07 Day – Trek to Machu Picchu through the Inca Trail

It is strongly recommended to book your Inca Trail at least 6 months in advance as permits can quickly sell out. Last year the demand was extremely high, and demand is projected to rise even more.

Inkayni Peru Tours offer daily departures on the Inca Trail (excluding February when the trail is closed).

Since 2000 the Inca trail has been regulated by the country of Peru. This has provided many wonderful things, like clean trails and camping sites, but it has also limited the amount of people on the trail each day. Now only 500 people are permitted on the trail every morning – this includes hikers, guides, porters and cooks. If your date is not available, do not fret, there are many wonderful treks to Machu Picchu – just as beautiful as the Inca trail and not as crowded.

Inkayni Peru Tours will create amazing expeditions to Machu Picchu, with great guides, chefs, and the unmatchable, unstoppable ‘green machinne’ Porters, as well as the best equipment tents, sleeping bags, matresses and pillows.

If your date is not available, look beyond to see that there are many wonderful alternative treks to Machu Picchu – just as beautiful as the Inca trail and not as crowded!

• 02 Day short Inca Trail
• 03 Day Huchuy Qosqo Trek
• 04 Day Lares Trek
• 04 Day Inca Jungle Adventure
• 05 Day Salkantay Trek

We recommend as soon as possible!! This is a famous route in high-demand, and because the government has restricted access and applied daily limits (200 hikers & 300 porters/staff per day). Due to these factors, we urge you make your reservation as far in advance as possible.

If you plan to travel between the months of April – September, you best make your reservation 06 months before your departure date.

Between the months of October – January, it is possible to make a reservation 03 to 04 months in advance.

Once your reservation has been confirmed through our website or a sales agent, a deposit fee of US $ 250 (2017) must be made to confirm your trek. Deposits must be made through PayPal (quickest and preferred method), Western Union or bank transfer.

The remaining balance must be paid in our office in Cusco AT LEAST 48 hours before your trekking departure date, before 7:30 pm.

This remaining balance must be paid in cash (US$ dollars or Peruvian Soles).  When we confirm your trekking reservation, we will send you the details on how to make the deposit for your trip. Please note that the deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable. The deposit is used to purchase your trekking permit and reserve your space. After having made this purchase by sending your information to the government, NO adjustments or changes can be made (dates, names, personal data, etc.) to the reservation.

All our treks (Inka Trail, Salkantay, Ausangate, Lares, etc) are moderately difficult, lengthy and traverse rough mountain terrain. We kindly recommend that if you plan to conquer any of these routes to be in relatively good physical condition, plus acclimatization. These means arriving to Cusco at least 02 days prior to your trek departure to adjust to altitude. During the last two months leading up to your trek we suggest a regular and moderate exercise routine to improve endurance and stamina. We wish for you to have the best experience possible!

There are NO government restrictions regarding age limit for Inka Trail. However, as a responsible Tour Agency, we will only accept reservations for children 7 or younger if the parents assume full responsibility for them during the trek. *For families with children, we highly suggest booking a private tour to make your experience more comfortable*

All children below the age of 18 years must be accompanied by an adult.

We require all trekkers age 60 or above to hire an additional porter (12kg) for their convenience.

Trekkers age 65 + must consult with their physician before booking and also before traveling to verify health conditions for participating in a high altitude multi-day trek.

We also suggest that all medical or doctor recommendations be acknowledged, even if this means cancelling your travel plans. We recommend that all clients 60 years of age or above arrive to Cusco at least 03 days before your trekking date to adjust to altitude.

We recommend that all clients age 55 + speak in advance with their physician to consult the best way to plan your trek and inquire that your travel insurance covers activities such as adventure. We will require a medical file confirming a good state of health and NO cardiac problems.

Of course! Without any additional costs! When you make your reservation, please inform us of any dietary needs or requirements, including allergies!

Vegetarian foods will be absent of all meats, chicken or fish. We will assume that eggs and cheese or other lactose products are OK.

Most of our main meals are a buffet-style, leaving you the option to avoid anything undesirable to you.

If there are any food items or veggies that you cannot stomach, perhaps onions, tomatoes, mushrooms.. etc, upon your request we will ask our chef to leave them out or separate this item.

We can also attend lactose-intolerant or gluten-intolerant diets. We cannot accept individuals with serious allergic or life-threatening reactions.

Every day we receive many clients with food allergies to nuts, wheat, etc. Please inform us in detail of your condition upon making your reservation.

We kindly ask that you declare the severity of your reaction and any medication that you take in case of emergency.

If your allergy is severe, we ask that you be accompanied by a friend or individual conscious and fully responsible of your situation and ready with any medication.

WE CANNOT ACCEPT CLIENTS WITH LIFE-THREATENING ALLERGIES

We require that all clients arrive to Cusco at least 48 hours before the start of your trek, although 03 nights before is ideal. You must pay your remaining balance two days before your departure for your trek. This will assure that all individuals are acclimatized and adjusted to the high altitude conditions to begin your trek comfortably. Please note that your remaining balance must be paid in cash in our office and cannot be paid before your arrival.

