FAQs Inca Trail & Alternative Hike: Pacha Expeditions: A Company is Young with new ideas to organize adventure trips and change the work mode of the tourism in general. For a real sustainable development of tourism (care for the environment), very good treatment of our staff of workers. Because they are the engine of our company, we do what we offer, guarantee our work, and receive recommendations. We operate our own usually small groups, making tourists happy about their country again after visiting Peru and the wonder of the world, Machu Picchu.
PACHA EXPEDITIONS TRAVEL PERU. We are tour operators authorized by the Ministry of Tourism of our country. We are a company that works with people who love their work. Our experienced guides, cooks, porters, and staff in general are a 100% Cusco company. We create job opportunities in our city, contribute taxes to the Peruvian Government, and, more importantly, work to protect nature (Pachamama, Mother Earth).FAQs Inca Trail & Alternative Hike
Yes. As all our treks (the Inca Trail, Salkantay, Ausangate, etc.) are moderately difficult, long, and mountainous. We highly recommend that you are relatively fit – and acclimatized – before undertaking them (stair master helps!). During the months (or at the very least, one month) before your trip, you should take regular, moderate exercise. We want you to have an amazing experience, and the fitter you are, the more enjoyable the treks will be.
Since we go over heights of 4200m/13750 ft to 5200m/17000 ft during these treks, we also strongly suggest that you stay in Cusco (3334 meters/10900 ft) or another high altitude city (Arequipa (2320m/7586 ft) Puno (3850m/12589 ft) for some days before leaving on any of these adventure trips. It generally takes 4 weeks to fully acclimatize, however, a 4 to 5 day period in a high altitude city will give your body time to adjust and reduce the possibility of altitude sickness affecting you.
SOME RECOMMENDATIONS TO HELP YOUR BODY ACCLIMATIZE ARE:
- Avoid over-exerting yourself when you first arrive (however, some gentle activity during the day is better than sleeping)
- Eat many carbohydrates
- Drink many fluids
- Avoid cigarettes and alcohol
- Avoid taking sleeping pills
- Drink coca (ancient traditional leaf) tea.
NOTARIAL AUTHORIZATION:
This is a notarized document by which parents authorize their minor child’s travel within or outside Peruvian territory, allowing them to travel alone, accompanied by one of their parents, or by another adult. The document must have the notary’s signature and also:
Within the country.
If the minor is traveling alone, the signature of one parent is required.
If the minor is traveling with one parent within the country, permission is not required.
Outside the country.
when the minor is traveling alone, the signature of both parents is required.
If the minor is traveling with one parent, the signature of the parent who is not accompanying them is required.
If the minor is traveling with a third party, the signatures of both parents are required.
This authorization is valid for 90 days and must be submitted to the Peruvian immigration authority to allow the minor to leave the country. It is valid only once.
WHY DO I NEED TO BOOK IN ADVANCE AND HOW FAR IN ADVANCE SHOULD I BOOK?
Regulations brought in in 2002 limit the Inca Trail (5, 4, or 2 days) to 500 people per day (including guides, porters, and cooks). It is therefore necessary to book in advance to guarantee a place on the date you want to leave. For Inca Trail treks in the high season (May, June, July, August, and September), it is advisable to book at least 5 months ahead.
HOW CAN I BOOK A PLACE ON THE TRAIL?
A. FAQs Inca Trail & Alternative Hike: Send us the following information:
- Full name
- Gender
- Date of birth
- Passport number (it is important that we receive the passport number that you will use whilst on the trek. Please advise if you think you will change your passport before you do the Inca trail)
- Nationality
B, Confirm whether you are a student (it is necessary to have a valid ISIC card to qualify as a student), and if so scan and email it. (We need to present a copy of your card now, and you will need to take the original on the Inca Trail. If for any reason, you will not have your original card when you are going to enter the Inca Trail, please advise us as soon as you know this – the Inca Trail authorities are extremely strict and will not allow you to enter the Inca Trail if you have booked as a student but do not have your original card at the time of entering).
C. Decide whether you want an extra porter who would carry your personal belongings (the price of this service is $150). By hiring a porter, you will only need to carry a very small daypack. (Please note, you can also share one porter between two people – up to 7 kilos* each (7kl. includes sleeping bags and mats –costing $.80 each.) We provide you with a duffle bag in which to put your belongings that your extra porter will carry. If you do not hire a porter, you will carry your personal belongings, including a sleeping bag and a sleeping mattress.
D, Pay a non-refundable deposit of $250 per person or $150 if you hire a porter or make a deposit for the service; you can pay the rest once you arrive in Cusco.
E, Let us know if you have any special dietary requirements or medical conditions that we should know about.
