TREKKING THE INCA TRAIL
Due to environmental concerns, current regulations in Peru limit the amount of people on the Classic Inca Trail to 500 per day. This means that there are only about 160 places for trekkers as the rest are taken up by the porters and guides. All trekkers need to have a permit and these must be booked at least 30 days in advance. As you can imagine, places get booked up quickly, well in advance! To obtain a permit for the Inca Trail, name, date of birth, passport details and a deposit are required which means we can only apply for them once we receive your booking - there is no way to reserve places in advance without these details. So the earlier you book your trip, the better chance you have of getting a permit!

We have obtained permits for the classic Inca Trail for several years through our Peruvian operator based in Cuzco. They advise that you book your trip at least 3 months in advance to have the best chance of doing the classic Inca Trail, longer during the busy period from June to August.
If there are no places on the Classic Inca Trail or if you would like to do something different, there are alternative Inca trail treks that see fewer tourists and have outstanding scenery equal to, if not exceeding that of the classic Inca Trail! The Incas made many paths through the mountains and left evidence of their existence in the form of stonework and terraces. We can organise alternative trails for you which all include visiting the ruins of Machu Picchu.

 

ONLY THE INCA TRAIL TREK HAS LIMITED PLACES � THE RUINS OF MACHUPICCHU CAN ALWAYS BE VISITED, REACHED EITHER BY AN ALTERNATIVE TREK OR BY TRAIN.

 

Inca Trail Trekking Regulations

The Peruvian Government introduced new regulations concerning the Inca Trail trek in 2001 with the aim of reducing the high numbers of people trekking and the environmental problems this caused � in particular, overcrowding and litter had become a big problem. The total amount of people per day allowed on the Trail was limited to 500, to include trekkers, guides, porters and cooks. These new regulations and a new booking system have been slowly introduced albeit leniently over the last 4 years - in 2005 they are being imposed more rigorously. This is good news for the preservation of the Inca Trail but it means tour operators and travellers alike will have to plan ahead.

It is estimated that the 500 people will comprise of roughly 160 trekkers on the 4 day Classic Inca Trail plus a small number of trekkers on the 2 day trek and the remaining amount being porters, guides and cooks. In high season (June to September), the number of travellers wishing to trek the Inca Trail far outweighs the numbers allowed so it is imperative to book as far ahead as possible!

What effects the regulations will have...

To trek the Classic Inca Trail, you need a permit which is obtained through a licensed Peruvian tour operator. These are issued on a first come first served basis and name, date of birth, passport details and payment is required at the time of booking � there is no way to reserve places in advance without these details. So the earlier you book, the better chance you have of getting a permit!

For several years we have used a reliable tour operator based in Cuzco to obtain our permits and operate the treks. They recommend that you book your trip 3 months in advance to have the best chance of trekking the Classic Inca Trail, longer during the busy period from June to August.

The permit is non-refundable and cannot be transferred to another person.

On The Trek

Group size - there is a maximum group size of 16
Equipment - good equipment and first aid supplies must be carried
Guides - there must be 1 guide for every 8 trekkers
Porters - Amongst the new regulations are those intended to ensure porters receive fair wages and working conditions. Porters have been gravely exploited in the past, being expected to carry huge loads and not provided with proper carrying equipment, clothing, shelter or food. There is now a minimum wage of approximately US$10 per day (a reasonable wage in Peru) and a maximum load of 25kg (20kg plus 5kg for personal gear). Not all tour operators adhere to these regulations and more enforcement by the authorities is needed.

Peruvian Tour Operators

Peruvian tour operators must be licensed in order to run treks on the Inca Trail. The UGM (Unidad de Gestion Machu Picchu) - the Peruvian authority that is responsible for managing visitors to Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail � sets standards that must be met to obtain the license e.g. quality of equipment taken on the trek, first aid supplies, proficient guides etc. Licenses must be applied for each year in February.

Independent Travellers

For those planning to travel independently to Peru and who hope to arrange a trek on arrival, you may be lucky to find that permits are available for a week's time. However, some travellers have been unable to get permits even 2 weeks or more ahead and we expect it to be even more difficult this year, particularly during the high season.

Trekking the Inca Trail independently is no longer allowed, you must either hire a qualified guide (which is very difficult) or book through a licensed tour operator.

Cleaning the Inca Trail

The Inca Trail is closed during February (the wettest and least popular season) to give the environment a break from the constant flow of trekkers and to enable a clean-up of the trail.

 

ALTERNATIVES:

Don't want to trek at all?

If it all sounds like too much hard work for you, you don't have to trek at all! We will arrange hotel accommodation in Cuzco and the train journey to Machu Picchu where you can join the rest of the group. There is a wealth of things to see and do in Cuzco and the surrounding area. Please let us know at the time of booking if you do not want to trek.

 

Salkantay Trek

This is becoming a popular alternative to the Classic Inca Trail. The trek sees fewer tourists and takes you to some of the most stunning mountain scenery in the region. It can be a little more strenuous than the Classic Inca Trail due to the altitude of the highest pass, 4800m (on the Inca Trail, 4200m) however, you will be accompanied by horses who are available for riding if you're finding it tough! The trek starts in the village of Mollepata in the Apurimac Valley and takes you around the awesome, snow-covered Mt. Salkantay, at 6271m the highest mountain in the Vilcabamba range. Crossing a pass on its western shoulder we hike through green valleys and around glacial lakes before descending to the Santa Theresa Valley. The final leg is by truck and train to Aguas Calientes where we spend the night. On the last day you can either take the first bus up to Machupicchu at 6am or walk the steep ascent to see the ruins at sunrise.

Multi Sport to Machupicchu (minimum 3 people)

Starting at the ruins of Sacsayhuaman near Cuzco, we spend 2 days trekking and horse-riding to villages, local communities and Inca ruins. If at anytime you're tired of riding, you can walk and vice versa. The scenery is superb with views of the whole Vilcanota range. On the third day you can mountain bike or trek to the Rings of Moray (Inca ruins), Maras village and the Inca Salt Mines at Pichingoto. We take the afternoon train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes where we spend the night. On the last day you can either take the first bus up to Machupicchu at 6am or walk the steep ascent to see the ruins at sunrise.

Vilcabamba (minimum 4 people)

This trek takes in both jungle and the Vilcabamba mountain range. Starting at Santa Maria we walk for 3 hours before taking a bus to Huancacalle where we walk through the lush vegetation to three Inca sites including Nustah'ispana � the white rock � mythical last city of the Incas. The next two days we trek over high passes (4000 - 4400m) with spectacular mountain views. From Santa Theresa we trek, truck and train to Aguas Calientes where we spend the night. On the last day you can either take the first bus up to Machupicchu at 6am or walk the steep ascent to see the ruins at sunrise.

2 day Inca Trail

This is for those who would like to do the Classic Inca Trail but want a shorter trek. We travel by train along the Urubamba Valley towards Machupicchu, disembarking at Km104 and trekking to join the 4 day Inca Trail at Winaywayna and arriving at the ruins by the Sun Gate.