Moon Stone to Machu Picchu 5 days.
Moonstone 5D is a hike of 40.1 km to go and walk an average of 6-7 hours per day. This hike is intended for tourists who would like to know more deeply the processes that led to the development of various architectural Inca cities like Watta, Cachiccata and Ollantaytambo. Also, this hike allows us to know Andean populations that still keep the Inca customs and Inca calendars used to determine periods of harvests of various inputs of the time. This hike is tied to a great landscape and climatic diversity; where the variety of scenarios make this hike a great attraction to the sight of visitors.
This hike is recommended for adults: couples, groups of friends, people alone. Also, you may want to trek having a good physical preparation due to the distances and altitudes that you will find through the trek. Finally, the best time to do this trek is between the months of April to November. The other 4 months the route is closed due to the rainy season.
Availability
Moonstone 5D does not have the same regulations as the Inca trail in regards to the number of people and permits allowed. However, included on your trek are the permits to Machupicchu and Huaynapicchu, which limit permits per day, maximum of 400 people divided in two shifts. In order to ensure the tickets to Huaynapicchu, it’s recommended to book with at least 3 or 4 months in anticipation, especially for the high season (from May to September).
Moonstone 5D can be booked from April to November only, as the rest of the year it is closed due to the rainy season and maintenance work in the area.
GROUP SIZE
Our shared groups are small, from 4-8 people maximum. For private groups, the number of people will be determined by the client.
HOW TO BOOK?
To reserve an Inca Trail permit, we need the following information for EACH PARTICIPANT:
Personal Information:
- First, Middle and Last names (exactly as they appear in your passport)
- Gender
- Passport number and expiry date
- Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy)
- Nationality
- If you are a university student with a valid Student ID card, please send us a scan or photo at the time you make your reservation.
The deposit: to confirm your space (permit) on the Salkantay Trek , we need a deposit of 50% advance (This deposit does not include any transfer fees associated with sending the money to Wayki Trek.) You may also pay the entire cost of your trip up front after making your reservation; the alternative is to pay the balance in cash at our office in Cusco.
HOW TO MAKE THE DEPOSIT:
PAYPAL (We recommend this option, because it is easier, faster and safer)
PayPal payments can be made on our website by clicking the button “Pay on line”. You can also pay directly to leocusi@waykitrek.net Both of these options require a 6% commission for PayPal and the bank. but in this first payment you don’t need to pay this tax (will be assumed by Wayki Trek) just pay 50% advance(prepaid). Once you have made your PayPal payment, please email us a copy of the transaction in order to proceed with your booking.
How to pay in full your trek via paypal:
- Log in to your PayPal account.
- Click Send Money.
- Enter the recipient’s email address “leocusi@waykitrek.net”and the amount you want to pay
- Make your selection accordingly, then choose the reason for the payment.
- Click Continue.
Take advantage of the first payment, and make the total payment of your tour without any charge, as this first fee will be assumed by Wayki Trek.
WESTERN UNION the payment will be effective once we receive the money and this will depend on the days you indicate in Western Union)
If you decide to use Western Union, you will need to give the following information:
RECEIVER:
- Name: LEONIDAS
- Paternal Last Name: CUSI
- Maternal Last Name: LOAIZA
- Address: Calle Quera 239, Cusco – Perú
Please do not forget to email us the tracking code (MTCN) so that we can pick up the money and proceed with your reservation. Also, keep in mind that Western Union has its own transfer fees. The final amount that needs to arrive in Cusco is a minimum of 50% advance; you can also pay the entire amount up front.
PAYMENT CONDITIONS:
- To guarantee your spot on the Inca Trail, you must send us your deposit. Otherwise, we CANNOT guarantee your reservation.
- The deposit amount 50% advance) or total cost of the trip does NOT include any transfer fees charged by intermediary businesses (PayPal, Banks, Western Union).
- Once you have made your payment, please email us your proof of transaction or MTCN tracking number to confirm your reservation. Without these, we cannot guarantee your reservation.
- Your deposit cannot be refunded. Once we have this and with your personal information, we immediately purchase your Inca Trail permits, and these are nonrefundable.
