FAQ’s Inca Trail
Questions on Inca Trail
1. What is needed to book an Inca Trail hike?
The Inca Trail, require a permit for everyone entering the Inca Trail including clients, guides, and porters. These trekking tours must be booked with plenty of notice. Permits may sell out anywhere from 4 -6 months, or more, in advance during the high season (May through August).
Machu Picchu hiking trip permits will be confirmed on a first come-first served basis. Passport number and date of birth must be provided at time of booking. The passport number provided on the booking form must be identical to the one you will be traveling with. You will be presenting the passport along with the permit to authorities upon entrance to the Inca Trail. Please let us know if you will be receiving a renewed passport before your trip. Do send us a copy of the new one as soon as you receive it. In this case, to ensure your Inca Trail trip, make sure to bring both the old and new Passports on the trip. Failure to do so may result in you being denied entry to the Inca Trail.
2. Is there an age limit for the Inca Trail?
There is no age limit on the Inca Trail or on any of our treks but if you are over 60 or have ill health, we advise you to have a medical check-up before your trip. Follow the advice given to everyone and make sure you to acclimatize to the altitude and train for the trek. We have taken children as young as 7 and people up to the age of 68 many times. Do not worry, we are here to help you do it!
3. Once I have booked my place, can I change my dates?
Unfortunately once your reservation is confirmed with the Inca Trail authorities (INC Reservation Office) it is not possible to change or postpone your departure date. You would need to make a new reservation with a new deposit for your new date (this date needs to be one which is at least 5 days before or after your prior departure date). Please note that this is not an agency decision but a local authority regulation.
4. Can I change the name on my Inca Trail Permit?
Unfortunately, it is not longer possible to change a passport or name information on a permit already purchased for Inca Trail trips.
5. Are there many toilets on the Inca Trail?
Toilets have improved a lot in the last couple of years and all of the larger campsites have toilet blocks with flush toilets and running water. On the whole they are kept pretty clean. If you do need to go to the toilet between campsites then defecate well away from the trail and water supplies; dig a hole, or cover your faeces with a rock, and take the paper with you in a bag to deposit in one of the several bins along the way.
6. Do I need a personal porter?
An adventure does not have to mean pain and by hiring an extra porter that will carry up to 14 kilos of your personal belongings you will definitely be able to enjoy the Inca Trail more and take your time to relax. In addition, you will be creating a job for one more porter and thus helping us to help the local community.
If you choose to hire an extra porter you will only need to carry your daypack with things like water, suncream, insect repellent, camera, etc. If you choose not to hire a porter then you will need to carry everything you plan to take on the trail including your sleeping bag and mattress (a foam mattress is provided).
7. How does your hired porter carry your personal items?
We give you a duffle bag to put belongings to be carried by your porter.
8. Can I cancel a porter after I have booked one?
No. Unfortunately you can not cancel your porter after you have booked it. Porters (like your permits) are also booked well in advance and a fee is paid.
9. What are the typical meals on during an Inca Trail tour?
The typical meals on the Inca Trail packages are:
Continental Breakfast: Fruit salad, pancake, milk, coffee, oats, hot chocolate, bread, butter, marmalade.
Snack – Every day you are provided with a snack to eat whilst trekking, this is usually something like a power bar + fruit or biscuits.
Lunch: Soups, creams, lomo saltado (beef dish), chicken, red meat, rice, potatoes and spaghetti, hot drinks.
Teatime – Every afternoon around 5pm we serve hot chocolate, tea, popcorn, biscuits, bread and jam, etc.
Dinner: Corn cream, moraya cream, vegetables soup, sémola, wheat cream, rice with chicken, spaghetti with meat. Fruit and cold and hot drinks (coffee, tea, coca)