INCA TRAIL FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION's

Guiding You Through Every Step of the Journey

The Inca Trail is considered a moderate to challenging trek due to the altitude, uneven stone paths, and long hiking days. The hardest section is Dead Woman’s Pass at 4,215 m / 13,828 ft. A good fitness level and some preparation are recommended.

The Classic Inca Trail usually takes 4 days and 3 nights. There is also a Short Inca Trail option that takes 2 days and 1 night for travelers with limited time.

The dry season from April to October is considered the best time, with clearer skies and less rain. May, June, and September are especially popular. February is closed for maintenance.

Permits sell out very quickly, especially for the high season. It is recommended to book at least 4–6 months in advance, and even earlier for May through August.

Yes. The Peruvian government requires all hikers to have an official permit. Only licensed tour operators can secure permits, and availability is limited daily.

The trek ranges between 2,400 m / 7,874 ft and 4,215 m / 13,828 ft above sea level. Altitude affects everyone differently, so acclimatization is important before starting the hike.

Spend at least 2–3 days in Cusco before the trek, stay hydrated, avoid alcohol before hiking, and walk at a comfortable pace. Coca tea and altitude medication can also help.

Essential items include hiking boots, rain gear, warm layers, sunscreen, insect repellent, a reusable water bottle, snacks, and a small backpack for daily hiking essentials.

Yes, trekking poles are allowed, but they must have rubber tips to protect the trail. They are highly recommended for stability, especially on steep descents.

Yes, beginners can complete the trek with proper preparation and determination. Regular walking, cardio exercises, and hiking practice before the trip are highly recommended.

Most tours include permits, transportation, professional guides, camping equipment, meals, entrance tickets to Machu Picchu, and train or bus transportation after the trek.

Yes, porters are usually included to carry camping equipment and food. Travelers normally carry only a daypack. Additional porter service for personal belongings can often be hired.

Yes, most tour operators provide tents, sleeping mats, dining tents, and cooking equipment. Sleeping bags and trekking poles may be rented separately.

Basic bathrooms are available at campsites, but showers are very limited. Travelers should expect rustic conditions and bring personal hygiene essentials.

The trek continues rain or shine. Good rain gear is essential, especially during the wet season. The changing weather is part of the adventure and Andean experience.

No. Independent hiking is not allowed. All hikers must join an authorized tour operated by a licensed company with certified guides.

Yes, the Inca Trail is generally very safe when hiking with a professional operator. Guides are trained for emergencies and safety procedures throughout the trek.

Tour cooks prepare fresh meals including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. Vegetarian, vegan, and some dietary restrictions can usually be accommodated with advance notice.

The Classic Inca Trail is a 4-day trek with camping and multiple archaeological sites. The Short Inca Trail is a 2-day version with less hiking but still includes the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu.

Yes. One of the highlights of the trek is arriving at Machu Picchu through the famous Sun Gate (Inti Punku), offering one of the most breathtaking first views of the citadel.

Electricity is very limited on the Inca Trail. Most campsites do not have charging stations, so bringing a power bank is highly recommended for phones, cameras, and other devices.

If a traveler decides or needs to stop the hike due to altitude, injury, or exhaustion, guides will assist with evacuation procedures when possible. However, permits and entrance tickets are non-refundable.

Signal is very limited or unavailable during most parts of the trek. Some campsites may briefly receive coverage, but travelers should expect to disconnect and fully enjoy nature.

Night temperatures can drop below freezing, especially during the dry season months of June and July. Warm sleeping clothes, gloves, and a good sleeping bag are essential.

Yes, especially in warmer and more humid areas closer to Machu Picchu. Insect repellent is recommended to avoid mosquito bites during the trek.

The deposit is necessary to secure your official Inca Trail permit, entrance tickets, and reservations. Since permits are limited and issued under each traveler’s passport information, booking in advance guarantees your space on the trail.