- The payment of any outstanding balance can be made at our office once you arrive in Cusco, after your briefing. Please keep in mind that we only accept cash. You may pay the entire price of your trip up front via PayPal or Western Union to avoid having to take out cash in Cusco.
Itinerary
We’ll have an informative talk about the hike and the opportunity to get to know the other travelers who will be sharing the trail with you.
| Your briefing is typically scheduled for one day before your trek. However if your trek starts on a Monday, your briefing will be scheduled for the Saturday before. Please take this into consideration when booking your flight. |
Early in the morning, after breakfast, we pick you up from your hotel in our private van and head to the Pampa de Anta (3,391 m.a.s.l.). After an hour of journey, we will stop at the sacred Inca Killarumiyuc (in the Quechua language) or Moonstone sanctuary. It is an ancient temple dedicated to the deity of femininity. The site is not only an age-perfect designs but also includes areas of cultivation system and moon cult became a sacred area for the people of the Andes. After seeing the agricultural experimental center, we will continue to the village of Huarocondo (3,331 m.a.s.l.). Then, we continue up the valley for 25 minutes, until the starting point of our trek; hence, we will meet our team and start trekking. We start trekking on a wide path north, above the west bank of the river Huaracondo. We will observe valleys, mountains, archaeological sites and the impressive Inca city of Wata, an important pre-Inca fortress that dominates the crest of a hill at 3,855 meters. We will visit the city, admired for its strategic location before going uphill to Chillipawa (3,750 m.a.s.l.), the village where we spend the night. We will also have the opportunity to participate in the daily life of local people.
- Distance: 10.5 Km.
- Walking Hours: 7-8 hours
- Low Altitude: 3331 m. /10928 Ft.
- High Altitude: 3750 m. / 12303 Ft.
- Campsite Altitude: 3750 m. / 12303 Ft.
After breakfast, we will start our trek. We will climb gradually through fields and clear trees of Chachacomo. This is a landscape of pastures and small fields that cling to the steep slopes. On the way, we find Indian villages that still keep the Incas ancient traditions regarding agriculture, religion, music, language and others. Then, we will continue our way up to the Accoccasa Pass (4,625 m.a.s.l.). Here, we enjoy a breathtaking view of immense snowy peaks. We feel the full extent of the Andean sky with its cold, dry air. Later, we enjoyed an easy descent to reach our camp in the spacious Chancachuco Valley (4,350 m.a.s.l.), opposite the glaciers of the Cordillera Huaynay.
- Distance: 8.8 Km.
- Walking Hours: 6-7 hours
- Low Altitude: 3750 m. /12303 Ft.
- High Altitude: 4625 m. / 15173 Ft.
- Campsite Altitude: 4350 m. / 14271 Ft.
After breakfast, we continue with our trek. We descend gradually at the upper valley. Along the way, we will see the headwork of an Inca aqueduct, now abandoned; which, carried water from the valley to the north Chancachuco above Ollantaytambo. Later on, we will reach our final step to 3,940 m.a.s.l. and visit the Inca sanctuary of Punku Punku (Door of the Wind), known as the gateway to the Andes; From there, we will have a breathtaking view of Nevado Veronica (5,682 meters). After that, we will descend into the valley and the climate will become semi-tropical. We will reach the Intiwatana; this temple is located at the highest point in the area. This area was important to the Incas to make astronomical observations and for planning the agricultural year. Then, we will continue with the hike and reach Cachiccata (3,525 m). A large terrace at the edge of a huge quarry with the same name. This was an Inca city inhabited by hundreds of architects and workers of the empire. Cachiccata can be found in buildings used for administration, housing, terraces, burial chambers and irrigation canals. The streets were very well planned.
- Distance: 11.8 Km.
- Walking Hours: 8-9 hours
- Low Altitude: 3525 m. /11564 Ft.
- High Altitude: 3940 m. / 12926 Ft.
- Campsite Altitude: 3525 m. / 11564 Ft.
After breakfast, we start our trek to Ollantaytambo (2,792 m.a.s.l.). Along the way, we will descend a wide Inca road, through the area of quarries. Then, we will continue downhill, cross the Vilcanota River and finally arrive at the famous Sun Temple in Ollantaytambo. We will have time to explore the village temple and the before taking the train that will take us to Aguas Calientes (2040 m.a.s.l), in the afternoon. Once we get to Aguas Calientes, we will check in to our hotel, where we will spend the night.
