Peru Trip Preparation

Important things to know

It is important that you read the following information if you are planning to book a tour in Cusco and if you have already done so: Our classic 4-day Inca tour runs from March through to January. Please note that the Inca trail is closed for the month of February.   Due to new regulations the Inca Trail is only limited to 500 trekkers a day, including tour guides, porters and cooks. For this reason we highly recommend you book the Inca trail at least 3-4 months in advance, especially during the peak season (May to September).   Fortunately for those who have missed out on the Inca trail option, we do have a number of alternative routes to offer that can be booked even days ahead in Cusco. These are the Salkantay, Lares, Ausangate and 2 Day Macchu Picchu treks.   If you are booking the Inca trail or already have, please don't forget that if you want a porter to organise it at least 3 months in advance. As mentioned earlier, there are restrictions of 500 persons per day on the Inca trail and this includes porters.   Porters are supplied with safety back straps   Porters are only allowd to carry up to 25kg   Porters have the hardest job of anyone who work on these trails. They unfortunately also have the lowest wage. Luckily to them, in 2003 a new Porters Law was implemented whereby they have a minimum wage of $15US a day. Even then, please note also that porters also pay an entry fee of $13US each time they enter the park. In consideration to this, we ask that when tipping, please don't forget those porters who carry you tents, sleeping mats, kitchen furniture and food.   If you are planning on doing strenuous activity in Cusco like hiking, always arrive at least 2-3 days earlier to acclimatise to the altitude of Cusco and its surrounding areas. Its also good to purchase some altitude sickness tablets before you arrive in case you struggle with the altitude. Other ways to prevent altitude sickness is to eat light meals, drink lots of coca tea and water. If you are suffering from headaches or nausea you should rest.

How to know who to book the Inca trail with? If your having trouble choosing a company this little pointer might help. There are over 100 Peruvian tour companies that operate in Cusco. All of these companies have been awarded licences to operate the Inca Trail. Only Peruvian owned companies are allowd to operate with this licence. Therefor, even if you buy your trek with a company in your own country it won't actually be operated by them. Even once you book, all Inca trails follow the same path to Macchu Picchu. How much should we expect to pay for the Inca Trail? You can expect to pay around $375US on average (transfers, entry fee's included) for the Inca trail however this can range to a lot higher!   What we can do to help the community: If you are comming to Cusco there are a few simple things that you could do to help. Why not help by bringing any of your no longer useful second hand clothes, any toys, school equiptment or books? We gather together as many things as we can and take them into the local schools in and around Cusco. All you need to do is hand your clothes, books, stationary e.t.c into our office and your helping us and the community! So easy! - thanks   Volunteer work   Climate The weather is always fresh in Cusco and especially in the mountains. The seasons changing throughout the year are not very evident, it is however possible to distinguish two well-defined seasons: the rainy season (November to March) and the dry season (April to October). The average temperature in the city is about 11 - 19 degrees celious at day. At night the temperature gets even colder. If your in the mounting hiking, be sure to take some warm layers of clothes. Inka trail climate - Varies along the length of the trail. During the first 2 days it can get quite warm with the sun out and a little dry. These first two nights however are very cold so you will need lots of layers. The third and fourth day are more humid with the third night being a little more temperate.