Trip Information
FLORA AND FAUNA
The Machu Picchu area and its surroundings are forested, tropical and rainy. It is found in the middle of steeply sloped mountains and flanked by a profound canyon that Urubamba river forms. And within its boundaries a diverse fauna and fauna can be seen, including:
· Bobcat, puma and the endangered spectacled bear; a wide variety of reptiles and insects with more than 700 species of butterflies and 415 species of birds including hummingbirds, ducks, eagles, parrots, quetzals, toucans, manakins, tanagers, etc., and more than 190 species of orchids
WEATHER
Andean weather can be unpredictable, despite the sharp divide between dry and wet seasons. Dry season runs from May to October or November (the best time for this amazing trek); the rainy season goes from December through April. Nevertheless, in the forested fringes of the Amazon basin where Machu Picchu lies, showers are not uncommon at any time of year. Therefore rain pants and jacket are essential gear that should always be in your daypack. Daytime temperatures can vary greatly, from about 10ºC/50ºF to 28ºC/82ºF with nighttime temperatures from 10ºC/50ºF down to around 0ºC/32ºF, though seldom much lower.
INCA TRAIL INCLUSIONS
Transportation, a pre-departure information meeting and valuable Inca Trail map, overnight in new The North face tents including comfortable sleeping pads, a duffle bag to store your luggage during the trek (please return upon your arrival in Cusco.) Inca Trail and Machu Picchu entrance fee (US$60.00) and train ticket to Cusco (Vista dome), meals according to the itinerary and a last lunch in a restaurant before returning to Cusco, Bottled water to refill your canteen.
STAFF
The accompanying staff includes bilingual guide on the trek and in Machu Picchu equipped with a first aid kit, an oxygen tank, and excellent cartographies, porters, kitchen crew and commissary gear.
NOT INCLUDED
Alcoholic beverages, extras, tips, taxes, laundry service, additional tours, insurance and airline tickets (where applicable), sleeping bags, hiking boots and other personal gear or items.
GENERAL CONDITIONS
In each booking please indicate the following information: Complete name, gender, age and date of birth [IMPORTANT: the names provided must be the same as shown on passport.]
Passport number and Nationality
Occupation
Any special food requirements (vegetarian, low salt, low fat, diabetic or other)
Any special medical requirements
Any special interest (birds, plants, stars, etc)
PRE-DEPARTURE BRIEFING
One or two days before departure our representative in Cusco will provide information and answer any questions you have about the Inca trail
WHAT TO BRING
A small day pack to carry your sunglasses, sun hat, sun and insect lotion, camera, water bottle, a wind jacket and rain gear, sleeping bag, one complete change of clothing per day (trousers, socks, T-shirts, and underwear), sweater and jacket for cool days or nights, gloves and winter hat recommended, warm sweat pants for evening around camp and in tent, trekking shoes (please break them in well ahead of time), a pair of sneakers to hang out around camp, and a pair of flip flops if you choose to take a shower on the last night in Wiñayhuaina, Coramina (Glucose), original passport, flashlight and batteries, personal toiletries and medications, medium sized towel, Peruvian currency (soles) for tips and small purchases along the way (cold colas, shower fee for last night in Wiñay Wayna, etc), camera gear (ASA 50, 100 and 200 recommended), with enough charge/battery power for the duration of the hike, Sleeping bag
SLEEPING BAGS
Our Peru office rents high quality The North Face sleeping bags (model: Snow Shoe - Temp rating 0F/ -18 C ) from $28 per person for the 4 day trek and $35 per person for the 5 day trek. Service includes a clean sleeping bag liner for the trek program. Please inform us on time to reserve one of them for you. For private departures, sleeping bags are included at no cost.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Although the trek is rated as moderate, we strongly suggest spending at least two nights before the start of the trek to totally adjust to the altitude.
Train/exercise before you go.
Altitude at the Inca Trail: Minimum 2430m / Maximum 4200m
Keep hydrated, drink plenty of water that also helps to acclimatize to the altitude
The paving on the trail is irregular, please trek with caution.
The maximum baggage allowance per person: 20 pounds/10 kilograms which you store in the duffle bag provided
The booking system managed by the UGM (Management office for Machu Picchu Sanctuary) is complicated and allows only 500 people on the trail including tourists, guides, porters and cooks. It is important to make the booking as soon as possible.
No refunds for any unused part of the tour or entrance fee purchased in advanced.
Entrance fees are non-transferable (it is prohibited by law.)
Park authorities may occasionally designate different campsites than those indicated.
All trash produced during the trek must be carried out.
If you acquire a new passport after you have reserved an Inca Trail permit, please inform us before arrival so that we can make the necessary arrangements with the UGM.
PORTERS
Every person plays an important role during the trek. The porters, who live in the nearby communities of Willoq, Patacancha and Ocongate, are not an exception. Your guide will introduce you the porters formally, please tell them a little bit about yourselves. Tips for porters should be handed out during the last night all the trekkers and porters are together in a celebratory goodbye dinner. Tips for guides and other crew members are normally treated separately. Don’t overload your porter. Do not give your pack to a porter who already has a load. If he carries more than 25kg, not only is it bad for his health but the local agency will receive a substantial fine. Tip your porter directly, take adequate small change in order to tip porters individually, 30 soles per porter is a recommended minimum and it's best to deal separately with porters that carry individuals' bags.
