HOW FAR IN ADVANCE DO I NEED TO MAKE A TREK RESERVATION?
As far in advance as possible. The government has strictly limited the number of people permitted on the Inca Trail (permits are issued to about 250 tourists per day plus 250 among guides, cooks and porters). We therefore recommend that you try to make your Inca trail reservation as far in advance as possible as soon as you know the dates of your international flights.
After we have confirmed your trek booking you will need to pay a trek deposit. The deposit can be paid by Western Union, paypal, Monygram, The remaining trek balance needs to be paid in our office in Cusco at least 2 days prior to the trek departure date, and before 8pm. Payment is to be made in
cash (US dollars or local currency). When we
confirm your trek booking we will send you more details about how to pay the trek deposit. Please note that the trek deposit is non-refundable & non-transferable. The deposit is used to purchase your trek permit and reserve space within the group. After purchasing the permit we cannot change the date of trek departure or change the name or passport number on the trek permit.
IS THE TREK DIFFICULT, DO I NEED TO BE FIT?
The Inca Trail is a 43km (26 mile) hike through mountainous regions. The maximum altitude reach to 4200m above sea level. On the second day of the trek we climb 1200m. Make no mistake, the Inca Trail is a fairly difficult trek and you should be well prepared and healthy prior to starting it. You have to be moderately fit and take regular exercise. Try walking 15km in a day or go to the gym in the months leading up to the trek. It is also important to be well acclimatized to the altitude. Try to spend 2 or 3 days in Cusco (3400m) prior to starting the trek. This time can be put to good use visiting the city of Cusco, nearby Inca ruins and the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The good news is that virtually everyone in the last few years who started the trek finished it! Only a handful had to turn back.
IS THERE A MINIMUM OR MAXIMUM AGE LIMIT FOR THE INCA TRAIL TREK
There is no government restriction on the age limit for the Inca Trail. However as a responsible trekking company GrandTravel does not accept reservations for children under the age of 8 years old and adults over 65 years old. All children under 18 years old must also be accompanied by an adult. We require that all of our trekkers over 59 years old hire the service of an extra third porter (6kg). We recommend that if you are over 59 years old you should talk to your doctor well in advance about how best to plan for the trek and also to ensure that your travel insurance covers such adventure activities. We also insist that clients over 59 years old arrive in Cusco at least 3 days before starting the trek (rather than the usual 2 days). For trekkers over 63 years old we also ask you to bring a letter from your doctor confirming that you are fit to participate in the trek. Unfortunately if you fail to bring a letter from your doctor we reserve the right to cancel your trek and your trek deposit cannot be returned.
CAN I HAVE VEGETARIAN MEALS?
Our cooks can provide vegetarian meals no problem. Just let us know your dietary requirements when you book your trek.
I HAVE FOOD ALLERGY, CAN THIS BE CATERED FOR?
We have plenty of clients who have allergies to nuts, wheat, etc. Please give us details of your allergy at the time of booking. Please indicate the severity of the reaction and what type of medicines you have to take in an emergency. If your allergy is severe you must be accompanied by a friend on the trek that is aware of your allergy and the location of any required medicines. Due to the nature of the remote geographical location of the trail and the lack of suitable nearby medical facilities GrandTravel will not accept any responsibility, either directly or indirectly, for any problems due to your special medical/dietary requirements. We suggest that you to check with your doctor before booking the trek.
I HAVE ASTHMA / DIABETES / ANOTHER MEDICAL CONDITION. CAN I STILL DO THE TREK?
You must disclose at the time of booking any medical condition that you may have that could affect your ability to do the Inca Trail trek. GrandTravel reserves the right not to accept a trek booking if we feel that a medical condition may put your life or the lives of any of our trekking staff or other clients at risk on the trek. People with heart conditions, knee problems, severe asthma or are more than 18 weeks pregnant should not participate in the trek. People with mild asthma / diabetes / pregnant less than 18 weeks will have to bring a medical note from their doctor stating that they are fit to undertake the trek. They will also be required to be accompanied by a trekking companion on the trek at all times who will trek at their sides and be familiar with any medicines required in case of an emergency. GrandTravel reserved the right to cancel the trek booking of a client if the client has not fully disclosed at the time of making a booking a medical condition that may pose a risk to the health of the client and/or other trekkers. No refunds will be given in this instance.