Unfortunately, Inca Trail permits are non-transferable and non-refundable according to Peruvian government regulations. Once the permit has been purchased under your name, the deposit cannot be refunded.

Date changes are usually not possible once permits have been issued. The Peruvian authorities do not allow modifications to names, passport details, or travel dates after confirmation.

The Inca Trail operates with a very limited number of daily permits controlled by the government. Tour operators must purchase permits immediately after booking, making them non-refundable and non-transferable.

If permits are no longer available, there are several amazing alternative treks to Machu Picchu that offer beautiful landscapes, cultural experiences, and fewer crowds.

The Salkantay Trek is the most popular alternative. It combines snowy mountains, cloud forests, and breathtaking scenery before arriving at Machu Picchu.

Some alternative treks, like Salkantay, can be more physically demanding due to higher altitudes and longer distances. Others, such as the Lares Trek, are considered more cultural and less crowded.

Most alternative treks do not require the same limited government permits as the Inca Trail, which means they are usually easier to book, even on shorter notice.

The Group Service allows you to hike with travelers from different countries on a shared schedule, while the Private Service offers a more personalized experience with flexible pacing and exclusive attention from your guide and team.

Yes, for travelers looking for more comfort, flexibility, privacy, and a personalized experience. It is ideal for couples, families, friends, or hikers who prefer to avoid larger groups.

The 4-Day Inca Trail includes multiple archaeological sites, camping experiences, and the full trekking route to Machu Picchu. The 2-Day Inca Trail is a shorter version that focuses on the final section of the trail and is perfect for travelers with limited time.

It depends on your travel style and fitness level. The 4-Day trek offers a deeper adventure and a more complete Inca Trail experience, while the 2-Day trek provides a shorter, more comfortable option without missing the arrival to Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate.

Private services include personalized attention, flexible pacing, private transportation arrangements, and exclusive guide support. Group services share operational costs among travelers, making them a more budget-friendly option.

No, tips are usually not included. Tipping is optional but highly appreciated as a way to recognize the hard work and dedication of the guides, porters, and cooking team during the trek.

Tipping amounts vary depending on the service and group size, but many travelers choose to contribute collectively at the end of the trek. Your guide can also provide recommendations if needed.

Yes, travel insurance is highly recommended. A good policy should cover medical emergencies, trip cancellations, flight delays, and evacuation in case of illness or injury during the trek.

Tour operators usually provide filtered or boiled water during the hike. Travelers should still bring a reusable water bottle or hydration pack and may also carry purification tablets for extra safety.

Wi-Fi is available in many hotels, cafés, and restaurants in Cusco and Aguas Calientes. However, there is no reliable Wi-Fi service during most sections of the Inca Trail.

A small daypack between 20–30 liters is ideal for carrying daily essentials such as water, snacks, rain gear, sunscreen, and personal items during the trek.

Yes, most operators can accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other dietary restrictions if informed in advance at the time of booking.

It is highly recommended to arrive in Cusco at least 1–2 days before your trek. Flight delays can happen, and Inca Trail permits cannot be rescheduled once issued.

Yes, carrying some cash in Peruvian soles is recommended for small purchases, tips, snacks, or souvenirs. Credit cards are accepted in many places in Cusco but not on the trail itself.

There is no official age limit, but hikers should be in good physical condition. Families with children and older travelers successfully complete the trek every year with proper preparation.

Weather in the Andes can change quickly. Days may be sunny and warm, while nights can be cold. Rain is possible at any time of year, especially from November through March.

Yes, most hotels in Cusco offer free luggage storage while you are on the trek. Travelers usually bring only the essentials needed for the hiking days.

Some tour packages include sleeping bags, while others offer them as an additional rental. It is important to confirm this before booking your trek.

Most Inca Trail tours begin very early in the morning, usually between 4:00 AM and 6:00 AM, depending on the route and transportation schedule.

