WHAT IS INCLUDED FOR THE SALKANTAY & INCA TRAIL TREK?

• Transfer from the airport to your hotel for free
• Pick up at your hotel in the morning of the trek departure
• Private transport from Cusco to Soraypampa (starting point of the trek)
• Entrance fee to the Inca Trail
• Entry fee to Machu Picchu
• English speaking, experienced professional guide
• Private guided tour of Machu Picchu
• Comfortable tents (sleeping 2 people in a 4 person tent)
• All camping equipment such as: dining tent, table, chairs, kitchen tent and toilet tent
• All the gear for our porters and cook
• 3 Bus tickets Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu
• First Aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle
• Expedition Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
• Private transport from Ollantaytambo to your hotel in Cusco
• Hotel in Aguas Calientes with private room and bathroom
• Porters, horseman and pack horses, to carry all camping and personal equipment (7 kilos of your personal items such as extra clothes, you need to include the sleeping bag in the 7kgs, carried by our horses and porters).***
• Provision of a horse in case of emergency such as illness, to ensure trek can be completed by all participants
• Comfortable foam mattress and camping pillow
• Boiled water for drinking and washing purposes
• Taxes

***On the Salkantay portion of the trek, your camping gear will be carried by pack horses. To protect the trail, horses are not allowed on the Inca Trail. For this section of your trek, your camping gear will be carried by porters.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED FOR THE SALKANTAY TREKKING & INCA TRAIL?

• Sleeping bag 15°C -$25 USD
• Air Mattress -$25 USD
• Walking Poles -$20 USD
• Lunch on the last day
• Entry to Huayna Picchu -$75 USD
• Vistadome – $67
• Extra activities such as zip line and barbecues
• Additional horse for extra personal luggage in addition of the one for personal item allowance
• Optional upgrade (train and hotel)
• Tips for the cook, horsemen and guide (APU PACHAMAMA TRAVEL’s staff receive fair wages immediately after they end their trip. However tips are greatly appreciated by them)

**Huayna Picchu is an optional trek within Machu Picchu Citadel which does not include a guide. The climb is usually done on your own after your tour of Machu Picchu Citadel. If you would like the extra hike to be guided, please request in advance. There is an extra cost for this extra guided tour.

Please note: The Cusco City Tour is only offered to our clients doing a 2, 3, 4 or more days tours or treks to Machu Picchu.

PRICE $175 USD

• GROUP of 1 to 6 persons – $175 USD for the total group (not per person)
• GROUP of 7 to 12 persons – $195 USD for the total group (not per person)

WHY CHOOSE APU PACHAMAMA TRAVEL?

Apu Pachamama Travel is a family owned travel agency and a local tour operator based in Cusco with personal experience over many years of trekking. Apu Pachamama Travel is a 100% Cusqueñian Company without any shareholders.

 Our dream as a locally based company is to create small personalized tours & treks strictly and only operated by local professional staff catering in PERSONALIZED and HIGH QUALITY SERVICE. 

We take pride in our reputation as a RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE tour operator. Our staff are our extended family. We ensure they are supported financially by offering them a fair salary. We are so proud of our team! Without them, we wouldn’t be able to offer the best service and lifetime experiences to our clients.

Apu Pachamama Travel knows how important it is to trust in a reliable honest operator to create your adventure of a lifetime while in Peru. Check out our reviews and certificates of excellence on, TRIPADVISOR for yourself! Also we are highly recommended on Conde Nast Travelers,  Lonely Planet and by many blogs like: Salkantay/Inka Trail ! July 14th to 20th 2016  Trek de Lares 4 hours, “It’s the journey, not the destination…”, Lares Pass – Day 3.

SMALL GROUPS

To ensure a more personalized service for our guests, at Apu Pachamama Travel we have a policy that our groups will not exceed 8 people. This fact alone sets us apart from other companies that operate departures with bigger groups.