- Distance: 9 Km.
- Walking Hours: 6-7 hours
- Low Altitude: 2792 m. / 9160 Ft.
- High Altitude: 2040 m. / 6692 Ft.
We will get up early in the morning, take breakfast and take the bus towards Machu Picchu. There, we will have a guided tour that will take 2 to 3 hours and then you can climb Huayna Picchu. After we finish with our visit, we will return to Aguas Calientes. In the city, you can enjoy amenities like lunch and later in the afternoon, we will take the train back, in Expedition *.
Upon arrival in Cusco, our transfer will be waiting to take you on a private Van to your hotel. End of the adventure.
What’s included
1. A Briefing, one day before the trek. Once there, you will receive all pertinent information for your trek and our staff will answer all your doubts.
2. Entrance permits to Moon stone Trek and Machupicchu – Huaynapicchu. Once we have received confirmation of your reservation and your deposit, we’ll immediately apply for your permit at the Ministry of Culture (the institution which regulates Machupicchu) to ensure that there is enough space for you and the necessary porters. We can also reserve tickets for either Machu Picchu Mountain or Wayna Picchu at the same time (note that these are optional and have an additional cost. See “Not Included” below).
3. Field Staff:
- Professional Guides: specialized in trekking and selected from accredited universities. Our guides are fluent in English and have five to twelve years of experience in different hikes of the region. They are skilled at managing groups under pressure and are experts at first aid and rescue techniques. The majority of them come from different Andean communities and bring with them their cultural heritage. Along with the rest of the field team, our guides will make your journey a unique experience.
- Chefs: Trained in local gastronomy schools, they are experts in modern Andean cooking, traditional Peruvian meals, international food styles and vegetarian cooking. They have deep knowledge of the nutritional properties of their meals and are experts at cooking as quickly as possible. And all of this, of course, with a strong emphasis on hygiene and food safety during preparation.
- Porters: Responsible for carrying all the group gear and your 8kg (17.6lb) of personal items. They come from various rural communities from the Cusco region, where they still maintain their local customs and traditions. We provide them with accident insurance during the trek and with suitable clothing that allows them to work in comfort. Our porters are also hosts responsible for making your journey an unforgettable experience.
4. Camping Equipment and hotel of 3 stars the last night:
- Tents: These are 4-season, high mountain tents from the brands North Face, Eureka, and Mountain Hardwear. They can withstand harsh winter weather, including heavy rain and snow.
- Sleeping Mats: Our inflatable Thermarest mattresses guarantee a warm, comfortable night’s sleep on the trail.
- Sleeping bag: We use down sleeping bags rated to -10 Celsius (14 Fahrenheit) to ensure a warm night’s sleep.
- Dining Tent: Our spacious dining tent, complete with chairs and a table, gives us all the room we need to enjoy our meals no matter the weather outside.
- Cooking Tent: Comes with all the equipment necessary for our chef to prepare your meals (gas stove and all food prep utensils).
- Bathroom Tents: These tents have toilets with water pumps, and we’ll set them up at all our lunch spots and campsites.
- Shower Tents: You’ll be able to shower once a day at the end of every hiking day.
5. Meals: 4 breakfasts, 4 morning snacks, 5 lunches, 4 afternoon snacks, 4 dinners.
We’ll have variety of food throughout the hike, all of which will be loaded with the protein, vitamins and carbohydrates to give you the energy that you’ll need on the hike.
- Breakfasts: Fruit salad, yogurt, oatmeal, chocolate, milk, coffee, tea, pancakes, scrambled eggs, bread and butter.
- Morning Snacks: Fresh and dried fruit, crackers, and sweets (chocolate, other candy)
- Lunches: Buffet-style, with soup, 2-4 different main dishes, desserts and hot drinks. The mains will include Peruvian classics, such as lomo saltado (stir-fried beef with rice and French fries) and aji de gallina (mildly spicy, creamy chicken pure), among other options. We can also make vegetarian options.
- Afternoon snacks: Popcorn, crackers, coffee, chocolate, milk, and a variety of teas.
- Dinners: Soups, chicken, pasta.
