The Inca Trail / World Heritage Site UNESCO 2 Days - 1 Night
The most important Inca road was the Camino Real, as it is known in Spanish, with a length of 5200km (3230mi). It began in Quito, Ecuador, passed through Cusco, and ended in what is nowTucuman, Argentina. The Camino Real traversed the mountain ranges of the Andes, with peak altitudes of more than 5000m. El Camino de la Costa, the coastal trail, with a length of 4,000 km (2420mi), ran parallel to the sea and was linked with the Camino Real by many smaller routes. The Incas built a vast network of roads to be able to communicate with the four regions of their huge empire, the Inca road system was constructed in pre-Columbian South America. Traversing the Andes mountains and reaching heights of over 5000m (16500f) above sea level, the trails connected the regions of theInca empire from the northern provincial capital inQuito, Ecuador past the modern city of Santiago, Chilein the south.
The Inca road system covered approximately 22530km (14000mi) and provided access to over three million km² of territory. The networks were known as Qhapap Nan (the sovereign’s highway).There are remains of the Qhapaq Nan (The Inca trail) throughout Peru that are still used to this day by local farmers sometimes accompanied by pack animals, usually the Llama. The trails were used by the Inca people as a means of relaying messages, carried via knotted-cord Quipu. books, and by memory; and for transporting goods. Messages could be carried by Chasqui runners covering as much as 242km (150mi) per day. There were approximately 2,000 inns, or Tambos, placed at even intervals along the trails. The inns provided food, shelter and military supplies to the tens of thousands who traveled the roads. There were corrals for Llamas and stored provisions such as corn, lima beans, dried potatoes, and Llama Jerky. Along the roads, local villagers would plant fruit trees that were watered by irrigation ditches.
Today, hiking the Inca trail to Machu Pichu, the so-called “Lost City of the Incas”. There are many well-preserved ruins along the way, variety of eco-systems and dazzling scenery. The Inca trail is one of the worlds most important trekking and camping routes and is possible to get there in 2 days / 1 night or 4 days / 3 nights and find the altitude between minimum 2600m - 8528ft; maximum 4200m - 13776ft.
Our classical 2 days group service trek is the most popular trek to Machu Picchu. With this trek service you can join one of our groups and find variety of like-minded people from all over the world. This service is perfect for couples and small groups of friends.
Important: Concern about overuse leading to erosion has led the Peruvian government to place a limit on the number of people who may hike this trail per season, and to sharply limit the companies that can provide guides. As a result, advance booking is mandatory. A maximum of 500 people per day, including guides and porters, are permitted to begin the Trail every day. As a result, the high season books out very quickly.
Note: that the Trail is closed every February for cleaning.
Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco - 104 Km - Wiñay Wayna - Sun Gate - Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes
At 5:30am pick up and transfer from your hotel to the train station: Travel by train to trailhead at Kilometer 104.
10am after find the checkpoint over the Vilcanota River and start to walk with our official English speaking tour guide into Chachabamba ruins located next of old Inca Trail, this complex was considered the second gate to Machu Picchu. 3 hours climbs the hillside leaving the woods for open grassland till Lunch time.
The path continues descend to cloud forest crossing a nice waterfall and then arrive to the impressive Wyñay Wayna ruins, where you will have completely guided tour. Next to Wyñay Wayna ruins are facilities to use toilets and buy drinking water and short rest on the urban area of terraces. We walk slow following the ancient Inca Trail and getting the best view of the Urubamba Canyon and passing the cloud forest up to the final pass named Intipunku (Sungate). From here you will have unforgettable scenery of Machu Picchu and Wayna Picchu. At 3/4pm we arrive to Machu Picchu gate, if you like we can wait out or inside the ruins for nice sunset over the ruins.
We continue downhill hike to Aguas Calientes (Optional bus down to Aguas Calientes). We advice to carry your headlamp or flashlight, just in case get dark on the way down to the hotel in Aguas Calientes. You will have chance to visit the thermal springs which are open until 9pm.
Day 2: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cusco
At 5am after an early breakfast climb up to Machu Picchu and arrive before sun rising over the mountains, also we give the easy way chance to take the first bus (6:30am) up to Machu Picchu and meet the rest of group at gate of the ruins.
At 7am begin of completely guided tour of most important sectors of Machu Picchu which takes around 2 hours. And then extra free time to explore and climb Huayna Picchu viewpoint, to climb and back takes 2 hours approximately. This we include a lunch at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge - Hotel, is one of the best places to have nice food feeling the Inca land atmosphere in the middle of nature. At 3pm bus down to Aguas Calientes, late afternoon take the train to Cusco.