OUR TOUR GUIDES

We are so proud of our guides! They are highly professional and speak fluent English. They are very knowledgeable and passionate for Inca heritage and history.  Our guides are dedicated to continuous personal and professional development. They do research to ensure that you receive accurate and recognized theories in Inca and Andean culture. Our crew is fun loving, great sports and well-educated. They all hold degrees in one of the following: Archeology, Tourism, Botany, History or Anthropology.

OUR SUPER COOL PORTERS

Trekking with Apu Pachamama Travel is a life changing experience with a fully portered trek, where your comfort and enjoyment are our first priority. We make sure that you get the best experience for your holiday in Peru, while you interact with the locals, explore fantastic sites and re-discover remote ancient Inca towns. Our porters will carry your gear, prepare your meals, set up your tents by avoiding crowded campsites and take care of you while you sit back and relax.

On the Salkantay portion of the trek, your camping gear will be carried by pack horses. To protect the trail, horses are not allowed on the Inca Trail. For this section of your trek, your camping gear will be carried by porters.

We provide the following items to our horsemen and porters for free: Jacket, sun hat, warm hat, t-shirt, pants, hiking boots, comfortable duffel bags, canteen, a girdle for protecting their spine, sleeping bags, mattresses and travel insurance. All of our porters are hired from isolated mountain communities and are given the opportunity to work with our company. This will better their economic circumstances as well as provide help for their children’s education!  We ensure that all of our porters are treated like family!

OUR EQUIPMENT

Our team (Guides, cooks and porters) and our equipment are what really makes Apu Pachamama Travel stand out from all of our competitors…. For all our adventurous hikes we include the following items:

OUR TENTS: Enjoy a good night sleep in our 4 season EUREKA Timberline tents. All our tents are 4 person tents,  ONLY 2 will sleep in them, leaving lots of room to spread out comfortably and store your duffel bags. They also include a little vestibule in front, giving you some extra outdoor space to leave your boots and walking sticks so you don’t have to bring in dirt.

• OUR FOAM MATS: They are included insulate you from the ground.
• AIR MATTRESSES can be rented for $25 USD.
• OUR KITCHEN & DINING TENTS: The dining tent is used as our meeting room at meal times. This is a great time to sit back relax and catch up for a chat.
• OUR TABLES & CHAIRS: The interior of the dining room includes tables and chairs with two doors on each side, easily adaptable to the day’s weather.
• DUFFEL BAGS: Will be provided at briefing time the night before the trek.
• MORE: Pillows, backpack rain covers, survivor t-shirts, hot shower and bio-chemical toilet are all provided on the trek.

Please note: On the Salkantay portion of the trek, your camping gear will be carried by pack horses. To protect the trail, horses are not allowed on the Inca Trail. For this section of your trek, your camping gear will be carried by porters.

OUR SERVICE PROJECTS

Apu Pachamama Travel have always believed that we should give back to the local isolated communities.  Therefore, as part of our commitment to responsible tourism, we always do many service projects and hire locally.

Apu Pachamama Travel is so proud to be able to support these people, not only employing them but go back to our grassroots as they share with their families. It makes us happy to have this holistic approach with our highland employees and their families!

IMPORTANT INFO

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SALKANTAY – INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU

Please read carefully the following information as it will help you answer all of your questions about our services and the Salkantay Trek & Inca Trail Trek.

ARRIVAL IN CUSCO

You will be welcomed at Cusco airport and taken to your hotel, please ensure that you inform us of your flight details at least 14 days prior to arrival. Look for our representative holding a Apu Pachamama Travel board at the exit from the arrival terminal. It can be done on any date that is best suited to you!

THE BRIEFING

The briefing will take place the night before the trek at 6pm in our office, which is located at Calle Garcilaso 210, office 213 (second floor) in the La CASA DEL ABUELO shopping center.

CAN I STORE MY LUGGAGE AT YOUR OFFICE?

Of course! During the Salkantay Trekking & Inca Trail your main luggage can be store at our office or at your hotel, whichever is more convenient for you. Please don’t leave anything you will need for your hike.

HOW TO BOOK THE SALKANTAY – INCA TRAIL MACHU PICCHU?

FIRST, to book your Salkantay & Inca Trail Trek, we need you to fill out our booking form by clicking on BOOK NOW on our homepage or click here the link BOOK NOW.