- Water: We’ll provide you with boiled water every day of the hike, from lunch onwards.
6. Transportation:
- From Cusco to the trailhead at Parpiso in a Mercedes Benz minibus
- EXPEDITION train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
- Bus Aguas Calientes – Machupicchu – Aguas Calientes (last day)
- Bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes (last day)
- Return train ticket (Expedition class) from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo after your visit to Machu Picchu.
7. Biodegradable products: Personal hygiene products for our staff and clients, and soap for cleaning cooking and camping equipment.
8. Emergency Equipment:
- Satellite Telephones: Each one of our groups carries a satellite telephone at all times to communicate with our office in case of emergency or for clients to use in case they have a personal emergency in whatever part of the world.
- Radios: These have a 10km range and 8 frequencies for our guides, chefs and porters to communicate amongst themselves. Additionally, the radios can be used to communicate with the Machu Picchu and Inca Trail park guards in case of emergency.
- First Aid Kit: We carry a full complement of over-the-counter medication, including alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, tincture of iodine, germicidal soap, cotton, gauze, bandages, adhesive medical tape, surgical gloves, analgesics for muscle and stomach pain, antipyretics, anti-allergy medication, anti-inflammatories, oral rehydration salts, laxatives, burn cream, splints, blood pressure measuring devices, and thermometers. If you take prescription medication, you may carry your own drugs.
- Medical assistance by satellite calling: Our guides are very well trainned in first aids but Keep in mind that only a medical professional can write up a medical prescription. Our guides are not allowed to prescribe a treatment for our clients. Is For this reason, we implemented a Doctor’s assistance on the way by sateilite phone calling in case any medical Emergency.
NOT INCLUDED
- First breakfast and last dinner (day1)
- Hiking poles
- Tips – These are VOLUNTARY. Each traveler may decide for him or herself whether to give one.
- Travel Insurance: This is not a requirement, but we always recommend that our clients purchase it in case there are problems with their flights or unexpected health problems come up. Be aware if your travel insurance policy has altitude restrictions: some policies are void above 4,000m (13,123ft), and the Salkantay trek goes as high as 4,600m. Other hikes in the Cusco region may go as high as 5,000m.
*A horse to carry 8kg (17.6lb) of your personal gear is included. In case you need to bring additional weight, you must ask for an extra horse at the same time as you make your reservation.
* The horse service will only be available the first 3 days of the trek, as those are the most challenging ones, starting on the 4rd days there are vehicles for the transportation of luggage.
Price
PRIVATE SERVICE (Group participants Min 1 person; Max upon request)
| 1 person | U$$ 1,998.00* |
| 2 people | U$$ 1,217.00 * |
| 3 people | U$$ 1004.00* |
| 4 people | U$$ 855.00* |
| 5 people | U$$ 785.00* |
| 6 people | U$$ 746.00* |
| 7 people | U$$ 731.00* |
| 8 people | U$$ 714.00* |
| 9 people | U$$ 696.00* |
| 10 people or more | U$$ 676.00* |
Price per person, applicable to departures from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024
Discounts:
1. Children between 8-17 years old pay the student price, but they must show a copy of their passport. Children will receive the underage student price if they, at the time of their trip, are at most 17 years old and have had their birthday recently.
2. Students receive a U$$ 25.00 discount.
3. University students must have a student card with the following information to receive the discount:
- Name of the university
- The student’s full name, identical to the one in their passport.
- A photo of the student.
- Student number or code.
- Expiry date (must be valid for the entire duration of the trip).
The student card must show all of the information mentioned above. If it does not, the Peruvian Ministry of Culture will not accept the card and will not issue a discount for the Inca Trail permit (it is this discount from the Ministry of Culture that we pass on to students).
Once you have reserved as a student, you must bring your original student card (not a copy) to enter the Inca Trail. If you forget your card, you will not be able to do the hike and you will lose your permit.
Additional Services:
- Extra horse to carry 8 kilos: USD 80.00 It is necessary to confirm on the time of booking
- Extra horse to carry 15 kilos: USD 150.00 It is necessary to confirm on the time of booking
- Saddle-horse: USD 120.00 Es necesario confirmar en el momento de la reserva.
