Cusco is at 11,089 feet/3380 meters so if you are or think you are susceptible to altitude sickness please be sure to arrive 2-3 days prior to your trek, rest the first few days in Cusco, drink plenty of water (and coca tea, a local remedy), and eat lots of carbohydrates. These three things help prevent and combat altitude sickness. Please consult your doctor if you have concerns about being at altitude. There are many medications that they can provide (example: anti nausea medication, diuretics, etc). Machu Picchu is actually lower (8,000 feet/2430 meters), but if you choose to trek there, the mountain passes can go up to over 17,000 ft/5200m.

Let’s start by looking at what high altitude means. High altitude starts to have an effect on our bodies from between 1,500m – 2,000m (4921ft – 6561ft) when our bodies start to react differently to make up for the changes in oxygen levels.

So, as you go higher the air pressure gets lower (the air gets ‘thinner’) so that for every breath there will be less oxygen for your body. Your body gradually adapts to getting less oxygen – you breathe faster and deeper and the body produces more red blood cells. This takes time so this is why if you go from low to high altitude too quickly, you may feel symptoms of altitude sickness until your body acclimatizes.

Cusco is located at an altitude of 3,400 meters (11,200ft) and it is common for many visitors to experience some mild symptoms of altitude sickness or ‘soroche’ as it is known locally. It’s hard to tell if you will be affected by altitude sickness as some people can be more susceptible than others regardless of age, sex or physical condition.

Common mild symptoms of altitude sickness may include:

Headache
Nausea
Vomiting
Fatigue
Poor appetite
Dizziness
Disturbed sleep

1. Relax and take it easy!. Take a few days at the start of your trip to acclimatize to the altitude before attempting any treks or strenuous activity. This is the easiest advice we can share, take it easy for the first few days and your body will thank you later…
2. Get lots of sleep. Sleep is the best remeday of all!  Do not be afraid to just sleep it off as your body adjusts.
3. Avoid alcohol & drugs.  This includes sleeping tablets and tranquilizers as these can all make the symptoms worse.
4. Drink lots of water. Staying hydrated prior to and throughout your trip is crucial to avoiding unpleasant altitude sickness symptoms.
5. Drink coca tea. Nearly every hotel in Cusco and the Sacred Valley offers fresh coca tea to guests and for a good reason too! Coca tea is completely safe to drink and a cup or two each day can ease altitude symptoms.
6. Go lower and acclimatize. Head straight to the lower altitude of the Sacred Valley or Machu Picchu. Believe it or not, Cusco is at an altitude of 3400m (11,154ft) so heading to Pisac or Urubamba at 2,900m (9,514ft) or Machu Picchu at 2,400m (7,874ft) can make a huge difference
7. Get an Oxishot! Oxishot is a small dischargeable can that contains 8 litres of oxygen that you can take when you arrive in Cusco and anytime you need a boost. It can help reduce headaches and fatigue associated with altitude sickness.
8. Visit your doctor. If you are still worried before you to travel, head to your doctor and ask for an acetazolamide prescription (also known as brand name Diamox) which can be taken to help avoid altitude sickness symptoms.

There is no down season for Machu Picchu, so the ruins will always be crowded. They are best seen early in the morning before the huge crowds come, but there is no real way to avoid other tourists.  The citadel is a huge area, with lots of terraces. Good running shoes or hiking boots are preferred for your tour.  If you are doing one of the extra hikes, Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain, you will want hiking boots with good traction.

Please remember that you will need your original passport to get inside the ruins. No large bags are allowed in the park, so you will need to leave them at your hotel, or check them at the front gate. The park rangers are diligent about rules, so please make sure to be courteous and respectful.

Cusco is located in the southeast area of Peru, and has one of the highest elevations of all the cities in South America (3,400 m/11,200 ft). The city has a lot to offer, including historical sites, museums, restaurants, a great nightlife and shops. Cusco is full of cobblestone streets, so good walking shoes are a must. You can easily walk from place to place, but taxis are plentiful and safe. The airport is only a 10 minute drive from the main square.

Cusco is also surrounded by the beautiful Sacred Valley, which is a little lower in altitude. Some people prefer to head down to the valley first, to slowly adjust to the altitude. The valley has a lot of beautiful places to visit, including Pisaq, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, Maras/Moray, Tipon and many others.

