Frequently Asked Questions

1: 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 ( 200 permits are issued  per day ). You need a passport to make a reservation. If your passport is out of date, and you will have a new one when you arrive in Peru, you can make the reservation with the old passport, but you will need to bring both old and new passport with you to Peru and on the trek.

For the months of  Nov, Dec, Jan.and March: Reservation should be made at least 3 months in advance

For the months of April, May, Sept, Oct. we recommend making reservations 4 months in advance.

For June, Jul, Aug.  we recommend making reservations 5-6 months in advance.

2:When do you buy the Inca trail permit?

We normally buy your permit 1 or 2 days after receiving your deposit. Every January all licensed tour operators enter a lottery to buy permits. Permits can be purchased at that time for the entire year including January of the following year. If we receive your reservation after January we purchase on a first come first served basis. Though we cannot guarantee that the group will camp at Wiñay Wayna on the third night, the early in advance you make your reservation the better the chance of securing this campsite.

3: What about payment, and making a deposit?

After we have confirmed your trek reservation you will need to pay a trek deposit of $175 USD per person. The deposit can be paid by  Western Union money transfer or by bank transfer. When we confirm your trek reservation, we will send you details about how to pay the trek deposit.

The remaining trek balance needs to be paid in our office in Cusco at least 2 days prior to the trek departure date, before 7pm.Payment of the balance can be made in cash (US dollars or local currency) or by American Express travel checks (3% commission charged).

4: Is the trek difficult?

 The Inca Trail is a 43km (26 mile) hike through mountainous regions. The maximum altitude reached is 4200m above sea level. On the second day of the trek we climb 1200m. The Inca Trail is a fairly difficult trek and you should be well prepared and healthy prior to starting it.  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. 

5: Age restrictions on the Inca Trail.

 Although the government does not impose age restrictions, for safety reasons Inca Discovery Peru does not accept reservations for children under the age of 7 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, US$35). 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 prior to starting the trek (rather than the usual 2 days). For trekkers over 64 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 cannot allow you to start the trek and your trek deposit cannot be returned. We do not accept bookings from single trekkers over 59 years old (i.e. trekkers travelling on their own), sorry.

6: 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) and water purification  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, nuts, dried fruit, etc, camera and spare batteries. You also have to bring your original passport with you on the trek, with the same passport number you originally made your reservation with. If the name or number on your passport is different from the name and number on the trek permit, the government authorities will not allow you to start the trek and you will not be entitled to a refund. Photocopies are no longer acceptable.

7: What do I need to carry?

 Unless you hire the services of a porter you will need to carry all of the above personal items. Our porters  carry all of the group gear such as tents, food and cooking equipment.

8: What kind of shoes/boots are best?

 Hiking boots are recommended as they provide support to the ankle which reduces the risk of injury. However it is important that your boots are comfortable and well broken-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 or using new boots. Make sure the shoes are sturdy enough for the duration of the trek and will not fall apart.

9: Can I use trekking poles / walking sticks on the Inca Trail?

  Yes, 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.  In Ollantaytambo on the way to the start of the trek, you can buy wooden broom handles that have been decorated, and are inexpensive and work well. Metal trekking poles can also be rented in Cusco for about $3.00 USD per day.

10: Where can I store my luggage 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. Please do not bring valuables on the trek, we can not be responsible for their loss.

11: Should I hire the services of a porter?

 About 30% of the group hire the services of an extra porter to carry their personal items. A  porter can be hired for $40.00 USD for the 4 day trek. If you hire the services 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 (1kg) 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.

12: Can I wait until Cusco to hire the services of a porter?

No. The restrictions on the number of people permitted on the Inca trail includes porters. Porters also have to pay a trek entrance fee (about US$14) and their tickets 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 reservation. 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 $20 USD for their services but they cannot always be relied upon. Inca Discovery Peru cannot accept responsibility for the services provided by these porters.

13: How warm are the sleeping bags that your rent?

 Our sleeping bags are rated to temperatures as low as -15ºC but are more suitable for temperatures of about -7ºC. Since you won't find temperatures as low as this on the Inca Trail we rate them as very warm and cozy! We charge $15 USD per person for the 4 day/3 night trek. We will give you the sleeping bag the morning of the trek, then on the morning of the 4th day of the trek the cook will  collect all rented the sleeping bags an.  Our sleeping bags are synthetic and are washed after each trek.

14: Are there toilets on the Inca Trail?

 Since the beginning of 2003 many new, flush toilets have been built along the Inca trail at all of the major campsites. This has helped a lot to improve sanitary conditions on the trail.  Only the campsite at Wiñay Wayna has hot showers. Every evening we will provide you with a bowl of warm water to wash with.

15: What is the maximum group size?

The maximum size of our Inca Trail 4 day group service is 16 persons.

16: Is there a minimum group size?

We require a minimum group size of just 6 persons to depart. If the minimum group size is not met, there is always the option to combine with another trekking company usually "Quente" or accept clients from another trekking company in Cusco.

17: What do we do for water along the Inca Trail?