- Hiking poles: USD 25.00
- Personal Tent: USD 50.00
- Toilet Tent /Portable Toilet: USD 45.00
- Extra night in Aguas Calientes: Ask for the price
- Train Up-grade or change ticket departure: Ask for the price.
CANCELLING POLICY COVID-19
*** Special terms and conditions: In the event that the COVID 19 pandemic situation continues throughout the world, Wayki Trek will give you the option to reschedule your trip or have a credit note for the future or return in coordination with the regulatory institutions of tourist attractions.
CANCELLING YOUR RESERVATION:
Wayki Trek has the following policies concerning cancellation of reservations:
1. Due to the strict regulations established by Machu Picchu Park, once you have made your booking the space and permit that has been purchased cannot be cancelled. It is also impossible to transfer the permit to someone else under a different name. The date of your permit can not be modified either. Therefore, if you are not able to arrive on the scheduled date, no refunds can be made for your Inca Trail permit.
Permits are not refundable and WAYKI TREK will purchase the permits as soon as confirmation of your booking has been sent.
Therefore:
- If you cancel 30 or more days in advance, you will lose your first deposit but will have the right to whatever entrance tickets we have purchased for you.
- If you cancel between 29 and 11 days before your trip, you must pay 50% of the total cost. You will have the right to whatever entrance tickets we have purchased for you, a guided tour of Machu Picchu on the day that it was scheduled in your original itinerary, and whatever other service we have purchased for you.
- If you cancel between 10 and 4 days before your trip, you must pay 80% of the total cost. You will have the right to whatever entrance tickets we have purchased for you, a guided tour of Machu Picchu on the day that it was scheduled in your original itinerary, train ticket* and bus ticket.
- If you cancel between 1 and 3 days before your trip, this is regarded as a “no show” and you must pay 100% of the total cost. You will have the right to whatever entrance tickets we have purchased for you, a guided tour of Machu Picchu on the day that it was scheduled in your original itinerary, train ticket* and bus ticket.
2. If you decide to stop for personal reasons once the hike has started, you will automatically lose all the included services. Any costs incurred during your return, such as food, transportation, or lodging, will be your responsibility. However, you can rejoin the group at Machu Picchu for the visit, where you may use your entrance ticket, participate in the guided tour, take the return bus to Aguas Calientes and the train back to Ollantaytambo.
3. If you plan to renew your passport after making your reservation, especially the number, be sure to send a photo of the old passport and the new one to make the change at the Machu Picchu Park office. Ideally, bring your old passport with you as well.
4. If you change your last name from the one which is on your passport (for marriage or any other reason), you will not be able to update this on your trail permit or Machu Picchu entrance ticket. However, your reserved space on the trail will stay available, and you can buy the trail permit again (at an extra cost) for this space using your new last name. To avoid repurchasing your ticket, you can use your passport with your old name that your original reservation was made under, but this passport must be valid for the entire duration of your visit.
5. Events out of our control which make any part of the trip impossible, such as strikes, protests, flight cancellations, weather conditions, or the overselling of hotels or flights. In any of these cases, we will suggest alternative arrangements (if any are available) to make the trip possible. Any costs associated with these alternative arrangements will be the responsibility of the traveler.
Why choose us
We keep our group sizes small at Wayki Trek, allowing us to give you highly personalized service.
This lets you enjoy your hike more and better get to know all the other participants, making your experience unique and unforgettable. We also practice a high level of environmental and social responsability on each one of our expeditions.
3. Small groups
4. Safety
7. Our porters
9. International Certification – Hight Quality
Travel Info
In the event that you decide to Withdraw The trekking once has started , you will be responsible for all additional charges such as: fooed and transportation that might occur due to the modification of your itinerary. However you can join the group again in Aguas calientes to spend the night and visit Machu Piccchu.
RECOMMENDATIONS
If you have reserved the service with your old Passport and then you have renewed it and obtained another. You have most likely changed the number of it. Please let us know so we can update this information. This modification has to be made prior your trip to Peru (at least 10 days before your trip). As soon as you have your new passport, please inform Wayki Trek of this change. Otherwise, this update or modification will have an additional fee of USD 12 and it will create a big inconvenience to update it at the last minute.
