- book 3-5 months in advance!

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• Inca Trail Map
• Relief Map