An Alternative Trek is an alternative to the Inca Trail. Due to the strict permit process for the Inca Trail, these early ones became popular with those who were unable to obtain a permit. Now, people are recognizing some real advantages of alternative walks.

Compared to the Inca Trail:
Of course, there are several differences between the Inca Trail and other treks. One, the amount of ruins you pass along the way. However, the main difference is that the Inca Trail is the only trek that allows you to walk directly through the Puerta del Sol towards Machu Picchu. All others must enter through the main gates of the citadel. Once inside, you can always walk up to Puerta del Sol and get that view from above, but it won’t be your first view of the ruins.

Alternative treks that end in Machu Picchu will spend a night in a hotel in the town of Aguas Calientes, the town below Machu Picchu. Your day at Machu Picchu will begin with a bus ride from Aguas Calientes to the ruins (about 25 minutes), and these buses are on a first-come, first-served basis. It is possible to walk from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu, but you will still need to enter through the main gate.

Pros of alternative walks:
Even though they are growing in popularity, it is likely that you will hike the Andes alone with your group. The roads are not crowded with tourists and you are visiting places that can only be reached on foot.

Also, for those interested in nature, these hikes are often more beautiful. Each one offers something special, like going to the Salkantay Pass through the glaciers, to the Ausangate mountain, to the local towns with the Lares Trek. Treks like Choquekiraw or Vilcabamba visit other tremendous and important Inca citadels.

Our Alternative Treks:

Ausangate Treks: This is one of the most beautiful treks due to the fact that you will walk around the largest mountain in Cusco which is the Ausangate and also through the rainbow mountain.

Salkantay Treks: Probably the most popular alternative trek. This is a bit more difficult than the Inca Trail, since the days are longer and there are more hikes. You will experience many different microclimates as your landscape changes dramatically each day. This includes our best camp on the third night, overlooking Machu Picchu.

Lares Treks: This trek is famous for spending time with local people, in villages that can only be reached on foot. You will spend more time in the Alps, so it is a bit colder, but beautiful.

Hucchuy QOSQO treks: This trek is easier, with only a day and a half of trekking. You won’t miss any of the beauty, as you go past waterfalls and through a small canyon. This is great for those who want to experience camping, but just for one night.

The Inca Trail is more crowded than the Salkantay Trek because it is an original trail of the Incas and one of the most famous hikes in the world, attracting thousands of trekkers every year. It is the only trek that leads directly to Machu Picchu, but is therefore a lot more expensive than the Salkantay Trek.

On the Salkantay Trek you will spend the last night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes before visiting Machu Picchu the next day. During the Inca Trail you will discover ancient Inca ruins, whereas the Salkantay offers more wildlife and high mountain sceneries. Many trekkers consider the Salkantay Trek to be a bit more strenuous than the Inca Trail because the general altitude is higher.

The Salkantay Trek offers the best alternative to the Inca Trail for everybody who doesn’t like crowded paths and enjoys different landscapes during the trek.

Yes! You have to bring your original passport and it is very important that it is the same passport number you sent to us to book your Inca Trail Machu Picchu permit, entrance to Machu Picchu, train ticket or other entrances and reservations depending on your choice of trek.

In case you are renewing your passport or changing your name, go ahead and send us your old passport information to secure your permit, and we can change it when you get your new passport number or updated your name for a fee of $25 per person. We must have a copy of your old and new passport to make the change. Before you change your passport keep a copy of your old one.

If you do not wish to pay this fee you will need to bring both passports to Peru with you. You can enter Peru with your new passport but you will need to show both passports, old and new to be to enter the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu or the train. If you do not have both you will not be allowed to enter the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu or get on the train.

Food in Peru, when prepared correctly is not only safe but delicious too! They have some of the world’s most beautiful and delicious produce ever! That being said, Peru carries a host of germs that foreign travelers are not used to. It is generally advisable to avoid eating street food and eat fruit you can peel and fruits and veggies that you know have been washed well in boiled/filtered water or peeled in a hygienic kitchen. Nicer restaurants do a good job of food preparation but it is often a good idea to still avoid salads. On the trail we make sure that all food is prepared in a hygienic manner and wash all fruit/vegetables in boiled/filtered water. In case you do end up with stomach upset from eating something on the streets or in a restaurant it is a good idea to stay hydrated and bring medicine with you such as antacids, indigestion pills, and antibiotics for travelers diarrhea. Talk with your doctor prior to your trip to discuss the best medications to bring with you if you choose to do so.

