Inca Trail & Lares Trek - Getting to Machu Picchu with Tucan Travel

Important note about Machu Picchu Closure - February and March 2010
Learn about the Inca Trail
Learn about the Lares Trek
What tours will allow me to do the Inca Trail or Lares Trek?
Important documents to read before you travel
How to book and get a permit for the Inca Trail
February closure
Current prices and price changes

Click the Inca Trail map below to open a larger, printable PDF version  

Important Note
Machu Picchu & Inca Trail Closure - February and March 2010
Heavy rains in the Cuzco and Sacred Valley area in late January caused mudslides and flooding which unfortunately blocked access to Machu Picchu and surrounding areas. Perurail has suspended all train services to Aguas Calientes, the village nearest Machu Picchu until at least the end of March 2010 due to the damage caused by mudslides and water on the rails. There is no other safe access route to Machu Picchu and travellers are therefore unable to visit the site until further notice. The Inca Trail is closed during February for an annual clean up and will also be closed throughout March due to aforementioned access issues and emergency repairs.

As a result of the Machu Picchu closure, the Lares Trek itinerary has been changed. If you are travelling between 5 February and 31 March 2010, the amendments will apply to your trip. Please read the Lares Trek Information Sheet for further details. Please disregard any mention of Aguas Calientes in this information sheet as this information will not apply to you if you are travelling in this period.

Read the Latest News article for the full details and latest updates. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about this change

Take the Challenge - Trek to Machu Picchu
We want your visit to Machu Picchu to be exactly how you have always imagined it would be, so we give you the choice of how you would like to arrive at this magnificent site. All group tours which include time to complete the Inca Trail Trek are clearly marked. (There are also Independent Travel packages available). On group tours you also have the option of trekking the alternative 3 night Lares Trek in the Lares Valley, which also culminates with a visit to Machu Picchu on day 4. If you choose not to complete either trek, a discount will be taken from your tour cost and a train trip to Machu Picchu is included instead.
 
You MUST decide at the time of booking if you are going to choose either the Inca Trail Trek or the Lares Trek. Please note the tour discount will not apply if you do not complete either trek after your place has been confirmed.

Top tip: If you've decided that the Inca Trail is for you, remember that the peak season in this area is between June and August. Due to conservation regulations, permits are limited to a maximum of 500 people per day which also includes porters and other support staff. Book early in the year to avoid disappointment, and don't forget that flights may be cheaper in May, September and October, in the off season.

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The famous Inca Trail
This is the original route to the breathtaking mountaintop Inca City of Machu Picchu. Spread over 4 days, the 44 km trail though the Andes crosses three stunning high passes and encounters many ancient archaeological sites. The trail can be demanding at times, but can be completed by anyone who leads a reasonably active life – you certainly don’t need to be an expert! The trail is not rushed and everyone is able to walk at their own pace. If you are in any doubt, or if you have any condition that may affect your ability to trek, we advise that you consult your doctor. The trek is led by a local guide and supported by a team of porters and cooks leaving you with only a small day pack to carry.

Read a blog about the Inca Trail by Louisa.

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Lares Trek
The Lares Trek is an exceptional alternative to the Inca Trail, and it is so far off the beaten track that it has changed little over the past 500 years. Encompassing original Inca routes, spectacular scenery, thatched stone and adobe houses, and herds of llamas and alpacas roaming free, the Lares Valley is an authentic journey into ancient Inca civilisation and it is amazing that is has escaped the attention of mainstream tourism to date. A similar trek and grade to the Inca Trail Trek (with one challenging high pass), the Lares Trek is fully escorted, and includes 2 nights camping and one night in Aguas Calientes before an early bus ride up to Machu Picchu. We can generally guarantee your place on the Lares Trek, however, you will be required to pay a single supplement if you are the only one trekking on your departure. This is payable to your travel agent at the time of booking and will be refunded in Cuzco if any additional group members join your trek’s departure.

Read a blog about the Lares Trek by Kevin.

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 Tucan Travel Tours which can take you to Machu Picchu
Tucan Travel offers more than 90 different group tours and independent options which offer the chance to hike the Inca Trail. Ranging from 1 or 2 weeks to several months in length, there will certainly be a tour to suit your holiday time and your budget! Find a tour by length and highlight (Inca Trail, Lares Trek, Machu Picchu) on our search page, or leaf through our online brochure.