IMPORTANT: If you bring your new passport and failed to inform us and this information was not updated, you won’t be allowed to enter Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu and the use of train services.
Those passengers who booked their trip using the discounted price for ISIC Student Holders must bring their original and valid CIIU card (not a copy, not expired). This document must be shown at the control points throughout of the route. Unfortunately, if you do not bring your card. You won’t be able to enter Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu or use the train services as the ticket won’t be valid without your card.
For all our treks such as Inca Trail or Alternative Treks we provide an emergency kit that can be used in case of any incidence on the trek and with the consent of the affected customers
You can find the following in our first aid kid: oxygenated water, tincture of iodine, germicidal soap, cotton, gauze; large, medium and small bands, medical tape, surgical gloves, bronchodilators (inhalers or tablets), muscle pain medications (cream), stomach pain relievers, antipyretics, antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodics, rehydration salts, laxatives, ophthalmic liquids, creams or liquids for relief from prolonged sun exposure, creams or liquids to burn relief, limb immobilizers, blood pressure and thermometer
IMPORTANT: it is good to inform our passengers which contain our first aid kit, but please consider only a doctor can diagnose and approve its use. Consider that the guide and our camp ́s staff does not have a power to diagnose a medical prescription to passengers. For this reason, every drug used on the trek will be under the responsibility and user authorization of passengers.
Medical Considerations
If you have medical restrictions for some or all the activities detailed in your booking. Please contact your doctor and inquire about the risks of doing said activities.
For those trekkers that come to Cusco directly from places at sea level; we recommend to arrive 2-3 days before your trek. Two of the most common health issues among tourists in Cusco are: The Altitude Sickness (Soroche) and stomach pain provoked by slow digestion.
Altitude Sickness; some of the symptoms are: headache and nausea. There are some over the counter medication (pills) that help to minimize the symptoms of this problem, such as Glucosa Coramina, Aspirina, Diamox, Soroichi Pill, Acetazolamida, among others. If the symptoms persist, the use of oxygen is the next step. Under this circumstances, we have the equipment and staff ready to assist our trekkers.
Stomach Pain; It is recommended to drink between 3-4 liters of water per day. Your body will need this to stay hydrated. It is specially recommended hot drinks like, coca leaves tea. Also, soups, vegetables and carbohydrates (not fried or heavy). Candy, chocolates, cookies and fruits are also a good option. In general, all food that is easy to digest. Do not have drink alcohol or smoke.
Try to sleep at least 8 hours and do not exercise too much. Keep your body in good temperature wearing warm clothes to protect yourself from the cold weather. During the adjusting to the altitude there is a general rule to follow: eat what is necessary and drink plenty of liquids.
It is very important that our passengers informs us before their trip, of any medical restriction or food
restriction, allergies, special diets, current medication, health issues or anything that we need to consider to make your trip enjoyable and without concerns.
There is no restrictions given by the ministry of culture in regards minors doing treks. In fact, most of the times that we have had the participation of a minor in our treks, they have adjusted better compared to adults. However, you must consider that any type of treks demand a lot of physical strength and endurance. Therefore, parents taking their children along should be aware of how extenuating this activity can be for adults and young participants as well.
In order to give peace of mind to those parents, we suggest to hire the services of an extra mule/horse for the minor’s personal items and himself if necessary.
It is equally important to keep hydrated during the trekking. Our staff on the trail will supply of this important element. It is also helpful to advise our staff about the minor needs so the tour guide can program the rest stops along the trail for a bit longer. All these are recommendations that WAYKI TREK gives in order to make a smooth experience on the trial, however they are not mandatory.
The use of both items is extremely necessary, remember that Peru is close to the equatorial line; therefore the sun rays are stronger due to the altitude. Many of our passengers have never experience the sun like that and the risk for sunburns is serious. Take along a hat, sun block for face and lips, sun glasses of good quality to protect your eyes.
There is no restrictions in regards to the physical fitness. However it is recommended that you are in good shape for any trek. Also, we suggest you to visit the foot doctor, as your feet should be in the best conditions possible before the trek. If you are a regular blood donor, please make sure you do your last blood donation 8 to 10 weeks before your trip.