WHY DO I NEED TO SEND A DEPOSIT?
People consider Western Union the safest and fastest way to wire money (especially when availability changes very quickly and they need to make reservations ASAP!). You can send money from anywhere in the world in a few minutes or online through www.westernunion.com.
Is an extra porter necessary and how many kilos do they carry for us?
An adventure does not have to mean pain and by hiring an extra porter that carries up to 14 kilos of your personal belongings you will definitely have time to enjoy, take your time and relax more. In addition, you will be creating a job for one more porter and thus helping us to help the local community.
In hiring an extra porter, you will only need to carry a daypack containing water, sun cream, insect repellent, snacks and a coat.
ARE THE PORTERS TREATED WELL? YES!
We believe our porters do a huge percentage of the work on the Inca Trail and deserve to be treated well. We train all our porters and equip them with proper bags to carry the equipment, back supports, t-shirts for the day, body warmers for the cold nights, ponchos for the rain, drinks, snacks, and plenty of food. Please see our section on our porters’ welfare, but most importantly, see them while on the trail!
Notice: Please let us know if you see other groups’ porters being better treated than the PACHA EXPEDITIONS PORTERS!!
IS THERE AN AGE LIMIT TO DO THE TRAIL?
No, there is not an age limit but if you are older. We advise you to have a medical check-up before your trip, try to acclimatize to the altitude (see altitude sickness) 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!!
WHERE THERE IS A WILL, THERE IS A WAY….!
WHAT IF I AM VERY SLOW OR WANT TO SEE OR ENJOY MORE?
As long as you arrive at the camps before it gets dark, everything will be perfectly fine. The guides will inform you of the distances and hours to cover after every break, as people generally walk at a rate of 1.8 km per hour, meaning a slow pace while you receive explanations about the Inca sites and environment from our guide.
For groups of 9 or more people you will always have 2 professional guides! 1 comes with the back person -if you the last you will never be alone and the other guide will be at the front. In case, you have only one guide (for groups or 8 or less people), the guide always comes with the last person in the group.
WHY IS AN INCREASE THERE IF THERE ARE 4 OR LESS IN THE GROUP?
Pacha Expeditions exclusively makes this very novel and revolutionary system that we are using, and the tourists have told us that it is very flexible and allows people to travel on the road on the specific date. They want to leave without having to wait for others to join the group – a minimum of 2 persons is required!
The increase (only if there are 4 or less in your group or to travel on special dates such as Christmas, new year, elections, etc. Please see our terms and conditions) is requested to make the tour ourselves to pay more for our personnel who sacrifice their holidays or elections (there is a fine here if you do not vote). In Cusco, is a widespread practice in agencies passing tourists to another when the company does not have enough people to do the tour, in this case, know people from different agencies who have paid all kinds of price (sometimes less and sometimes more is a standard price) and all have promised to different services.
Pay increase is also a bonus because his journey becomes a kind of private service (this is an advantage, especially if you are in the mountains trying to escape from the crowds). In this you enjoy more.
ONCE I HAVE BOOKED MY PLACE ON THE TRAIL, CAN I CHANGE MY DEPARTURE DATE?
<p>Unfortunately, the Inca Trail Authorities (Reservation Office) do not permit you to change or postpone your departure date once they officially confirm your reservation. You would need to make a new reservation with a new deposit for your new date (this date needs to be one that 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. Faqs Inca Trail.
WHERE ARE THE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE GROUP FROM?
You will find all our groups to be very mixed in age, gender, nationalities. There are cases when our groups consist of only older people and in other cases only younger people but as an agency we can’t guarantee how old or where our tourists will be from.
WHAT ABOUT THE FOOD?
We have excellent trained cooks who will provide you with an incredible variety of dishes:
Breakfast: This varies depending on the difficulty of the day ahead. There will usually be a selection of some or all of the following – porridge, scrambled eggs, pancakes, bread and jam. Drink-wise, you can have. Hot chocolate, coffee, English tea and/or a selection of herbal teas (chamomile, lemon grass or simply traditional coca tea).
Lunch and Dinner: You will always have. A bowl of soup followed by a main course (chicken, beef, fish etc. with rice or pasta). After this, a dessert and herbal drink will be provided.
Afternoon snacks (Happy Hour!): On finishing the trek every day. We will have hot drinks, popcorn, biscuits, bread and jam, chocolate, milo, etc., etc)
Snacks: Before beginning the trek for the day. They will give you a piece of fruit, a chocolate bar, a small packet of biscuits, and some sweets.
*Vegetarian/special diet options are available on request (see below).Faqs Inca Trail.
DO YOU HAVE A VEGETARIAN OPTION?
