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FAQ
- Inca Trail, Treks and Cusco
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1. Can I trek
the Inca Trail alone without a travel operator?
A1. No. As from 1st January 2001
trekking independently has been prohibited. The regulation, however,
was not enforced until early 2002. You will necessarily to hire an
operator to get all the permissions, the entrance tickets for the
trail MUST be bought in Cusco well in advance only through a licensed
Inca Trail operator. They cannot be purchased at the start of the
trail.
2. Should I make a reservation for the
trek in advance or wait until arriving in Cusco?
A2. Because the numbers
of persons permitted on the trek has been dramatically reduced it
is advisable to make a reservation 5-6 weeks in advance. This is
particularly important if you are planning on arriving in Cusco
during the peak season (June-September).
3. What's the best time during the year
to go?
A3. The 'dry' season from April
to October seems to be generally considered preferable, at least
as far as weather. It's mostly dry but it can rain at any time.
Remember the dramatic temperature range. At higher altitudes, it's
sunny during the day and cold and windy at night.
4. How hard is the Inca Trail?
A4. The trek is physically
challenging, but no technical expertise is required. The difficulty
comes largely from the repeated step ascents and descents, and from
the high altitude. The climb to the first pass takes you up from
around 2000m (6500ft) to more than 4000m (13000ft) in a relatively
short space, followed by a descent of around 1500m (5000ft). After
the second pass at 3500m (11500ft), things generally become easier.
5. What do we do for drinking water?
A5. Inka Wasi will provide
boiled water to fill your bottle at meal times, although the water
is clear always use sterilizing tablets and follow the instructions.
The sterilizing tablets 'MicroPur' can be bought in most pharmacies
in Cusco . With these tablets you have to wait 40 minutes before
drinking. Take a bottle of at least 1½ liter capacity per
person.
Bottled mineral water can also be taken from Cusco, bought at km82,
just before Wayllabamba and at Wiñay Wayna and Machu Picchu.
If you are employing the services of a personal porter you can afford
to take the extra weight of a few bottles of water.
Besides, You'll come across a small stream or mountain spring every
1½ hours along the trail where you can fill up your water
bottle too.
6. What are the toilets like along the
trail?
A6. Toilets have improved
a lot in the last couple of years and all of the larger campsites
have toilet blocks with flush toilets and running water. On the
whole they are kept pretty clean.
There are hot shower facilities are Wiñay Wayna on day 3,
although they are usually pretty unclean and you have to pay a little
extra.
7. Should I hire an extra porter?
when?
A7. Our service includes
porters for carrying the food, tents, dining tent and cooking equipment.
However, during the Inca Trail you will have to carry your personal
stuff (such as backpack, camera, etc) your sleeping bag and pad
(both provided by us if needed). Hiring an extra porter may make
the trek more enjoyable since you will walking withouth all that
extra weight.
Each porter can carry up to 18 kilos and you must ask for him to
us or to your operator when booking your Inca Trail.
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