Important note for Budget Expeditions: All Budget Expeditions travel style tours to Latin America which visit Cuzco (Peru) have enough time allocated to complete the Inca Trail trek. This is an optional excursion with an additional cost, and MUST be booked at the same time you book your Budget Expeditions tour. See below for further information about how to book and get your Inca Trail permit.

Discovery Tours including the Inca Trail / Lares Trek
Adventure Tours including the Inca Trail / Lares Trek
Overland Expeditions including the Inca Trail / Lares Trek
Budget Expeditions including the Inca Trail / Lares Trek
Independent Travel packages including the Inca Trail / Lares Trek

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Important Documents Before You Travel

Visit your individual tour page and view our Inca Trail Information Sheet or Lares Trek Information Sheet for a full description of the treks.
If you're intending to hike the Inca Trail, you will need to print out the Inca Trail Passport Form - for you to complete and fax to us.
 
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How to Book and Get a Permit For Your Inca Trail trek
 
In order to preserve the Inca Trail and its surrounds, the Peruvian authorities currently cap the number of Inca Trail trekking permits to  500 per day (including porters and guides). Permits often sell out several months in advance and you MUST book well ahead to secure your place. We recommend booking your permit at least 4 months ahead.  We can not guarantee the availability of permits, and in all instances Inca Trail bookings will be ‘on request’ until confirmed by our Cuzco office. Once confirmed we cannot make ANY amendments to your trek permit.

NOTE: for the best chance of securing a permit, you MUST do the following:

1) Pay Your Deposit
When booking your tour you will pay your tour deposit PLUS a non-refundable Inca Trail commitment deposit of US$300. This is not an ‘extra’ payment and will be deducted from your final tour payment.

If no permits are available and you choose not to complete the alternative Lares Trek, your Inca Trail deposit will be refunded and your tour price reduced. If permits are not available but you would like to do the Lares Trek, your Inca Trail deposit will be deducted from your final tour payment as normal.

2) Check Your Passport
You must provide Tucan Travel or your travel agent with a legible copy of your passport at the time you request your Inca Trail Trek. We can not book or confirm your trekking permit with out this. Your permit is linked to your name and passport number. If you change your passport after booking your Inca Trail permit or you plan to travel with a different passport, you MUST also bring the passport you used to book your permit, or you will not be able to trek the Inca Trail. It is extremely important to check that the passport you use to enter Peru has a minimum of 6 months validity after the end of your tour before you apply.

3) Book 4+ Months in Advance
To increase your chances further, we strongly advise that you book your tour 4 or more months in advance. This is particularly important during the peak season from June to September when places are at an absolute premium. 

If you choose to book the trail within 60 days of your tour departure (90 days during the high season) we will still attempt to secure you a permit but limited availability is likely to greatly reduce your chances of success.

If we cannot get you a permit to trek with your tour group we may be able to secure you a trek permit in a pooled service (with other travellers), however this is still subject to availability. Once confirmed we cannot make any amendments to your permit.

Please note that the Inca Trail regulations are changed by the authorities in Peru on a frequent basis and we recommend that you check our Latest News online just before you travel.

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Inca Trail closure in February

The trail is usually closed once a year (around February) for a clean up, and during this time we sometimes are able to offer an alternative, easier trekking route which mostly follows the Urubamba River before culminating, as normal, at the Sun Gate of Machu Picchu. The booking rules detailed above also apply to this trek. Please note that the Lares Trek is available all year and is not affected by the annual closure of the Inca Trail.

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Prices and price changes

Please note that all routes to Machu Picchu are subject to local regulations and prices for permits and transportation may change without notice. Although we will endeavour to absorb any changes, it may become necessary to increase our prices accordingly (any increase will be paid locally in Cuzco in US$ cash) even after you have booked or during your tour. Any changes will be posted on our Latest News online and all affected passengers will be notified by their booking agent if there is sufficient time before your tour departs.

The following prices apply to Budget Expeditions tours only as the Inca Trail, Lares Trek and Overnight Train are optional in this travel style.
Prices valid from 1 November 2009