Inca Trail Permits are on Sale
Machu Picchu
Inca Trail permits are now available for sale! The June, July and August permits always sell the fastest. Remember, there are only 500 per day, and this includes the clients, the guide, the cook and porters, who also need permits.
This year, travelers are booking earlier, so it helps to have a bit of flexibility in the start day for your trek. We can probably get you permits IF you have a couple days before and after your preferred date… as “back up”, in case your preferred date is sold out.
To get a permit for the Inca Trail, the national park service requires the hiker’s passport information and a non-refundable deposit. The permits are issued for a specific person on a specific date at a specific point on the Inca Trail. Once purchased, these permits are not transferable or changeable in any way.
Discount for Early Booking
If you are planning on hiking the Inca Trail this summer, contact us as soon as possible to reserve your preferred dates! We have some set departures available if you want to join a group. These also require permits, but are more reasonably priced for the single traveler or two people traveling together. We also offer a $50/person discount, for booking a group trek 4 months prior to your arrival.
For the 8-day Salkantay trek in a group, we offer a $100/person discount for early booking (also 4 months prior to arrival). Note that the Salkantay trek joins the Inca Trail on the fifth day, so permits are required. The same is true for the 2-day Inca Trail Express even though you are not camping in tents, you are still hiking the Inca Trail!
Availability for joining groups for the 5-day Inca Trail, as of January 16, 2009:
- APRIL 5, MAY 3, MAY 6, MAY 10, MAY 13, MAY 24, JUNE 14, JUNE 24, JUNE 28, JULY 5, AUGUST 2, SEPTEMBER 13.
Other Exciting Treks
There are a number of alternative treks in the Cusco area that are not as famous as the Inca Trail, but are in many ways much more interesting and beautiful.
The Quechua Villages and Inca Ruins Trek takes you through the rural countryside from Cusco to Ollantaytambo through the villages of Parpishu, Chilipahua, and Peroniyoc. You will not see other tourists on this trek, but you will have the opportunity to interact with the local people as well as magnificent views of the surrounding mountains. This 3-day trek is finished off with two days at Machu Picchu including tour and overnight in Aguas Calientes — either with a day hike on the Inca Trail through the Sun Gate or via the Vistadome train.
We are also looking for one or two clients who would like to hike Ausengate in the Cordillera Vilcanota at the end of August or early September. If you would like this trek in a group, starting on a Sunday, let us know. We have a client who wants to join a group… AND… TWO or more make a group! Join in, for a beautiful trek.
The newest exciting trek this year is the trek to Choquiquero, the “new Machu Picchu”. Visited by very few people, this impressive ruins is part of two possible treks: a 5-day loop, or a 10-day Choquequerio to Machu Picchu! How awesome is that? And no crowds! Take a look at these possibilities:
If Peru is in your travel plans for this summer, contact us right away! We would be pleased to help you with your grand adventure!
Joe Koehly is an experienced guide and group leader, who is taking a group to Peru from September 11 to 25, 2010. You will be hiking the Salkantay and Inca Trail to Machu Picchu trek with Joe and a local Peruvian guide! If you would like to join this group, please contact us and we will put you in touch with Joe. This is an awesome trekking experience that you will not want to miss! It is particularly good for one or two individuals who want to have a group leader with them for the entire trip!
Peru