Please be ready with the following information (FROM EACH PARTICIPANT in your group).  We cannot purchase an Inca Trail permit without the following information:

• Personal information (your full name, exactly as on your passport):
• Gender
• Passport number
• OB. (dd / mm / yyyy)
• Nationality

SECOND, we require a deposit of $211.00 USD per person in order to purchase a permit for the Salkantay – Short Inca Trail Machu Picchu.  You can make you deposit by clicking on the VISA or PAYPAL symbols on the top of our home page, or you can click on the VISA or PAYPAL symbols on our booking page.

WHAT ABOUT THE BALANCE?

If you would like to avoid the high credit card fees in Peru, you may pay in cash at our office (US dollars or Peruvian soles) here in Cusco. There are many ATMS within the historical center to withdraw money. You can also pay by VISA or PAYPAL online but you will have to pay a 5.5% service fee, charged by VISA and PAYPAL.  To pay your balance through PAYPAL, you need to log into your PAYPAL account and use our email address samtravelperu@gmail.com.

MAY I CHANGE THE DEPARTURE DATE AFTER THE TICKETS HAVE BEEN BOUGHT?

Unfortunately, the answer is No. Once the tickets have been bought for the Inca Trail the government does not allow any changes, so we can’t change any departure date after the ticket has been bought. Tickets are  also not transferable nor refundable. If you cancel your Salkantay & Inca Trail Trek, the deposit is not refundable at all!

DO I NEED MY ORIGINAL PASSPORT?

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 classic Inca Trail Machu Picchu permit. In case you are renewing your passport, go ahead and send us your old number to secure your permit, and we can change it when you get your new passport number. Please send the new passport number as soon as possible.

WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE?

The weather is very unpredictable and it’s difficult to foresee. We recommend that you plan to always dress in layers to facilitate adjusting to the quickly changing weather conditions.

WHAT ABOUT ALTITUDE SICKNESS?

In general, if you exercise regularly and spend a couple of days in Cusco or the Sacred Valley, you will be able to acclimate normally. It usually take between 24 hours to 2 days.

The recommended remedies for altitude sickness is WATER, COCA TEA and OXYGEN, IF NEEDED. Our guides are trained to treat you for Altitude Sickness. See our detailed information about Altitude Sickness under FAQS.

DUFFEL BAG AND SMALL BACKPACK

The evening before you start your Salkantay & Inca Trail Trek, you will be given a SMALL DUFFEL BAG to pack your clothes for the next four days. Your weight allowance is up to 7kg/15lbs. By Peruvian law, a duffel bag must not weigh more than 7 kilograms (15lbs). This limit is set to protect the health of the porters and horses. All bags will be weighed before being accepted. If you require more than 7 kilograms, it will then be your responsibility to carry the extra weight with your day pack. In this 7 kilos, please count 2 kilos for your sleeping bag and 1 kilo for your sleeping pad (foam or air). This leaves you about 4 kilos for your personal gear. Your team of porters will carry your duffel bag for you, together with the food and camping gear. It’s important to be aware that you will not have access to your items in the duffel bag until the end of each day, as the porters will always be ahead of the group. During the trek, you need a day backpack big enough to carry your personal belongings such as a warm jacket, a rain jacket, your camera, sunscreen, snacks, water, etc. A 30 to 40L backpack is sufficient.

IS THE TREK DIFFICULT, DO I NEED TO BE FIT?

The Salkantay & Inca Trail Trek is a 76km (47.2 mile) hike through the Andes in the Cusco region. The maximum altitude reached is 4,880m/16,010ft. The trail is a fairly difficult trek and you should be well prepared and healthy prior to starting it. You have to be moderately fit and take regular exercise.

In preparation: try walking 15kms/9 miles in a day or working out in the months leading up to the trek. It is also important to be well acclimatized to the altitude. Try to spend at least 2 or 3 days in Cusco (3350m/11,047ft) prior to starting the trek.

ARE THERE TOILETS ON THE SALKANTAY – INCA TRAIL MACHU PICCHU?

