Inca Trail Regulations & Alternatives
Government regulations for the Inca Trail ensure you can only book with a recognised company as part of an organised group. Reservations are on a first come first served basis starting from January each year. This means that spaces fill up many months in advance and last minute bookings are virtually impossible. ADVANCE BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL AND FULL PASSPORT DETAILS ARE REQUIRED AT TIME OF RESERVATION. For those who are interested in any of the equally worthy alternative trails, many of which are even more scenic and offer fascinating Inca ruins as well as quieter trekking and peaceful, litter- free campsites, please contact our office for details. Some suggestions would be:
- Lares Trek
- - offers an authentic view of life in the highlands through a valley little changed for 500 years and known for its textiles and alpacas. Maximum altitude: 4400 metres.
- Salkantay Trek
- - a beautiful if tough walk with an impressive sweep of altitudes from ice-capped Mt Salkantay through cloud forest to jungle. Maximum altitude: 4830 metres.
- Humantay Trek
- - pristine, scenic trekking offering all the high mountains, Andean flora, local communities and different ecological zones. Maximum altitude: 4850 metres.
- Ausangate Vilcanota Trek
- - circumnavigate this remote massif past glaciers and emerald lakes ??? demanding trekking in the land of the condor. Maximum altitude: 5000 metres.
- Choquequirau Trek
- - trek the entire Vilcabamba range through an immense range of vegetation types with a variety of panoramic views to match to the archaeological site of Choquequirau, Machu Picchu's 'Sacred Sister'. Maximum altitude: 4600 metres.
- Several of these trails culminate at Machu Picchu and if not we can arrange for an extension to be added to your trek to visit this world famous site. All of these treks can be operated for a minimum of 2 people.