Moonstone has cold climate depending on the season. Heavy rain from October through March and dry season from May to September, the sky is clear and sunny. The temperature range between 02° and 22° Celsius. The coldest months are from May to July with almost no rain. The Terrain is quite irregular.
WAYKI TREK offers the service of portable toilets during their trek. However, on the way there are also public toilets in some camps and lunch spots. By using these toilets is paid U $$ 0.50 cents.
Also, if you want to have this service exclusively for you, you may hire an extra bathroom tent; the cost of it is $ 45.00 USD for the whole trek and can be used by you and your friends.
If, in your trek, you have an extra horse to carry your belongings (8kg or 15kg), you will be given a duffel bag so our staff can carry it, in based the kilos requested. Also, please note that the duffel bag will be given during the BRIEFING and the return of it will be coordinate with your guide
The final payment of your due balance will be done in Wayki Trek offices in Cusco, during your Briefing. Please remember that we accept CASH only (USD or Peruvian Currency). Also, please make sure that if you bring bills, they are in good condition. We don’t accept torn bills.
If you don’t like the idea of travelling with cash, Wayki Trek advises to send yourself the amount of money you will need during your trip through Western Union with destination: Cusco City. Upon arrival to Cusco, you will be able to pick it up from any Wester Union office in Cusco. Please note that the fees to wire money are a big higher when done at the last minute. Therefore, we suggest you do it in advance.
Tips are a way to show gratitude for a service provided. It does not have a set amount. However it is NOT mandatory for any passenger to give them. Every Staff from WAYKI TREK has a salary whether they are: DRIVERS, TRANSFERS, TOUR GUIDES, MULETEER’S LEADER, MULETEER, CHEF, ASSISTANT COOK and WAITER. There is not minimum amount for the tip and it only depends on how much the passenger would like to give. If on the contrary, the passenger does not feel like giving a tip. He is entitled to it.
Please be aware that our Staff ARE NOT AUTHORIZED to request any tips or suggest a specific amount. WARNING: IF ANY STAFF MENTIONED ABOVE IS FOUND TO BE REQUESTING TIPS TO OUR PASSENGERS WILL
BE DISMISSED FROM THE COMPANY, AS IT IS CONSIDERED A SERIOUS OFFENSE.
Strikes and National Labor Stoppages are caused by the mass refusal of the population of a determined area or region. In observance to this, WAYKI TREK first priority is the safety of its passengers; for this reason, if faced with a strike or national work stoppage, some of the services that we provided may be altered in schedules, itineraries or in extreme and rare cases can cause the cancellation of services and rescheduling of the same. WAYKI TREK requests its passengers to be fully aware of these measures as they are implemented to ensure the safety of our passengers and staff.
Each and every process that we follow in order to provide a good service, guarantees the protection of our environment. We use detergents that will not harm the grounds on the trails. We provide water throughout the trek, in order to minimize the use of plastic bottles that can contaminate the area. We also provide at our passengers request biodegradable toilets, so we can dispose of the residues on specific areas determined by the government. We are also implementing the use of LED flashlights that will replace the use of batteries that many times are discarded along the trail. Finally, as a company, we believe in the importance of educating and creating awareness among all our passengers in regards the protection of the trekking areas and that their collaboration is crucial for our job.
For the trek, it is recommended to bring a bottle of water (1 liter). From the first lunch, Wayki TREK will be supplying the clients from boiled water.
Although you can buy bottled water en route, we encouraged you to bring your personal bottle during the trip. In this case, you could use bpa free bottles of flexible plastic like the Platypus brand. Such bottles allow easily bring content and when it’s empty, the bottle does not take up much room in the backpack (it is reusable and flexible). For that reason, by an environmental issue and preservation of the protected area, we asked our participants to support this initiative Wayki TREK.
If on the contrary, you wish to purchase bottled water during your trek, we ask you to please be responsible when discarding the empty bottles and do so at the specific areas within the campsites. Do not leave them along the trail. You can also keep all your bottles till the end of the trek until we get to Aguas Calientes town. You will be able to dispose of those items in the designated areas. By following this practices we avoid any negative environmental impact to the reserved area.
Another option is to take water purifier pills. However, from our experience before. We have seen some of our passengers suffering from stomach pain and discomfort after doing this. That is why we suggest you to
allow us to supply boiled water in your own plastic bottle.