This has been highly appreciated by most of our clients, especially by our trekkers, who want a private, clean and sanitary toilet! Apu Pachamama Travel toilet facilities have an individual tent and a camping toilet with a seat.  Check out the picture, which illustrates how we set up our camping toilet on the trek by using this link: picture of toilet tent. Our toilet is always set up a comfortable distance from our campsite. At night, if you need to use the toilet, it is readily accessible and clean, unlike the facilities supplied by the government which may be dirty. Check out the picture, which illustrates how we set up our camping toilet on the trek by using this link: picture of toilet tent.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM UNABLE TO FINISH THE TRAIL?

In the unlikely scenario that you are unable to finish the trek due to a health reasons, Apu Pachamama Travel will assist you to the nearest town for help with transportation. We always carry oxygen on the trek for any respiratory problems. In extreme cases, a helicopter pick up can be arranged at your own expense. (Travel insurance required). There are no refunds in the unlikely situation that you are unable to finish the trek.

Generally those who have to be assisted off the trail are taken to Ollantaytambo and if they recover quickly they continue the journey to Aguas Calientes (cost incurred by trekker) and visit Machu Picchu according to the original plan.

TIPPING

If you’re happy with the services provided, a tip – though not compulsory – is appreciated. While it may not be customary in your country, it’s of great significance for the people who will take care of you during the trek.  It inspires excellent service and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many Apu Pachamama Travel destinations. Of course, you are free to tip as much as you would like, depending on your perception of the quality and the length of your trip. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.

ARE YOU SUSTAINABLE?

Yes, we are a local, sustainable & responsible tourism operator that incorporates universal principles of tourism: protect the environment and benefit the local communities by respecting their culture and religion. With this in mind, we have trained all our local staff to know and understand, respect the places and the local people.

HOW TO BOOK THE TOUR?

FIRST, to book your Bus to Puno from Cusco, we need you to fill out our booking form by clicking on BOOK NOW on our homepage or click here the link BOOK NOW.

Please be ready with the following information (FROM EACH PARTICIPANT in your group).  We cannot purchase your Bus to Puno from Cusco without the following information:

• Personal information (your full name, exactly as on your passport):
• Gender
• Passport number
• OB. (dd / mm / yyyy)
• Nationality

SECOND, we require a deposit of $53.00 USD per person in order to purchase a your entrance to Machu Picchu and train ticket.  You can make you deposit by clicking on the VISA or PAYPAL symbols on the top of our home page, or you can click on the VISA or PAYPAL symbols on our booking page.

WHAT ABOUT THE BALANCE?

If you would like to avoid the high credit card fees in Peru, you may pay in cash at our office (US dollars or Peruvian soles) here in Cusco. There are many ATMS within the historical center to withdraw money. You can also pay by VISA or PAYPAL online but you will have to pay a 5.5% service fee, charged by VISA and PAYPAL.  To pay your balance through PAYPAL, you need to log into your PAYPAL account and use our email address samtravelperu@gmail.com.

BOLETO TURISTICO (tourist ticket ) You have the Option to Purchase a 1 Day or a 10 Day Boleto Turistico.

The partial ticket, or 1 Day ticket costs 70 soles ($20 USD) and is valid for 1 day.  You can visit a many sites as you like in one day with no further charge.  There are no discounts with this ticket.

Both tourist tickets, of 1 day or 10 day, allows the access to different archeological sites around Cusco, and Sacred Valley.  This is the best way to visit all the archeological sites of the region and the Sacred Valley. Most of the main archeological sites are not accessible for free.

The general ticket allows you over the next 10 days to enter 16 archeological and cultural sites in Cusco, the south valley and the Sacred Valley. The price of this ticket is 130 soles (about $40 USD) and is valid for 10 days. This is the cheapest and most convenient way to plan to see different sites in a few days. The cost for students under 25 (with the presentation of a valid university card) and for teenagers under 18 (with the presentation of an identity card) is 70 soles ($20 USD). Children under 11 are free.

