WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO GO?
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This is a difficult question to answer as Peru has a huge
variety of weather conditions. We would say travelers can
visit Peru any time of the year !
Dry season runs from May to November and this is typically
the time that is most recommended. However, this is also the
cooler time of year. Nighttime temperatures can drop to
below freezing at the height of the dry season. June, July
and August are the most popular months to visit so you will
tend to encounter much larger crowds during these months.
In the wet season (December to April), you can expect
showers three to four afternoons a week. For travelers that
don't mind a little drizzle and muddy trails, this time of
year offers smaller crowds and greener hillsides, with
wildflowers and orchids often in bloom. The shoulder seasons,
April to June or September to November can often provide the
best of both worlds. They typically have fewer crowds and
warmer temperatures than the height of the dry season, but
still tend to have relatively little rain. For more
information, check out our Peru Weather page.
WHAT
ENTRY DOCUMENTS DO I NEED?
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U.S. citizens need a valid passport and an entry form-tourist
card which is provided by your air carrier either at the
ticket counter when checking in for your flight to Peru or
once on-board. (NOTE: Other nationalities should check with
the nearest Peruvian Consulate to determine correct entry
requirements.)
IS IT SAFE TO TRAVEL IN PERU?
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Definitely. We tend to hear the very worst news from Latin
America. Helpful people and extraordinary culture. Most
crime is opportunistic and not violent buy of course, it is
possible to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Care
and common sense will nearly always prevail.
The Sendero Luminoso is no longer active.
HOW DO I GET FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE HOTEL ON THE
ESCORTED TOURS?
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All of our escorted tours include arrival transfer serivices,
an Inca Trail Reservations/Castle Travel representative will
be waiting for you at the point of your arrival. In the
event that you book the domestic flights by your self, you
will need to provide us all details of your arrival or you
can simply request internal flights to the travel advisor
that will be assigned to you.
WHAT TYPE OF TRANSPORTATION IS USED?
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Our escorted tours utilize a variety of transportation
including private vans/ cars, comfortable tourist buses,
flights, canoes, etc. We use a mix of private/ public
transportation to provide travelers with the safest and most
efficient transportation in each area. Occasionally, we may
include non-typical transportation modes (rickshaw, bicycle
taxi, "chicken bus", etc.) for short distances to give
travelers a sense of local flavor.
WILL THE ALTITUDE AFFECT ME?
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When travelling throughout the Andes in Peru some people
will suffer some effects of altitude sickness. If you plan
to hike the Inca Trail we recommend arriving 2 or 3 days
before the start to acclimatise and rest.
WHAT IS THE BEST THING TO DO IN THE EVENT OF ALTITUDE
SICKNESS?
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Wherever possible "go down". The important things are to
have gradual ascent, time to adjust, rest days, and someone
who can recognise early problems. All these requirements are
features of this trek. If you are staying in Cusco, you may
still feel the effects.
The best advice is to sleep, take plenty of fluids or you
could also try coca tea. The porters chew coca leaves
wrapped around a black resin called "llipta". When you are
actually walking and active (especially on day two of the
trail), this may help since it dilates the blood vessels and
carries oxygen to the parts of the body that need it.
HOW DO I RESERVE A SPACE FOR THE INCA TRAIL?
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Please follow the link below for more details and
reservation form. (Please specify details like extra night
or extra porter)
Information on how to book the
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
If you prefer, call Inca Trail Reservations to verify
availability of the trip you have chosen.
Contact us
DO I NEED TO CHECK AVAILABILITY FOR EACH DAY THAT I'M
GOING TO HIKE THE INCA TRAIL?
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No. You just need to look for available spaces for the day
that you would like to start the Inca Trail.
The first day to start the Inca Trail is March 1st.
The last day to start the Inca Trail is January 31st.
IS THERE A WAITING LIST FOR THE INCA TRAIL IN CASE OF
CANCELLATIONS?
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The National Institute of Culture only releases 500 permits
per day and once all permits have been sold, no more permits
will be issued, even if there are cancellations. This means
that if someone is selling you a permit when there are not
spaces left, that permit is corrupt or fake. You will not be
allowed on the trail if the permit is not the correct one.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF THERE ARE NOT PERMITS LEFT?
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In our opinion you have two choices: You could try the
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu which can be hiked in
four or five days, or wait until the next year to hike the
Inca Trail.
DO YOU REQUIRE A DEPOSIT?
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Yes. We require a booking deposit of US$192 for all treks
and US$385 for al other tours and packages.
A full deposit refund will be given if we are not able to
get a Inca Trail Permit for you!
Once the Government Permit has been issued the deposit
becomes non-refundable
WHY IS THE DEPOSIT REQUIRED IMMEDIATELY?
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A deposit is required immediately because we need to pay for
your permit at the time that we request it. The only way to
reserve a space for the Inca Trail is to secure a permit by
purchasing it at the offices of the National Institute of
Culture in Cusco.
If you only submit the booking form and you do not complete
the deposit transaction, we won’t be able to secure your
space for the Inca Trail until we process this payment.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I MAKE MY DEPOSIT?
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Once we receive your booking information and the deposit, we
will immediately request your permit from the National
Institute of Culture (INC).
A travel advisor will be assigned to your account and will
e-mail a digital copy of the permit to you as soon as we
receive it from this Peruvian Goverenment agency. This is
usually within 24 hours (business days).