Due to the nature of the remote geographical location of the trail and the lack of suitable nearby medical facilities along the trail GrandTravel will not accept any responsibility, either directly or indirectly, for any problems due to your special dietary requirements / medical condition. We suggest that you check with your doctor before booking the trek.
HAVING PAID MY TREK DEPOSIT CAN I TURN UP IN CUSCO THE DAY BEFORE TO PAY THE BALANCE?
No. We require everyone to be in Cusco for at least 2 nights before starting the trek, although 3 nights is even better. Therefore if your trek departs on a Monday you must come to our office before 8pm on Saturday to pay the trek balance. This ensures that everyone in the group is well acclimatized to the high altitude. Please note the trek balance needs to be paid in Cusco and cannot be paid in advance of your arrival.
WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING ON THE TREK?
Backpack, sleeping bag, double-thickness foam mattress (we will provide you with this but you have to carry it, it weighs approx 1kg), rain jacket, strong footwear, one complete change of clothing, sweater, jacket (something warm), water bottle (metal or nalgene type), 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 spare batteries (nowhere to charge your camera during the trek). For your own personal hygiene we also recommend that you bring a small bottle of antiseptic/anti-bacterial hand gel to clean your hands each time after using the camp toilets and before eating any snacks / meals. You also have to bring your original passport with you on the trek, with the same passport number you originally made your reservation with; otherwise you will be unable to go on the trek. Photocopies are no longer acceptable.
WHAT DO I NEED TO CARRY?
Unless you hire an extra porter you will need to carry all of the above personal items. We include porters to carry all the other items such as tents, food and cooking equipment.
CAN I USE TREKKING POLES / WALKING STICKS ON THE INCA TRAIL?
Many people like to hike with trekking poles or walking sticks. This is fine as long as the poles will not cause damage to the stone paving along the Inca Trail. If the trekking poles have metal spikes then these must be protected by rubber tips. We recommend bringing some spare rubber tips with you. Rubber protectors can also be bought in several shops in Cusco. Wooden walking sticks are obviously fine as long as you bring them with you from home. Recently government authorities have stopped trekkers using wooden sticks that could have come from local forests (to prevent deforestation of protected Andean forests). In Ollantaytambo on the way to the start of the trek you can currently buy wooden broom handles that have been decorated that can be used in an emergency. Metal trekking poles can also be hired in our office for US3 per day.
WHERE CAN I STORE THE BAGS THAT I DO NOT NEED TO TAKE ON THE INCA TRAIL?
Any bags that you don't need to take on the Inca trail can be left at your hotel in Cusco. Nearly all hotels have a luggage deposit and rarely charge for this service as long as you are returning to the hotel after the trek. You can also leave valuables in the hotel safe, but remember to bring your passport and some emergency money. We do not store clients luggage or valuables in our office.
SHOULD I HIRE AN EXTRA PORTER ('THIRD OF A PORTER')?
About 35% of the group hires the services of an extra porter to carry their personal items. A 'third of a porter' can be hired for US$45 for the 4 day trek (includes porters entrance fees, meals, transport and wages). If you hire the services of a third of a porter you can give him a maximum of 6kg (13lbs) to carry which is usually sufficient for your sleeping bag (about 2.5kg), mattress (0.5kg) and change of clothes (about 3kg). However the porter will not walk at your side during the trek so you will still need to bring a day pack to carry essential items such as water, snacks, camera, warm sweater and rain jacket. When you pay the trek balance in our office in Cusco we will give you a duffle bag so that you can put your items in that, which you will give to the porter on the day of the trek.
CAN I WAIT UNTIL CUSCO TO HIRE AN EXTRA PORTER ('THIRD OF A PORTER')?
No. The restrictions on the number of people permitted on the Inca trail include porters. Porters also have to pay a trek entrance fee (about US$15) and their tickets need to be booked in advance. If you want to hire the services of a third of a porter (maximum 6kg) 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. However on the trek itself the guide can often help you find "unofficial porters" who live at Wayllabamba (first campsite) who can help you with your equipment from Wayllabamba up to the top of the first pass (the most difficult section of the trail). These porters charge about US$15 for their services but they cannot always be relied upon. GrandTravel cannot accept responsibility for the services provided by these porters.