Included
- Backpacker train ticket from Cusco - Trailhead (104km)
- Official English speaking guide
- Entrance to the Inca trail
- Entrance to Machu Picchu complex (one day)
- Porter to carry food and and backpacks (only Private VIP Service)
- First day snack (Lunch) and dinner
- Second day breakfast
- Second day lunch at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge - Hotel (only Private VIP Service), people takes backpacker service will have lunch in Aguas Calientes
- Tourist bus from Aguas Calintes to Machu Picchu
- Train back to Cusco by backpacker class
- Trekking price include government sales tax (19% as know IGV)
- First aid kit and oxygen bottle
WE HAVE DAILY DEPARTURE Please make your reservation 3 months before you arrive to Cusco.
| TOUR SCHEDULE & COST 2008 | ||
| DATE | TOUR | COST |
| Any day (Contact us) |
INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU The Inca Trail / World Heritage Site UNESCO 2 Days - 1 Night |
Backpacker service (Join a group) 1 to more participants US$405 each Private VIP service (private guide) 2 participants US$625 each 3-4 participants US$597 each 5 to more participants US$453 each |
| Discount 5%: South American Explorers Club Members Discount 10%: Tour Operators or Travel Agencies Only Students: US$25 discount only with valid green ISIC card |
||
| Organized Groups: We offer private trekking at any time departure | ||
| Group size: 8-12 participants per 2 guides | ||
| Booking: We highly recommended to book space prior you arrive to Peru | ||
[Inca Trail Trek permit availability 2007]
AVAILABLE DEPARTURE DATES 2008:
FEBRAURY: Inca trail (2 or 4 days) will be closed for maintenance, not available permit... sorry. Machu Picchu open all year.MARCH TO AUGUST is completly full, Not available spaces.
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER - NOVEMBER - DECEMBER: Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. If you have like to book for other day let know us to add the departure date. We recommend that you make a trek booking as early as possible with bank deposit of 80% and the final balance (20%) when you arrive in Cusco, one day before we will meet you in your hotel or you come to our local office.
IMPORTANT:
The Peruvian government has not announced the increase for Inca Trail permit price 2008; same is happen with the train company from Cusco to Machu Picchu (www.perurail.com). If any of costs listed above change to increase the cost of the trek permit and the train tickets we will update the new price on our website. We will notify by email all our clients affected by the price increase who will be liable for paying the increased cost of the Inca Trail trek upon arrival in Cusco.
After you fill the BOOKING FORM and you provide us the copy of your passport we will buy your Inca Trail trek permit using the same passport number that you send us with your BOOKING FORM. You must bring this same passport with you to the Inca Trail (departure date). If your passport number is different from the number on the Inca Trail trek permit the government authorities don’t will accept you to start the trek and also you will not be entitled to a refund.
If you like to stay an extra night in Aguas Calientes we can arrange any hotels. If you spend an extra night in Aguas Calientes we will book your train tickets to return to Cusco on the following day.
Not Included
- Optional bus down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes on the first day (US$6 each)
- Optional entrance to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes (US$2)
- 2 soles for towel
- Alcoholic drinks
- Breakfast on the first day
- Tips for guide and camp staff
What You Need To Bring/Carry
- Backpack 65Lt
- Rain jacket or poncho (December - April)
- Strong comfortable and waterproof footwear
- One complete change of clothing (you can afford to carry more changes of clothing if you hire a personal porters, see options below)
- Sweater and jacket (something warm)
- Bottle of water and purification tablets (Micropur are recommended and can be bought in local pharmacies in Cusco)
- Flashlight and batteries
- Hat or cap to protect you from the sun
- Sun block (sun protection cream)
- Insect repellent
- Toiletries, towel and toilet paper
- Selection of small snacks, chocolate, dried fruit, biscuits, etc
- Camera, plenty of film and spare batteries
- Swimsuit (if you plan to hot springs at Aguas Calientes after the trek)
- You also need to bring your original passport on the trail
- Optional: walking sticks or poles (rubber covers required in order not to damage the Inca Trail).
Inka Trail Weather
Dry season (April – November)Day temperature 20ºC/25ºC
Night temperature -1ºC/7ºC
Wet season (December – March)
Day temperature 17ºC/22ºC
Night temperature 4ºC/10ºC
PORTERS to carry up to 12Kg = US$120 (US$30 per day) for the full duration of the tour from Cusco to Aguas Calientes. Regarding porters who carry personal items. You will need to carry with you a daypack with your Camera, bottle of water, snacks, a fleece or something warm and a poncho in case of rain (unlikely in Dry season but as a precaution) and anything you will need before lunch as porters do not walk alongside you. Your bag will be waiting for you in your tent at campsites.
Best to put everything up to 12kgs in one backpack for the porter so that you don´t have 2 large backpacks in your tent. We can provide you with a big rice sack that is not heavy but also not water proof so use plastic bags around your gear. The porters have large ponchos to cover them and the bag.
Please note there are fines if you give an excess of 9 or 12 kgs so try to underpack rather than overpack or pay for an extra 9kgs.
IMPORTANT NEW TRAIL REGULATIONS - INC INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE CULTURA Please note the INC has confirmed a 50% increase on the Inca trail fee for trekkers and porters but from August not January 2007 as previously indicated.
A - Limited number of people can enter the trail each day (500 PEOPLE PER DAY) and hikers require permits obtained in advance by a licensed tour operator to do so.
B - Your passport details and ISIC student card if applicable must be presented to the UGM park control to obtain a permit. You most scan / fax your valid ISIC card at the time of booking and carry these documents on the trail or risk loosing your permit. YOUTH TRAVEL CARD or ISTC is not accepted by the control.
C - We have daily departures for the 4 day Inca trail (except in all February) and from may to October (high season) you need to confirm your booking at least 3 months in advance if you do not have flexibility in a departure date.
D - For lower season dates November to April there are often many dates with permits available so just make your reservation through the website and confirm by email the deposit booking.