Enjoy the Best Chefs in the Mountains
We include all meals and snacks for our treks.

You may be curious about the quality of the food provided by PERU TREK. It is prepared by a chef in a small tent, on a stove. Check out our reviews, and you will recognize how pleased our trekkers are with their meals. Our professionally trained chefs prepare the best breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks. After completing each day’s trek, you will enjoy a social happy hour, before being treated to a delicious buffet dinner, that will undoubtedly exceed all your expectations of food on the Inca Trail.

All food is prepared from fresh ingredients, purchased in the local Cusco market.

Do you have special dietary needs? No problem! We can cater to vegetarians, vegans and all food allergies.

There is plenty of water provided during each trek. We take tap water from each campsite and boil it for 15 minutes, so it is safe to drink. You only need to carry enough water to get you to each stop. You can refill your bottles at breakfast, lunch and dinner.

In the morning, you will only need to carry enough water to last you until the first lunch stop. At every meal,  you will be provided with new, boiled water to refresh your bottles or hydration packs.

The night before your trip, briefings are held at your hotel at 6 pm with your trekking guide. And if you are unable to attend at this time, you must make arrangements to attend at another time.
During the breffing you will receive your duffel bag for your belongings that you intend to take on the hike, which will not be in your backpack.
These briefings last approximately 30-40 minutes.

Absolutely! Included in our packages is picking you up and dropping you off at your hotel on the return from your hike or tour. If you have booked your hotel in Cusco. Also, if you spend the night in Ollantaytambo before your trek (if you are doing the Inca Trail), we will pick you up there.

The maximum group size for all treks is 12 people. In general, our groups are from 4 to 6 people. PERU TREK specializes in SMALL and PRIVATE groups and provides personalized services.

You can book your tour at any time but generally the earlier you book, the better. Booking early (4 months or more recommended) is especially important for travelers visiting during the height of the dry season, June to August, as many of these departures fill up months in advance. Travelers visiting outside of these busy months can often book a bit more last minute, though 2-3 months notice is still recommended. For the Inca trail it depends on permit availability and currently it is recommended to book 4-6 months in advance. Further, we usually recommend that you wait to book your international flights until after your tour is confirmed. The sooner that we arrange your tour, the sooner that you can take advantage of flight deals as they become available. We are often able to accommodate last minute travelers as well (some even departing in less than one week!!), so give us a call and we will do our best! For last minute bookings, it helps to be flexible and organized. Your first choice may not be available for your selected dates, but we can recommend some other similar options that would be equally interesting!

The trek you have booked must be paid in full at the time of breifing or days before departure.

We would greatly appreciate it if you would pay the balance of the trip in cash in US dollars or in local currency. To withdraw here in Cusco we have several ATMs along Av. El Sol (either in US dollars or in local Peruvian soles).
You can pay by credit card or PAYPAL online, but you will have to pay an 8% service charge, charged by VISA and PAYPAL. We do not accept bank checks or payment of the balance with traveler’s checks.

Of course! During the trip, your main luggage can be stored in our office (you can coordinate during the day of the briefing or by email) or at your hotel, both for free.
Any equipment you don’t need on the trek can be safely stored at your hotel. Almost all hotels will offer this service. Do not leave valuables with your bags, put them in the hotel safe and get an itemized receipt (in the unlikely event of theft, many insurance companies require you to have a copy of the receipt with all items). It’s best to put items like credit cards in a sealed and signed envelope for added peace of mind.

Strikes and demonstrations are often frequent in Peru, and this can interrupt some of our planned tours. They can block the roads and take control of the railroad tracks. However, we will try to keep your tour as planned, even if it means leaving the night before your scheduled date. In these circumstances, tours can also be canceled. In case of changes or cancellations, all situations will be coordinated with you by our operations department. Your safety is our top priority and decisions will be made appropriately.

You are responsible for your personal belongings during the treks. Please pay attention to where you leave your belongings and remember to take everything once you leave your bus, tents, and restaurants.