HOW WARM ARE THE SLEEPING BAGS THAT YOU RENT?
Our sleeping bags are rated to temperatures as low as -10ºC but are more suitable for temperatures of about -5ºC. Since you won't find temperatures as low as this on the Inca Trail we rate them as very warm and cozy! We charge US$20 per person for whole trek. We will give you the sleeping bag one day in advance so you can try it out. If there are any problems just let us know when we come to pick you up from your hotel. On the morning of the 4th day of the trek the cook has instructions to collect all the sleeping bags and bring them back to the office. After renting out our standard sleeping bags 15 times we give them to our porters to use. Our sleeping bags are synthetic (easily washed) and weigh 2.5kg. We do not provide down-filled sleeping bags because they can't be washed after each use. There are several equipment rental shops in Cusco is you need to rent down-filled bags.
Since the beginning of 2003 many new, flush toilets have been built along the Inca trail including all of the major campsites. This has helped a lot to improve sanitary conditions on the trail although conditions are still not always perfect. Each toilet block has cold running water. We recommend that you bring from hand-sanitizer to use after visiting the public toilets. Only the campsite at Wiñay Wayna has hot showers (extra cost). Every evening we will provide you with a bowl of warm water to wash with.
The maximum size of our Inca Trail 4 day group service is 16 persons. For groups of over 8 persons we also employ an assistant guide to help out.
CAN I CLIMB HUAYNA PICCHU (OPTIONAL)
Huayna Picchu is the large mountain just behind Machu Picchu. There is a narrow and steep trail right to the top of the mountain and there are also some interesting Inca ruins at the top. The view of Machu Picchu from the summit is breathtaking. As from 15 July 2011 the government authorities have decided to charge an additional fee for climbing HuaynaPicchu. No before notice was given of these new entrance fees. Unfortunately, at the moment, clients can't buy an entrance ticket just to climb Huayna Picchu. The entrance ticket to Huayna Picchu is only available as part of a combined Machu Picchu - Huayna Picchu ticket that costs S/.150 for adults (approx US$55) and S/.75 for students with an ISIC card (approx US$27). This doesn't offer good value to people doing the Inca Trail since the Inca Trail permit already includes entry to Machu Picchu. It you want to climb Huayna Picchu and think S/.150 is too expensive then we would recommend staying an extra night in Aguas Calientes and buying a combined Machu Picchu - Huayna Picchu entrance ticket for the following day. You will therefore get entrance to Machu Picchu and be able to climb Huayna Picchu which offers better value for money. Of course you will still have to pay for your accommodation in Aguas Calientes and return bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu (US$8 each way).
The entrance tickets to Huayna Picchu must be bought BEFORE you start the Inca Trail and are sold on a first-com-first served basis. For details how to buy these tickets and any other tickets to Machu Picchu please visit the website www.machupicchutickets.com
Unfortunately we cannot buy these tickets for you. A maximum number of four hundred persons per day can climb Huayna Picchu. Two hundred people will be allowed to start the climb between 07:00 and 08:00 (Group 01) and must return by 10:00. Another two hundred people will be allowed to start the climb between 10:00 and 11:00 (group 02) and must return by 13:00. This climb is optional and does not form part of the services provided by GrandTravel. Clients undertake this activity at their own risk and will not be accompanied by staff working for GrandTravel. The trail to the top of the mountain is very narrow with many steep, almost vertical drops at the side. It should be noted that our Inca Trail group normally arrives at Machu Picchu between 07:30 to 08:00 and the guided tour of Machu Picchu commences at around 09:00. Clients wishing to climb Huayna Picchu the same day that we arrive should book tickets for group 02 starting between 10:00 and 11:00. Clients may have to leave our guided tour of Machu Picchu slightly early to make the climb.
IF YOU STILL HAVE ANY QUESTION, PLEASE EMAIL US AT:
reservations@perugrandtravel.com
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