  If the group size is small we will have enough gas to boil up water for you to fill your water bottles at most meal times. However this should not be relied upon and during the trek you may have to use local water sources. You'll come across a mountain spring, fountain or small stream approximately every 2 hours along the trail where you can fill up your water bottle.  Although the water looks clean it is always recommended to use sterilizing tablets or a water filter. The sterilizing tablets can be bought in most pharmacies in Cusco.  Bottled  water can also be brought from Cusco, bought at the start of the trek, in Wayllabamba (first night) and in Wiñay Wayna (third night) and at Machu Picchu (final day). Many people complete the trek without ever having to use water taken from streams etc, but sterilizing tablets are recommended for emergencies. In fact our most frequent complaint about the trek is that we advice our clients to take purification tablets on the trek that they never use !! However each year we always have one or two nights of very cold temperatures on the trek when the liquid gas in the bottle freezes solid and we are unable to boil water in the morning so it is always best to be better safe than sorry. Thankfully it doesn't happen very often.

18: If I am traveling alone can I have my own tent?

 If you are traveling alone and are willing to share a tent with a member of the same sex, then there is no additional cost. If, however, you would like your own tent then there is an additional cost of $25 USD.

19: Will I be able to climb Huayna Picchu?

 Probably not, unless you spend an extra night in Aguas Calientes after the trek. Since June 2007 the government has restricted the number of people who can climb Huayna Picchu to 400. Tickets are given out on a first-come-first-served basis and are free of charge.

The Inca Trail group will arrive at Machu Picchu between 7:30am - 8:30am depending on the speed of the group and how dedicated they are to waking up early. We cannot arrive any earlier because we are not permitted to leave the last campsite at Wiñay Wayna until 5:30am (regulations prevent the groups from trekking in the dark). Machu Picchu opens to the public at 6am. Therefore many visitors who have spent the previous night in Aguas Calientes will have the opportunity to get to Machu Picchu before the Inca Trail groups arrive. During the high season (May-September) this means that all the 400 tickets to climb Huayna Picchu will probably have been allocated to visitors before our group arrives. Outside these months there is a possibility of obtaining tickets but obviously this cannot be guaranteed and is outside of the control of Inca Discovery Peru. If you really want to climb Huayna Picchu then you must spend an extra night in Aguas Calientes and return to Machu Picchu the next morning, the first buses that depart Aguas Calientes at 5:20am. ( you must buy your bus tickets and entrance ticket to Machu Picchu the evening before in Aguas Calientes and get in line for the buses by about 5am.

20: What time do we leave Aguas Calientes?

 Included in the price of the trek is the train ticket for the Tourist Train (Backpacker Cerojo) from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo. The train normally departs Aguas Calientes at 18:00 (6pm) and arrives in Ollantaytambo for about 19:35. Our private bus will be waiting in Ollantaytambo to bring you back to Cusco, arriving at about 21:35. The Backpacker Cerojo service is a comfortable service with reserved seats (you will have a seat, there is  no need to stand). Drinks and snacks are available for purchase on this train.

If tickets are not available on the 18:03 service we may have to purchase tickets on the backpackers shuttle that departs Aguas Calientes at 21:20 and arrives in Ollantaytambo (arriving at 22:58). Again, a bus will be waiting in Ollantaytambo to bring the group back to Cusco, arriving at about 01:00. This is a rare event which we try to avoid. All train services are subject to availability. Inca Discovery Peru reserves the right to purchase tickets on alternative train services.

21: Can I come back on a different train than that included in the trek?

 If  you prefer to return on a different service such as the Vistadome train (either to Ollantaytambo or all the way back to Cusco) then you are best to make this booking directly with Peru Rail yourselves using their website www.perurail.com We will deduct the price of our train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (US$31 in 2009) and the price of the bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco (US$5) from the price of your trek. However you must advise us that you do not want us to include the train ticket at the time that you pay your trek deposit. You can easily make a booking online using secure online payment using your VISA credit card. Peru Rail gives preference to its direct clients rather than trekking companies such as ourselves so if you want to book anything slightly different from what we can offer you then it is best to book directly with Peru Rail.

22: If I come back on a different train from that arranged by Inca Discovery Peru will you still send a bus to Ollantaytambo?

 If you decide to book your return train yourself or decide to change your return time from that arranged by Inca Discovery Peru once you arrive in Cusco then unfortunately we won't be able to send a bus to meet you in Ollantaytambo and take you back to Cusco. However not to worry since if you let us know before you start the trek, we will refund you the transport costs of US$5 per person so that you can take a bus back to Cusco. There are many buses waiting at the station in Ollantaytambo to meet the train. Alternative you can take a private taxi back to Cusco which costs in the region of US$40 per taxi which works out fairly reasonable if there are 4 of you, US$10 per person. Minimum 4 persons per taxi.

23: What about an extra night at Aguas Calientes?

 If you want to stay an extra night in Aguas Calientes after the Inca Trail trek this can easily be arranged independently by yourselves. We will purchase your train ticket to return from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo the following day (at around 5pm). You need to let us know at the time of making the trek reservation so we can reserve your train tickets in advance. You must advise us before paying the trek deposit. If you stay an extra night in Aguas Calientes we won't be able to send a bus to Ollantaytambo especially to pick you up so we will refund the price of the bus ticket (US$5) and you can simply catch a bus when you arrive in Ollantaytambo, for Cusco.  

** CLICK HERE TO RESERVE DATES FOR THE INCA TRAIL 4 DAY GROUP SERVICE ** 

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