Previous hiking experience is helpful but not required. Travelers with a reasonable fitness level and positive attitude can successfully complete the trek with preparation

Yes, porter bags usually have a weight limit of around 5–7 kg / 11–15 lbs per traveler, including the sleeping bag and personal belongings.

Yes, many travelers choose to return to Machu Picchu after the guided tour to explore more areas or climb additional mountains such as Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain.

Basic bathrooms are available at campsites and certain checkpoints along the trail. Conditions are simple and rustic compared to city facilities.

Most travelers return on tourist trains operated by companies such as PeruRail or Inca Rail, offering scenic views through the Sacred Valley.

Yes, Cusco is generally considered safe for tourists. As in any destination, travelers should use normal precautions with valuables and avoid isolated areas late at night.

Spending at least 2–3 days in Cusco before the hike is strongly recommended to acclimatize to the altitude and reduce the risk of altitude sickness.

Every company offers a different experience. Important factors to consider include guide quality, group size, customer service, porter treatment, food quality, safety standards, and overall attention to detail throughout the trek.

Still have questions? We’re here to help.

Contact Us
  • For Treks: USD $300 per participant, per Trek, payable to Llama Path at the time of booking the Trek. If a Client wishes to do Wayna Picchu Mountain, or Machu Picchu Mountain, the deposit will be $385 for all Inca Trail treks, or $325 for any alternative treks e.g. Salkantay.
  • PLEASE: Make sure to add the fees associated with your PayPal / visa transaction. Otherwise  Llama Path will be sending  you a receipt indicating the exact amount we received from you and the amount of the balance to be paid upon you arrival in Cusco.

Deposits for treks can be paid using VISA or Pay Pal .

1) Credit card Visa (only for Inca Trail reservation deposits) – we have an online payment system which you can use to pay with your credit/debit card. 

2) Paypal: (for alternative treks and Inca Trail and tour reservations deposits). To make your deposit by Paypal you need a Paypal account, the address to send your deposit to is deposits@llamapath.com

Final balances for all our treks need to be paid in cash (US Dollars) 48 hours prior to departure at the latest. Payment must be made in cash at our office.

Final balances for itineries should be paid 1 month prior to your trip.

With over 15 years of experience organising treks and tours, Llama Path is one of the top operators in Peru and has built up an excellent record with our customers. We always aim to offer an excellent service to each and every person and are constantly looking for ways we can improve to make your trip of a lifetime even better.

Another very important reason to book with us is so that you can guarantee that you will be going on a fair and ethical trip. Llama Path is the leader in sustainable tourism here in Cusco and it is so far the only agency to have built a house for their porters.

* Some other reasons to travel with Llama Path:

Through this 15 years we have trained and worked with lots of guides, porters and chefs. Now a lot of our staff is exported to other companies; it’s not a surprise to ask anyone of them “who have you been working for?” And the answer comes evident: Llama Path.

Moreover a lot of our exguides set up their on companies primarily following the ideas of Sustainable Tourism we have practiced right from the beginning to these days. A few examples here:

Raúl Qolque worked as an assistant and guide for Llama Path for several years and now together with his American wife runs Alpaca Expeditions.

Miguel Góngora; one of our best guides ever runs now his own sustainable company Evolution Treks.

Flavio Huamani, runs a small family responsible company mainly especilizing in Luxury Treks to Machu Pucchu.

Renzo Serrano, runs now his own company Qaypi Tours.

Marco Salas, one of our most enthusiastic assistant guides and guide runs now Happy Gringo Tours travel Agency.

The list could go…

We are happy to know we are doing and leading the right way.

Thanks for choosing Llama Path.