Here is a list of sites where you can use your Boleto Turistico:

• Sacsayhuaman
• Qenqo
• Pucapucara
• Tambomachay
• Pisaq
• Ollantaytambo
• Chinchero
• Moray
• Tipon
• Piquillaqta

Note : The entrance ticket  to the main archeological sites like Sacsayhuaman, Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Tipón and Moray cannot be sold individually; you must buy the Boleto turístico to visit them. You can get it in Avenida el Sol nearby Peru office or at the time you enter the first site that you are visiting.  YOU MUST PAY IN SOLES, NO CREDIT CARD OR US DOLLARS ARE ACCEPTED.

Important: These entrances are not included in the Boleto Turístico. 

• The entrance to Qoricancha or Santo Domingo Convent (10 soles)
• The entrance to the Cathedral (25 soles)

BRIEFING

The briefing will take place the night before the trek at 6pm in our office, which is located at Calle Garcilaso 210, office 213 (second floor) in the La CASA DEL ABUELO shopping center.

TIPPING

If you’re happy with the services provided, a tip – though not compulsory – is appreciated. While it may not be customary in your country, it’s of great significance for the people who will take care of you during the Lares trek to Machu Picchu. It inspires them to give excellent service and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many Apu Pachamama Travel destinations. Of course, you are free to tip as much as you would like, depending on your perception of the quality and the length of your trip. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.

ARE WE SUSTAINABLE?

Yes, we are a locally sustainable & responsible tourism operator. That incorporates universal principles of tourism: protect the environment and benefit the local communities by respecting their culture and religion. With this in mind, we have trained all our local staff to know and understand, respect the places and the local people.

WHAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE WITH YOU

• Original passport (it has to be the same you have used for booking your trek)
• Valid student ID card (if you booked as a student)
• Good daypack (the smaller, the better)
• Water storage: 2-3L (Please bring reusable bottles, not disposable ones).
• Comfortable hiking boots with ankle support
• Sleeping bag (can be rented from Apu Pachamama Travel)
• Headlamp: essential
• Toilet paper

WHAT TO PUT IN THE DUFFEL BAG

As a Direct Local Tour operator we provide you with a duffel bag at your briefing and INCLUDE an extra porter who will carry up to 7 kgs or 1 pounds including your sleeping bag, mattress and extra clothing. By Peruvian law, a duffel bag must not weigh more than 7 kilograms (15lbs). This limit is set to protect the health of the porters or horses. All bags will be weighed before being accepted. If you require more than 7 kilograms, it will then be your responsibility to carry the extra weight with your day pack. In this 7 kilos, please count 2 kilos for your sleeping bag and 1 kilo for your sleeping pad. This leaves you about 4 kilos for your personal gear.

• 2 t-shirts
• 2 hiking pants at least
• 4 sets of undergarments
• 3 sets of hiking socks
• 2 Fleece/ Thermals
• Warm clothes, down jacket — 2nd campsite temp around 3º C.
• Waterproof gloves (even if they are ski gloves, take them)
• Comfortable shoes for camp
• Quickdry towel. We provide small ones, you might prefer something larger.
• Small bottle of soap: we provide warm water each day to wash.
• Battery Charger: No electricity along the trek.
• Large plastic bags will be provided at the office — Please ask for them.
• Sleeping bag: It has to be at least -15ºC – This can be rented from us for $25 USD.

TOILETRIES

• Face moisturizer
• Hand sanitizer
• Wet wipes
• Toothbrush and paste
• Personal medications
• First aid kit: band aids, moleskin, etc.

WHAT TO PUT IN THE DAYPACK

We highly recommend a small backpack 30 to 40L for hiking in the day. A big backpack will not be allowed into Machu Picchu. The remainder of your belongings will be in your duffel bag at camp.

• Water: Please supply your own water until the first lunch. Bring your own water bottles.
• Sun hat
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Headlamp: essential
• Wool hat
• Rain gear
• Fleece
• Snacks like chocolate bars, cereal bars or any dry fruits
• Rain plastic poncho
• Gloves
• Camera
• Hand sanitizer
• Toilet paper and small plastic bag for waste
• Extra money for souvenirs, drinks & tips