Our office hours are Monday – Saturday 9:00am – 1:00pm, 4:00pm – 8:00pm. (Please aim to arrive 7:30pm at the latest!)

For this trek more than any other, we do recommend hiking sticks, especially for those with any known knee problems. The trail is full of steep ascents and steep drops on narrow Inka stairs. The poles will assist your balance and reduce the impact on your knees. *Inkayni Peru Tours and the INC (National Culture Institute) asks that you not use metal-tipped poles that will damage the trail.*

Inkayni Peru Tours will rent hiking sticks for $15

Any baggage that is not necessary for your trek may be stored in your hotel in Cusco (most hotels offer this service free of charge). In the case that your hotel may not provide this service, we will store your baggage safely in our office free of charge.

Remember that group service includes a personal porter to carry your things up to 05 kg / 11.02 lb. Before the start of your trek we will provide you with a duffle bag to bring your basic necessities, such as; sleeping bag (average 2,5 kg), and extra clothing (average 2,5 kg). Remember that your porter will not be hiking at your side during the trek, which means you will still need to carry a daypack to have your personal things on-hand throughout the day, such as drinking water, snacks, camera, fleece and raincoat.

a) GOOD WAGES:

As a responsible tour agency, we pay our porters a salary of 210 Soles for the 4-day trek AND their transportation expenses (nearly 20% above the legal minimum salary, making Inkayni one of the best trekking agencies in Cusco).

Ideally, all agencies in Cusco should pay this amount, yet sadly, to this day there are many agencies not even paying the minimum legal salary.

b) APPROPRIATE WEIGHT LIMIT:

Within the basic policies of Inkayni Peru Tours is respect for all staff, which means not exceeding weight limits.

This factor is extremely important when choosing a travel agency for trekking.

Unfortunately there are many irresponsible companies (even big-name commercial companies that have often grown due to labor exploitation) that force porters to carry well over 25 kg and disrespect their rights.

For this reason, Inkayni Peru tours will not offer you a private bathroom, hot showers, or personal porter that will carry more than 5kg. This may exceed weight limits for our porters.

We kindly ask that before you choose a company for your trek that offers you these luxury services that you consider the extra weight that will be on the shoulders of your porters.

c) INSURANCE:

Inkayni Peru Tours is one of few companies that offers insurance for our porters.

d) TREKKING UNIFORMS:

Inkayni Peru Tours offers proper attire for all our staff.

The best time for making the trek with good weather is between the months of April – October when there is minimal rainfall and clear skies. The driest months are June – August, which is winter in the Andes.

January to March is summer in Peru, which means rainy season for Cusco and especially the Inka Trail, which is located mostly in the tropical cloud forest.

Many new outhouses have been added throughout the Inka Trail, mostly in the main designated campsites. This has greatly improved the sanitary conditions of the Trail, yet still the situation is not always perfect. All outhouses have cold running water. We recommend you bring a hand-disinfectant for use after visiting the public outhouses. Before each meal, we will provide you with hot water and soap for washing.

Inkayni Perú Tours will provide you with boiled water after each meal-time, starting with lunch on the second day (02).

Before this, you may purchase bottled water from small local ‘shops’ located outside local homes, offering water, gatorade, or soda. It is recommended that each person drink at least 02 to 03 liters of water each day.

You will also find small streams, or water on tap roughly every 2 hours along the Trail where you may fill your bottle, provided you have proper filtration/purification system. Water in the Andes is generally clean, but even though it may appear pure, you still must use a purification method for it to become safely potable.

Please consider the environment when you decide to travel and make a trek. Every day technology is improving to make our lives easier and avoid trash. Bring a purification system or bottle (such as UV light) to avoid buying bottled water.

If you are traveling alone and are open to sharing a tent, perhaps with someone of the same sex, there will be no additional cost. NOTE that if you wish to have a private tent, there is an additional cost of US $40.

Wiñay Wayna is the closest campsite to Machu Picchu, making it the favorite site for everyone. At a mere two (02) hours from Machu Picchu, camping at Wiñay Wayna allows groups to arrive very early in the morning to the Sun Gate. Unfortunately, there is not much space available at this site for all groups on the Inka Trail. The second closest campsite known as Phuyupatamarca is still a 5-hour hike to Machu Picchu. When trekking permits are purchased, the goverment is responsable for asigning campsites to groups. Inkayni has the reputation of finalizing group reservations and obtaining permits well before other companies, which means we often have the blessing of camping at Wiñay Wayna the majority of our treks. Between 2014 – 2016 we camped at Wiñay Wayna 99% of the time. One group in all of 2015 could not camp at Wiñay Wayna, so they decided to arrive to Machu Picchu on the third day, sleep in Aguas Calientes, and return to Machu Picchu the 4th morning for sunrise. All of 2016 had us at Wiñay Wayna for our groups on Inka Trail.

17.- Where do I have to be the morning of the start of my trek and where will I finish at the end?

We will pick you up from your hotel to begin your trek and upon finishing, we will also leave you at your hotel.

If you wish to change your train company or option (such as Vistadome de Peru Rail, to Ollantaytambo or the whole route to Poroy), or your departure time, additional fees may apply. You must speak with one of our sales agents to inquire about availability and the additional costs.