IMPORTANT NOTICE :
ZERO PLASTIC BOTTLES ON THE INCA TRAIL AND MACHU PICCHU FROM DECEMBER 1ST

Due to New goverment regulations for the Inca Trail it will be 100% PROHIBITED to TAKE PLASTIC WATER  BOTTLES. We believe that in the first days  the new enforced regulations may NOT be 100% controlled however as the days go it will be more and more strict therefore WE KINDLY suggest you getting your aluminum plastic bottles to avoid any dissapointment at the check points along the Inca Trail and in the Machu Picchu citadel.

ALUMINUM 0.700ml BOTTLES:

As a way to avoid any inconvenience with our clientes Llama Path offers 0.700ml aluminum water bottles FOR SALE at the office for as liitle as 10 Soles (USD3.00). 

Aluminum water bottles can also be bought in many different shops around the main square. 

Also, if you are still at home and ready to fly to Peru for your trek we recommend you bringing aluminum water bottles or camel bags. 

Peru’s climate varies depending on where you visit.

On the coast it is usually quite hot although during the winter (April-August) it can get chilly early in the morning and at night.

In the Andes there are two main seasons – wet and dry. The wet season runs from November to April and is wet but usually warmer overall. The dry season runs from May to October and has hot clear days but cold nights.

The only one thing you can say about the weather in Peru is that it is difficult to accurately predict. You can beautifully clear hot days in the middle of the wet season and hail storms in the dry season – it’s one of the beauties of Peru.

You should always consult your local travel clinic regarding vaccines. In general the regular vaccines such as Tetanus, Diptheria, Polio etc are recommended. If you are visiting the low-land jungle then Yellow Fever is recommended.

All of our treks (the Inca Trail, Salkantay, Ausangate etc.) are moderately difficult, long and mountainous. We highly recommend that you are relatively fit and acclimatised to altitude (a minimum of 2 days at altitude) before undertaking them.  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.

Check out our booking page for more information!

We use your deposit (Non-refundable) to pay official fees when making your official reservation. For example, we need to pay tourist and porters entrance fees and taxes (19%). We also use it to secure cooks, porters and horses for our different treks.

Deposits for treks can be paid using VISA or Pay Pal (with No Fees!).

1) Credit card Visa (only for Inca Trail reservation deposits) – we have an online payment system which you can use to pay with your credit/debit card. 

2) Paypal: (for alternative treks and Inca Trail and tour reservations deposits). To make your deposit by Paypal you need a Paypal account, the address to send your deposit to is deposits@llamapath.com

 

Final balances for all our treks need to be paid in cash (US Dollars) 48 hours prior to departure at the latest. Payment must be made in cash at our office.

Final balances for itineries should be paid 1 month prior to your trip.

What Causes Altitude Illnesses :
The primary cause of altitude illnesses is going too high too quickly. Given time, your body can adapt to the decrease in oxygen at specific altitudes. This is known as acclimatization and generally takes 1 to 3 nights at a given altitude.   


Prevention of Altitude Illnesses:
Prevention of altitude illnesses falls into two categories, proper acclimatization and preventive medications. Below are a few basic guidelines for proper acclimatization. Start below 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) and walk up.    

  •  Do not over-exert yourself or move higher for the first 24 hours.   
  •  If you go above 10,000 feet (3,048 meters), only increase your sleeping elevation by 1,000 feet (305 meters) per day and for every 3,000 feet (915 meters) of elevation gained, take a rest day.     
  •  If you begin to show symptoms of moderate altitude illness, don’t go higher until symptoms decrease     
  •  If symptoms increase, go down, down, down!    
  •  Keep in mind that different people will acclimatize at different rates. 
  •  Stay properly hydrated.
  •  Take it easy; don’t over-exert yourself when you first get up to altitude.    
  •  Avoid tobacco, alcohol and other depressant drugs including, barbiturates, tranquilizers, and sleeping pills.     
  •  Eat a high carbohydrate diet while at altitude.    


Preventive Medications  (requiring prescriptions):


* Diamox (Acetazolamide) changes acid balance which allows you to increase breathing and improve oxygen uptake – the same mechanism as in normal acclimatization , but  faster

* Dexamethasone (a steroid) is a drug that decreases brain and other swelling, helping to reverse the effects.

