Exotic and Historic Travel

The number of trek permits is limited to 500 per day (about 200 tourists and 300 trekking staff) and it is NOT possible to do the trek independenly, not even by contracting a guide. If you want to do the trek it is VITAL to book well in advance at a professional travel agency (preferably a tour operator). For the high season (May to September) it advisable to book at least 3 months in advance to guarantee a place. Permits are sold on a first come, first served basis, and once all places have been booked, No trekking operator can offer you a space on the Inca Trail. There is no system with a waiting list. All spaces are personal and non-transferable and even if someone would cancel, no one else could take that space. Even in the low season you should book as far in advance as possible. Please also note that the Inca Trail is closed in February of each year for maintenance.

The tour packages include tents, mattresses, and meals and the only thing you need to take is a small backpack with your clothes, and personal items, like a sleeping bag and a torch. It is important to take a plastic poncho or jacket for the rain, especially in the months November to March.

In regard to safe drinking water, it is possible to buy bottles of water during the first two days, but on the third day it is necessary to purify water, for this we recommend that you carry purifying tablets or drops to make the water safe to drink. Read the rest of this entry »