If you require additional services like internal flights,
accommodation or tour extensions, your personal travel
advisor will easily arrange that for you.
If you are only booking the trek package, you will need to
send us detailed information about your flight arrival and
accommodation in Cusco, so we can schedule the airport pick
up and trek brieffing.
IS THE INCA TRAIL DIFFICULD?
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You know the answer to this one: it depends! You reach 4000m
on the second day after climbing for the best part of the
day. Especially if you are within your first five days at
altitude, this may give you headaches and shortness of
breath. Generally however, you start very early and have a
long time to get to the second campsite. But the key is to
keep going and share your coca leaves with the porters who
are carrying around 25kg. And don't forget that even people
who live in Cusco (at 3300m) still get short of breath.
WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING ON THE TREK?
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Backpack, sleeping bag, pad (we will provide you with this),
rain jacket, strong footwear (walking boots are recommended
as they provide support to the ankle which reduces the risk
of injury especially when trekking in the wet season (December
- March). However it is important that your boots are
comfortable and well worn-in and not brand new. Many people
prefer to trek in tennis shoes but extra care should be
taken (we do not recommend trekking in sandals), one
complete change of clothing, sweater, jacket (something warm),
water bottle and sterilizing tablets (Micropur are
recommended and can be bought in local pharmacies in Cusco),
flashlight and batteries, broad-brim or peaked cap, sunblock,
insect repellent, toiletries and toilet paper, selection of
small snacks, chocolate, dried fruit, biscuits etc, camera
and plenty of film. You also have to bring your original
passport with you on the trek and student ISIC when
applicable.
WHEN SHOULD I HIRE A PORTER?
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It is better to organize a porter before you go on the trail
rather than realise halfway through that you’re not enjoying
carrying your pack at this altitude and want some help. Even
turning up on the day of your trail and telling the agency
that you want an extra porter is too late because the
porters need to register in advance (support staff need
permits to access the trail as well).
CAN I WAIT UNTIL CUSCO TO HIRE AN EXTRA PORTER?
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No. The restrictions on the number of people permitted on
the Inca trail includes porters. Porters also have to pay a
trek entrance fee and their permits need to be booked in
advance. If you want to hire the services of a porter, then
you must let us know at the time you make your trek booking.
Unfortunately if you feel weakened by the effects of the
altitude when you arrive in Cusco and feel it necessary to
hire a porter at the last minute the new regulations make it
impossible for us to arrange this.
WHAT DO WE DO FOR WATER ALONG THE INCA TRAIL?
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At meal times we will give you teas or coffees to drink.
You'll come across a mountain spring, fountain or small
stream approximately every 1½ hours along the trail where
you can fill up your water bottle. Take a bottle of at least
1½ liter capacity per person.
Although the water looks it is always safer to use
sterilizing tablets or a water filter. The sterilizing
tablets can be bought in most pharmacies in Cusco. With
these tablets you have to wait between 30 and 40 minutes
before drinking. Bottled mineral water can also be taken
from Cusco, bought at km82 (the start of the trek), at the
first resting point, at Wayllabamba (first night), at Wiñay
Wayna (third night) and at Machu Picchu (final day).
WHAT HAPPENS IF I ARRIVE AT MACHU PICCHU AND THEN
DECIDE TO STAY AN EXTRA NIGHT, CAN I CHANGE MY TRAIN TICKETS?
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It is still possible to make changes to your return train
ticket if you decide to stay an extra night at Aguas
Calientes. You will have to take your train ticket
personally to the train station in Aguas Calientes and ask
them to change the return date of your ticket. You will
probably be asked to pay an extra administration fee and
changing the ticket will be subject to availability of
spaces the following day. If you change your ticket for a
cheaper service then you will not be refunded the difference.
WHAT TRAINING DO YOU PROVIDE FOR YOUR STAFF ON
ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES?
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Our guide teams have been trained in first aid and rescue
and are regularly updated through seminars and courses in
their respective fields. All of our trekking staff receives
regular briefings on how to best comply with the Inca Trail
and Machu Picchu Sanctuary Regulation as well as on
environmental awareness.
Our Credo in Nature
We are great believers in leaving the areas that we visit in
as an untouched condition as possible. We encourage everyone
who travels with us to respect the land, the people, and
their fellow travelers. This type of focus leads to amazing
experiences and insights that bring a sense of satisfaction,
which is difficult to create any other way, so be thinking
responsibility, consideration, and FUN!
WHAT YOU DO TO MINIMISE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ON THE
INCA TRAIL?
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Our Environmental Management Policy and Commitment considers
running our operations in a responsible way, according to
the following:
* Selective disposal of garbage (organic & inorganic)
* Garbage withdrawal of Natural Protected Areas
* Use of flush toilets built along the Inca Trail or
different communities and villages. Otherwise, we provide
toilet tents with chemical toilet facilities. All garbage is
disposed of outside the Natural Protected Areas
* Avoid fires – no smoking allowed inside the tents
* Use of bowls for washing purposes to avoid the soap from
being thrown over to the floor or to natural water sources
* Avoid disturbing animals
* No animal hunting allowed
* Preservation of the flora, no orchid taking allowed
* Walking over the Inca ruins, walls or archaeological sites
is absolutely forbidden |
