Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Please see the section above for inclusions and exclusions.

You will be given a duffel bag when you arrive. You can put all of your things in this, for the porters to carry. You will also need a small day bag, which you will carry yourself. Expect to carry about 5kg of weight in this bag e.g. water, suncream, waterproofs, phone, passport etc.

Porters will carry up to 7kg of your personal items. This must include your sleeping bag and air matt. You can borrow a sleeping mat, pillow and poncho for free when you arrive in Peru. Just ask one of your guides! You will also be provided with a duffel bag, for all your things upon arrival. Documents: • Passport • Travel insurance details • Boarding passes for flights • Driver’s license (if needed) • Cash • Credit/Debit Card Sleeping: • Sleeping bag • Sleeping bag liner (optional) Footwear: • Trekking boots: 3 or 4 season lightweight • City footwear: Sandals • Shoes for the plane (Optional) Clothing: Please make sure that you have non-cotton clothing for trekking. • 2 base-layer t-shirts (e.g. running t-shirts) • Fleece/soft-shell jacket • Waterproof jacket • Down jacket for warmth (Optional) • Travel clothes and City Wear • Underwear • Base-layer trousers (optional) • Waterproof trousers • Trekking trousers • Trekking shorts (Optional) • 2 thick wool hiking socks • Lightweight and breathable hiking socks • Gloves and wool hat • Swimwear Other: • A daysack: 35 litres • Dry liner or dry bag • Water bottle/thermos: At least 2L. Nalgene bottles best. • Sunglasses • Suncream • Personal medication – inhaler, blister pads, etc. • General toiletries, contact lenses, glasses (if needed) • Towel • Electronics - travel adaptor, phone & charger • Head torch (essential) • Lipsil • Book • MP3/music and headphones • Travel wash • Hand sanitiser, wet wipes

It is worth checking on your government's website. British citizens can check here.

We recommend you check at the Fit for Travel website.

The currency used in Peru is Nuevo Sol (PEN) You will need to ensure that you withdraw enough PEN for your trip to the airport or in Cusco.

You can use a drone in areas around Machu Picchu, but not when you are inside the grounds.

Yes - there will be a group of trained chefs joining you. Just let us know your requirements before you arrive.

You will average around 6 miles / 10 km per day. The below distances are approximate and depending on which campsites we use. Day 1: Pick up from airport Day 2: Day trip to Sacred Valley Day 3: 8.7 miles/14 km (6-7 hours) Day 4: 9.94 miles/16 km (7-8 hours) Day 5: 6.2 miles/10km (5 hours) Day 6: 3 miles/ 5km Day 7: Depart Cusco

The trek is aimed at beginners with a good level of fitness - you will be hiking for around six hours each day. We recommend that you train by doing any sports or exercise (e.g. jogging) twice a week in the run-up to your trip.

The hotels have good standard toilets. There will be a portable toilet at each campsite you stay at. They are regularly maintained by the staff.

You will arrive at the gates just before sunrise, then enjoy a guided tour which lasts around 2 hours. After this, you will have some free time inside the grounds before heading back to your accommodation in Cusco.

We will send some professionally trained chefs on the trek with you. They will prepare fresh food each day. Most dietary requirements are catered for e.g. vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, food allergies, etc. Our guides will provide you with clean water throughout the whole trek. This water is collected from each campsite, boiled, and filtered. When traveling in countries such as Peru, it's important to maintain vigilance with hygiene and food safety. Bring plenty of hand sanitiser.

You stay in local hotels in Cusco, with the option to upgrade to superior rooms for those who want to. Whilst on the trek, you'll stay in tents. The hotel is quite cosy with twin shared rooms as standard, Wifi and pleasant communal areas. The tents are 4 person tents which are shared by 2 trekkers. Single supplement is available for $120. This will give you a single room and your own tent on this trip.

You can be picked up from Cusco Airport at any time on the first day of the trip, and dropped off at any time on the last day. Airport transfers are included for free, and take about 15 minutes.

Cusco is at 3400m / 11,150ft, so you will feel some of the effects of altitude straight away. If you can arrive a few days earlier, then this will give your body more time to adapt. You will need to book any extra night's accommodation at your own expense (paid in-country). It is usually possible for us to collect you from the airport on an earlier date. We can also help you arrange extra nights in the hotel before or after your trip. Please 'MESSAGE YOUR GUIDE' on the Skyhook dashboard after booking to ask us about earlier transfers and extra nights. Hotel accommodation prices vary depending on what hotel we use but generally cost $100-$150 per night based on a double room (TBC).

The average group size is 12 people, with a maximum of 14.

While the itineraries are designed to allow for adequate acclimatisation you are likely to feel the effects of altitude sickness and oxygen deprivation whilst on this trek. Please be aware that your guide may deem it unsafe for you to continue trekking at any time and arrange for you to descend to a lower altitude. When you go above altitudes of 2,500m, you need to allow your body time to acclimatise properly. We advise that you move slowly, don’t rush and ensure you protect yourself from the weather. Ensure you stay hydrated and eat plenty to keep your energy levels up.

It is customary in Peru to tip guides and porters. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. A good rule of thumb is between $50 - $100 at the end of your trip. You can give this to the lead guide.

The minimum age for this trek is 18 years or 16 years with a parent/guardian.

The winter season and driest time of year in Peru are May - Sept. The summer season is Nov - Mar, which is the warmest, but wettest time. During the summer season, it does not rain every day, but can often have a downpour in the afternoons. Apr and Oct can sometimes see some small rain showers.

Yes! If you would like to add extra days to your trip and visit Rainbow Mountain, please 'Message Your Guide' from your Skyhook Dashboard after making the booking. These extras will need to be arranged directly with the local operator and paid for in the country.

After you have made your booking, we will get on the system to buy your permit. Note that permits are controlled by state authorities and availability can change in minutes. Because of this, we can only confirm your trip once we have secured the permit. Once this happens, we will send a confirmation message (at this point your booking becomes non-refundable). If we are unable to get a permit for your date, we will recommend an alternative date or refund your booking in full.

All of your luggage is not needed for the trek and should stay in Cusco. All hotels are very accommodating and quite used to storing luggage on-site, or you can safely store your bags with us. You can give your bags to your guide when he picks you up from your hotel, and your things will be taken to our storage facility and delivered to you when you return.

If none of the listed available dates suit you, we can arrange a group for your preferred departure date. Please contact us to verify the availability of Inca Trail permits, and we will be happy to open a group for your chosen date.