The number of visitors to the archeological site of Machu Picchu has a limit of 2500 per day, which is an attempt to keep in line with UNESCO recommendations. During July 2011, several visitors were unable to secure an entrance ticket when they arrived at Aguas Calientes. Therefore, it is recommended to book in advance, especially during the high season. The trains are usually full so make your reservations in advance. You can book your visit to MP only or a ticket including the Huayna Picchu trek.

Important information on entry times to Machu Picchu:

From 1 July 2017, entry times to Machu Picchu are organized into sessions: 6 am to 12 pm and 12 pm to 5 pm. For our treks, we use the first entrance time where possible.

It is a very difficult question to answer , choosing the right route to visit Machu Picchu as all treks have their own advantages , the question for you is , what do you want to see ? If your answer is to see Inca ruins the Inca Trail is the option for you, but if you are interested in seeing lagoons,glaciers, Andean landscapes and even visit hot springs the Salkantay is the option for you, both treks are difficult and what makes it difficult is the altitude for that reason we recommend to arrive in Cusco at least 2 days in advance before doing the tour in order to adjust to the altitude.
 
The Salkantay Trek is one of the most popular ways to get to Machu Picchu. Less famous than the iconic Inca Trail
 
The Salkantay is around 74 km (46 miles) long and is most commonly done in 5 days with the 5th day being the visit to Machu Picchu.
 
The Salkantay Trek is a moderate to difficult hike. It is a long hike that takes most people around 4 days to complete. The entire hike is at high elevations, so it is not suitable for those who suffer from altitude sickness. With that said, those of all ages with a decent level of fitness should be able to complete this hike.
 
The main difference is that the Salkantay Trek is through the mountains reaching nearly 5,000 m (16,404 ft) above sea level, whereas the Inca Trail is walking on ruins much of the way.
 
Day 2 is the most challenging day that takes most people around 9 hours. It climbs 600 meters (1969 ft) in elevation and then descends 1,780 meters (5840 ft) over 22 kilometers (13.7 miles). This is a full (challenging day of hiking.) but, it is also rewarding and beautiful.
 
If you like a challenge, the outdoors, and hiking then you’ll love the Salkantay Trek.
 
Please read this blogg https://www.llamapath.com/en/blog/hiking-to-machu-picchu-with-llama-path-5-day-4-night-salkantay-trek


suggested tips for the porters and guides

The porter tipping is normally on the third night of the trek, It is a tradition the trek that has been taking place on the past 20 years as a way showing porters your gratitude (You will see they work extremely hard).

Generally, groups prepare a collective tip which is shared out between the cook and porters.

We recommend that each porter receives 130 soles from the group and that the cook received a little bit more.

We recommend tipping your guides at your own discretion, depending on your satisfaction with their work. The tip is usually personal and can be presented when you feel appropriate (there is no ceremony) but is often given on the last day after your tour in Machu Picchu.

We are open from 9am – 1pm and 3pm – 8pm (Mon – Sat) and 4pm – 8pm (Sun).


Have a nice trip !

Many people comment that our food they eat on the treks is the best they get whilst in Peru.

A sample menu is as follows:

Breakfast – Porridge, toast, butter, jam, pancakes, fruit salad, yogurt with hot chocolate, coffee and a variety of teas.
Snack – Every day you are provided with a snack to eat whilst trekking, this is usually something like a power bar + fruit or biscuits + fruit.
Lunch – Soup + a main course ranging from Lomo Saltado, Causa Rellena, Trout, Spaghetti Bolagnese etc. served with rice and garlic bread
Happy Hour – Every afternoon around 5pm we serve hot chocolate, tea, popcorn, biscuits, bread and jam, etc.
Dinner – See the main courses served at lunch.

Our office is in Calle Cuychipuncu 257.

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