During your walk, you can find outlets. This will much more facilities in it.
In Moonstone, we find the following points of sale: Izcuchaca town and anta district, On those places you can find some beverages and snacks.
FAQs
According to the Inka Trail regulatory institution, in order to purchase your entrance ticket, you must provide the following personal information: First and Last Name, Passport Nº, Gender Identity, Date of Birth or Age, as well as Nationality. You must then pay an already agreed-upon amount of money to your tour operator for the purchase of your entrance ticket.
Once the entrance ticket has been purchased, you will not be able to make any changes to your First and Last Name, as well as your Start Date, under any circumstances. The government only allows changes to Passport Numbers. Please consult with your tour operator if you have any questions or concerns.
The government will only allow us to update passport numbers if we have a copy of both the previous and current passport. If you no longer have your previous passport, any government form of identification will be accepted, provided that the First and Last Name are the same.
Most people travel to Cusco by air. Please note that the Cusco airport operates national flights only. Therefore, if you come directly from abroad to Lima, you are going to need to pick up your bags at the airport and re-check them for your flight to Cusco. There are four airlines that fly back and forth between Lima and Cusco: LATAM Airlines, AVIANCA Airlines, Star Peru, and Peruvian Airlines. All of these airlines offer similar schedules and flight services, but we generally recommend LATAM Airlines. You also have the option of travelling to Cusco by land. Please keep in mind that it takes approximately 24 hours to get from Lima to Cusco. If you have any questions or want more information on the matter, please consult with WAYKI’s sales representatives.
While you can stay at any hotel in Cusco, it is becoming increasingly difficult to travel in the city by car. In WAYKI TREK, we commit ourselves to picking you up from your place of lodging, be it in the city center or in the surrounding areas, specially now that it has become increasingly popular to stay in apartments or in rooms within houses. In the event that our vehicle cannot access your place of lodging, our staff will help and orient you to the nearest point with vehicular access.
Of course. You can stay anywhere in the Sacred Valley. However, you must keep in mind that the INKA TRAIL route is Cusco-Urubamba-Ollantaytambo. If your hotel is located in this route, we will coordinate a specific time for your pick-up (at no additional cost). If your hotel is located outside this route, you must contact WAYKI’s sales representatives to coordinate a time for your pick-up (at an additional cost).
If you do not wish to stay in Cusco, we strongly suggest you stay in Ollantaytambo. Those that wish to stay in Ollantaytambo will be able to sleep a little bit more as we will be picking you up approximately 1.5 hours after the pick-up time in Cusco. That being said, we will coordinate a briefing session ahead of our trip. In the worst of cases, we will schedule multiple briefing sessions according to our clients’ accomodations. If you have any questions or want more information on the matter, please consult with WAYKI’s sales representatives.
Most hotels, and even homes in Peru, are now equipped with standard US plug sockets.
Although you do not need to complete any specific kind of training for the Cusco treks, we suggest that the best way to prepare yourself physically is to exercise on the treadmill, selecting the steep slopes configuration, as well as going up and down stairs or using the stairmaster. Please keep in mind that you will need between 2 to 3 days in Cusco before the start date of your trek.
We always recommend using the lightest possible trekking shoes. Those that provide ankle support are very useful, especially for inexperienced hikers, as you will be going up and down a lot of stairs made by our ancestors, the Incas.
No. However, walking sticks are always useful for hikers, specially when completing this trek. This is because there are a lot of trails that vary in altitude and are not always straight. Thus when you are in these trails, using walking sticks can really help relieve the accumulated pressure in your knees as well as help you climb the mountain. In addition, our walking sticks are adjustable. As such, when you are not using them, you can shorten the walking sticks so that they do not bother you. For those who want to bring their own walking sticks, make sure that they have rubber tips or park rangers will not allow you to use them. In case you forgot to bring them from your home country, you may purchase rubber tips in Cusco.
All luggage that is not necessary for the trek must stay in Cusco. All hotels in Cusco are quite used to, and prepared for, storing luggage. In the event that you have nowhere to store your luggage, you may leave your bags in our offices until our advendure ends. We will make sure your bags are stored safely, do not worry!
