A very simple one ladies and gentlemen for those who have gone and explored before me - I am looking at the Inca trail experience around the early April time this year. 220 is the bare minimum and initial feedback on this www. 350-400 is a more reasonable expectation. I realise you get in life what you pay for - but what I am looking for is a decent experience, with decent guides and porters and a decent rate. Can anyone offer their valuable experience to me.youtube.com Would be much appreciated.youtube.com In you want to do the Inca trail: book in advance, don't wait until you arrive in Cuzco unless you don't mind waiting a few days. One that I believe has a good reputation in this respect is Llamapatha, but I may not recall correctly; it's all in the forum.
If you want a slightly less frequented hike to MP, consider Salkantay, which is cheaper, more challenging and equally rewarding in the end. Even better, as you can see the beauty of the Inca trail from afar, rather than being on it in the midst of a giant herd of other backpackers. If you speak decent spanish, you could even try to find a personal guide, who could take you on even more interesting routes that aren't offered by the tourist industry. I just did the Inca Trail in August and loved it. They were incredible from begining to end. The guides (Victor and Omar) were helpful and patient when we wanted to take a thousand pictures. The price was good not sure how much so take a look at the website. There office in Cuzco is really easy to find off the main square.
They were not the cheapest but also not the most expensive. The food they prepared was incredible. From talking to other people on the trail several were disapointed with the company they chose. I would also recommend spending the extra night in Aguas Calientes. Cool little town and worth a stay over.youtube.com If you are up for it, get up early and hike to the top of Putucusi. It is an Inca trail that starts about a 5 minute walk outside of Aguas Calientes. Start by following the railroad tracks away from town and you will see a sign for the trail on the right.
The trail is short but hard with vertical ladders through a large section. It takes about an hour to the top and there are incredible views of Macchu Picchu from there. Well worth it if you still have the legs to get there. I have an additional question about the Inca Trail. I recently read in the LP book on Peru that you should book your tour months in advance which seems to contradict what I've heard from other people. The reason to book in advance is not really the "quality" of campsites, but the limited number of spaces. This trek is limited to 500 people per day, including travel agencies staff for the trek (cooks, porters, guides, etc).
That means that there are not really 500 spaces for tourists but a lot fewer. Good luck and good trek! The Inca Trail cost varies enormously depending on what type of trek you are after.youtube.com You're right you get what you pay for, especially in Cusco. 360 (as a student). It's important to remember that what you pay often reflects on what the local operator pays its staff. Companies like Andina Travel in Cusco who have a really good track record, pay their crew a decent wage and therefore you will pay more. The lady who runs the company is lovely. Alternatively there are now some really good alternative trails that get you away from the crowds and you don't need to get permits early. If you do decide that its the Classic Inca Trail you want remember to avoid August, over 500 trekkers per day (that's a hell of a crowd), and permits are VERY limited.
A woman is preparing to set off on a trek along the Inca Trail in Peru to raise money for a cancer charity. Sally Turner, from Wilmington, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 after a routine mammogram.lonelyplanet.com She had a mastectomy on one side before undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but two years later she was forced to have a second mastectomy after another cancer scare. Ms Turner is now preparing to trek along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu to raise money for Breast Cancer Care. The charity produces booklets and offers support over the phone for cancer patients and their families.
She said: "Breast Cancer Care played a significant role in my recovery. "I’m approaching five years cancer-free and feel fit and well.tripadvisor.com I have wanted to walk the Inca Trail since I fist saw pictures of Machu Picchu many years ago. So far Ms Turner has raised more than £3,350 but she has set a target of £3,750. She is hoping to gather the last few hundred pounds as the countdown towards the trek at the end of March begins. "Thanks to everyone who has sponsored me so far," she said.peruviantravelservice.com Steve Grogan, sporting and challenges manager at Breast Cancer Care, said: "We’re so grateful to Sally for taking on this incredible challenge for Breast Cancer Care and wish her the best of luck. The money Sally raises will help us provide care, support and information to help thousands of people to find a way to live with, through and beyond breast cancer.
Peru government launched new website for booking Machu Picchu entry tickets in 2019. They eliminated the morning and afternoon ticket option and replaced with tickets for entry on the hour. Vidal tells me that the general idea for the new hourly entry times is to distribute visitors to avoid congestion mainly in the early morning. There's no intention to rigidly adhere to entering at the exact time of your ticket. You can enter for some time after the hour stamped on your ticket. But you cannot enter even 1 minute earlier than the time on your ticket. How late you can enter after the time of your ticket is up for discussion.
I've seen other operators say that there is early morning wave from 6-9AM, then late morning wave from 9AM-12N and afternoon wave from 12N-3PM. But our guides have not heard of this nor have they seen it happen. Note that morning tickets will not carry over to afternoon in case you're wondering. Some websites are saying that the tickets are only good for one hour inside the ruins. That is simply not true. The hourly entry affects the time you enter, not how long you stay. A guided [https://cuscotours.org/ Tour Cusco Peru] with "pickup" guide at the entry can be 1-2 hours. Once you exit, you cannot re-enter. Adios guided tours are 3-4H. Follow this link to see more about hiring guide service at Machu Picchu.
Entry tickets are purchased for the hour you want to enter. You cannot enter even 1 minute before the time on your ticket. But you can enter after the hour on your morning ticket. How late we don't know. Visitors with early entry tickets will have precedence for boarding buses in Aguas Calientes. If you attempt to board the bus more than 1H before your entry time, you may be asked to wait. And if someone with an earlier entry ticket shows up they will have priority to board the bus over you. There were 3 circuits to choose from but the middle circuit was not used much, so it's been eliminated. There are currently 2 circuits.