Yes. We do provide vegetarian food on request. Please specify your dietary requirements when making your reservation.
DO YOU PROVIDE US WITH DRINKING WATER?
Yes, we provide you with water that we have previously boiled for at least 5 minutes (you do not need purification tablets). Therefore, you only need a bottle of water for the first part – until lunchtime – of the first day, and then from there on. We will refill your bottles at Machu Picchu or the end of your trek.
ARE THERE MANY TOILETS ALONG THE INCA TRAIL?
Yes. There are several flush toilets along the trail and we highly recommend using them only (please avoid using nature). Faqs Inca Trail.
HOW MANY PEOPLE GO IN EACH TENT?
The tents for all our treks are 4 man tents but actually 2 enter in each thus allowing you more space and comfort. If you travelling alone and there is an even number of people in your group, you will share the tent with somebody else unless a single supplement is requested ($35).
WHY AND HOW MUCH SHOULD WE TIP THE PORTERS?
PACHA EXPEDITIONS: fully complies with the porter’s Law (27608) requirements of payment and insurance. However, tipping (normally on the 3rd night of your trek) is a tradition on the Inca Trail. That has been taking place for the (at least) 15 years as a way of showing the porters your gratitude. Generally, the groups prepare a collective tip that is shared out between the cook, head porter and porters (cook and head porter receive more than everyone else heads)
Please NOTE that the amount you tip (or if you tip). Is a PERSONAL DECISIÓN and it is not an obligatory. Faqs Inca Trail.
SHOULD WE TIP THE GUIDE?
Tipping the Guide is again a personal decision, if you decide to tip. We recommend that it is according to his/her performance, knowledge and skills while on the trail.
WHERE DO I STORE THE BAGS I DO NOT NEED WHEN I GO ON THE TRAIL?
All hostels and hotels in Cusco. Are accustomed to trekkers leaving belongings whilst on the trek and will have storage facilities at no extra cost. Optionally you can leave your bags with us in our storage. Faqs Inca Trail
WHERE DO I STORE THE BAGS BEFORE THE MACHU PICCHU GUIDED VISIT?
WHAT IF I GET ILL AND NEED TO TURN BACK?”
WHAT ABOUT THE WEATHER?“
In Cusco dry season starts in April to October. The days are usually sunny and hot but temperatures drop abruptly after 5-6 pm until 7-8 am.
The weather changes significantly from November to March. And we expect heavy rains in December, the wettest month, although it isn’t as cold as during the dry season.
Month : Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Max º C: 19º 19º 19º 20º 20º 20º 19º 20º 20º 21º 21º 21º
Min º C: 7º 7º 6º 5º 3º -0º -0º +2º 4º 6º 7º 8º
Rainy days: 18 13 15 8 3 1 1 2 5 7 12 16
*Please note: Temperatures are for the Valley of Cusco at 3400masl. And temperatures change depending on the altitude (higher altitude = colder or viceversa). Also note that it could be a bit more wet on the 3rd and on the 4 day of the Inca Trail (cloud forest regions). Faqs Inca Trail
CAN WE AVOID THE CROWDS?
If you choose to do the Inca trail, we want it to be the crowning experience of your South America trip. We therefore have some recommendations for a quieter trek:
*As the dry highland months coincide with the high tourist season (due to vacations in North America and Europe). There are generally many tourists on the Inca Trail at this time. If you want to avoid the crowds and have a more relaxing trail. We suggest that you hike it in March, April, May, October or November, although there is a possibility of rain in these months. Faqs Inca Trail.
*Another alternative to avoid crowds is to hike the trail in * 5 days and 4 nights. During this tour, you will have more time to ‘take it easy’ and explore the trail (Inca Sites, flora, bird-watching etc.). You camp in places behind the normal campsites. Where fewer people camp and as you are camping at higher altitudes. The views of mountains and sunrises will be amazing. (Please note that due to the higher altitudes. These campsites are a little colder than those on the 4-day Inca Trail are.)
WHAT ABOUT THE TRAIN BACK TO CUSCO?
Train included in all tours is the Cerrojo backpacker (to Ollanta). Train times will only be confirmed once full amount of tour is paid. The earliest train you could take is the 15:55.pm and being the 9:50.pm the last train. PACHA EXPEDITIONS will organize the transport back to Cusco (by taxi or by bus).
Please Note: train times are subject to change depending on Perurail timetable and availability. Faqs Inca Trail.
If organized in advance, the train can be upgraded to Vistadome. (larger windows than the backpacker cerrojo train) for an increased price.
¿Got other questions? Please contact us. FAQs Inca Trail & Alternative Hike
Have a wonderful Trek to Machu Picchu!